Speaking Out for Yourself
A Self-Help Guide
Introduction
If you experience troubling emotional or psychological symptoms—like
depression, bipolar disorder or manic depression, schizophrenia, borderline
personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, dissociative disorder,
post traumatic stress disorder, an eating disorder, or an anxiety disorder—you
may be looking for some information and support on speaking out for yourself.
Perhaps you have forgotten that you have the same rights as other people.
Maybe, you may have come to feel that you have lost the power to ask for
what you want and need. You may have struggled so much that you have become
discouraged—just a little, or maybe deeply.
If you have been having a very hard time, others may have taken control
over your life; they may be making most or all of your decisions. They
may be doing a reasonable job of this, but you want to take back control.
Perhaps you simple want others to treat you with the dignity and respect
you deserve.
Whatever your situation, you should know that you have rights, power,
and worth that no one, and no system, can interfere with for long if you
effectively speak for yourself.
Even if you feel you have never advocated effectively for yourself, you
can learn to become your own best champion. Being a good self-advocate
means taking personal responsibility for your own life—putting yourself
back in charge and staying there. Speaking out means insisting that others
respect your rights and treat you well.
A little bit of hope and self-esteem can help you take the first steps
to speak for yourself, and your actions in your own behalf will then increase
your sense of hope and self-esteem. This upward spiral helps to relieve
troubling psychiatric symptoms and supports you so you can do the things
you need to do to make your life the way you want it and do the things
you want to do. It all starts and ends with you; you have the right to
ask for as much help as you need.
People who have been disabled for many years have taken back responsibility
for their own lives. As they have done this, their lives have changed
dramatically. A man from Seattle has had episodes of major depression
for many years and has found that being a strong advocate for himself
and others has been essential to getting his depression under control.
He says, "People need to know and demand their rights in all types
of situations from treatment to housing to employment; and they need to
know the alternatives available in different situations. Empowerment and
recovery start from the inside when you begin to take charge of all aspects
of your life."
You are a unique and valuable person. You have
the right to advocate for yourself, to protect your rights and insist
that others treat you well.
The steps that follow will lead you through the process of becoming an
effective advocate for yourself. You probably will want to work on these
steps slowly, one at a time. With persistence, you will find you become
better and better at speaking out for yourself.
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