You described how the courage of one telling their story inspired the next. The process seems to be contagious, drawing many out to tell their stories. I have seen this effect around other historical “shameful” episodes in Australia – the “stolen generation” stories, the stories of institutional abuse, the history of mental asylums is Australia, and the treatment of the first people’s of this land – the Aboriginal people.

This reminds me of the narrative practice of “outsider witness” reflections, and it’s effectiveness in shoring up the alternative stories of triumph and resourcefulness in the face of oppression, and replacing the more “normalised” stories of victimisation.

I wish you well in your work and journey.
Ruth

Thank you so much for your video presentation! Thanks also Cheryl and David D. at Dulwich for setting up.

I feel for your experiences with mental health facilities. Experiences of these places, and hospitals in general, are indeed “humbling and equalizing” and provide much food for thought, provoking ideas that very often fall on deaf ears, or powers, that are beyond the individual or family or even mental health workers to manage in a positive way.

I appreciate your mention of the importance not to get isolated; and your own appreciation of the generosity of the “Consumer Survivor Group”

This is indeed a very difficult task for one group of extremely isolated people in the community –those struggling with anorexia nervosa. Because of the nature of the illness, it is a very isolating condition in which help often is not sought, but even refused vigorously when in the depths of the illness.

Also the nature of the illness can lead victims to other forms of absolute power as a source of community, and ‘strength’, which in the long run may be very unhelpful in disallowing the individual voice to grasp their own responses and strengths for healing.

Each person indeed has their own history of the illness; their individual effects and their own ways for healing.Community survivor communities may also be rejected.

So this and all mental illness is a very real place of oppression in modern culture.

I would like to ask the narrative community here how they have got through?

Does anyone have ideas as to how powerlessness can be turned towards more power for such victims.

What sort of healthy communities could support and value such victims without inflicting further forms of power or subtle dependence.

Narrative therapy certainly is a viable choice and collective documentation may be a key to developing community.

Thankyou Vanessa for those three questions.

-What happened to you?

-How does what happened to you effect you now?

-What do you need to heal?

Testimony therapy –How did you triumph?

What were the gifts you received from this experience?

What new knowledge have you got to share with your community?

All these are wonderful. We just need the right time, place and person or company to enable asking of these questions. For some this may not be available.

How do we encourage availability of these conditions?

Thank you Vanessa and thank you for the website.

Susan