Herb Damon's Recovery Journey

Herb was 13 when he was first committed to a psychiatric hospital. The doctors told his mother that because of his schizophrenia he would always need to be institutionalized. He spent his teens and early adulthood bouncing in and out of psychiatric hospitals, often living on the streets of Portland between hospital stays.

"My life was a revolving door," said Herb."Even though I was in and out of the hospital, I felt like I was institutionalized. I believed whatever they told me. I was

really scared, and kept running. Deep

down, I didn't think I could live on my

own. My comfort zone became the hospital."

In 1991, Herb applied for an apartment owned by Shalom House. He was accepted and worked with a community support worker to learn how to live independently. "I learned how to pay bills and other things," said Herb. "And all was going well, until I got manic. In one week I spent $500 on needlessstuff. I couldn't pay the rent and thought I would be kicked out."

Instead, Shalom House helped Herb find a "Payee", a person to help manage Herb's money and make sure his bills were paid on time. "I paid back the four or five months of rent that I owed Shalom House, and got back on track," he said.

The revolving door began turning again when Herb was hospitalized in 1999 for a month and then again in 2000 when his relationship with his fiancee fell apart. "When I went into the hospital in 2000, I decided to try electric shock therapy. And for the first time, the voices were silent!" Herb explained. "That was when I began to have hope that I could get better and live on my own." Herb moved into a rooming house owned by Shalom House and began intense work with his psychiatrist and community support workers on his recovery from mental illness.

"I like the sense of responsibility and being held accountable that come with being a Peer Support Worker and Consumer Educator. Now, these jobs are in my comfort zone. I enjoy being around people and being able to come and go as I please."

Herb is working hard on his recovery. He has not been hospitalized for the past two years, even when the voices returned for a short period. "It's the combination of everything that gets me through. But mostly it's the support that I get. I tell my Peer Support clients and myself that it helps to have someone to work with you to give you extra support. It does get better when you can work on things together," said Herb. Part of Herb's recovery process has been to encourage and support others who are struggling with mental illness. He became a Consumer Educator and began telling his story of recovery, in high schools, middle schools and colleges. He also became a Peer Support Worker and began providing the encouragement to his peers who were not doing as well with their recovery.

Today, Herb lives in his own apartment and continues to meet with his Community Support Worker and psychiatrist.