Madness Radio: Living With Voices Ron Coleman

Hi there all,

I've just had a listen to the Ron Coleman interview; really good piece. Very impressed with Ron's courage, we're lucky to have him. As a 'consumer' with lived experience i can relate to almost all Ron had gone through, my experience was different (drug induced psychosis) but many of the symptoms were similar. albeit much shorter in duration. Really encouraged by the interview style and as a budding broadcaster with community radio here in Canberra i look forward to perhaps interviewing Ron myself!

Thanks guys,
Dave

Ron I think your story is inspirational. When I had my manic episodes, I also heard voices too. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder at age 24 and like you I also knew that when I was young there was something wrong with me. I think your recovery is remarkable. I also am a teacher in the mental health field and am volunteering at a mental health agency where I run vocational groups to prepare the consumers for a job which is difficult to search when you have a mental illness. I just had a book published titled Surviving Mental Illness, My Story. Many people were inspired. If interested go to www.outskirtspress.com/survivingmentalil....

What a inspirational interview. What he says about voices and the trueness of them because he hears them is so right and so important for doctors to learn and for those who hear voices to understand. I admire what Mr. Coleman is doing. Right now I am just beginning the process of rescuing one of my siblings from the mental health system. He is one of the forgotten ones who has been warehoused and medicated. I pray that some day my brother will be able to express himself like Ron.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and your insights, Ron!

You said it so well!

I like the notion of embracing mental diversity. Anyway, the psychotropic drugs and hospitalizations seem to add trauma and they don't work!

Hurray for those holistic mental health practitioners that are empathetic and empower fellow human beings who are experiencing an extreme state of mind!

I would like to know more about how you work with people who hear voices and how you guide them through toward a more comfortable way to be.

When are you speaking again?

This was such an amazing discussion, and I am walking away feeling just blown away, inspired and really wanting to become involved with people who hear voices (what an awesome way of recognizing them). I find a great deal of meaning and validation and human-being-ness in what I have learned about the hearing voices movement. thank you so much for such a fantastic opportunity to listen in!

The truth is beautiful. Blessings to you for sharing it.

In my opinion, it's best to listen to hear what they are trying to let you discover & uncover. That is my experience.

Well done. A great interview and thanks so much Ron for talking so openly and with such a "hope producing" and validating point of view. I will direct my own readers to this excellent podcast this weekend.

This is one of the best Madness Radio shows ever!

I'm curious, Ron used to get his anger out on the rugby field -- then he wasn't able to do that anymore; now, add on hospitalization, etc., he's probably got even more reason to get pissed off, I wonder what he does now?

The entire show, though -- 100% outstanding! (He's coming back to Portland, right? If so, YAY!)