Michaels Works to Get His Life Back on Track

In only a short period of time, Mark Michaels' life seemed to be unraveling piece by piece. In the late 90s, he not only went through a divorce and lost his job, but also was diagnosed with a condition known as Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that causes pain in the muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons, affecting nearly 5 percent of the population. It can also cause mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

For a year, he tried on his own to work doing maintenance and other labor for a small company, but was unable to keep up with the workload because of his constant fatigue and inability to concentrate; two other common symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Unable to get disability payments or find other work, Mark decided to get help and was eventually directed to the ADAMH-funded Center for Vocational Alternatives (COVA) for employment assistance. After several months of searching and interviewing, COVA was able to find Mark a sales job at a local lighting company, where he has been employed for more than 90 days now. This company has worked with COVA before in helping find positions for people with disabilities.

"COVA was a great resource and really worked hard to find help for me," Mark said. "They have a large amount of resources right at your fingertips for free, which is really important when you're trying to get back on your feet."

He complimented the remarkable COVA staff and described their genuine interest in helping people and sympathy towards any struggle one might face. COVA provided support, advice, and counseling to help Mark with his job search, as well as helped him develop his resume and prepare him for the interview process.

At age 48, Mark still continues to struggle with his physical illness, as well as mental health problems. He says that having this condition is like a doubled-edged sword; he might look young and healthy on the outside, but there are times when he is miserable on the inside, almost as if he is hiding something.

"Sometimes I feel that if I did have something wrong with me physically, people would understand my struggle more," Mark said. "But no one can really see the struggle I'm dealing with on the inside."

Mark continues counseling once a week to keep himself on track and takes daily medication, making everyday just a bit better. He believes there is still such an unfortunate stigma about mental health problems and disabilities in America today. He thinks people with mental health issues can often be viewed as second-class citizens and frequently make people feel uncomfortable. He hopes this stigma associated with mental illnesses and disabilities will decrease someday with better information that educates those that are otherwise unfamiliar with these common, but treatable medical conditions.

"With this condition, it has been hard because you have to come to grips with what you used to be able to do and with what you can't do anymore," he said. "It's absolutely a life-changing struggle."

"Going through interview after interview without getting a call-back after being so used to getting jobs, you start to get depressed and pessimistic about life. COVA really helped me feel like I wasn't alone. They gave me hope and were truly a light at the end of the tunnel."

Part of his recovery success he credits to the services he received through the ADAMH system of care. "ADAMH exemplifies to the community its commitment to helping people with problems," Mark said. "The ADAMH system of care is a necessity and allows people who need help to have a place to go."