Friday, June 24, 2011

Sick of the judging

I constantly try to live my life without judgement.  I am even careful about making judgmental statements or assumptions.  I am not perfect, this process will be on going.  I feel very strongly that a lot of mental illness issues are a result of a judgemental society.  I feel very fortunate every time I learn from my 'clients,' especially the ones in inpatient psychiatric care.  I learn the sad, complex stories that detail the steps which led the 'client' to such a setting.  I also learn that people who view those on the street whom appear 'disheveled' and/or homeless with judgment are ignorant. 

It is difficult to work in this field and have loved ones who cast judgmental nets all over things that confuse them.  It can be confusing to see a 'drunk' begging for money or a woman screaming in the middle of the street.  Instead of labeling 'drunk' or 'crazy' lets start asking questions and offering support.  One way to offer support is by educating yourself on mental illness.  Many times people with mental illness self medicate with drugs and/or alcohol.  So it isn't as simple as they are "drunks" it is way more complex. 

I often bite my tongue when I hear a loved one make judgemental statements but I think I am going to start challenging their judgements and beliefs.  I owe my clients that.  I owe my loved ones that opportunity to re-think their assumptions.  I don't have much else to say except please start to educate yourself before you continue to just assume or judge.  We all are guilty of judging others, lets try and do less starting now. 

Friday, June 17, 2011

What I learned today

Even if your day was one of those 'just-like-every-other-day' days, it is still an interesting question to ask yourself "What did I learn today?"  Kinda like checking in with a kid after school.  So here are some brief descriptions about what I learned today after working my 3 day a week job as an art therapist/counselor in an inpatient psychiatric setting. 

I learned that if you learn early on, due to abuse, how to fear adults you will likely live in fear for the rest of your life unless you get help.  Fear can make people do and think abnormal things.  I blame the adult that taught the child how to fear for what the child does as an adult.  I hear a lot from friends and family that eventually people just need to "get over it" when discussing childhood problems.  Sexual molestation, verbal abuse and physical abuse can lay some very permanent marks on the brain (or soul or both, whatever your beliefs are).   I reject this "get over it" or "rub some dirt in it" advice and offer a solution, talking openly and lovingly within the family and, if that can't happen, then getting therapy.  The more we "rub dirt" in the child abuse wounds the more infectious the wound becomes.  I saw today an extremely paranoid, anxious individual who could have had a much much different life had the mom or dad believed when he/she said the abuse was happening. 

I also learned today that we as a culture/society would benefit a great deal if along with STD's and the food pyramid talked openly (WITHOUT judgment) about mental illness in health classes within the schools.  We need more open talk about these 'hushed' issues.  I think everyone has had a family member or loved one suffer from a mental illness and if we just started talking about it without judgment, we could understand the importance of good mental health care.

I can honestly say that I feel burned out at times as a therapist, but, what keeps me going is learning from my clients.

Good night :)

Jenny 

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Let's literally change your brain

In reviewing new and old books researching how negative thoughts emerge I find myself fascinated (yet again) with how we have the power to change our brains.  In the book Destructive Emotions: How can we overcome them  A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama  it discusses how in the cases of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder the hippocampus actually shrinks.  The theory is that if a person has an emotional disorder, then they have a problem in the hippocampus.

Trauma, major depression, stress are all things that can literally alter our brain.  We have instincts we are born with that allow us to figure out (on our own) what it is we need to heal our brain after such times of stress.  Unfortunately, some of us ignore our instincts to heal and slow down.  Sometimes I get a headache and notice that it seems to come after I have been overworking my brain all day.  Is this my body telling me to slow down?  Maybe meditate?  Pro-longed stress such as posttraumatic stress disorder can alter your brain and therefore (as the theory goes) make it more and more difficult to regulate emotions.

 In the book Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society the suggestion that trauma results in a "de-differentiation of affect" or a loss of the ability to identify certain emotions that can help with choosing the appropriate response. The book continues to discuss how some with extreme stress have a difficult time creating "semantic constructs to identify somatic states" and this is related to individuals whom act aggressively toward self and others.  In summary, trauma and or extreme stress can lead to "speechless terror" which disrupts the ability to describe feelings with words.

 It is interesting 'brain stuff' research like these that continue to prove how necessary art therapy is when working with clients whom suffer from anxiety, depression and/or trauma.  The generally non-verbal therapeutic approach is a safe way into both the 'story' and beginnings of emotional regulation.  We can change the 'damage' done to our brains due to prolonged stress and/or depression.  I say if you can't afford therapy to help you with this, take up a ceramics class, painting class or listen to music everyday :)  Creative expression does an overworked brain wonders.

 Take care,
Jenny

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

First blog post

Hello!  I plan on blogging about everything and anything relating to therapy, life, being a parent, dealing with depression/anxiety, and much much more.  Please spread the word and enjoy the reading.