The Moments That Count
Written September 10, 2010Last night I went to my grandmother’s bedside, it was late, the room was dimly lit. She lay in her hospital bed, lost amid a jumble of pillows and blankets. She is presently at home in palliative care making her way from this world to the next. She is dying. It was... Continue Reading →
The Art of Weird
I come from a generation in which if you were weird you had to make a choice, hide it and blend in, or be out there and don't look for acceptance. Be strong enough to own your weird, earn your acceptance through sheer force of will. They used to say "don't dress weird unless you... Continue Reading →
A Trip to the Hospital – What to Pack
When you have finally made the hard decision to go into hospital you may be overwhelmed by your circumstances, emotions, and the tasks you are expected to complete. The best way to cut down on the number of concerns and tasks at hand is to be prepared. If you have a comprehensive list of items... Continue Reading →
How Do I Get To A “Safe” Place?
Getting to an immediate “safe” place may be as easy as dragging yourself step by step out of the room that you are experiencing your crisis in and into a safer place in your home. Make sure you avoid high risk areas like the kitchen, for instance. There are too many things you can harm... Continue Reading →
Trip to the Hospital – Admitting Yourself To Hospital
Now That You Have Realized You Need Help And Have Decided To Admit Yourself into Hospital It is imperative that you make this critical decision before you carry through with any plans to harm yourself or others. Try not to let your crisis get out of hand. It is very important when you are experiencing... Continue Reading →
Some Perceptions of Hospitalization
A person suffering from mental instability should not consider hospitalization a “dead end” result of bad behavior or a “last resort” destination. What I mean by “dead end” result is some people believe once they are in hospital they will wallow in their woes and stagnate. This is not true. Nor is it a place... Continue Reading →
Through The Hassle Castle’s Door Once More
This section applies to those who have been hospitalized once before or more: I was spending time on a hospital psyche ward over Christmas one year when I happened to meet a very animated and colorful personality who suffered from schizophrenia. She would sit and brood while she smoked these long cigarettes, her eyes would... Continue Reading →
A Trip to the Hospital – Part One
* Please remember all the information in the following statements is based purely on my own assumptions and opinions gained from my own personal experiences. Making the Difficult Decision of Whether or Not to Go Into Hospital This section applies to those facing admittance for the first time: The thought of hospitalization can be confusing... Continue Reading →
Are You Sick Enough To Consider Hospitalization?
Here are a few scenarios that may apply to your present circumstances. They are examples of certain situations a person may find herself/himself in that should be treated by hospitalization. If you are experiencing a severe emotional/mental health crisis and are an impending danger to yourself or pose a physical threat to others through your... Continue Reading →
Slicing or Other Self-Abusive Behavior
This is a most difficult subject to tackle because there is a lot of shame and social stigma connected to it. Many people, even fellow sufferers of mental disorders, find it hard to sympathize with or understand those who suffer these behavioral problems if they themselves have never experienced it. Sufferers of mental illness who exhibit this... Continue Reading →
My Mental Trampoline 