Note:
Sternly asking “How would YOU feel if you had to bleed from your PENIS once a month?!?” does not win you points with the guy who just had ACL surgery.
Or, I’m now realizing, any guy.
At any time.
Ever.
Category Archives: Mental Health
Racism is Not a Mental Illness
On behalf of the Mental Health community, I would like to thank the general public for offering us the spotlight in the wake of the Charleston shootings, but we will go ahead and take a hard pass.
Let’s keep that light firmly planted on the Hate-Filled Racist community, where it belongs.
Because these are in fact two distinct, separate communities.
The mentally ill are far– FAR– more likely to hurt themselves than they are to hurt anyone else. They are also FAR more likely to be the victims of violent crimes than the perpetrators.
Racists are responsible for mass killings and genocide throughout this country, throughout the world, throughout our history.
I’m all for bringing awareness to the mental health cause, and encouraging the healing of a broken system, but let it be for the right reasons. Because taking action on mental illness only in the wake of mass violence just perpetuates the stigma– and stigma, without fail, is the greatest barrier to seeking help.
So back to this problem of racism, bigotry, and hate, please.
How are we going to fix that?
It’s Not About Mental Illness: The big lie that always follows mass shootings by white males.
Hindsight is 20/20
Being a Special Education teacher is a great profession for me because, given that I have ADD and anxiety, and given how that affected my own school experience, I can totally relate to how these kids are feeling, and can therefore be super patient and supportive.
….is what I thought when I got into this profession.
What actually happened is that I signed up to work in a hot, dirty classroom full of 30 kids who represent everything I hate about myself.
This is less a recipe for patience than it is a recipe for pulling my hair out strand by srand, finding the nearest table, crawling under it, and rocking back and forth in the fetal postion.
Good intentions, though.
Nope, it’s not the bagel.
My excessive sweating is just a mix of crappy AC and a raging anxiety disorder.
Thanks for reminding me, though.
They Noticed
So yesterday this happened and I was just kind of hoping the students forgot about it (as I like to think kids do when something extremely uncomfortable occurs). I convinced myself that the moment was much more awkward and memorable for me than it was for them, and that they probably didn’t even notice.
Yeah, well. They did.
Today we started writing an end-of-year school newspaper. Here’s what one kid is contributing to the Comics section (work still in progress). I’ve translated the kid’s writing in pink, in case you can’t read it.
So I think the moral here is, even 10-year-olds notice when you act like an awkward buffoon.
This is sure to do wonders for my social anxiety.
The Best Solution
Later today I will be squished in the backseat of a small car with my brother and likely-to-be-cranky baby nephew for what I’m sure will be at least a 7-hour drive down to Maryland.
Luckily, I have some Ambien.
To crush up and put in the baby’s bottle.
#aunthood
Why IS this?
Me: “I’ve been REALLY anxious lately.”
Therapist: “Ok, take a deep breath.”
Me: <Do so. Instantly feel calmer.>
————————-
Me: “I’ve been REALLY anxious lately.”
Friend/peer who also gets anxiety: “Ok, take a deep breath.”
Me: <Do so. Instantly feel calmer.>
————————–
Me: “I’ve been REALLY anxious lately.”
Anyone besides the above: “Ok, take a deep breath.”
Me: “DON’T FUCKING TELL ME WHAT TO DO!”
The Best
Thanks to all of you who came out to support mental health awareness at the Active Minds Casino Night last night. It was an amazing event for an incredibly important cause.
But I have to say, the very best part of the night was watching my parents leave hand in hand.
I have the best family.
June 10th
(Part of the #June series)
Kid: “Why do we have to learn this?”
Me: “Because I’m going to Active Mind’s Casino Night tonight, and I’ll be too tired to teach you a damn thing tomorrow. Anyway, wanna donate? Here’s the link: Active Minds. Tell your parents! Seriously. That’s your homework. To donate. No, this is not a conflict of interest. Shhhhhh.”
#june
Respect for the Therapist/Patient Relationship
Therapist: “Just so you know, I do not read your blog. As your therapist, I think it’s a conflict of interest, and actually a patient privacy issue. So if we’re ever in a session and you refer to something you’ve written about, just know I haven’t already read it– not because I don’t WANT to, but out of respect for the doctor/patient relationship.”
Me: “Oh my gosh, of course, I totally get and respect that you don’t read it– that makes complete sense!”
Bitch.
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