Monthly Archives: August 2015

Weekly Goals

Posted on by Gertie

Good evening, everyone! I hope everyone had a good start to the work week. The start of my work week started off on a hectic note but hey, I work in the mental health field so it is to be expected on occasion. I hope tomorrow is a little less hectic at work but I better knock on wood. I’m not here to talk about how hectic work was today. I’m here to discuss my weekly goals. Before, I going with this weeks goals, I’m going to tell you how I did with last weeks goals.

1)  Read Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card. Yes, I did read some this week but not much. I just didn’t make as much time for it like I hoped that I would.

2)  Work on jigsaw puzzle. Yes, I did work on my puzzle. I got all the end pieces together. I am thrilled about it.

3)  Work on a self-help workbook; The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, PhD., Jeffery C. Wood, PSY.D., and Jeffrey Brantley, MD. I unfortunately didn’t work on it at all. I don’t have any excuses. I just didn’t make time to do it.

4)  See my therapist on Thursday. Yes, I did see my therapist. I saw her for about an hour and half. It was a difficult session.

5)  Go to a youth specific suicide prevention training on Wednesday. Yes, I did go. In fact I blogged about it; https://gertiesjourney.com/2015/08/27/yesterdays-safetalk-training/.

Now that you know  how I did on my weekly goals, you know that I didn’t accomplish all of them. I hope that I will be able to accomplish my goals for this week. My goals for this week as follows:

1)  Read Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card. Like, I have said in other post, this will be a weekly goal till I finally finish the book.

2)  Work on jigsaw puzzle. I love doing jigsaw puzzles. It relaxes me. I hope to work on my puzzle for 15 minutes a day.

3)  Color. As I have said before, coloring relaxes me just like reading and working on jigsaw puzzles do. In fact I got some coloring posters in mail on Friday that I ordered from http://www.stuff2color.com/. I love to color and work on multiple coloring projects at any given time. I do this so I don’t get frustrated with a particular piece.

4)  Clean my apartment. It’s pretty self explanatory. I just need to clean my place.

5)  Work on a self-help workbook; The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, PhD., Jeffery C. Wood, PSY.D., and Jeffrey Brantley, MD. I will make sure I work on this week. I will work on chapter two and hopefully start on chapter three.

6)  See my therapist on Wednesday. Yes, I did see my therapist last week but I have another appointment with her this week. I know I have mentioned it before that I rarely miss an appointment but it is still difficult to do.

As you can tell, I have some of the same goals I have had in previous weeks. When it comes to the leisure activities such as  reading, coloring and jigsaw puzzles, I have to make sure I schedule it because I tend to not do things that bring me leisure. Or at least in the past I have it going into Autumn I need to get into the habit. When it comes to seeing my therapist and working on a self-help book, I make it a continuous goal because it helps me in my recovery just like planning my leisure activities. Just want you all to know that. Once again thank you for reading my weekly goals. I am beyond grateful that I joined this weekly blogging event. I encourage you to all look at it over at: http://greenembe.rs/2015/08/31/building-rome-week-35-for-2015/. Have a great evening. Peace out!!!

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Yesterday’s safeTALK Training

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying there week. I realize that I told you all that I would blog about the training yesterday after I finished but I ended up volunteering at the Warm Line last night for two and half hours because the lack of volunteers on. I would have stayed the entire four hours but I needed to go and take care of myself by needing to eat. Now that I have time I will tell you about the training.

The training was “youth specific suicide prevention” but ultimately it can be used for anyone at any age. I felt like it was more of a review than a training due to all the various trainings I have been through due to my job and volunteer jobs. The following are key points from my notes:

  • Suicide is everyone’s business.
  • Suicide is rarely an impulsive act.
  • 5% of the population  in any given two week period think about suicide.
  • Notice the settle stuff when “evaluating the situation.”
  • Ask directly, “Are you suicidal” or “Are you thinking about suicide”
  • People who are suicidal just want someone to listen to them about how they are feeling.
  • The person with thoughts of suicide ultimately have to be a participant in helping themselves.

The above points are just a sliver of the notes I took in the training. I just feel like the above are key points that everyone can comprehend and basic enough that a “normal” person who does don’t work in the mental health field could understand.

Thank you for reading and I hope that the above points are helpful. I am looking forward in sharing with you the notes I take in another suicide prevention training that I will be taking in mid-September. I hope to be able to share with you some key points from that training once I take it and organize the points. I need to get going now. Have a good rest of your evening. Peace out!!

Trainings, Work, Volunteering & Other Related Stuff

Posted on by Gertie

Good morning everyone!! Yes, It is still morning in my neck of the woods. I am looking forward to this afternoon. I am going to a training about youth specific suicide prevention. The best part of this training is that it is being offered by the Crisis Clinic and I am able to attend for free because I am a Warm Line volunteer. (Side Note: The Warm Line is under the umbrella of the Crisis Clinic.) Being able to attend training for free at the Crisis Clinic is one of the many awesome benefits I have for being a Warm Line Volunteer. I love being able to attend the various trainings because it helps me learn new skills that I not only need for my volunteer jobs but my career. It also looks good on the résumé.

Speaking of careers and résumés, I am going to be working on my résumé tomorrow. I have to update it with a couple of things including my volunteer job at the young adult shelter and the training I am going to today. I am updating my résumé  because once my one year anniversary is up at work, I am going to apply to peer specialist positions. Like I have said in previous post, I applied and accepted my current position as a Consumer Aide to get my foot in the door. Yes, I will be applying within the agency I work for but there is only one position posted at this point in time and it is not a guarantee that it wont be already filled when my year is up. I am hoping it will still be up so I can apply for it. I will also be applying at other mental health agencies. No need to be picky on where I apply at this particular time in my career because I am just starting out in the whole grand scheme of things.

I am looking at the time and realize I need to cut this post short. I need to cut it short because of the training I am attending this afternoon. I have to take the bus and am planning on eating lunch near by the training before it starts. I hope to blog about the training later on today. Have a wonderful day everyone. Peace out!!!

Daily Prompt: No, Thank You

Posted on by Gertie

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “No, Thank You.” If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why?

The word I would permanently ban would be crazy. Crazy is extremely derogatory for those of who have a mental health diagnosis. It is not only derogatory but very stigmatizing. The word crazy to a person with a mental illness is like the word retard (which should be permanently banned as well) to someone with Down Syndrome and other such disabilities. I know developmental disabilities are different from mental illness however words can me just as harmful to those of us with a mental health diagnosis.

It makes my skin crawl when I hear someone say the word crazy or even cray cray. When I try to educate others on it, I get everything from, “Thank you, I didn’t realize it was offensive. I will make an effort to not use it.” to “It is socially acceptable and you need to not be so sensitive.” In response to the latter comment, I ask the if the “n” word or retard are acceptable and the response to both are a resounding “no.” I then say then you shouldn’t use the crazy or cray cray for the same reason. The word crazy SHOULD NOT be socially acceptable.

As you can tell I get on my soap box and can go on and on about the word crazy or slang word cray cray. That is why I am ending this post at the moment. Plus, I think you all get the point or at least I hope you all doing. Have a wonderful evening!! Peace out!!

Decided To Sleep-In A Lil Bit

Posted on by Gertie

Good morning everyone!!! It is another Tuesday. That means it is time for a daily prompt but it is going to have to wait till when I get off work. I decided to sleep in an extra half an hour. I normally get up at 5:00am but decided to get up at 5:30am. 5:30am is the latest I can get up with out the potential of being late to work. With me sleeping in an extra half an hour, I didn’t have time to choose a daily prompt so that is why I am going to do it when I get home.

I am actually looking forward to getting off work today. It is not because I don’t like my job because I love it. It is because, I’m actually in the mood to clean. Yes that means I’m going to clean or at least clean a little bit. Even though my place is not that messy, I feel like it needs to be cleaned or at least tidied up.

Well, I best be going. I do not want to miss my bus. If I miss my bus then I will end up late to work. Nobody wants that especially me. I will blog again when I get off. Have a good day everyone. Peace out!!!

Weekly Goals

Posted on by Gertie

Good morning!!! It is Monday and the start of yet another work week or at least it is for millions of people around this world including myself. I may not know what this week will bring, I am looking forward to what it has to offer. Now it is time to share with you how I did with last weeks goals:

1)  Read Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card. Yes, I did read this week. I only read about ten pages due to being so busy. I am enjoying the book thus far.

2)  Work on jigsaw puzzle. I worked on it some. Not as much as I would have liked to have worked on it. I was hoping that I would at least get all the end pieces together but unfortunately time would not allow me to do so.

3)  Work on a self-help workbook; The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, PhD., Jeffery C. Wood, PSY.D., and Jeffrey Brantley, MD. Yes, I did work on in the workbook. I did manage to do the entire first chapter.

4)  Hang out with friends. Yes, I did hang out with friends. I had a blast hanging out with awesome people.

5)  Research the topic for my blogging feature. Yes, I did work on my blogging feature. I did manage to pretty much finish up the research for my first ever blogging feature. I did start researching for other features as well.

6)  Do a daily prompt every Tuesday. Yes, I did start doing a daily prompt every Tuesday, last Tuesday. I do plan on doing one tomorrow as well.

I did manage to accomplish my goals this past week despite the lack of time I had. Like I mentioned earlier, I am looking forward to what this next week has to bring. My weekly goals are as follows:

1)  Read Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card. I am really enjoying the book.

2)  Work on jigsaw puzzle. The major part I want to accomplish this week is to finish putting the end pieces together.

3)  Work on a self-help workbook; The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, PhD., Jeffery C. Wood, PSY.D., and Jeffrey Brantley, MD. For this particular goal this week, I would like to work on chapter 2 and complete it before next Monday

4)  See my therapist on Thursday. I rarely miss an appointment with my therapist. The reason why I put this as goal is because it is not an easy thing to accomplish even though it is a rare occurrence I miss a session. Seeing my therapist is a major part of my recovery.

5)  Go to a youth specific suicide prevention training on Wednesday. This is one of the many trainings that is offered to me at one of the places I volunteer at. Since I am wanting to work with youth and young adults, I thought this would be helpful to me. This is one of the things I am looking forward to this week.

Thank you for reading my weekly goals, yet again. Just like last week this weeks goals were quite winded. It seems like this weeks goals are geared toward things that I find relaxing, my recovery, and career related stuff. Like always I am appreciative of being part of the blogging event over at: http://greenembe.rs/2015/08/24/building-rome-week-34-for-2015/ Have an awesome week and peace out everyone.

We Deserve Supportive People Too

Posted on by Gertie

Last night was not an easy night for me in regards to my PTSD symptoms acting up. As you may have read in my previous post, I struggled with a nightmare last night. It was not exactly the worst nightmare I have had but it shook me up enough that it took a few hours for me to get back to be able to try to get back to sleep. Thankfully, I was able to do so.

As you may have read in last night’s post, Junior was a pretty major support to me. Having a supportive partner in my life has been a blessing to me. Junior isn’t the only supportive person I have in my life. I have built a family of supportive people in my life. People who aren’t afraid to tell me how it is with firmness when I am being a stubborn ass mule. These same people also know when it is time to intervene and be compassionate when I am struggling. For me having people like Junior in my life has been quite beneficial to me and my recovery.

What most  people don’t realize is that those who struggle with a mental illness, having a supportive support system is key to a person’s recovery. So many of us who struggle with mental illness loose many friends just for the fact that others don’t understand mental illness and are fearful that they themselves might “catch it” or “get killed” if we go off our meds. This is a dilemma many of us have. Those of us who struggle with mental illness cant keep the friends we have because of our symptoms and/or their fear. It is because of this loss that many people who struggle with mental illness are scared to meet others and start a friendship.

Having a supportive people in our lives such is friends play a major part in our recovery. We deserve supportive people too, just like everyone else. That is why it angers me when I hear stories of “normal” people not wanting be friends with those who struggle with a mental illness when they find out that someone has a mental illness.

Knowing that many others who struggle mental illness don’t have supportive people in their lives makes me that much more grateful for my support system. I worked my ass off to build my support system and consider myself lucky to have the people I have in my life.

Speaking of support systems, I need to go and be a support to those who need it. This evening I have a shift on the Warm Line and need to get something to eat before I go. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Peace Out!!!!

A Nightmare & A Loving Partner

Posted on by Gertie

It’s the middle of the night and I am wide awake. I am wide awake because of a stupid ass nightmare. A nightmare that needs to be dealt with the next time I see my therapist. Thankfully, I see my therapist on Thursday and will discuss the nightmare with her then.

Junior, like always was supportive. We talked a little bit about what it the nightmare was about but didn’t go in depth because it is not always helpful to do so. We cuddled on the couch watching An American Tail as I held one of my favorite stuffed animals. It helped me a great deal. Junior fell asleep before the movies was over which was no surprise to me. Of course when the movie was over I woke him up and he put in another movie and we are now watching The Mighty Ducks. Junior is now baking chocolate cupcakes as I blog and watch the movie. At this moment I am still struggling with the nightmare but am getting close enough to recovering from it that I could go to bed soon. Of course I am going to finish blogging and watching the movie as the cupcakes finish baking and then cool. Having the support of Junior and doing my skills are helping me with the recovery from the stupid ass nightmare.

Okay, Junior is a little too quiet for his own good in the kitchen. I need to go see what he is up to. I will end this particular blog post for now. Have good night and don’t let the bed bugs bite. Peace out everyone!!

The Day My Career Changed

Posted on by Gertie

Today marks one year since I found out I got my current job as a consumer aide. I was ecstatic that I got my current job. It took all my might to not stick it on Facebook till I had put in my two weeks notice at my previous employer. I thought I owed it to my previous employer to not announce it to the world before they found out I was leaving. They did help me with the job experience I needed as well as giving me some life long friends.  I realized that no matter where I work I’m still going to be part of my previous employers “family” and am beyond grateful for that.

As I look back over the last year, I have realized a great deal about myself not just personally but professionally as well. I learned on how tight nit the mental health community is and how much we really need to rely on each other. The mental health community is also quite small. That is why we need to take care of each other. There is always something to learn in my current career. I think the learning new things is one of the many reasons why I enjoy my career in the mental health field. I have always enjoyed learning and am looking forward to the learning opportunities I will be able to access. Learning opportunities I might not have been able to receive due to the lack of funds. Most importantly, I am able to be an example of what recovery looks like.

As I look forward to what my future looks like in my career, I hope that this time next year I will be a peer specialist. It is the most logical step in my career path. It is what I have been wanting the last two or so years. Now that I have experience, I think it would be a good idea to apply to be a peer specialist. If I get a peer job outside of the agency I currently work at, I will be a little sad. My current agency gave me the break I needed, career wise. I started with them as a volunteer and now I am employed with them and hope that I will be able to get a peer position within the agency. Even if I get employed elsewhere as a peer my current employer will have a soft spot in my heart. The did give me my start in the field.

Now that I told you how today was the day my career changed, I’m going to call it an evening and relax. I hope that everyone has a wonderful and relaxed weekend. Peace out everyone!!!

Nothing But Random Shit

Posted on by Gertie

As I sit here at my laptop, I am straining to blog about something profound but my mind is drawing a blank. A blank I wish I wasn’t having but I am okay with that. I’m okay with it because its not worth getting frustrated, annoyed or upset over. There are more pressing things to be frustrated, annoyed or upset over and none of which I really want to discuss at this moment.

I do know I am looking forward to spending time with a friend and her (adult) son this afternoon. My friends son is visiting from out of town and wants to see the sights so we are going to one major tourist attraction to eat even though I personally think it is overly priced because the food isn’t all that great. You can get better tasting food at Red Robin and for half the price. I guess, ultimately you are paying for an awesome few and it being a “famous landmark.”

I have to do laundry later on and hate doing it. That reminds me that I need to get quarters so I can do laundry. I know that doing laundry is apart of everyday life and am grateful for being able to do my own laundry. I know that there are people out there in the world who are not able to do their own laundry due to a various of reasons. As much as I don’t like doing laundry I am grateful that I am able to do it.

This year summer has been amazing weather wise. I love the weather that has been in my neck of the woods despite officially being in a drought and the massive fires that are happening that have already killed three firefighters. It breaks my heart that three brave heroes lost their lives. They were doing a job many people are not able to do. It also breaks my heart because I know how tight nit the firefighting community is because Junior is a firefighter.

I’m looking at the time and realize I need to get going. I need to go and meet up with my friend and her son. Happy Friday!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend everyone and peace out!!