will_n_way's Blog

A little social experiment if I may, take a moment or two, to look through my posting, scan my blog, then off the top of your head, the first three words that come to mind as to my personality or what kind of person i am, plesae, post them as a reply, after several responces, I will ask a few people who know me very well to do the same and post the results here, just wanting to see how I come accross online, on an anonymous blog as opposed to real life

 adendum: ok. I know this is just a blog, but I was trying to take this seriously, I'll delete the responces and let you all start over, other wise they'll just all be deleted along with this post.

thanks for indulging

According the the Nation Insititutes of Health, at any one time, One in Four adults has a mental illness, and One in Four children will have one in their childhood.

Think about it, look around, at the office, in class, on the street, one in every four people has a mental illness, there's no chance at all that you aren't effected by mental illness in some way or another, whether it be you or someone you know, a freiend, family memeber, coworker or aquaintence.

So please, next time you're about to call someone crazy, or nuts, or psycho, just try to catch yourself and think a moment, will you be offending a friend or family memeber when you say that? you probably aren't aware of who these peopleare because of the huge stigma attached to having a mental illness, these peopel are afraid, embaressed and ashamed to tell you because they are afraid of being looked down upon, shunned, abandoned, missunderstood or hurt.

If you are interested in more information, please go to the following websites

National Alliance on Mental Illness

http://www.nami.org

National Institutes of Health 

http://www.nimh.gov

Many Voices Press, newsletter for those affected by trauma and dissociation

http://www.manyvoicespress.com

 

Thout it would be appropriate to designate a post in thanks to those who have both commented on and left encouraging/complimentary messages. The validation for the content, issues and spirit of and for which it is written is truely appreciated. Support for the issues is always needed, I only hope it is replicated out in the community in your actions and lives.

Thank you.

 

will_n_way

 

They say they'll have someone get back to you, and yet I have brought an issue to two different news stations. and one of them twice, and I haven't gotten as much as a form-e-mail back. thanks for the concern everyone.

A client was published this month in a Newsletter for consumers with trauma and dissociative disorders, the publication is sent out world wide. I'm very proud of my client, and it's a wonderful opportunity. For more information go to http://www.manyvoicespress.com

What makes think that just because someone is different that they are less then us, that they are wrong, that they are bad, that they are deserving of less?

People with AIDS, with different skin colors, with different languages, with different ages, with different bank ballances and even people with differences not made clear the naked eye. It's almost as if the differences we fail to see at first are the ones we hold the furthest from us. Just because we don't understand, and somehow the world pulled one over on us, how dare they, hiding a different person in a like person's body. How dare the world play such a foolish game on us, us the smart, the rightous, the true.

Please, come on. Maybe they look the same because the yare the same, did you ever think of that? We all sure look pretty much the same on the inside, so what if the cover's a different model, it's all the same wires and oil. We need to stop passing judgement on those who have been delt a much tougher hand and are much stronger and compassionate for it. Most people would likely fail if given such a task as to endure the hardship of having thoughts and feelings not under your own control, having things happen that bewilder and confuse. One day in that world and you'd be made to surrender by it.

So stop judging and critisizing those who have traveld a far less open road than yoursself, start validating and honoring the journies they have made, just as they honor your own. And if you don't want to, well that;'s your choice, but you'll be missing out on some of the most worth while peple, stories, and freinds there have ever been.

One out of every 4 american adults will have a mental illness in their lifetime. it does not discriminate, it could be you next, appreciate those who have them now before it's your turn.

Most, moral, ethically minded people will, when they make a mistake, admit it. When working with challanged or disabled individuals, such as one of my clients, you need to admit to dangerous mistakes. The larger the mistake, the more the consequences will be later on for denying it, if you just admit to it, man-up, upfront, any governing agencies will give you more slack then if you lie about what took place.

One of my clients has reported twice being given access to another clients medication (for symptoms my client does not have), first time they were given to my client, among my client's medication, the second, the package was handed to my client directly by the director of the program. On another occasion, the director encouraged my client to take this other client's medicaiton to her room, claiming "this is over the counter, you can take it upstairs."

On the first occasion, my client ended up in the emergency room for two full days, not until a day later did they realize what was wrong, the symptoms of a hypoglycemic crisis were mistaken for a panic attack. My client could have, worst case, had a deathly allergic reaction to tthis other client's medication. Medication monitoring is under the job description, and part of the signed contract for this facility.

My client was accused of stealing the other client's medication. This medication has no street value, gives you no high or euphoria, quite the opposite, it quickly lowers your blood sugar, an effect no one would want, and would certanly not go through the trouble of sneaking around, stealing another client's medication to get (my client didn't even know what room this client stayed in, and certainly did not know what medication she had). Not only would my client have had to break into a locked office, she would have had to break into a locked storage locker, there are cameras surrounding the office.

This facility not only put my client's life in danger, they're trying to blame it on them as well. These people need to grow up, and own up to their mistakes, before they loose their license, which may happen either way.

Mental Illness certainly CAN be a disability, but it is not always or automatically a disability. If the one in 5 adults with a mental illness were all on disability we'd be frankly screwed, not only would we not have enough people to work, we'd be paying so much much more into social security to keep these people afloat there would be riots, either that or those people would end up homeless because they're discriminated against and not hired or because their government benefits were cut.

musings of a client diagnosed with "Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified", a very intelligent, articulate woman going through enough struggle for 10 lifetimes.

starry night

but now, things are happening. weird, odd, intrusive, scary, unknowable things. things i dont have control over, but if i'm not controling them, who is? you have no idea how it feels. it's different then scared, or scary or freightened, it's a new, unkown universe all to itself. with walls that won't let you in, but yet whatever's inside out into your mind. I'm afraid I've become a part of an unknown percentage of the population that has been at some point in their lives thrust into a world they don't know, a world they've become lost in, a world where they are alone and yet filled with lonely people. Laying on the ground, staring at the stars, wondering what's up there, wondering how far it goes, wondering if there's life out there, life that can make contact, life that can communicate, new intelligences, new information... that is how my own self has become. That is how it feels to pear into my consciousness, a feeling of unknown, a vast unkown, one that I fear could swallow me whole if I let it, and yet, I have to let it. I have to let it in order to continue to survive. I have to jump into the unkown, without a net, without a lifeboat, without another, just close your eyes and jump. Be swallowed into the dark, hopefully to come out somewhere, somewhen on the other side, hoping for some point of light to develope in the darkness, hoping for a light to apear, to become a space, a place, a place where I can discover truths not known, a place to see years past lost, a place to know myself.

The short list of Wisconsin State DFHS Administrative Code violations for ONE assisted living facility for clients with AODA issues, Mental Health issues and Corrections histories. this facility is located in the City of Milwaukee, is partially state and county funded and does have a history of code violation invesitigations. In fact, the staff actually brag about the number of state investigations under their belt.

Something needs to be done.

 

residents' rights - name calling, mocking, unfounded accusations, forcing residents into activities that cause physical pain

right to be free of abuse, physical, emotional or verbal - name calling, making fun of, forcing residents into activities that cause physical pain, threatening residents with discharge to the bellow zero weather, threats of legal prosecution, ywlling across the building, yelling up to the second floor/down to basement, yelling over PA systems

physical boundaries - staff patting residents on rear portion of hips, residents violating physical boundaries of other residents

respect for individuality - judging  residents and their actions based on staff's person history and the history and actions of other residents, making accusations based on staff's history and emotions

dignity and respect - name calling/mocking etc infront of other residents, residents removing clothing infront of other residents

food with expired experation dates is not to be accessed by residents - spoiled dairy products (some with live cultures), expired bakery, canned good, as well as various snack foods

comfortable beds - broken box springs in place of matresses, thin foam sheets over exposed springs

adequate lighting - 1 60watt bulb for a bedroom aproximatly 1500 square feet, busijness office areas (1 large area, 3 small) with no less then 2 dozen lightbulbs

sanitary dishes - health dept. standards posted but not practiced, there are times when soap is not available, dishes go unwashed, dishes not properly washed or sanatized

community resources - resources mostly past dated, no current information, refusal to give residents resources

transportation arrangements - none offered

resources for prescription access - no knowledge of pharmacies with correct packaging, putting all responcibility on residents and social workers

secure location for storage of Rx's in bedrooms - no such space, residents encouraged to hide Rx's under pillows or in drawers (many clients with history of drug use and abuse)

personal privacy - no emotional or physical privacy outside of the bathroom, no privacy on the phone

animal breeding - possibly not an actual code violation but, enough said.

must be one non-pay phone for resident use - plans to replace phone with pay phone, against state code

complete nutrition - 2 dozen women and milk 50% of the time, residents not getting nutritional needs met,, lack of calcium/dairy, often carb-heavy meals, poor access to quality/lean protein, often proved with excesivly greasy fried foods

opportunity for physical activity - help with exercise listed on intake form but no access to anything other then a room with a tv and a couch is available

records/information privacy - phone on speaker while administering medication, handsfree phone on while around residents, residents paraded infront of 20 foot picture window facing a busy street while administering medication (there are blinds, but they are always open)

use of seclusion - punishment of forcing residents to stay in the building at all times, preventing any social interaction or physical contact with freinds and family

threats to withold medication - threats to withold medication for residents not completeing chore type tasks or residents acting out behavioraly

***if anyone in any position of power or authorty would like to look into this facility, please feel free to leave a comment with contact information, I will reply to any and all requests.

***if anyone works at or has contact with facilities that have openings, possibly for residents of this facility that are desperatly trying to leave, PLEASE post a comment with relevant contact information

 

It has come to my attention that there are thousands of people that have been diagnosed with a certain category of psychiatric disorder that have been shoved to the back burner far many more times then any other by both the professional community and the general public at large.

When you hear the term "multiple personality disorder" you think of movies and tv and serial killers. 1, it's been statistically prooven that people with mental disorders are as a whole far less violent then the general population, and 2. Most people with what are called Dissociative disorders, pass you on the street everyday, and you've never had a clue they were there. They look just like you and me, just like everyone else.

Dissociation is something that has happened atleast once to everyone, to all of us, at the low end there are things like highway hypnosis, or you're curled up reading a good book and look up to see that 3 hours have passed when it feels like only 30 minutes have gone by. On the high end, you've all heard storied of people who have been in bad car accidents, they don't remember anyhting between driving and being in the ER, that is what dissociation was made for, when you experience something so traumatic and life threatening, your brain shuts off or burries your experience of it so you don't have to go through it.

A dissociative disorder is usualy man made. These are people who have been through chronic child abuse or neglect, ritual abuse, or other chronic trauma. Because the brain is still developing when the child's dissociative defense kicks in (time and time again), it changes the wiring in their brain, it physically changes their neural structure, because of this it becomes a problem whne they start into adulthood. When these children grow up, their warning system has been stuck in the on position, their brain and nervus system react as if there is a life threatening situation even when there isn't, it becomes intrusive and distressing, and can leave a person feeling, I don't usualy use this word, but people with the disorder have said it themselves, it can make them feel like they're crazy.

All of these problems stem from a perfectly healthy, perfectly normal biological protection mechinism. there are some people who don't belive these disorders in the first place, and there are some that think it's the result of bad therapy, I am not in either of these groups. there is now research, scientific evidence of something wrong, of something happening, and there is work being done to make it even clearer.

If you or someone you know has been through this kind of trauma, have a resulting dissociative disorder, or think there might be dissociative symptoms but you're not sure, or are a professional that would like to gain more insight, there is a newsletter put out by and for people with histories like these.it is very professionally put together, the articles, stories and art are mostly from people with these disorders and offer incredible first hand accounts of the symptoms and stigma associated with them. For a free sample copy, click on: http://www.manyvoicespress.com/

For more information, check out these books:

The DID Sourcebook

The Stranger in the Mirror

For info on treatment/resources, google "ISSTD" and "dissociation"

 

http://www.manyvoicespress.com/

This "non-profit" shelter for women, who's staff have been emotionally abusive, is getting a very shakey reputation. I found out that their board of directors get paid, this is definatly not the norm for non-profits. The director claims she does NOT get paid, even though she recently aquired a Mercedes Benz SUV and is having a new home built, not to mention regulary gets her hair and nails done and takes the dogs to the groomer.  how can they afford to pay 20 board members if they complain about the electric and food bills all the time? It would seem if you had a volunteer board of directors (which is how it's usualy done) there should be absolutely no problem in meeting the basic needs of their clients.

many aspects of this organization are not coming together, and are not making sense. if there's anyone who works with non-profits, or anyhting that could give some advise, I would appreciate it

so this client is staying at a shelter that's emotionally abusive, making their illness worse, not somewhere they can feel safe, somewhere were there are plenty of state code violations every day, and there's nowhere for them to go because all the shelters are full due to the bellow freezing temps outside. This client used to spend a lot of her free time volunteering for years and years, she donated to charities, and now, there doesn't seem to be anyone to help her in *her* time of need. just doesn't seem to be a very merry christmas. so much for the season of giving.

if anyone is in the social work or mental health or related feilds and knows of any residential housing, transitional living programs or even supportive shelter programs (that may have openings), please reply to this post.

otherwise, happy holidays to you and yours.

be thankful

The director in question, has a state license and a degree in some sort of religious studies. She has also, apparently, now been selected as the winner or a "Black Excellence Award". And is hoping to be featured on the Montel Williams show as a woman who has made a difference in her community.

only as to conserve my own energy and not be the type of person *she*, I will not send a note to the black excellence board and the montel producers. I have more important things to do, if anyone else wants to though, I might be willing to give out detailed information.

she continues to openly mock other clients infront of others, the client the above situationas was told the other day to shovel the sidewalk before getting dressed, just getting out of the shower, and they would have but they decided to be the bigger person and not prance out in the snow half naked to proove a point.

and yes, she is projecting her bad acts and the addictrive behaviors of others onto people who have never come across problems with drugs or alcohol and doesn't seem to have a need to apollogise when the situation proves her wrong.

it's definatly falling under emotional and verbal abuse.

thankfully, I have some contacts with various social service/mental health agencies and will step up and take bat for this client. Though due to the overwhelming number of problems with service providers in this field, it will likely go unpunished.

This post has been edited by an administrator

since when does calling someone, in front of almost 2 dozen other people, "a bull$#@!ter, a manipulator, a liar and a snake" (yes snake as in biblical as in the devil) fall under treating someone with dignity and respect? whether this person does those things or not that is way beyond ethical bounds. especially from the DIRECTOR of a program. the same director who brags about how many complaints she's had, how many times the state has investigated them, and how many crack pipes she has in the back room, reportedly keeping them as evidence/ i'm pretty sure having them in her posession is still illegal, if you want evidence give them to the police.

just because a person has a disability and doesn't have anyone to stand up for them doesn't mean you can treat them like trash.