Growing up, the Holiday Season is the time of the year when all of our worries go away and all we think about is how we cannot wait for all the good things coming our way...
Fast forward a few years... this time of the year, we are worrying about final exams, papers, reports, whatever it may be... not so exciting anymore, isn't it? yet, we still hold some hope and have something to look forward to, almost like "the light at the end of the tunnel"....
Either way, we are blessed to have a reason to look forward to a peaceful and joyful time. We are so happy, that we see almost everything and everyone as happy as we are... wait for it.... ALMOST!
Despite some encounters with "the system," I'm lucky enough that I still hold some hope in this world, and that I refuse to give up just yet. However, its really a challenge sometimes to stay focused when you realize how many people have so little to look forward to, that they see the Holiday Season as one of the hardest times of the year. That, my friends, is what I see every day.
We are taught to "give" during this time to those who are less fortunate. We make donations, take clothes or toys to drives for donation... This year, my challenge to you all is to give YOURSELF. Give your shoulder, your hand, just a few minutes of your day, to those who struggle with life every day. Go above and beyond your yearly donation and go meet those who aren't as "happy" as you are so you can share some of your happiness with them... let them share their stories with you. Open your eyes to a world beyond just the hardships of finals or how many presents you'll have under the tree.
Trust me. It'll be the BEST gift you could ever receive.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Me Against The Universe
I believe in the Universe. I believe in Karma. I believe in energy and how it not only affects us but others. Yes, I am a Social Worker who believes that there are ways to heal people that do not include previously studied Human Behavior theories, learned behaviors, nature versus nurture, etc.
Today, I had a bad day. I wanted to blame my lack of sleep, my inability to focus on my studies, my work-related stress... I wanted to blame everything and everyone around me, because, in all honesty, life is a lot easier when we can "displace" the blame on anyone or anything but ourselves. So after a few tears and sudden urges to punch a wall (don't fret, I refrained from the latter), I gave myself what I would call a dose of reality, and for the first time in a while.... I blamed myself.
Social Workers are humans also. We want to help, that is why we chose this profession. However, the only way to help people at times is just to let the Universe take care of it. Selfish, you say? Insane, perhaps? Nonsense. See, I believe that we are all given a path to follow, and no path is complete without challenges. We can choose to fight them, or we can choose to receive what the Universe has in store for us and learn from it.
My philosophy: take what the Universe gives me, find my balance, and let the challenge take its course. I have chosen not to fight it, but to embrace it, focus on the outcome and the fact that that's the ONLY part that I may actually have some influence over. My bad day could have been avoided if I had thought about this earlier and stopped focusing on what I could not control. My degree does not mean I can "fix" things, let alone change them, so I need to learn to let those things happen how the Universe wants them to go.
And so it is, I have finally completed my 2010's "New Years Resolution." I have peace of mind and I have found my balance. Yes, its ok to stumble every once in a while, and for THAT I blame myself, and so, life goes on, and I can go to sleep knowing that whatever the challenge is today, its only so I can better myself tomorrow.
P.S: for those who asked me what the "concept" of this blog would be... think "Seinfeld"... like the Universe, I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen, I'm just going to go ahead and LIVE.
Today, I had a bad day. I wanted to blame my lack of sleep, my inability to focus on my studies, my work-related stress... I wanted to blame everything and everyone around me, because, in all honesty, life is a lot easier when we can "displace" the blame on anyone or anything but ourselves. So after a few tears and sudden urges to punch a wall (don't fret, I refrained from the latter), I gave myself what I would call a dose of reality, and for the first time in a while.... I blamed myself.
Social Workers are humans also. We want to help, that is why we chose this profession. However, the only way to help people at times is just to let the Universe take care of it. Selfish, you say? Insane, perhaps? Nonsense. See, I believe that we are all given a path to follow, and no path is complete without challenges. We can choose to fight them, or we can choose to receive what the Universe has in store for us and learn from it.
My philosophy: take what the Universe gives me, find my balance, and let the challenge take its course. I have chosen not to fight it, but to embrace it, focus on the outcome and the fact that that's the ONLY part that I may actually have some influence over. My bad day could have been avoided if I had thought about this earlier and stopped focusing on what I could not control. My degree does not mean I can "fix" things, let alone change them, so I need to learn to let those things happen how the Universe wants them to go.
And so it is, I have finally completed my 2010's "New Years Resolution." I have peace of mind and I have found my balance. Yes, its ok to stumble every once in a while, and for THAT I blame myself, and so, life goes on, and I can go to sleep knowing that whatever the challenge is today, its only so I can better myself tomorrow.
P.S: for those who asked me what the "concept" of this blog would be... think "Seinfeld"... like the Universe, I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen, I'm just going to go ahead and LIVE.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Celebrity "Treatment"
One of the areas of social work that has always interested me is treatment for co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse. The challenges of treating individuals who suffer from both are endless, and we are all exposed to them on a daily basis...
Exhibit A: Lindsay Lohan.
There are all sorts of wrong things going on with this case. Yes, I am still new in the profession, but I have an opinion, and therefore, I shall express it. For anyone who has had to sit through a class on the DSM-IV (AKA the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) has been exposed to the symptoms and issues that come with various mood disorders. All you have to do is spend one day reading celebrity blogs and watching the news can see that Cocaine and other drugs are not Lindsay Lohan's primary issue.
Lets see here... large bank account? check!... recognizable name? check!... If you ask me, sounds like a recipe for disaster for someone who has a history of drug abuse as well as impulsive behavior....
Fast forward to her release from UCLA Neuropsychiatric. "Misdiagnosis" of ADHD?... Lets think about this for a moment. A recovering addict who used cocaine is given a medically prescribed version of amphetamines that would not raise a red flag during drug testing. Add Ambien with a side of painkillers for "wisdom teeth", and you got yourself a big, fire-engine-red flag.
Using ADHD and "misdiagnosed" on cases like these that by default do not make sense is what is leading people across America to refuse medical treatment when its really needed. What parent would want to treat their child with ADHD medication when they see how today's stars act when they abuse them? or what about college students, who often relay on Adderall to get through assignments for school?
It was made clear, after the news about the "misdiagnosed ADHD" were released, that Lohan's problem was a Personality Disorder. ($20 blog dollars to whoever reads my mind and guesses which PD they're talking about!). (FYI - PDs include impulsive behavior as well as manipulative tendencies....). Who knows, maybe I'm just stereotyping here, but it all sounds a little confusing to me at this point.
The way the media portrays mental illness, drug abuse, and most importantly, treatment, truly affects people's willingness to reach out for treatment, as well as changing the perception of what these conditions really entail. MI and DA have been trivialized to such extent, that the only way people would really be interested in learning more about the subject is by reading celebrity blogs and Entertainment Tonight. There are so many people out there that need this treatment, families whose daily lives are affected by treatment or lack thereof, and yet, the subject is thrown around depending on which celebrity has done what.
I'm just sayin'.
P.S. yes, I did just make up my own blog currency, keep track of how much you accumulate, and eventually i'll have a contest of some sort!
Exhibit A: Lindsay Lohan.
There are all sorts of wrong things going on with this case. Yes, I am still new in the profession, but I have an opinion, and therefore, I shall express it. For anyone who has had to sit through a class on the DSM-IV (AKA the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) has been exposed to the symptoms and issues that come with various mood disorders. All you have to do is spend one day reading celebrity blogs and watching the news can see that Cocaine and other drugs are not Lindsay Lohan's primary issue.
Lets see here... large bank account? check!... recognizable name? check!... If you ask me, sounds like a recipe for disaster for someone who has a history of drug abuse as well as impulsive behavior....
Fast forward to her release from UCLA Neuropsychiatric. "Misdiagnosis" of ADHD?... Lets think about this for a moment. A recovering addict who used cocaine is given a medically prescribed version of amphetamines that would not raise a red flag during drug testing. Add Ambien with a side of painkillers for "wisdom teeth", and you got yourself a big, fire-engine-red flag.
Using ADHD and "misdiagnosed" on cases like these that by default do not make sense is what is leading people across America to refuse medical treatment when its really needed. What parent would want to treat their child with ADHD medication when they see how today's stars act when they abuse them? or what about college students, who often relay on Adderall to get through assignments for school?
It was made clear, after the news about the "misdiagnosed ADHD" were released, that Lohan's problem was a Personality Disorder. ($20 blog dollars to whoever reads my mind and guesses which PD they're talking about!). (FYI - PDs include impulsive behavior as well as manipulative tendencies....). Who knows, maybe I'm just stereotyping here, but it all sounds a little confusing to me at this point.
The way the media portrays mental illness, drug abuse, and most importantly, treatment, truly affects people's willingness to reach out for treatment, as well as changing the perception of what these conditions really entail. MI and DA have been trivialized to such extent, that the only way people would really be interested in learning more about the subject is by reading celebrity blogs and Entertainment Tonight. There are so many people out there that need this treatment, families whose daily lives are affected by treatment or lack thereof, and yet, the subject is thrown around depending on which celebrity has done what.
I'm just sayin'.
P.S. yes, I did just make up my own blog currency, keep track of how much you accumulate, and eventually i'll have a contest of some sort!
Giving Blogging a Chance
Greetings, Blogging Land!
As a young Social Worker, I have an opinion.... about EVERYTHING! From politics, to Pop Culture, to environmental, to whatever it is the world throws at us (frankly, I blame the news for this).
And so it shall start.... the ranting of a young therapist... buckle up!
As a young Social Worker, I have an opinion.... about EVERYTHING! From politics, to Pop Culture, to environmental, to whatever it is the world throws at us (frankly, I blame the news for this).
And so it shall start.... the ranting of a young therapist... buckle up!
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