adjusting, aware-ing, appreciating, and adopting

i need to report my processing more frequently. i kind of wish i could do it all by voice reording on my long bike rides home. instead i will take a portion of my lunch hour to recount what has been on my mind from my experiences thus far.

ADJUSTING: i am really really really ENJOYING working in psych. who knew? it is pretty funny though. i chose a psych placement because i knew it was something that would challenge me since i was pretty sure i was not at all interested in it. but boy is it interesting.

the long days go by so quick. each day is a new day and so although we may run the same groups over and over, they are new and exciting each day. i get excited about everything we have going on each day (groups, evals, documentation, meetings, meetings, and more meetings) and haven't once thought: when is this day going to be over (a definite good sign). i could go for a couple of more hours of sleep at night- working on that one.

AWARE-ing/ APPRECIATING: i have become more aware of my emotional response to the patients. i got a bit emotional on my bike ride home the other day. this sweet man who is a harvard graduate with bipolar with current episodes of psychosis seems to be so affected that i would compare him to an individual with developmental delays. and to find out that he is a harvard grad. as i was biking, the lyrics of a song threw me: "even the best fall down sometimes". it makes me really sad to see the situations of most of these patients. no one wants to be there. i think of them in this locked unit, no freedom, no control (to an extent), no family or friends (except for visitors). to reference ahamm's blog (see link) the ordinary is extraordinary. i say this as it relates to my appreciation for all that i have access too. i have done this before when i was in thailand. i begin to feel guilty for my opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the everyday things knowing that there are people out there who are not. it makes me more willing to strive to work with these people to help them to get out there and start participating in the things that are meaningful to them. to help them to accomplish, enjoy, and succeed.

ADOPTING: it is amazing to see how much i am learning from my supervisor and in addition recognize how much i did learn in my 2 years at BSOT. it is fun to be challenged and adopt this knowledge.