Addiction and recovery.... Kansas or Oz?
Some days I believe it is Oz I have awakened into and other times I am absolutely certain I am feet on the ground in Oz. It is hard to really know. Mental health is just a catchphrase we use to typify behaviours specific to clients in the system using resources allocated to Mental Health.
There is a woman in the system who is intelligent and skilled and alcoholic.
There are thousands like her, with those traits in this area but they are not in the system. They work or not, pay their bills, or not, and live the consequences.
That last bit is not optional. The piper must be paid.
Just depends on by whom.
Mental health is a cushion for bad behaviours when necessary to fulfill the need to stave off reality. "Oh I couldn't help it, I am having trouble dealing with my.... (catchphrase au jour here)..."
Now I am not a total bitch about this. I do understand Mental Illness better than 99.9% of my peers. I see things clearly and I like to be part of solution oriented care. I do not like aiding and abetting bad behaviours. We are not to judge. We are to provide care to all without judging. Being currently human, I still catch myself judging.
There are at least 4 elderly clients being stiffed on hours who have real need.
Obviously there are dozens of times more than 4 but these 4 have active mental health issues. They are toughing it out in a heartless system.
Now to our other client.
Someone comes to clean, someone else to check in and socialise and yet there is an on-site person being paid to provide food and shelter. Government contracts.
So: off to the Lady who worries about whether anyone is going to hear her sobbing at night from fear who gets someone *once* a week for a shower while someone else takes out the other Lady for socialisation.
What is wrong with this world?
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I do not think I want to pay for gas or food this month, and I don't feel like working and oh dear, I think I am being oppressed because obviously I have a personality disorder at the very least and pass me a few beer so I can see if I have alcoholic tendencies... PAGING MENTAL HEALTH I NEED HELP!
Right.
And after telling me to put my big-girl panties on and deal with it...
I think I would be told to piss off.
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