After giving it much thought I have finally decided to start my own blog. I am not by any means a writer or a poet but I do have my own thoughts and beliefs and have decided to share them with the world. I'm starting this blog on a sort of trial. For the next 3 months, I'm going to attempt to post on a weekly basis. Hopefully, I can keep up with it and not neglect it like I have done to several blog attempts in the past. If at the end of the three months, I feel that I have touched someone's life or entertained them I will continue this journey of bloghood.
My name is Julie, and I'm a Christian as well as a PRN (as needed) Social Worker for a mental health hospital. Due to the nature of my work I cannot share anything personal about our patients but I hope to share some of the lessons I have learned over the past 2 years. I also intend to share my personal thoughts and beliefs as a Christian on several Hot Topics that our world deals with in this day-in-age. My personal thoughts and beliefs are just that...personal, and therefore, do not necessarily reflect those of my religion or my employers. It is not my intent to offend anyone in these posts. If I do accidentally offend someone, please let me know so that I might make amends and explain myself more fully.
Let it Begin...
Today, I was off work and decided to watch one of my favorite period dramas, North and South. Now, this isn't the long miniseries about the civil war. Instead, North and South is a movie based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell. It speaks of the harsh world of the North of England brought on by the industrial revolution. The heroine of this novel/movie is Miss Margaret Hale who is from the tranquil and rural south. You learn in the movie that the ways of the South are very different from the ways of the North. As you watch the movie, Margaret overcomes her prejudice of the North and grows to love its people and their way of life. In a way, I can relate to Miss Hale as I to had to overcome my prejudices for a different kind of people.
When I was in college, I told myself multiple times that I would never work in the mental health field. In truth, I was terrified of them...of the unknown. After graduating from college, I discovered that looking for a job was much more difficult than I originally thought. So when the first true job opportunity came to light I snatched it up. The job was working as a PRN Social Worker for the very people I was scared of. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was very wrong in my prejudices against those with mental illnesses. In truth, I have come to love them and to respect them as a people who are faced with much adversity and prejudice.
It has been an incredible journey and one I would repeat a thousand times.
Over the past 2 years, I have discovered a serious problem among the citizens of this country. The problem is the serious lack of understanding of mental illness. Now, I understand that there are those who do understand mental illnesses whether by personal means or social means; therefore, I urge those of you to spread your knowledge and to lead by example. For those of you who have very little knowledge of mental illnesses such as Bipolar and Schizophrenia, I implore you to do the research and learn more about these mental illnesses.
When I was in college, I thought those who suffered from Schizophrenia were violent and chaotic when in truth many of them are no different than you or I. My experiences through work have opened my eyes to the level of prejudice they experience; therefore, I implore you to watch what you say towards and about those with mental illnesses. Remember they have feelings like you and I.
If you suffer from a mental illness, know that I hold a deep respect for you but do not allow this illness to beat you down. Make the best of what God has given you and persevere through all trials and tribulations. Know when you have reached your limits and when to ask for help. In the words of Commander Peter Quincy Taggert, "Never Give Up, Never Surrender!"
Sincerely,
A Christian Social Worker
Very nicely said Julie, although mental illness is a bit more understood than it used to be, we still have a long way to go. To the the ones you mentioned, I'd like to say that depression and anxiety are also very real illnesses. Too many people suffer alone because of their fear of judgement. A little bit of love goes a long, long way!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I plan to mention more on depression and anxiety at a later date but you are right they are just as real as the others.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts, Julie! I look forward to reading your future blog posts! :)
ReplyDeleteCan you believe three years have already passed since we were students at Freed? It just doesn't seem possible. Miss you!
-Holly
Amen Julie....well said.
ReplyDelete