Crazy
After roughly 22 years of being in the Mental Health field, I should be used to hearing “I’m not crazy” but I’m not. The fact is we are ALL crazy, me included. “Crazy” has evolved over the years carrying at times a heavier stigma than others but always with a negative connotation. It drives me crazy regardless of how short that drive may be. Mental Health is a journey everyone takes, and our evolution, personally and collectively, has a tremendous impact on our lives and the lives of those we connect with.
I have written for many years on many topics for many different reasons both published and non-published, but this is my first attempt at blogging. I always write from the heart but in a polished, and professional format. I plan on doing neither of those through this blog format. The best thing I can do is address things through my lens, my words, my feelings, and share my mental health journey. Hopefully those that read it gain an insight and understanding of Mental Health issues. Because of that, the topics will be destigmatized in their minds and they, in turn, will spread the message that we are all crazy and need to address our Mental Health. Yes, you read that correctly. We are all crazy.
When I think of “crazy” my mind recalls a scene from an old TV show I watched with my grandmother, “Designing Women”. The main character is giving a diatribe on “being crazy” and she makes the statement that in the south we don’t hide away our crazy people, we bring them out on the front porch and show them off. I think that is so funny but in a tragic way. The fact is that our society makes a joke of mental health and not only stigmatizes it but at times demoralizes it, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH!
I come from a long line of crazy. Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Addiction, Suicide just to name a few have devastated my family members as well as me individually. I myself carry the diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Depression, and I have seriously considered suicide three times in my life. I’m sitting here with fingers on keyboard thinking about how many of my family members would be pissed about the first two lines of this paragraph. Little would they know, it proves the point I’m trying to make and pushes me to be even more real and transparent with this blog.
My plan is to push myself to be as open and transparent with my journey as I can be for a few reasons. First, I feel it will be therapeutic for me. Second, I feel the people who seek my help can relate to me much more in session than if I were to be an enigma to them walking into the counseling room. The idea of a Mental Health Professional “over sharing” things about their life, belief system, and experiences is emphatically discouraged. To put it bluntly, that is completely stupid. I understand why this thought is highly regarded in the field of Mental Health but personally feel it to be a disadvantage to both the practitioner and the client.
My plan is to blog at least once a week but who knows. I may do more depending on how often inspiration hits me. Everyone has a story. Every story is important. Every story is impactful. I hope you make the decision to follow me on this journey of self-evaluation, and disclosure and through my story you find the inspiration and strength to tell your own.
Blog again soon,
Joshua