Today was my first shift on the Crisis unit. I was so, so nervous on the drive there. I knew I would just be shadowing today, so not a lot of laborious work. But I worried that I’d be shown something that I couldn’t contain. That wasn’t the case. My first shift was pretty mundane. I got to know the current residents in our unit. I got to help lead group. I got to help come up with a shift trade form. Other than that, not a lot of anything really.
I look forward to really getting to dive more into my responsibilities as a QMHP. Even just after today though, it really sunk in how easily I could be the one in a crisis unit. I mean, I’ve been that low. I’m currently a different kind of low. My talkspace therapist is seriously considering that I might need a higher level of care for the eating. I’m not convinced. But, back to the fine line…
One of the residents also has an M.A. in counseling. What is so different that puts me working there and him residing there? I’m just sort of baffled by how fine the line is between being able to keep pushing through and needing to seek more help.
Glad your first experience there was a positive one!
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Your last line is telling. We must all care for ourselves first in order to do any good for others.
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honestly, i think the ability to hold both things in one hand — that you could be there, but that you are not there — will be such gift to you and to your clients there. you will be able to humanize them in a very real and tangible way, and they will benefit from your empathy and understanding.
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That’s my greatest hope, that I’ll always be able to hold both realities at once.
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I think many of us are teetering on the edge – so the question becomes, what kind of guardrails do you have in place to keep you safe? The distance between being on firm ground – or not – is still just one step.
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I’ve been thinking a lot this morning about how much of this is about our support systems. I know that I am blessed with an incredible support system and they help me stay out of the deepest pits of my despair. But not everyone has that, not everyone has someone to keep them firmly planted on the other side of the line. I think part of this job is getting to be one of those people for our residents, getting to help them find footing back on the other side of despair.
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Did you see the story this week about the couple who died at Yosemite while taking a selfie? And the most ironic part was that they had blogged on the dangers of taking selfies near cliff edges!!! So even knowing of the inherent danger of being near the edge is not enough.
https://petapixel.com/2018/10/31/couple-falls-to-death-during-selfie-at-same-yosemite-spot-as-viral-photo/
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