There, I said it. I’m very open about my experiences through therapy and my own development throughout the process. Sometimes when I tell people that I’ve been seeing a shrink for almost two years, they seem shocked. As far as I can tell, they immediately start wondering what horrible psychological condition I had suffered from. These are the old fashioned people that still believe in the early 1900s version of the psych asylums. Crazy people walking around in straight jackets, drooling all over themselves.
I guess it’s easier for people to pretend that’s the way it is. The field of psychology has advanced exponentially from this “dark age.” However, there are lingering assumptions among the general population that seeing a psychologist or a counselor is an admittance of weakness or some form of insanity.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. Taking the first step in admitting you need help is difficult. Once you take this step though, you will be glad you did. Whether you’re looking for counseling for a serious condition, or just going through a depressive phase, counseling WILL help. The process of understanding how and why your thoughts and feelings are affecting you can make the difference between being barely functional and reaching your full potential.
Granted, every clinician sees their fair share of paranoid schizophrenics and anti-social personalities, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help you with your more mundane problems. When I began therapy, I had a serious anxiety disorder. Through therapy, I have overcome that problem, but I still see a therapist regularly. It helps to see someone, even if you are past a depressive phase or other traumatic event. Just because you feel better now doesn’t mean you can’t learn ways to avoid similar anxious and depressive feelings in the future.
Anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders all have certain phases that they go through. If you are depressive, you may be depressed for a few weeks at a time, but then you may recover for a month or two. The depression or anxiety phase will likely return. If, in the meantime you seek counseling and learn about the sources of these feelings, you have a very good chance of being able to handle the next phase.
Do not be afraid of seeing a shrink. They are people like you and I, and will be a great help. If you see a therapist during a massive depressive episode, it will help. If you see a therapist after your grandma dies, it will help. If you see a therapist after you fail a test, it will help. Do not be afraid of the stigmas associated with seeing a therapist.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Apocalypse is Imminent
We aren’t even going to make it to 2012. Society has got its shit all mixed up. I logged on to my email website, and instead of finding information about the economy, healthcare, unemployment, or the war, the headline is “Town Mourns Albino Squirrel.”
The link led to a bit on fox news about an albino squirrel got hit by a car in England. News becomes interesting for the viewer one of two ways. First, if it affects them locally, such as a school catching fire or road closures. Secondly, international news garners attention purely because of the vastness of the event. Such as stock market crashes and the international price of oil. Rarely, something will make the news that fits in either of these categories. A man dressed as a clown robbing a convenience store is an example of this. Usually these other news stories have some kind of humor or meaning to the viewer.
In conclusion, what is a national news station doing talking about a dead squirrel an ocean away from us?
Here is a link to the video
The link led to a bit on fox news about an albino squirrel got hit by a car in England. News becomes interesting for the viewer one of two ways. First, if it affects them locally, such as a school catching fire or road closures. Secondly, international news garners attention purely because of the vastness of the event. Such as stock market crashes and the international price of oil. Rarely, something will make the news that fits in either of these categories. A man dressed as a clown robbing a convenience store is an example of this. Usually these other news stories have some kind of humor or meaning to the viewer.
In conclusion, what is a national news station doing talking about a dead squirrel an ocean away from us?
Here is a link to the video
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
How mediocrity will be the end of us all.
The worst attribute in a leader is mediocrity. It has no place in a society like ours. In an age where it could be the end of the world, or the beginning to a bright future, it is horrible that the only attribute that seems to be in abundance is mediocre people. Maybe it’s a question of motivation. Maybe it’s a question of skill. Maybe it’s a side effect of our society.
People tell you to think outside the box, to be your own person, and to think outside of the norm. But what makes a person unique, special, or eccentric? Where do you draw that line? I think the answer is in each one of us. Everyone’s personal psychology and personal philosophies are different. The key is not to give in to these social norms. Be yourself.
Live without regrets. Take it day by day. If someone is on your nerves, approach them. Consider your argument, and if you decide that you are in the right, make it known. Don’t allow yourself to be stepped on because of outside pressures. Stir things up. Be a problem child. If people don’t want to deal with your opinion, it only shows how invested they are in the topic at hand. If you are more involved in someone else’s business than they are, is it really their business, or have you taken the reigns?
“It’s none of your business” should never be taken seriously. If you are emotionally involved in an argument, it’s as much your business as any other party involved. If you legitimately don’t care about a situation, then it is none of your business. There is nothing I regret sticking my nose into. There are repercussions of some of my actions, but I accept them with open arms. I have made and lost friends because of situations I could have simply ignored and continued on my way.
People deserve to pay repercussions for their action. This doesn’t just apply to negative acts. Hand out compliments when they are deserved. Be opinionated. Say when you like something, and scream when you don’t. Call people out for what you see them as, leave room for them to rebut.
After some time, you will begin to be able to see people how they view themselves, as opposed to how other people view them. With the proper amount of self-reflection, you will be able to see yourself through other people’s eyes. Be aware of these things and you will go far. Your interpersonal skills won’t be mediocre and people will start looking at you in a different light. I can’t promise everyone will look at you in a good light, but that is the price you pay for standing out. You will have friends, and you will have enemies. All that really means is that you have asserted yourself in places where others have been too afraid to.
People tell you to think outside the box, to be your own person, and to think outside of the norm. But what makes a person unique, special, or eccentric? Where do you draw that line? I think the answer is in each one of us. Everyone’s personal psychology and personal philosophies are different. The key is not to give in to these social norms. Be yourself.
Live without regrets. Take it day by day. If someone is on your nerves, approach them. Consider your argument, and if you decide that you are in the right, make it known. Don’t allow yourself to be stepped on because of outside pressures. Stir things up. Be a problem child. If people don’t want to deal with your opinion, it only shows how invested they are in the topic at hand. If you are more involved in someone else’s business than they are, is it really their business, or have you taken the reigns?
“It’s none of your business” should never be taken seriously. If you are emotionally involved in an argument, it’s as much your business as any other party involved. If you legitimately don’t care about a situation, then it is none of your business. There is nothing I regret sticking my nose into. There are repercussions of some of my actions, but I accept them with open arms. I have made and lost friends because of situations I could have simply ignored and continued on my way.
People deserve to pay repercussions for their action. This doesn’t just apply to negative acts. Hand out compliments when they are deserved. Be opinionated. Say when you like something, and scream when you don’t. Call people out for what you see them as, leave room for them to rebut.
After some time, you will begin to be able to see people how they view themselves, as opposed to how other people view them. With the proper amount of self-reflection, you will be able to see yourself through other people’s eyes. Be aware of these things and you will go far. Your interpersonal skills won’t be mediocre and people will start looking at you in a different light. I can’t promise everyone will look at you in a good light, but that is the price you pay for standing out. You will have friends, and you will have enemies. All that really means is that you have asserted yourself in places where others have been too afraid to.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Go straight to Hell. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. We’ve all heard the saying. It’s one of those things that gets brushed off as some random comment by someone trying to sound smart. Usually that’s the way it is.
However, taken at face value with no circumstances to base it off of, it makes perfect sense. Does it really matter if you mean to be a good person but act like a jackass? Too often have I seen people get off easy because they meant well by an action, but ended up being a jackass.
Sure, you went to that party to be social and make friends, but ended up making a fool out of yourself. Does that mean I shouldn’t be upset at you for being a dumbass? Oh, but he meant well. He’s really an okay guy.
I’ll go ahead and call bullshit on that one. I don’t care if you went out into the world trying to do the best thing you could. Results speak for themselves. It’s a great thing that you want to be involved with community service, but just because you want to make a difference doesn’t mean you are the best one for the job. I might be mixing arrogance with good intentions, but therein lies the problem.
Do you really want to do the best thing, or do you only think that you are the best one for the job? Take non-profits for instance. It’s a wonderful thing that every NFL player and their mom wants to start up and run their own philanthropy. They mean well, but don’t you think that it would make more sense to simply raise money for someone that knows what they are doing? Would you rather donate to the Ben Roethlisberger foundation*, or the American Red Cross? Thanks for giving a shit about the rest of us Ben, but leave the non-profit work for the non-profit organizations.
*I don’t have anything against Mr. Roethlisberger, and there are many other rich people that have no idea what they are doing.
However, taken at face value with no circumstances to base it off of, it makes perfect sense. Does it really matter if you mean to be a good person but act like a jackass? Too often have I seen people get off easy because they meant well by an action, but ended up being a jackass.
Sure, you went to that party to be social and make friends, but ended up making a fool out of yourself. Does that mean I shouldn’t be upset at you for being a dumbass? Oh, but he meant well. He’s really an okay guy.
I’ll go ahead and call bullshit on that one. I don’t care if you went out into the world trying to do the best thing you could. Results speak for themselves. It’s a great thing that you want to be involved with community service, but just because you want to make a difference doesn’t mean you are the best one for the job. I might be mixing arrogance with good intentions, but therein lies the problem.
Do you really want to do the best thing, or do you only think that you are the best one for the job? Take non-profits for instance. It’s a wonderful thing that every NFL player and their mom wants to start up and run their own philanthropy. They mean well, but don’t you think that it would make more sense to simply raise money for someone that knows what they are doing? Would you rather donate to the Ben Roethlisberger foundation*, or the American Red Cross? Thanks for giving a shit about the rest of us Ben, but leave the non-profit work for the non-profit organizations.
*I don’t have anything against Mr. Roethlisberger, and there are many other rich people that have no idea what they are doing.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Have fun? In a hospital?
A couple days ago, a couple friends and I escorted our friend to the emergency room. I won't say what happened, but he is fine now. When we arrived, it took a while for him to get in, as most of you can relate to. We sat down at the childrens table and began playing paper football. Later, a one legged homeless man was pleasuring himself in the middle of the waiting room. Being college students, we all had a good laugh about it.
We walked out past a few groups of people that gave us questioning looks and then nodded in his direction. People seemed so awkward because of this man, and yet they did nothing to stop him. We found it hilarious watching people come into the emergency room, see him, and freak out.
After we got bored of that, we went exploring the hospital. After getting lost and being escorted out of the morgue by a security guard, we found a couple girls that were sitting far from the man in question, looking incredibly awkward. We talked with them for hours and when our friend eventually came out of the ER, we left.
The question I am presenting here is why people take particular places and automatically associate it with predetermined emotions. IS there anything inappropriate about having fun while we wait for our friend to be checked out by a doctor? We were in the hospital for over four hours, and it would have been unbearable to put up with that.
When people go to the ER, most of them automatically assume a somber mood. When an emergency is happening, and all you can do is wait for a doctor to see you, is there any point in worrying? People walk in, worried about a broken wrist, or their child's cough, but they can't do anything until the doctor sees them. I understand the worry, and by no means do i support the idea of ignoring your problems. However I do think that if you know for a fact that there is nothing else you can do, accept the fact and make the best out of the circumstances.
We walked out past a few groups of people that gave us questioning looks and then nodded in his direction. People seemed so awkward because of this man, and yet they did nothing to stop him. We found it hilarious watching people come into the emergency room, see him, and freak out.
After we got bored of that, we went exploring the hospital. After getting lost and being escorted out of the morgue by a security guard, we found a couple girls that were sitting far from the man in question, looking incredibly awkward. We talked with them for hours and when our friend eventually came out of the ER, we left.
The question I am presenting here is why people take particular places and automatically associate it with predetermined emotions. IS there anything inappropriate about having fun while we wait for our friend to be checked out by a doctor? We were in the hospital for over four hours, and it would have been unbearable to put up with that.
When people go to the ER, most of them automatically assume a somber mood. When an emergency is happening, and all you can do is wait for a doctor to see you, is there any point in worrying? People walk in, worried about a broken wrist, or their child's cough, but they can't do anything until the doctor sees them. I understand the worry, and by no means do i support the idea of ignoring your problems. However I do think that if you know for a fact that there is nothing else you can do, accept the fact and make the best out of the circumstances.
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