• DIY Detox

    DIY Detox

    Well, we’re doing it. A little DIY detox. I did some research. The best thing to do is get as far into withdrawals as possible. After that, four milligrams of Ativan, as well as a B complex vitamin and a benzo-free anti-anxiety med, Hydroxyzine. Maybe a sleeping pill but depends – those can lower respirations…

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  • The Family is Drunk

    The Family is Drunk

    I have not been to my house to see my mom. Or the store for more lemonade. I haven’t picked up the rent from one of my tenants. They even called to see if I was okay. Yes, I said…just catching up with things and getting adjusted to a new schedule and feeling rather unmotivated…

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  • Future Boundaries and Retail Therapy

    It’s Monday and feels so strange because it’s the first Monday in three months I don’t have IOP or an appointment with Dr Black. I’ve been working on – at least in my mind – my house. In my mind I plan all kinds of plans and on my phone I do all kinds of…

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  • Build Mastery – Again!

    Build Mastery – Again!

    Build mastery – the art of staying busy with tasks and chores to distract from the ever present sense of dread and fear and anguish. I’m write sardonically, of course, but it’s true. It’s literally a DBT skill in which you try to exert control over the environment around you, clean yourself up, clean up…

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  • The Journey Never Ends

    The Journey Never Ends

    For now, my “journey” through both civilian and veteran mental health systems is at the maintenance phase. I have graduated IOP as of the end of the year. I could have done more time and the VA likely would have paid for it, but I felt ready, and I also liked how it closed out…

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  • In the Darkness of Hope

    In the Darkness of Hope

    A bittersweet day. I finished my episode of care with Dr Black and after that, went to my last day of IOP, where I graduated silently. I have all kinds of mixed emotions. At least I am feeling again, at least somewhat. I feel a nervous sense of trepidation, like a kid learning to ride…

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  • Feeling and Unfeeling

    Feeling and Unfeeling

    Maybe dissociation can come in handy. Maybe my lack of feeling will have to be a tool. This job is exposing me to the good, bad, and ugly of our society and my city specifically. Med/surg is fast-paced and dynamic. And I question all my life choices that brought me here. I always wanted to…

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  • Turmoil of Mind

    Turmoil of Mind

    Well that didn’t take long. At first I was a rock star. I came on the floor and it was a madhouse. There were several call lights at once and an incoming admit. I answered the lights and attempted to seek out the person I was relieving to get a report. The admit came, alcoholic…

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  • A Lack of Feeling

    A Lack of Feeling

    My feelings wheel is a guide to help me figure out what I’m feeling. Sometimes I just can’t tell. The feelings wheel is not giving me much guidance today. I cannot tell what I feel. Nothing, there is nothing. The mood stabilizer is likely making me flat and blank. I am having flashbacks and stare…

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  • Bipolar in a Unipolar World

    Bipolar in a Unipolar World

    Dialectical behavior therapy – two things can be true at once. I am dreading moving back home because my mother is very hard to live with, yet I also somehow am excited to get back and take control. I often have conflicting thoughts, confusion about who I am. This is a borderline trait. I am…

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