I am on-call this week end. I usually get calls from clients that just don't feel happy. I'm a understanding kind of guy, but most of the calls that I get I just want to tell the folks that all they need is a little 'wall to wall counceling and/or to just grow up', but ethics rules wont allow me to give such advise.
It's been quiet on the blog for a while. Hope all is going well for everyone? Drop in some time on the blog and just say hi and let us know what you are up to (just don't call my on-call cell number...kidding).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
22 comments:
I didn't mean to sound harsh or insensitive (about wall to wall counceling), there is that small percentage that I am glad that call when I am on-call.
I was watching an interesting documentary on MRI tracking of the brain impulses in depressed and mentally ill people. Once you see that the brain processes malfunctions and that the impulses get stuck in the part of the brain that experiences negative emotion and fear and can't get up to the frontal lobe. For me it is pretty hard to continue to justify thinking that these people need to just get real or grow up. But is is also frustrating to see people struggling over the things that most of us get on with. University of Penn. is one of the pioneers in this research. Maybe when they call you it helps them to use different parts of the brain in speaking and responding and this helps to move the impulses up to the frontal lobe where reasoning takes place.
Juliet@Ric,I-can-relate.Juliet,your-right,it-can't-just-be-getting-real-and-growing-up.I-know-from-personal-experience.Ric,go-back-to-school@take-Psychology-and-get-a-Ph.d-in-that-field.It-will-open-your-eyes-more-than-you-can-imagine.Remember-that-my-father-was-a-Psychology-professor:)
I'm not going to waist a lot my time or energy defending myself on this topic. This 'post' was not to make fun of any one in the mental health system, but making fun of myself.
I know my clients, you don't. Those that deserve special treatment and attention, especialy those on mind altering medications or psychotropics (such as Depakote or Colozapine...sp?) because of a chemical imbalance, get what they need from us, and asap.
Then there are those that know and play the system all to well.
I am a Social Worker, not a Psychologist or Psychiatrist. And no thank you, I do not want a Ph.d. in psychology or an M.D. in Psychiatry. I am quite comfortable were I am at, the front lines in the mental health system.
That is all.
Joanna, my step father had a Ph.d in math, I suck at math.
My bilogical father retired as a Major General in the US Army, I was only a 1st Lt. in the Army. Our parents don't make us experts in there field of study or career/profession.
Juliet, what you learn in academia, or watch on television is often quite diffrent from the real world.
Hey wazup???
First of all, I know what it is like to be on call. Since I can no longer drive commercialy, I have been moved into the shop office at my work. I do take the after hours phone and am on call at times. I have a firm belief that there is no dumb question you do not know the answer to. However I hate being woke up at 2 in the morning to be told that a driver has a problem with his TCU that cannot be taken care of until a Teck specific shop is not open at that time. They will often say something like, "well just wanted you to know about it". I will sit up all night with a driver who needs help or someone to help calm nervs (i.e. an accident). I get calls that dispatch needs to take care of rather than the shop. It is better for me to help with dispatch questions rather than them wake up a dispatcher who is short tempered.
If any of you think that you can watch a show on the trucking industry on the TV (examples would be, discovery channel, dateline, 20/20 or iceroad truckers)and think that you can begin to tell me what the industry is about or how I should handle any problem or situation that arises, you are so sadly mistaken. Ric has been in the mental health profession as long as I can think of. When he lived here in Idaho, he worked at an adult facility (He cared more about the men and women under his care than anyone I knew there. Ric still askes me about Yellowstone Care Center to this day). He does not have any high academic degree, nor does he get paid the salary of said high academic degreed person. If you wish to discuss the mental health issues of the world, he would sit with you and do so, but do not put him down because he isn't a PHD or MD, nor think he doesn't care for those in his care. He was just commenting on being on call, and his personal phone is what he uses for the calle. He didn't want to miss a needed call by being on with a friend or family. Yes we talked on the phone before this post (the Raiders were playing preseason football) and he told me he couldn't talk long.
oh did I forget to mention I have in patient psych nursing experience and worked a few years in substance abuse prevention. I try to keep up with new developments, treatments and medications. And Ric, I even try to live in the real world. On call is on call, there are a lot of lonely, depressed and impulsive people out there. My father had a PhD in History and I have an undergraduate degree in it and My mothers has her PhD in English and I tutor for student taking literature courses and read and study on my own. also I am finishing up my MA in ESL. So I guess like in Jo's case our parents inspired and passed on a considerable amount of knowledge and technique in the study of their subject matter.
I used to get depressed when my football team lost. I realize it's not advisable to self medicate but Jack Daniels seemed to help.
FWIW I didn't read Juliet's post as questioning or second guessing your methodology or judgement Ric which given your nature and experience I'm sure is quite sound. I think she was relating something she had seen that she thought was relevant to the thread.
As to the reference to academic pedigree I don't lend that much validity. My parents are degreed in Music Theory with my dad enjoying a long career teaching at the university level and none of their offspring could carry a tune in a bucket.
Doug, I still get depressed when my foot ball team(s) lose(s), even in preseason games. Self medication is A.O.K. in my book. My prefered self prescribed script PRN Psychotropic is Hamm's beer! If if I don't have that, any beer will do! ;)
Are you a Tampa fan?
Doug I was thinking about you and your parents I remembered you father was in music and wondered if you joined the band. Did anyone take Band with Mr. Beck over at BJHS or Mr. Toll at GW. I played the flute (poorly) and remember how bad the mouth pieces smelled even after using the disinfectant. Thankfully my parents bought me a flute. I have a vague recolection that Dana played clarinet really well I think I saw her in a UOG play. Did you play a trumpet?
Juliet,
yep played the trumpet through Junior & High School. I can remember going out and playing in the marching band at half time in pads.
Juliet, you are one of the most insensitive people I have met. Please take what Ric said as it was intended. Because you went on to get them there degrees(yes I have nothing more that a high school diploma, and went on to drive over the road truck for almost 20 years. If anyone is stupid around here, it is me) may have been inspired by your parents, and they may have helped in other ways, but the fact that Ric simply has a BS in social work (and has worked that field ever since) means what to you??? Means that he can't complain about people who call about having stomach aches, or out of tooth paste??? Like I said earlier, I do have the after-hours phone and hate calls like that. Why are you no longer in the field??? Ric has spent more than 20 years in the field, and it is okay to be frustrated at times. If he can't rely on the DC Gang to vent to, he can always rely on me.
Ric,vent.We-all-need-to.But,Drl,Juliet-is-just-expressing-her-opinion-as-did-myself.Don't-feel-threatened.Ric-is-obviosly-stating-how-he-feels(something-we're-all-entitled-to)Let's-agree-to-disagree:)Peace-Out!
Hey brother (DRL). Thank you for your un-asked support.
It is sad to write a 'post', only to be criticized by ignorance.
Talk to me later (oh, that is your line!)
Go Raiders!
Ignorance-I-don't-think-so.Juliet-is-a-very-friendly,funny,and-intelligent-lady.I-know-from-personal-experience.She's-like-my-big-sister-in-my-heart.Geez-you-have-to-have-thick-skin-on-this-blog.No-wonder-so-many-don't-log-on.
Joanna, thick skin is good to have. If your going to 'dish it' you must be willing to 'take it'!
Thank you Joanna. I agree that Ric needs thick skin to post on the blog. He was stating a fact and joked about it. You and Juliet came at him with claws out full. If he didn't have such thick skin he would have bled for a week. Thank you again for stating the fact.
This blog should be changed to the Drl whine and I am a victim site. Read the thread and see if you can figure out who said Ric should get some education up grades, it was not me. I listed my background education to show that I am well aware of real world problems with regard to mental health issues and to highlight that my parents like Jo's passed on some of their expertise and enthusiasm for their career paths. In retrospect I don't think ric can compare our fathers with his because ours were in our lives when we were at an age to benefit from their knowledge. By the way Drl I am still in nursing and have been a medical consultant for the last 20 yrs with private companies abroad.
Sometimes when people call and complain about what appears to be stupid things like stomach aches and toothpaste it is because they don't have the communication skills to focus on what they are really calling about or maybe they are just experiancinig some sort of general anxiety and and feel compeled to talk with someone or maybe in their mind they feel that the on call person is part of their support network and just want to verify that there is really someone available so they call with some lame request.
It is up to the professionals to lead the way to try and get to the root reason for the call at that moment. Maybe next time Ric is on call, you Drl, can call him and he can try and get to the root reason that you feel a need to constantly draw attention to yourself that you have some how been victimized and need some sort of appeasement from others so that you feel fulfilled in someway. I can be insensitive but blogging around you is like walking through a minefield. " laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone".
Drl,life-is-a-never-ending-learning-experience.In-no-way-did-I-come-out-with-claws.I-stated-fact-as-to-learning-beyond-one's-experience.I-agree-with-Juliet-that-you-have-some-inner-soul-searching-to-do.I-said-let-Ric-vent-and-you-said-that-I-was-attacking-him...is-it-about-Ric-or-you?
Hey DRL, Lighten up man! I also read this thread and in no way did I get the impression that Juliet or Jo were attacking you or Ric. If anything they were complimenting Ric on his passion for his career field and suggesting that he take it to the next level. With all the education and experiences that we all bring to this blog this could be a great "Think Tank" as well as a great place to just shoot the breeze. If we can't play nice then we might as well just pack it in. Now say sorry and lets get on with it already!
Matt,
now where's the fun in that?
Mat, I am sorry.This should be a place of remembrance toward our youthful days.I did see Paul at the mall today and I told him he's a cool blogger....let's keep it light.I love jokes,got(have)any?:)
Post a Comment