Five days before writing this, I was in the psych hospital again. Only this time, I wasn’t depressed, suicidal, or self-harming. This time I entered the hospital in the elevated mood commonly known as “mania.” True, I had to total my car and be driven to the ER via ambulance before signing myself in. But I’d been to psych hospitals before and when it was suggested I transfer to one, I had no problem signing myself in. The advantage to coming…
(acquired ≈ between 2004 and 2006) Reflecting on an object from my treasure box. The memory of the exact occasion for which this object was given is completely lost to me, but I treasure it not so much because of when I received, but because of who gave it to me. The toy sea turtle is small enough to fit in the palm of my hand, as baby sea turtles tend to be. It is soft and filled with, I…
September, 2017 Reflecting on an object from my treasure box. Disclaimer: Before I begin, I must inform you that this is not a story about The Liturgists. Yes, it took place at a Liturgist Gathering. Yes, it was, in part, influenced by The Liturgists. But mostly this is a story about a memory and an inner-battle that began long before The Liturgists came into being. And even though I didn’t return home from this particular “gathering” with glowing reviews, I…
Reflecting on an object from my treasure box Carte “TaM” (Transports de l’agglomération de Montpellier) 2002 Most of my picture IDs from my time in France (including my passport) were either stolen or tossed in the river. But this one remains. I don’t know exactly why. Maybe because it was the only one that bore my image but not my name. Maybe I just didn’t bother to carry it with me the day I left Montpellier because all the places…
In recent years, the church has actually begun to talk about mental health (finally). But even now the focus remains on the safe and familiar. Anxiety and depression are commonplace, after all. But psychosis? Hyper-religiosity? I guess they’re just not ready for it. Maybe they never will be.