"I don't care what other people say. You're ok"
Just as a friendly public service announcement; for those who work in the medical field, please thank your CNA's, SRNA'S, med techs, mental health techs or anyone that society says is "under" a nurse, which is a load of CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!! They do such a wonderful job and are the core of healthcare in general, and let's be real, they spend more time with the patients than some nurses do. So let's hear it for all of you, because you're doing a great job!
I'm actually home early; I got sent home at 11 even though today was a work day for me. It was a relatively easy morning for me, as I got to lead (one) groups for my bunch of people. I had the sometimes misfortune of leading groups when I used to work on psych, and getting everyone to talk was like pulling teeth. Either that or they were just generally disinterested in whatever I had to say, or were too psychotic to even comprehend what I was saying. Anyway, to the unfairness of my patients now, I was expecting the same kind of drill. This particular group is the first of the day, and each patient completes a daily inventory of what's going on and it asks specific questions, like if they're having any detox symptoms, cravings, thoughts to self harm, etc. They turn them in and we staff look over them and address them if needed. After that everyone shares how they're feeling, a goal for the day and something they're grateful for. Once I started talking, they basically took the reigns and knew exactly what to do, and were willing to do it. I barely had to do anything, minus bring it back into focus when one patient got a leeeeeeetle out in left field.finished, When all the patients were finished sharing, I shared that I was grateful for this job, and I am. I told them I don't know anything about being a recovering addict, but I learn so much from my fellow co workers and from them of course. I told them how proud I was in the even seemingly small accomplishments that they were all doing. Addicts are people before they are addicts, just saying. The group ended a bit earlier than it normally does, but at the end one patient looked at me and said "good job, Kelly." I let them go outside to smoke and the same one said what the title of this post is.
Every day I go into work, I try to go in with a feeling of gratitude, because what I am doing is really making a difference for the most part. There are those wide and few who aren't invested in the program or the willingness to at least give it a try. I don't do this job for myself, I do it for these men and women. I read something I think on Pinterest or something where it said "sometimes I inspire my patients, but more often they inspire me." I flat out brought up that I don't have any words of wisdom or any advice, because I just don't know what that's like. And the whole 12 step and recovery process isn't a one size fits most approach; it's so unique because it reaches and caters to everyone differently, whatever walk of life they're at. And it's a continuous process; I've had patients tell me they've completed every single step, fallen off the wagon and were repeating the steps. It's the beauty of the job; I am learning the process and am getting to know these people as actual people. Yeah, they drive me nuts sometimes...like when they keep firing me....hahaha...or keep asking me repeatedly for extra smokes. Or when they call me "cracker head" and poke around with me, but I poke back. I think there's a rejuvenating mentality that goes with when a patient lets their guard down in front of you and their true self starts to emerge. To be a part of that....is unlike anything I can describe. Unfortunately, sometimes that true self isn't always ideal, but 9 times out of 10 it is.
Did I ever imagine today I would do what I did today? Not in a million years. Before I go into work, I pray. It's just part of my routine, and it makes a big difference in my day. This morning, I asked that God would just give me a positive attitude, even if I wasn't where I thought I should be. Turns out I was where I wanted to be, just in a different way. It amazes and baffles me out much self thinking goes into the forefronts of our minds, just on a daily basis. Something I just now thought of; as part of a recovering addict's journey, one thing that is thrown around is to "do something for recovery" every day. That may mean calling their sponsor, going to a meeting, calling and making amends with someone they're wronged as a result of their addiction, or helping out someone in need. Imagine how much happier in general we would all be if perhaps we adopted these simple things into our own lives, wherever we are. A little food for thought; it's something I'm thinking about.
I'm actually home early; I got sent home at 11 even though today was a work day for me. It was a relatively easy morning for me, as I got to lead (one) groups for my bunch of people. I had the sometimes misfortune of leading groups when I used to work on psych, and getting everyone to talk was like pulling teeth. Either that or they were just generally disinterested in whatever I had to say, or were too psychotic to even comprehend what I was saying. Anyway, to the unfairness of my patients now, I was expecting the same kind of drill. This particular group is the first of the day, and each patient completes a daily inventory of what's going on and it asks specific questions, like if they're having any detox symptoms, cravings, thoughts to self harm, etc. They turn them in and we staff look over them and address them if needed. After that everyone shares how they're feeling, a goal for the day and something they're grateful for. Once I started talking, they basically took the reigns and knew exactly what to do, and were willing to do it. I barely had to do anything, minus bring it back into focus when one patient got a leeeeeeetle out in left field.finished, When all the patients were finished sharing, I shared that I was grateful for this job, and I am. I told them I don't know anything about being a recovering addict, but I learn so much from my fellow co workers and from them of course. I told them how proud I was in the even seemingly small accomplishments that they were all doing. Addicts are people before they are addicts, just saying. The group ended a bit earlier than it normally does, but at the end one patient looked at me and said "good job, Kelly." I let them go outside to smoke and the same one said what the title of this post is.
Every day I go into work, I try to go in with a feeling of gratitude, because what I am doing is really making a difference for the most part. There are those wide and few who aren't invested in the program or the willingness to at least give it a try. I don't do this job for myself, I do it for these men and women. I read something I think on Pinterest or something where it said "sometimes I inspire my patients, but more often they inspire me." I flat out brought up that I don't have any words of wisdom or any advice, because I just don't know what that's like. And the whole 12 step and recovery process isn't a one size fits most approach; it's so unique because it reaches and caters to everyone differently, whatever walk of life they're at. And it's a continuous process; I've had patients tell me they've completed every single step, fallen off the wagon and were repeating the steps. It's the beauty of the job; I am learning the process and am getting to know these people as actual people. Yeah, they drive me nuts sometimes...like when they keep firing me....hahaha...or keep asking me repeatedly for extra smokes. Or when they call me "cracker head" and poke around with me, but I poke back. I think there's a rejuvenating mentality that goes with when a patient lets their guard down in front of you and their true self starts to emerge. To be a part of that....is unlike anything I can describe. Unfortunately, sometimes that true self isn't always ideal, but 9 times out of 10 it is.
Did I ever imagine today I would do what I did today? Not in a million years. Before I go into work, I pray. It's just part of my routine, and it makes a big difference in my day. This morning, I asked that God would just give me a positive attitude, even if I wasn't where I thought I should be. Turns out I was where I wanted to be, just in a different way. It amazes and baffles me out much self thinking goes into the forefronts of our minds, just on a daily basis. Something I just now thought of; as part of a recovering addict's journey, one thing that is thrown around is to "do something for recovery" every day. That may mean calling their sponsor, going to a meeting, calling and making amends with someone they're wronged as a result of their addiction, or helping out someone in need. Imagine how much happier in general we would all be if perhaps we adopted these simple things into our own lives, wherever we are. A little food for thought; it's something I'm thinking about.
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