Monday, 23 April 2012
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Straight from da Tomb. AKA Lenin's Tomb
A joint statement from the Conservative Party and the conservative press posted by lenin
The government and the right-wing media would like it to be known that they are very disappointed with the lack of scruple, principle and resolve on the part of the capitalist class. In these difficult, austere times, it was incumbent on them to make very public, proud, ostentatious use of freebie labour, and to show class-wide unity in the offensive: not wilt under the slightest pressure from the Socialist Guardian BBC Bloody Trotskyspart General Strike Workers Party.
The aforementioned parties have therefore decreed the following:
1) it is a disgrace that a tiny party with no seats in parliament can make us look likely bloody idiots;
2) of course, we don't look like idiots - they look like idiots, we look great, and we're winning (winning, winning, winning!);
3) businesses have to stiffen their spines and stop pretending that they're embarrassed to be seen in public with us... yeah, well, does our face look bovvered?;
4) you turn if you want to, Greggs, Tesco and the rest, but we're not for turning, unless you want us to. Do you want us to? Do you want some free money? We'll give you free money. Look, have Iain Duncan Smith's house, he doesn't need it, he sleeps in the fucking crypt.;
5) it's not true that we're very unpopular. The SWP is very unpopular. We have written it in our columns, and said so on the television, and now everyone knows just how unpopular the SWP is.;
6) the SWP is a tiny party, completely irrelevant, things would be perfectly okay if everyone would stop talking about the SWP.;
7) the SWP has eaten our hamster.
Nicked from Leninology.blogspot.com with Thanks : )
Nicked from Leninology.blogspot.com with Thanks : )
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
In The End
And In the End, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
Goodbye for the time being, I'll be back when I'm back : ) Love y'all
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Egyptians set up new obelisk
The new Obelisk has all the names of the martyrs from the revolution engraved on it. Long live the people, Victory to the revolution ... May god bless all the martyrs and may they rest in peace.
Monday, 12 December 2011
"Icons" by Mark Fuller at the Nucleus Gallery, Chatham
Mark Fuller's exhibition of his work at Chatham’s Nucleus Art Centre Gallery, the show was on until the 22nd December 2011. However, to call it an exhibition is an understatement, in the traditional sense of the word. It was more than an exhibition although still that, it was an experience, a chance to step into a world of make believe, to leave behind the mundane and be filled with and moved by sheer joy and fantasy.
The exhibition called “Icons”, had the initial appearance of the work of Andy Warhol and his Icons. Mark Fuller’s ‘Icons’ are slick, compelling, up to date and of this generation. I would be so bold as to say that it is even better than Warhol as the experimental stuff that arguably rendered meaning superfluous in Warhol, such as the famous Campbell’s soup for example has not been included or anything like that, and so Mark Fullers Icons are refined, they take you away from reality for a while, you can escape into the lives of people who look good, and have a purpose, or maybe not so much a purpose, but they are resolute, purposeful and driven people, how wonderful it is to escape and feel what it is to be them for a while, feel what they mean to you, and remember too what they have meant to you in the past .
Mark is a full time civil servant by trade, he has one grown up daughter who studied art at college and his partner is expecting a baby in March. His spectacular work (all from this year) is done from a makeshift studio in his home. He is from and currently lives in Medway.
This evocative exhibition begins with icons of fast cars like Ferraris, and porches, there are also camper vans; how good it must feel to drive a fast car and escape life in a camper van …
Then you come to the most powerful iconic image of our generation, that of Vincent and Jules from the film Pulp Fiction, they each carry a piece, they are uncompromising in their stance and the impression is that no-one messes with them. It s so evocative; isn’t that how we would all like to be in real life? To escape from who we are, with our inadequacies and idiosyncrasies, its so good to imagine ourselves to be just like them for a while, even for a split second!
It really is a thrilling image; it sets the tone for what is to come, Michael Caine, James Bond and others that really “kick ass”. The exhibition tells half the story, it’s told in a masterfully slick way; the icons are all black and white, bold and sharp. Bright colours are added to background and/or to props, they set and frame the icons. We then are the subject of the other half of the story, how the icons affect us and allow us to escape, we are moved and can shake up the world, just as they (the icons) do and have done. I guess for me one of the highlights was Jimi Hendrix, he is so cool and seeing him revered and encapsulated as an Icon is a glorious experience!
Of course, all the fast cars, guns and ammo really mean nothing without a woman or a girl around, and there you see them, great iconic feminine beauties; Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. Classy and gorgeous, their presence rounds off the exhibition and makes it complete. Complete in the excitement of a man’s world, exciting and now gentle too.
Well done to Mark Fuller on an exemplary exhibition, I wish him all the best and hope that he will go far.
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
A mental health service user's perspective on the 'Recovery Model'
I would certainly not describe myself as 'recovered', although that is a term and a concept developed by service users as a far back as 1995. It was introduced as a concept to challenge those who would set us apart from others, denigrate us in society. It was an attempt we made to be better understood and accepted.
The response to the concept of 'recovery' has been mixed. It is now adopted as the new model in mental health, no reference or credibility has been given to the service users like myself who initiated the whole concept through giving talks on mental illness around the country, taking questions and answers and so on. Framing mental illness as an understandable phenomenon to everyone. Some of my first thoughts and writings on the subject are in documents archived by the National Perception Forum.
That reality and history has been obscured and, under the recovery model, we are treated as if we are stupid and have to be pushed and cajoled into work as part of our 'recovery'. It doesn't seem to occur to those administering 'recovery' that we do actually live in the community now, so many of us know where and how to find jobs. Many of us have already tried with varying degrees of success to work, we do not need to be pushed around.
The ultimate aim in the 'recovery model' is to discharge us from mental health services and the mental health remit altogether, the 'logic' being that we have 'recovered'. That is dubious and lacks understanding of mental illness, emotional distress and the ensuing disability.
After a true breakdown, we do not ever really recover, as I have not. It still remains that I would dearly like to have a close relationshiop with another person, but that ( which many people may take for granted) is a near impossibility for me. I cannot watch TV as it either bores me to distraction, or I have uncontrollable fits of crying. Emotionally, I cannot cope with being around children. I cannot go out easily therefore I stay in on my own. I cannot go out at night, and have a poor understanding of money. I have auditory, visual and tactile hallucinations, panic attacks, night terrors, panic attacks at night and I self harm, the scars are there for all to see. Then there are permanent physical health problems from the long term use of psychotropic drugs including mood stabilisers, problems such as diabetes, oedema, weight gain, muscle stiffness which leads to a sedentary lifestyle and exacerbates problems.
The 'Recovery Model' now adopted is highly patronising, it assumes we know nothing and that there is nothing wrong with us, therefore there is no duty of care, but we do still have to take medication.
What I would like to know, now that I have expressed a little of what it is like from a service users perspective, is how do the staff feel about constantly making us do their work for them? I will give an example ( although there are plenty of examples like this), it will hopefully make it clear; groups are set up in the community to help mental patients, like a 'walk and talk' group, or a 'walking group', we are then told that we will then (after a period of time) have to run it ourselves. It is because it is an 'aid' to our 'recovery', and we should not get dependant on services. Is it such a terrrible sin to depend on others? ( and are we very bad children if we let this happen?). According to the recovery model, it should not be, we should not be dependent on anyone for anything. Are we not human then? Surely as human beings it is acknowledged that we are social beings and not solitary, does this not apply to menatally ill people too? How come we as mental health service users should have nothing, no support, no day centre, no care ... only medication? Told to do voluntary work? This is not 'recovery', it is more like 'exploitation'.
Treatment and care has come full circle to what was there before, but now, there is actually much less support.
The response to the concept of 'recovery' has been mixed. It is now adopted as the new model in mental health, no reference or credibility has been given to the service users like myself who initiated the whole concept through giving talks on mental illness around the country, taking questions and answers and so on. Framing mental illness as an understandable phenomenon to everyone. Some of my first thoughts and writings on the subject are in documents archived by the National Perception Forum.
That reality and history has been obscured and, under the recovery model, we are treated as if we are stupid and have to be pushed and cajoled into work as part of our 'recovery'. It doesn't seem to occur to those administering 'recovery' that we do actually live in the community now, so many of us know where and how to find jobs. Many of us have already tried with varying degrees of success to work, we do not need to be pushed around.
The ultimate aim in the 'recovery model' is to discharge us from mental health services and the mental health remit altogether, the 'logic' being that we have 'recovered'. That is dubious and lacks understanding of mental illness, emotional distress and the ensuing disability.
After a true breakdown, we do not ever really recover, as I have not. It still remains that I would dearly like to have a close relationshiop with another person, but that ( which many people may take for granted) is a near impossibility for me. I cannot watch TV as it either bores me to distraction, or I have uncontrollable fits of crying. Emotionally, I cannot cope with being around children. I cannot go out easily therefore I stay in on my own. I cannot go out at night, and have a poor understanding of money. I have auditory, visual and tactile hallucinations, panic attacks, night terrors, panic attacks at night and I self harm, the scars are there for all to see. Then there are permanent physical health problems from the long term use of psychotropic drugs including mood stabilisers, problems such as diabetes, oedema, weight gain, muscle stiffness which leads to a sedentary lifestyle and exacerbates problems.
The 'Recovery Model' now adopted is highly patronising, it assumes we know nothing and that there is nothing wrong with us, therefore there is no duty of care, but we do still have to take medication.
What I would like to know, now that I have expressed a little of what it is like from a service users perspective, is how do the staff feel about constantly making us do their work for them? I will give an example ( although there are plenty of examples like this), it will hopefully make it clear; groups are set up in the community to help mental patients, like a 'walk and talk' group, or a 'walking group', we are then told that we will then (after a period of time) have to run it ourselves. It is because it is an 'aid' to our 'recovery', and we should not get dependant on services. Is it such a terrrible sin to depend on others? ( and are we very bad children if we let this happen?). According to the recovery model, it should not be, we should not be dependent on anyone for anything. Are we not human then? Surely as human beings it is acknowledged that we are social beings and not solitary, does this not apply to menatally ill people too? How come we as mental health service users should have nothing, no support, no day centre, no care ... only medication? Told to do voluntary work? This is not 'recovery', it is more like 'exploitation'.
Treatment and care has come full circle to what was there before, but now, there is actually much less support.
This is known as 'Ego Documentation', here is my up to date version.
Throughout my life, I have felt on the one hand a great love for the world, for people and animals, but also a deep concern. An example of this is how I feared nuclear holocaust in the 1980's; to the extent that I was inconsolable for a long time, my sister managed to talk me round, eventually, when I finally opened up to her and said what was wrong.
Around this time too, I made a decision that I would probably not bring any children of my own into the world as I felt that life was already hard for me and would be getting worse, I did not want them to suffer as I did. I was also feeling that I had no choice but to become active in politics in order to stop the attacks on our livelihoods, ( this was around the time of the Miner's strike; Margaret Thatcher's heyday). It was a fear I had ( maybe irrational, maybe not), that if I became a target because of my views, I did not want to have children who might be used by others as a way of getting to me, forcing me to cease political activism.
As I got more deeply involved in politics, I became bent on being part of destroying the existing system ( capitalism) and that was it. I was singular in this aim, I did realise that it might be a little over the top, but I rationalised this by thinking and believing it was my role in life, that I was a bit like Kali ( the dark destroyer from Hinduism) or that I would emanate her. Such single mindedness may have also been compensation too. An escape and outlet for the unhappy and failed close relationships I experienced that seemed to feature in my life.
Another element was that I felt responsible for many people's spiritual or emotional deaths. On tackling other peoples political beliefs, I would strip them of their own belief systems, attempting to bring forth an understanding of the world as a class system. Any defence of the system was met with contempt and derision from me, I made it clear that a position of defending the system was unacceptable to me. I was highly destructive in many respects.
There were so many issues, political and philosophical that I was unfamiliar with and may not have fully appreciated or understood, but I always did my best to understand theoretical concepts and historical events. I was though, developing a vicious tongue and a heavy burden, in the sense that I felt like all the world's problems were on my shoulder.
So this was me; unhappiness and failed/ failing relationships, anger at the injustice in the world ( which was enhanced by being a political activist, by being more and more exposed to examples of cases of injustice), a combination of emotions that ran so deep within me and it could not go on, so I flipped out and had a nervous breakdown, or, a spiritual death.
This experience made me extremely flat ( zombie like even) and it did feel like I was in Hell. I still had a sense of humour and a sense of love for others and for humanity. Although it was hard to hang on to those things at times, I did manage it and I survived (to tell the tale).
Around this time too, I made a decision that I would probably not bring any children of my own into the world as I felt that life was already hard for me and would be getting worse, I did not want them to suffer as I did. I was also feeling that I had no choice but to become active in politics in order to stop the attacks on our livelihoods, ( this was around the time of the Miner's strike; Margaret Thatcher's heyday). It was a fear I had ( maybe irrational, maybe not), that if I became a target because of my views, I did not want to have children who might be used by others as a way of getting to me, forcing me to cease political activism.
As I got more deeply involved in politics, I became bent on being part of destroying the existing system ( capitalism) and that was it. I was singular in this aim, I did realise that it might be a little over the top, but I rationalised this by thinking and believing it was my role in life, that I was a bit like Kali ( the dark destroyer from Hinduism) or that I would emanate her. Such single mindedness may have also been compensation too. An escape and outlet for the unhappy and failed close relationships I experienced that seemed to feature in my life.
Another element was that I felt responsible for many people's spiritual or emotional deaths. On tackling other peoples political beliefs, I would strip them of their own belief systems, attempting to bring forth an understanding of the world as a class system. Any defence of the system was met with contempt and derision from me, I made it clear that a position of defending the system was unacceptable to me. I was highly destructive in many respects.
There were so many issues, political and philosophical that I was unfamiliar with and may not have fully appreciated or understood, but I always did my best to understand theoretical concepts and historical events. I was though, developing a vicious tongue and a heavy burden, in the sense that I felt like all the world's problems were on my shoulder.
So this was me; unhappiness and failed/ failing relationships, anger at the injustice in the world ( which was enhanced by being a political activist, by being more and more exposed to examples of cases of injustice), a combination of emotions that ran so deep within me and it could not go on, so I flipped out and had a nervous breakdown, or, a spiritual death.
This experience made me extremely flat ( zombie like even) and it did feel like I was in Hell. I still had a sense of humour and a sense of love for others and for humanity. Although it was hard to hang on to those things at times, I did manage it and I survived (to tell the tale).
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Monday, 7 November 2011
Chatham Works Exhibition - Nick Evans
Nick EvansThis wonderful exhibition is currently showing at the Nucleus Arts Centre Gallery in Chatham (272 High Street) until the 17th November.
Chatham landmarks are clearly depicted with colour and drama. Chatham and its icons are boldly represented with fond familiarity and exuberant colours in their surround.
The artists selects just a few significant places, ones with presence and maybe their beauty somewhat hidden, such as the Brook Theatre.
Is this really our home town? Yes it is; not only the landmarks, but also the atmosphere and its not gloomy either, rather it’s exciting and dramatic.
Of course Chatham is not known as a beauty spot or for its artistic attributes, but at this exhibition, artist Nick Evans captures from his Chatham studio what we know and love about the town, so impressive are the outer representations, we can feel its familiarity and admire them too.
Chatham is not without its victims of life, it’s a hard town with a history of hardship, such that it was an inspiration for many of Dickens novels. Artist Nick Evans demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of this essence. In one corner of the Gallery; as you travel around the paintings of our beloved town there are two people (opposite the painting of flowers) a man and a woman in separate paintings, they are naked. Their vulnerability for all to see, these are our Chatham people, a boy and a girl.
The two pictures bring to a close our journey through Chatham and there follows in the same style, paintings of beautiful places in Cornwall perhaps representing our dreams of escape.
It’s a wonderful and moving exhibition, one that tells a story (or three).
Friday, 28 October 2011
Sophie Scholl and the White Rose Resistance
Here is a picture of Sophie Scholl, her brother Hans and Chrisoph Probst, who were part of a very brave group of young people who defied and resisted the Nazi's under Hitler in Germany during his reign. Here is their story:-Although this group of friends were eventually known for their political affairs, they were initially drawn together by a shared love of art, music, literature, philosophy and theology. Hiking in the mountains, skiing and swimming were also of importance. They often attended concerts, plays and lectures together.
In the summer of 1942, the friends began to question and resist the principals and policies of the Nazi regime. The group decided to adopt the strategy of passive resistance that was being used by students fighting against racial discrimination in the United States. This included publishing leaflets calling for the restoration of democracy and social justice.
The group co-authored six anti-Nazi Third Reich political resistance leaflets. Calling themselves the White Rose, they instructed Germans to passively resist the Nazis.
In January 1943, using a hand-operated duplicating machine, the group is thought to have produced between 6,000 and 9,000 copies of their fifth leaflet, "Appeal to all Germans!", which was distributed via courier runs to many cities (where they were mailed). Copies appeared in Stuttgart, Cologne, Vienna, Freiburg, Chemnitz, Hamburg and Berlin. Composed by Hans Scholl with improvements by Huber, the leaflet warned that Hitler was leading Germany into the abyss; with the gathering might of the Allies, defeat was now certain. The reader was urged to "Support the resistance movement!" in the struggle for "Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and protection of the individual citizen from the arbitrary action of criminal dictator-states". These were the principles that would form "the foundations of the new Europe".
On February 18, 1943, the Scholl's brought a suitcase full of leaflets to the university. They hurriedly dropped stacks of copies in the empty corridors for students to find when they flooded out of lecture rooms. Leaving before the class break, the Scholl's noticed that some copies remained in the suitcase and decided it would be a pity not to distribute them. They returned to the atrium and climbed the staircase to the top floor, and Sophie flung the last remaining leaflets into the air.
Hans said this later at their trial in the National Socialist's 'People's Court' :- "Somebody, after all, had to make a start. What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just do not dare express themselves as we did."
On February 22, 1943, Sophie Scholl, her brother Hans and their friend Christoph Probst were found guilty of treason and condemned to death. They were all beheaded by executioner Johann Reichhart in Munich's Stadelheim Prison only a few hours later at 17:00.
Prison officials emphasized the courage with which Sophie walked to her execution. Her last words were "Die Sonne scheint noch"—"The sun still shines."
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Monday, 24 October 2011
S.A.D
Giving is easy, I enjoy it.
But it seems I have lost the art of receiving. It is very hard for anyone to give anything to me, be it physical, mental, material or spiritual.
I am hard work for people I know.
Its like I gave up on thinking or feeling that any one could or should give anything to me. Not out of arrogance that I am better than anyone else and their gifts or their praise or whatever, but, tragically I felt I was undeserving.
Around my siblings I would act like I wasn't there even, they had permisson from me to carry on as if I was invisible, so that I would not be a bother to them, its so sad, sometimes I cry about it.
But it seems I have lost the art of receiving. It is very hard for anyone to give anything to me, be it physical, mental, material or spiritual.
I am hard work for people I know.
Its like I gave up on thinking or feeling that any one could or should give anything to me. Not out of arrogance that I am better than anyone else and their gifts or their praise or whatever, but, tragically I felt I was undeserving.
Around my siblings I would act like I wasn't there even, they had permisson from me to carry on as if I was invisible, so that I would not be a bother to them, its so sad, sometimes I cry about it.
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Five go to Pepe's
An acquaintance of mine recently opened a very nice cafe near me; and on finding out I am an artist ( yes, its true, I am), she asked for some of my paintings to display. Great! She also said that she would only charge commission once I get famous! Love Pepe! What a star!
Here are the five framed pieces of my work, the photos are sub standard, I know, but these were taken in a hurry just before I took them over to Pepe.
Then there is another 'Art of Recovery' exhibition, installation and opening night this coming Friday - gulps! Not much pressure - too much pressure more like! Still I am sure it'll all be alright on the night ( hopefully).
Here are the five framed pieces of my work, the photos are sub standard, I know, but these were taken in a hurry just before I took them over to Pepe.
Then there is another 'Art of Recovery' exhibition, installation and opening night this coming Friday - gulps! Not much pressure - too much pressure more like! Still I am sure it'll all be alright on the night ( hopefully).
Friday, 16 September 2011
- Mic Righteous - Warm Up Sessions
This man is amazing, very talented, an all round top geezer. He has a great website and a facebook fan page. Check him out!
Monday, 12 September 2011
Art and Economic Regeneration
There is a common sense notion and indeed something that is enforced in everyday life which is that work ought to be separated from culture and art. Something that a recent comment here reiterated, it went something like this:- if you like to be creative and do creative stuff, then do it in your own time.
It is actually a well known and proven fact ( and I do have references for this) - although kept secret at the same time, that the main ingredient in economic regeneration is art and art exhibitions.
So I am doing more than being responsible for myself in my own life by pursuing art ( even though it is a massive financial strain and burden), I am taking responsibility for everyone, I am doing it for the love of humanity and for the sake of our regeneration.
Maybe one day I will go into more detail about that and what inspired me to embark on art and craft in the first place, the visions, theories and concepts that lies behind it, and also what has kept and keeps me going. Thus far of course.
It is actually a well known and proven fact ( and I do have references for this) - although kept secret at the same time, that the main ingredient in economic regeneration is art and art exhibitions.
So I am doing more than being responsible for myself in my own life by pursuing art ( even though it is a massive financial strain and burden), I am taking responsibility for everyone, I am doing it for the love of humanity and for the sake of our regeneration.
Maybe one day I will go into more detail about that and what inspired me to embark on art and craft in the first place, the visions, theories and concepts that lies behind it, and also what has kept and keeps me going. Thus far of course.
Sunday, 4 September 2011
The people's army and the heartless crew
Live up, live up, live up and live right.
This is a special victory tune for the successful defense of Tower Hamlets East London yesterday ( 3rd September) against the threat of morons from the racist and fascist EDL. They did not pass and you can't stop us, see!
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Society vs mental illness
It is hard for people who have never experienced madness to understand what is going on, what it is all about and indeed how best to help that person.
First of all it is something that requires a lot of intervention, and specialist intervention too. We have been cast out in the past, but you cannot wish us away; not accept any responsibility for being part of the society that caused the problems in the first place. It could even amount to individual responsibility for causing emotional and personal trauma in another. If someone suffers emotionally in tribal societies for example, the whole tribe gets together to discuss the problems, they sit down and the first question they ask is what have we done to have caused distress for this person. Rather than cast us out, vilify us, reject us, why not take a good look at yourselves and also look at what we have endured through living in this unbalanced and degrading world we live in?
The sort of intervention necessary when someone is emotionally distraught and they have no knowledge themselves that they suffer from bouts of madness, is to get them to a safe place, somewhere away from the environment where they are suffering unbearably in. Then yes, there may well be a role for some theraputic medication, but in no way should this be the be all and end all of treatment. As it has been discovered already, talking is of paramount importance and time and effort should be put into this activity. Education is pivitol too, teaching people about what the symptoms of madness are, help that person accept it. Then there is art and craft; providing an outlet for the upset and trauma and a medium for communication ( something that I will be going into more depth with in a future post).
There is much talk about 'recovery' and I want to be absolutely clear about this because it was not a term invented by profesionals although they were quick to jump on the bandwagon with all that it mean't to them. For profesionals, mainly senior management it mean't effectively ceasing all treatment and resources for the mentaly ill, a denial even that they had anything that was different about them, apparently we are no different to anyone else now. Funny that, how come we feel, act and behave differently then? Service users invented the term 'recovery', it was a way they had come to understand their difficulties, and the transition they had made from sanity to madness, a way they could hook onto their past and recover an identity that would not render them as useless, second class citizens, written off of and out of society completely.
We wanted to be part of mainstream life ( who doesn't) but of course we are different, just as deaf people are deaf, blind people are blind, learning disabled have a learning disability, we are mentally ill. Once you have crossed that line into insanity, most of us will experience it again and for those who only have it once ( it is very rare) they never ever forget it although in order to fit into to mainstream society they expertly cover it up, however that memory and the pain will never leave.
Madness, or mental illness is not about loss of or lack of intelligence, it has nothing to do with intelligence, there are many people with learning difficulties who also suffer with insanity due to the frustrations they have. There are also highly intelligent people who suffer it. Insanity is not about intelligence, it is an emotional disorder, emotional deficit or emotional over load. Being broken emotionally is life changing and very serious, in fact none of us ever recovers as such, none of us ever can become 'normal' again, that is a person who has no knowledge of what insanity is like. Once broken, or insane, you are a changed person, permanently changed and more vulnerable. A vulnerability that stays with you for life.
I know it is very hard for the mentally ill to accept that they are vulnerable as sometimes they feel they have extra strength and are opposite to the perception of vulnerable, they feel themselves to be strong. Now of course we are strong, but we are also vulnerable. Every breakdown is unique and every persons experience of madness is unique to them and on each occasion. Therefore I thought the best way to attempt to explain how we are vulnerable is to describe it in myself.
It is not easy, but here goes ... I am highly suspicious of others, we could go into what caused this or even just accept that it might be something I was born with; a personality trait if you like. Anyhow I am also inquisitive, sensitive and intelligent and they might be good traits to have, but couple that with a highly suspicious nature and you get explosions, outbursts and misunderstandings. Medication plays its part in subdugation, but the state never fully leaves me. It renders me vulnerable in many ways, but one is that this combination of emotions in extreme tips over to paranoia and I am and become a danger to others. I have never physically attacked anyone ever, but others can sense my unease and it requires intervention from others in order for the pain I am in to be alleviated. I also get very depressed because of this and because I am very sensitive and at times when the depression is accute I am a danger to myself.
There are many people with similar problems, and the way we are, the emotional problems we endure are undoutely exacerbated by the society we live in. The high levels of competiton for example for jobs, housing, qualifications and so on all raise our emotional deficit or overload and make it harder for us to cope, but as I have said before and written about many times over, although we need others perhaps more than people without emotional problems need others, we do also have much to offer life, and if others and society can see and accept what we have to offer, rather than just see us as a problem, it would be for the good of all. Accepting us as we are into mainstream life with all our needs and vulnerabilites would have a very positive effect for us all, for society and for human kind.
First of all it is something that requires a lot of intervention, and specialist intervention too. We have been cast out in the past, but you cannot wish us away; not accept any responsibility for being part of the society that caused the problems in the first place. It could even amount to individual responsibility for causing emotional and personal trauma in another. If someone suffers emotionally in tribal societies for example, the whole tribe gets together to discuss the problems, they sit down and the first question they ask is what have we done to have caused distress for this person. Rather than cast us out, vilify us, reject us, why not take a good look at yourselves and also look at what we have endured through living in this unbalanced and degrading world we live in?
The sort of intervention necessary when someone is emotionally distraught and they have no knowledge themselves that they suffer from bouts of madness, is to get them to a safe place, somewhere away from the environment where they are suffering unbearably in. Then yes, there may well be a role for some theraputic medication, but in no way should this be the be all and end all of treatment. As it has been discovered already, talking is of paramount importance and time and effort should be put into this activity. Education is pivitol too, teaching people about what the symptoms of madness are, help that person accept it. Then there is art and craft; providing an outlet for the upset and trauma and a medium for communication ( something that I will be going into more depth with in a future post).
There is much talk about 'recovery' and I want to be absolutely clear about this because it was not a term invented by profesionals although they were quick to jump on the bandwagon with all that it mean't to them. For profesionals, mainly senior management it mean't effectively ceasing all treatment and resources for the mentaly ill, a denial even that they had anything that was different about them, apparently we are no different to anyone else now. Funny that, how come we feel, act and behave differently then? Service users invented the term 'recovery', it was a way they had come to understand their difficulties, and the transition they had made from sanity to madness, a way they could hook onto their past and recover an identity that would not render them as useless, second class citizens, written off of and out of society completely.
We wanted to be part of mainstream life ( who doesn't) but of course we are different, just as deaf people are deaf, blind people are blind, learning disabled have a learning disability, we are mentally ill. Once you have crossed that line into insanity, most of us will experience it again and for those who only have it once ( it is very rare) they never ever forget it although in order to fit into to mainstream society they expertly cover it up, however that memory and the pain will never leave.
Madness, or mental illness is not about loss of or lack of intelligence, it has nothing to do with intelligence, there are many people with learning difficulties who also suffer with insanity due to the frustrations they have. There are also highly intelligent people who suffer it. Insanity is not about intelligence, it is an emotional disorder, emotional deficit or emotional over load. Being broken emotionally is life changing and very serious, in fact none of us ever recovers as such, none of us ever can become 'normal' again, that is a person who has no knowledge of what insanity is like. Once broken, or insane, you are a changed person, permanently changed and more vulnerable. A vulnerability that stays with you for life.
I know it is very hard for the mentally ill to accept that they are vulnerable as sometimes they feel they have extra strength and are opposite to the perception of vulnerable, they feel themselves to be strong. Now of course we are strong, but we are also vulnerable. Every breakdown is unique and every persons experience of madness is unique to them and on each occasion. Therefore I thought the best way to attempt to explain how we are vulnerable is to describe it in myself.
It is not easy, but here goes ... I am highly suspicious of others, we could go into what caused this or even just accept that it might be something I was born with; a personality trait if you like. Anyhow I am also inquisitive, sensitive and intelligent and they might be good traits to have, but couple that with a highly suspicious nature and you get explosions, outbursts and misunderstandings. Medication plays its part in subdugation, but the state never fully leaves me. It renders me vulnerable in many ways, but one is that this combination of emotions in extreme tips over to paranoia and I am and become a danger to others. I have never physically attacked anyone ever, but others can sense my unease and it requires intervention from others in order for the pain I am in to be alleviated. I also get very depressed because of this and because I am very sensitive and at times when the depression is accute I am a danger to myself.
There are many people with similar problems, and the way we are, the emotional problems we endure are undoutely exacerbated by the society we live in. The high levels of competiton for example for jobs, housing, qualifications and so on all raise our emotional deficit or overload and make it harder for us to cope, but as I have said before and written about many times over, although we need others perhaps more than people without emotional problems need others, we do also have much to offer life, and if others and society can see and accept what we have to offer, rather than just see us as a problem, it would be for the good of all. Accepting us as we are into mainstream life with all our needs and vulnerabilites would have a very positive effect for us all, for society and for human kind.
Monday, 29 August 2011
Bob Dylan - Maggie's Farm
Well I try my best to be just like I am, but everybody wants you to be just like them. Its a sin the way you work and I just get bored, I ain't gonna work on Maggies Farm no more.
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