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Firstly, a little disclaimer before I begin; this is NOT a post encouraging anyone to admit themselves into a psych ward just for the “experience” of what I’m about to share. Nevertheless, mental illness is not a joke. Furthermore, It’s not to be treated as the latest “trend”. Professional help is highly encouraged if you struggle with mental illness.
Hollywood has made mental illness look glamorizing with the likes of Angelina Jolie in “Girl, Interrupted”, or, the DC Comics saga of Harley Quinn. Moreover, it is due to this glamorization that the ridiculous amounts of Harley Quinns that showed up at the 2016 and ’17 New York Comic Con foreshadowed what our society was about to become in the next coming years. Apparently, having mental illness is no longer something we hide deep along with our other embarrassing family secrets. Instead, it gives us a get out of jail pass from accepting responsibilities. Likewise, it reminds of when rich people panhandle to make a great living. Undeniably, it is helping no one but hurting the people we try to pretend to be.
Reality is, the true “Harley Quinns” look NOTHING like what anyone imagines. For instance, think about how the population pictures what a stereotypical drug addict, alcoholic looks like. Likewise, we make the same assumptions about people who are labelled mentally unstable. But, boy how wrong we are. Just look at our track record with serial killers: H.H. Holmes, Richard Ramirez, Ted Bundy. These are all very charismatic people women loved, men wanted to be, and flew under the radar for many years. The point is, there are good people who fall under these categories as well as bad that we could of never guessed. So, let’s try and drop the labels. Instead, expand the confinements our brains try to exert us to remain.
First time I admitted myself into the psych ward, I was twenty-one. With the mental state that I was in, it was the safest place for me to be at the time. I was having a difficult time juggling life. Having had to feel like the only “present” adult taking care of myself most of my life, I was practically bursting out of the seams of emotional containment by the time I reached twenty-one. Eventually, I wanted to lash out like a toddler. My adult self couldn’t keep that part of me contained anymore. If there was some kind of instrument to measure emotional stability like you would measure temperature, mine was reading “error” because it wasn’t measurable. Finally, I went on to experience this one more time less than a year later, and two more times before I turned thirty-one.
I went on to experiencing this one more time less than a year later, and two more times before I turned thirty-one.
-Risa
At first, it was really embarrassing knowing that this was something that was part of my history. Not only four times, but on record too. I recall trying to purchase a 9mm Springfield Armory 1911 and being turned down, only to find out that I’m on the FBI list of people not to sell weapons to. I understand the concern, and it’s probably best that I cannot purchase a weapon even if it’s “for protection”, but still, how embarrassing is it that I may need to disclose with a loved one in the future about my self-admitted weeks long trips to the psych ward as if it were the vacation hot spot. Who’s going to want to date, let alone marry someone who’s been to the psych ward four times anyways?
But, you know what? Over the years, I’ve came to the realization that, that’s what makes me stand out as a person. I’ve survived a lot, experienced a lot more than the average 35 year old. I’ve learned so much from those experiences, and mastered skills that would of taken the average person a lifetime to master, and that’s what gives me my superpowers. (Maybe you’re in the same boat too!) So, I’ve compiled a list of some of the most important life lessons I’ve learned from my experiences in the psych wards.
6 Life Lessons I Learned In The Psych Ward.
1.) Anyone is capable of doing anything, good or bad.
Good or bad, anyone is capable of doing anything. Life really is a series of choices that we make, and with each choice, we are molding ourselves. This includes the thoughts we think, the things we allow ourselves to consume (books, television, music, friendships). It may seem like a no brain-er to some, but we at one point taught that once we reached a certain age, the brain matures and there is very little room for change. (This was even thought to be true in the neuroscience world!) But, now we know about neuroplasticity and how we are capable of changing our brain chemistry at any age.
2.) I don’t suffer from FoMO (Fear of missing out).
I consider myself tremendously fortunate that I don’t have the fear of missing out on anything. Due to my “training” in the psych ward with not having access to my phone, I learned to surrender the need to stay in the loop. Of course, I care about the people I love and want to know what goes on with their lives. However, I also think about how much happier people were back in the days when technology was less advanced. The expectation for instant validation was non-existent. Hence, no anxiety, fear, over-thinking of who, what, why, and for what reason. Consequently, I feel weight-less, and immersed in complete freedom.
3.) Cold showers heals the body and mind quickly.
With a quick google search, you will find many articles on the benefits of cold showers on the mind and body. Here, is a government approved article on the affect of a cold shower on depression. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17993252/ Speaking from my personal experience, I’ve noticed a significant change in how my mind functioned when I had to take cold showers in the psych ward. I was much more alert, energized, with a more positive outlook on my day right after a cold shower. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of cold showers, attached is a YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxz8QNqrzwY
4.) Minimalism might be the answer to happiness.
We are the unhappiness and most medicated country in the world because of comparison. Due to popularity in consumerism, we always want the next best thing. Sometimes, this even bleeds into our relationships. For instance, wanting a better wife/husband. Being in the psych ward has taught me a lot about the basics of life. Being happy with very little, and taking nothing for granted. As long as I have the basic essentials, I have the key to a long life of happiness.
5.) I’m less prone to manipulation.
Some of the most manipulative people I’ve ever encountered are people in the psych ward. Yes, me included. Though, I don’t use manipulation on people but only to identify when I’m being manipulated. For example, I once knew this guy, who questionably could of been the long island serial killer, try to convince me to write him love letters once I got out of the hospital. When you’ve been in lock down with someone like that, you automatically become an expert in identifying manipulation.
6.) We can live outside of time, and in-sync with God.
One of my favorite verses from the Bible is from 2 Peter 3:8 “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” This verse shows me that God lives outside of time. To us humans, something that took a thousand years to complete, in God’s eyes was a glimpse. Correspondingly, something that happened very quickly, God saw that moment in detail millisecond by millisecond, frame by frame. How much more beautiful it is to conceptualize life in this way so that we can set aside our definition of time, and live in-sync with God. When we are restricted to the notion of time, we become hyper-aware of deadlines, in turn producing anxiety, and losing our creativity. God IS creative. When we are not creative, we are not in-sync with God.
Feel free to share your thoughts with me by commenting down below. I’d love to hear from you!
If you’d like to read about my journey from a pre-dietitian to someone suffering from drug addiction, attached is my post. https://painforpassion.com/?p=843
Thank you.
With love,
Risa
