posted
This is a bit dim but I really need some advice and I'm becoming desperate. I have recently realised that I need some real mental help but I can't ask for it because I want to go to Maine Coast Semester and you can't have a record any social or mental problems to go there. That leaves me hanging in a very bad self-distructive and unhealthy i dont even know what u call it so if anyone has any kind of idea or comment please wrtie
Thank you for ur attention
Posts: 36 | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
I dunno, but if it's anything like a Semester at Sea, or even just spending a semester on the Maine coast, I'm totally jealous. Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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this is what i managed to google about Maine Coast Semester:
quote: The Maine Coast Semester offers a small number of 11th grade students the chance to live and work on a 400-acre saltwater peninsula with the goal of exploring the interrelationship between people and the environment through courses in natural science, environmental issues, art, history, and literature and writing.
In my opinion, your mental health is more important than that program. If you need help, you should go get it.
Posts: 1658 | Registered: Sep 2003
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You should email someone or talk to us here. Don't be afraid to email someone or you can aim me at TheRopeOfAllah. You need to tell someone about it. Believe me that by itself can make things a whole lot better. Take care and don't lose hope.
Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2003
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Your counseling sessions will be covered under doctor-patient privilege and there will be no wy the program will find out about it unless you tell them.
Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Sorry to hear you need help with your mental health. Beren is right, counseling is confidential under US laws, with some exceptions and caveats.
quote:you can't have a record any social or mental problems to go there
What exactly is their requirement? Many times jobs or other programs want to know if you've been hospitalized for psychiatric problems. There is a huge difference between counseling and hospitalization.
I hope every thing works out. E-mail me at pel@my way.com if you want, I'll help if I can. Or e-mail mac, she's a counseler.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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You don't have to divulge any psychiatric problems or treatment. It's protected by HIPAA (confidentiality) acts.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Thank you so much for responding! The night I wrote that I ......well didn't feel my best. But I found a nice psychologist lady who should help me and said that maybe in 10 years I will be normal- not so sure what normal is anymore. I'll try to apply to Maine Coast Semester....just in case. Makes me feel warm imside that I can always depend on good people here for support. Love, D
Posts: 36 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Hey, Normal is way overrated, in my opinion. I have no such aspirations! But good luck in becoming who you want to be and finding what you seek! Keep in touch and let us know how you are!
[ October 04, 2003, 10:25 AM: Message edited by: ana kata ]
Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2003
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It's a bit hard to come in terms with oneself for me. I'm good at ignoring things and I think I took that too far.
Posts: 36 | Registered: Jan 2003
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TO THE TEACHER OR ADVISOR: a long paragraph discribing the program and the 400-acres....last line ----- The program is not appropriate for students experiencing emotional or academic problems. Everyone who I was planning to ask for a recomndadion already know, I'm not sure how but I go to a fairly small school so news spread quickly.... Posts: 36 | Registered: Jan 2003
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I'd go ahead and ask them for a recommendation anyway, and see if you get in. What it means, probably, is they don't specialize in fixing those things. If you go there not to be fixed but for other reasons, then I expect this won't prevent you enjoying the full benefits of the place.
Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote:It's a bit hard to come in terms with oneself for me. I'm good at ignoring things and I think I took that too far.
Me too. It is so easy to find fault in others, so infuriating to find fault in ourselves. We all have our blind spots.
I'm glad you found someone nice to counsel you so quickly. Another HR member couldn't find someone for what seemed like forever.
Take heart. Acknowledging you need help and seeking it out is often the hardest step. I will pray for you, though my faith is weak.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
Ask your parents and your counselor if you should go. If they say OK, try to get a recommendation. If the first one you ask doesn't want to, ask someone else. You don't have to accept other's judgement of you, unless it makes sense to you ( but always try to listen--you may learn about yourself that way.) Try not to be too angry or disapointed if it's hard or impossible to get a recomendation. A teacher may feel ethically obligated not to recommend you if they feel you are having too many problems, for your sake and for the program as a whole.
posted
Yeah I'll ask them but I don't know....hate to be so whiny. I'm not sure it was gossip, I'm hoping it was more out of pure concern for me She told me I need more help than she can offer...this is getting scary....am I disturbed or something....I still need to tell my folks about this....shit shit shit.
Posts: 36 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Happines seems to be such a basic thing yet asking for it is like asking to breathe underwater. I know happines can not be a constant but still damn it can't I be happy.
Posts: 36 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Yeah practicing what you preach is one of the hardest things in life. I was always bad at it...but hey things aren't as bad as they seem. Right?
Posts: 36 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Imagined terrors are often far worse than reality. Only by dealing with your problems can you overcome them, or at least minimize them as much as possible.
Remember, in the end you are the only one who cannot run away from your problems.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
Not-running-away I've found is also terribly overrated, though. If a company you work for, for instance, is full of corrupt bosses, sexual harassers, and unethical people, the very best thing I've found to do about it (there's really no way you can reform all those people and no way to be happy working with them) is go somewhere else where the people are nice good upright folks.
When I wanted to die because there was no place for me in Ms. Sattewite's 4th grade class girls, I thought the problem was me, but, hey, as soon as I got to high school there were people there I liked a whole lot and they liked me too and guess what? The 15 girls of Ms. Sattewite's 4th grade homeroom were just not the world. What would have fixed that very difficult and unhappy problem for me would have been going to a different school. Very little else would have worked. Once you're the bugger of your grade, the position is not really transferable.
So I highly recommend changing schools, or trying a dozen schools, if you need to, to find one in which you fit in and are happy. As for work I've learned the smell of the sort of company I am happy at, so I am able to zero in on places like that (for the most part). I think not running away is a stupid, non-productive policy. It's one of those idiot things parents say (like when people hit you, don't fight back) that are just not the useful or correct response in real life situations. If you can't run away then you may have to tough things out, but do be open to the possibility that it's not really you who's the problem, that you might do just fine in the right environment and prevailing atmosphere.
Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote: Not-running-away I've found is also terribly overrated, though. If a company you work for, for instance, is full of corrupt bosses, sexual harassers, and unethical people, the very best thing I've found to do about it (there's really no way you can reform all those people and no way to be happy working with them) is go somewhere else where the people are nice good upright folks.
ak. What I meant by " in the end you are the only one who cannot run away from your problems" is more metaphorical and abstract. Sometime the problem is in you, sometimes in the environment, often times in bad combinations of you and your environment, as in your 4th grade class.
"Running away from your problems" means to me avoiding or denying the existence of them. Only by recognizing our problems and dealing with them as best we can, can we hope to cope and be as happy in our situation as possible.
Sometimes it's best to change bad habits or behaviors. Too often going with the flow or accepting the status quo seems best (certainly it's easiest.)
But often the best response is to leave a situation or "run away." Like if you are in an abusive relationship or working in the wrong job or going to a college that just is not going to work out and is making you miserable. Sometimes a fresh start is the optimum solution, other times we are sadly stuck in a situation we have little or no control over and have to make the best of, like a kid in high school. You have to pick your battles with care, there is only so much energy available to anyone.
Are you still going to Iraq ak? You are the geographically closest jatraquera to me besides Olivet (that I know of), you can't leave without coming to Atlanta at least once! Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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Yes! I'm still planning to go to Iraq, as soon as I find a suitable gig. I'm studying Arabic now and sending out resumes. In the meantime I may have a job going on in San Francisco for a month or six weeks. On the one hand I don't like the idea of getting sidetracked, but on the other hand the money will be nice. Also there are far worse cities in which to be temporarily exiled than San Francisco, that's for sure! We'll see Monday if they say yes. I'll be happy either way.
We should do some more Southeast hatrack picnics, for real! I love the High Museum in Atlanta, for instance, and my friends and I make pilgrimages there for good exhibits. Maybe we could do one of those one Saturday, as a hatrack picnic. Atlanta has lots of good restaurants too! I just love hatrack get togethers. Every time I've been to one they've been the greatest fun! That would be so cool if we did that!
I plan to host some at my house, too, when I get back from Iraq. I have a big house that's now empty so it's perfect for hospitality. I'm definitely doing Thanksgiving of 2004 if I'm here in the country. So stay tuned for future deveolpments. Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2003
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