Presentation Day!!

Let me give you a taste of what our field work has been all about...
 



 

Something for the road...

 

During the delivery of the different presentations a topic was touched on with one of the groups, namely that clients should not be classified according to their race...

 

This got me thinking about the 'Beyond Cultural Competence' article that we were given at the beginning of the semester. According to the article, cultural competence can not be examined like other quantitative components. It is rather a type of thinking and knowing about oneself, others and the world.

 

So very often people only focus on the achievements in life which can be weighed up, compared and graded but there are so many qualities of great value that do not get as much recognition from society...I have to think of the 9 intelligences. They are all of utmost importance but unfortunately they are ranked in a so called hierarchy of importance in society.

   

 

The article speaks of critical consciousness being of such 'overlooked' nature. The article describes it as "reading the world". In order to develop a critical consciousness, we have to examine ourselves closely, with regards to our believes, values, assumptions, bias etc. This means having an adequate understanding of ones own 'make up' as well as that of others, the world and everything in it.

 

The psychosocial module has been well set up and I believe that blogging was put into place to develop our critical consciousness which I appreciate. The articles that we were supplied with, are amazing as they unlock a whole new field of importance to us! I strongly recommend that the module should try and lay even more focus on the development of the students critical consciousness as I see this as the key that will unlock one of the important doors to becoming a better therapist and advocate for our clients....because the marks that we receive do not always reflect the true potential...and besides, we need to think about what will become our drive when our work wont be marked any longer...

 



 

                                                                                                           Reference

 

Kumagai & Lypson, 2009, 'Beyond Cultural Competence: Critical Consciousness, Social Justice, and Multicultural Education', Academic Medicine

84(6), pp. 782 - 786 

 

 

 

 

 



...I still have this dream no matter what!

 

Prac is over!

 

Nine weeks of intense work and learning in the field is over...and I feel like I have come a very long way...this I noticed whilst evaluating my clinical performance...

 

It has been a real bumpy ride, I won't lie! Going into the module with a physical and avoidant mind-set did make things awfully challenging for me. I learnt that it's important to identify ones personal barriers and then to work on them as best as possible in order to become a better person. This however must be one of the most trying things for us people, as we often don't like identifying or uncovering these problematic areas that are a part of us. There is no harm in owning up to your weaknesses and finding help or some motivation...to many it may spell out 'weakness' but to me it makes people truly beautiful! This experience has taught me how important it is to reflect upon ones life by examining oneself in a mirror now and again and to put that critical thinking cap on when being confronted with personal, daily or global issues.    

 

Even though it has been a tough semester, I have enjoyed the time out in the field. It has been a completely different learning experience from the ones I have had so far, with clients that have similar problems to you and I...the only difference is that their barriers are a little different. I've learnt that life is all about CHOICES and staying true to yourself and your believes! There is no quick fix when it comes to life....we have the choice to travel the path less or more travelled and yet they both have their potholes. I believe that it is not the path that you travel or take but how you travel it and what you make of it...meaning, your attitude and approach toward it counts most. Once those are right, you can take any old road!

What kept me going for most of the road, were my clients that were assigned to me! Together we sat down and examined possible solutions to break through their personal 'barriers' that kept them from reaching their optimal occupational performance. This became my personal drive. I have had the most incredible clients so far! They have taught me so much and it was such an absolute pleasure working with them. It is just such a pitty that we didn't get to work with them more often and on a regular basis...but that is fourth years hurdle.

Us OT students worked very hard and well together in my opinion. We shared ideas, assisted one another with our write ups, shared our material, gave critical feedback and supported one another during difficult and emotional times. Not only were the students from my class amazing to me (in so many ways) but also the students that have gone before us. The students that are a year ahead of us also lend us a helping hand. Megan in particular who got her brother Andrew to come in and conduct a welding session with my clients. Just goes to show how blessed I am! I also want to pass the love on like they have done and will pay closer attention in the future to those that are in need of some inspiration because at the end of the day it is about how many lives you have touched or changed and not how much money or power you have earned! Oh and me and my text book have also taken our relationship to the next level...

Tomorrow is our project presentation and we will be receiving our final feedback for the semester. I hope that I will not forget the reason why I am here, doing what I am doing.

I have this incredible dream that I am working toward and I will give it my all... 



When enough is enough...

“Life is ten percent what you experience and ninety percent how you respond to it.”
― Dorothy M. Neddermeyer

 

This week has been an absolute anxiety sickened time!...I have never witnessed so much anxiety around me! What was going on!? Tears were streaming left right and centre and people showed different sides to them that I had never ever seen before! I did not know that anxiety can have such a stronghold on people...which is quite sad! Ok don't get me wrong, I also get my fair share of anxiety but when it affects your entire being like it has done to some of the girls I honestly don't think that it is healthy! (haha says the one who is lying in bed with a fever)

 

Their anxiety, I guess, shows how much they want to achieve and become an OT...but there is a fine line between being overly passionate and being self destructive. Hey, then again, some people are prepositioned and their anxiety is more easily triggered...but is it really worth it to stress so much at the end of the day? Doesn't it consume the beauty of life!?

 

I have great reason to stress as my marks aren't what they are meant to be but it does not help looking back on my failures and  to wallow in them...I need to focus more on my downfalls and find help which came at the right point in time!:) We got a tutor who is an OT that has a great deal of knowledge in store! She is so not judgemental and all she wants to do is help! I really appreciated our session together and am determined to work harder on my theory.

 

I am just going to keep on going as I have this amazing dream...

This month is Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

 

On Monday, Barbara from the KZN Down Syndrome Association came to chat to us about how they reach out to the different communities in KZN! What made her talk even more profound was the fact that Barbara has a daughter called Jennifer who is a Downy. Her personal stories really touched me and made my chaotic morning more bearable...here stood a mother before me who did not choose to have a downy child and look where she is at now!...she was being a gigantic support to so many other mothers who find themselves in similar shoes as her. She also added that her husband was her pillar during the tough time and when he accepted the situation she slowly did the same... 

 

So I usually catch a lift with my uncle to varsity but we had our final case presentations the next day and a lot had to still be done so I took my own car...half way to the varsity, the petrol light went on which didn't make me stress because there are tons of garages on the way...only problem was that when I opened my cubby whole to check if I had enough money to fill up...it wasn't there!
So while I was waiting for someone to rescue me, I left my car light on and guess what, Knut, my car didn't want to start!!...Lovely Monday morning.

When I finally got to the lecture I was a little apathetical about being there but Barbara made it all worth it! I felt a little ashamed of the fact that I was moaning about my (what I thought) 'big' problem when really it was nothing at all...My dad's Godson is a Downy. People are often under the impression that having a Downy is a burden for the entire family or that it's because there is something cognitively wrong with the parents...well that is a misconception.  

Barbara told us that mothers immediately when they find out that they have given or are carrying a Downy as the famous question "why".  "Why me?!" When my dad's godchild was born it was a huge shock to everyone as the other children were perfectly healthy! Now little Heino has become a real blessing to all of us! One gains a whole new perspective when confronted with situations like these that are not planned and that are a little out of the ordinary.

Then again who wants to live an ordinary life...  





 Every ending is a new beginning!

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

Maria Robinson

 

My emotions are on a roller coaster ride at the moment! I find goodbyes terribly sad...and lately there have been a whole lot of them! I think that this may be the reason as to why I battle to let people get too close to me. On the one hand because the people you care about the most tend to hurt you the most and on the other hand saying good bye to people you care about feels like a part of you will be missing once they leave. Maybe I am not as strong as I would like to be after all....but life is all about taking risks! If you don't try out it out you will never know what it has in store for you?

 

Yesterday we said goodbye to our first clients which was not easy as they have made our fieldwork such a pleasure! What made my day was when one of my clients gave me a tissue box that he had made during the wood working group! Sooo creative! Felt smothered in love!

 

 

On the way home, holding the box on my lap and admiring it, I remembered my Kinesiology session I had in the holidays! During the session whilst working with my muscles and sub consciousness, the therapist asked me if I could associate something with the emotion 'crying' as it came up during the 'pre checks'. To me this tissue box held an important life message...'fill it up with an adequate amount of tissues and keep pushing on in order to fulfil those dreams'.

 

Last night was our annual OT ball. It was so special sharing this evening with the 4th years! They have come so far and it has been a real privilege getting to know some of them a little better throughout these three years of OT! They are such a diverse bunch and so very accepting of one another which is what life is all about. We have learnt so many important lessons from them that we will take along on our journey! Our 3rd year table was buzzing with happy and sad times that we have encountered which shows how much we have grown and achieved in our days of being OT students! They will definitely be missed!

 

xxx

 

 



 

The Jar of Life

 

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things—-your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions—-and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.. The sand is everything else—-the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.

Take care of the golf balls first—-the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’ The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

 

This little philosophy I came across is a beautiful way of explaining how we should prioritize the important things in our lives....but do we always stick to these priority lists of ours!? I think that as an OT student we fight a daily battle of keeping our priorities straight, well I feel that way at the moment. It is probably just a phase but I feel as if OT is a HUGE pebble in that jar of mine and that the rest of my 'golf balls' have little room.

Well maybe it is time to get a bigger jar...   



So how can we be of help when it comes to human rights?

 

Justice related to opportunities and resources required for occupational participation sufficient to satisfy personal needs and full citizenship.

                                                                                       - Townsend & Wilcock, 2004

 

So, how crazy is this but I have spent most of my holiday sitting at my desk! I know it's sad that I am working during my holidays when the beach is right around the corner but these next couple of weeks are ludicrously busy. I was sitting and pondering away when all of a sudden the dogs barked and the door bell rang. I must have been so deeply engrossed in my work that I did not notice that I was the only occupant left in our home which clearly meant opening the door for whomever was there. When I took a glimpse to see who was at the door I was surprised to see a little family made up of a middle aged couple and two little boys, one of which was in a pram. I asked them how I could help them which is when they told me their story...

 

It is funny, but my professional face (that's if I have one already) immediately came out while listening to their story. Ok I was not in my working clothes but OT grows on one and so one tends to automatically apply the principles that one has learnt in class, in your 'normal' life. We (here at home) have come across a lot of similar situations in the past which have taught me many lessons...now, I was on my own and had to handle this situation to the best of my ability.

 Their story began with them having to leave their house that they were renting because the land owners had a dispute. They didn't know where to go as the man was a car guard at our local mall and earned R80 a day whilst the lady looked after the two children. They were willing to stay anywhere as long as they would have a roof over their heads....and that is all they told me.

I am telling this story as it got me thinking. How do I handle this situation, keeping my beliefs in mind and my acquired OT knowledge? It also got me thinking about the asserts that all people have the right to, based on the WFOT Human Rights position paper, which are:     



 

Asserts that all people have the right to - based on the WFOT Human Rights position paper

 

• Be supported to participate in occupation as included and valued member of their family, community and society.
•  Have choice, not being pressured, forced or coerced into occupation that threaten health, or are dehumanising, degrading or illegal.
• Be valued for their participation, and have equitable access, regardless of difference.
• Access occupations that enable people to flourish, fulfil their potential, experience satisfaction.
• Access civic, educative, productive, social, creative, spiritual and restorative occupations.
• Not be excluded from occupation by economic, social and physical barriers.

 

To me these asserts are a little 'far fetched'. They paint the perfect picture of what occupation should be all about but are they really being realistic at the end of the day?! Maybe if these asserts would be implemented, this family of four would live a more comfortable life. There are however 'weeds' which prevent people to reach their ultimate 'occupational potential' which we should be aware of.

 

These are factors like; occupational alienation, occupational  deprivation, occupational marginalisation and occupational balance.

 

It is vitally important that we as OT students become aware of these 'barriers' so that one day when we are practicing, may it be in the rural or private setting, that we don't become oblivious to these barriers that may stand in the way of our clients. We need to search for possible solutions ie. community profiling, examining the policies, action research etc. so that we can assist our clients and society in breaking through these barriers so that they may participate in an occupation that gives them purpose and meaning. In doing this, we may assist our justice system in serving justice, even though it may be on a small scale...every little bit helps. 

 

I strongly believe that justice can not be 'squished' into a system...it starts with everyone's attitude towards it.

 

Reference

 

Townsend, E., Wilcock, A. (2004). Occupational justice and client centred practice: A dialogue in progress. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71 (2), 75 - 87 

Just do, be, belong and become!...it's as easy as that!

 

Is it all that easy I ask myself?! We are currently "on holiday" for a couple of days and so we went to Thangami natural Spas close to Vryheid. It was incredibly scenic and away from any sort of metropolitan state which I loved! I must admit that I am not the biggest city slicker. We had some time to challenge our thoughts and it was there, in the middle of the dense African bush, that I was reminded of Ann Wilcocks understanding of health and well being which put my avoidant streak to the test.

Doing 

Doing, as Wilcock portrays it is, "acting on the environment and interacting with other beings".(Stoffel & Brown, pg. 639) I strongly believe that this is what us OT students are constantly doing. Maybe we are even exceeding the 'normal' requirements of the statement because there are times when our class is tired of constantly doing. What we need to remember though is that doing also "affirms competence and self worth" (Hammell, 2004) This refers to intrinsic motivation. This to me does not mean that whatever you do has to be done on a large scale for everyone to see. All of us want to be important and leave behind a legacy but we are not all going to. We need to ask ourselves what our motives for what we are doing are. If we don't try we will never know and there are ALWAYS going to be people out there that are going to be better at something than you are but maybe you will invent a new approach, who knows.... 

 

Being

To me, this is the hardest of the four. I am quite for the whole "Be yourself" thing but do I really apply it at the end of the day? Wilcock stated that, "being allows for reflection, contemplation and discovery" (Stoffel & Brown, pg. 639) which has been beautifully said. What is a little concerning about human nature is that there are many things that define who we are. Pressure wells up from all sides and in the end we drown in what society wants us to be and 'being you' becomes damn difficult. Put on those 'arm floaties' and off you go!        

 

Belonging

Belonging must be the most satisfying feeling ever! Often it is up to the individual of how much they want to belong. It gives me a great sense of pleasure to sense when someone feels welcomed or when a feeling of belonging develops when they are around me or in my home! It is defined as, "the idea of reciprocity, unconditional acceptance and being valued beyond the intrinsic value of self". (Rebeiro, Day, Semeniuk, O'Brien and Wilson, 2001) Everyone encounters the craving to belong even the most cold hearted out there.

 

Becoming

"...through creating, exploring and reflecting on the experiences of life, a person becomes or is transformed." (Stoffel & Brown, pg. 639) We can clearly pick up the importance of making time to reflect, discover and learn from our past and present experiences. this will assist with our personal growth. It is always important to me that individuals "become who they are" and then accepting themselves the way they are because in the end we do not get to choose our genetic makeup but it's what we make of it that counts and makes us who we are meant to be.  

 

So for all of the avoidant types out there....just DO, BE, BELONG and BECOME who you are meant to be!...just do it!

 

 

 

Reference



Brown C and Stoffel V, 2011, Occupational therapy in mental health: A vision for participation, United States of America, Davis company.



Am I the A-V-O-I-D-A-N-T type!?
 

 Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.  - Pema Chodron

Golly, so much has happened lately! Don't know where to begin! Life has been a little rough and all over the place....So let me go back to last week when we received our clinical performance forms with our mid term marks on them. I was a little distraught or better said bummed about what I had scored...my clinical performance means a lot to me and so I got a bit of a fright when I received my form and I was sitting on the fence of a pass! Am sure you can image my music blaring in my car on the way home!:)....I had to work hard to contain myself. This I did by telling myself that it was not about the marks and that I will work harder on the areas that I was lacking in, in order to become a better therapist! My lack of sleep and the high level of anxiety did not help the situation...

What did help a little was celebrating Mark and Roan's wedding on the weekend between doing work! It was such a special and personal moment! The question, "So have you got a boyfriend or fiancé yet?" was posed multiple times that day. Yes! Good question! This made me think about my own interpersonal relationships! Am I avoiding them? My supervisor pointed out something so very true the other day when she gave us some individual feedback. She said that I should re-examine the stigma of not being 'book smart'. It is indeed a real stigma already. I think it might be my ego....these typical egocentric thoughts, 'well if I am not excellent at something I will just avoid it as much as possible.'

On Tuesday we had our annual Research Day which our class hosted for the forth years who presented their research projects. Oh my goodness did I get cold feet upon seeing these well put together research projects! I have never seen myself as a researcher and there these pretty forth year ladies stood, all grown up and so very professional. Am I avoiding growing up?  This particular slide from one of the research projects somehow said it all.

So what is the remedy for the avoidant type?! Will let you know once I have an answer! Here are some happy moments captured on Research Day 2013!



In the end, it will all be worth it...

 

 

                One day, in retrospect the years of struggle will strike you as the most BEAUTIFUL.     

                                                                                                      - Sigmund Freud

 

A horrific accident happened not too far away from where I live...22 people dead and many find themselves in critical conditions.
This just goes to show how short life really is! This accident shook many and profound questions about life started cropping up...

 ***

Many people do not understand why us OT students work so hard. They do not understand how we can be working away our best and most prosperous years, during which we should be travelling and trying out all sorts of different things...what they are really wanting to say is, "why work so hard if life is so frikken short!?"...ever since the accident happened, I have also asked myself this question. 

 

We set so many goals in our profession, that we try very hard to work towards together with our clients. The dictionary defines a goal as, 'a purpose toward which an edeavor is directed.' This makes me ask myself the question, "what is my goal" and what is the "key" to reaching a goal...and is "the journey towards the goal not more important than reaching the actual destination?"

 

Have you ever reached a goal lately? It is an amazing feeling for a couple of minutes, hours or days hey! A recent goal of ours was planning and running the Casual Day in aid of spreading awareness about disability :) The theme was 'Think Big'. Here is a pic to show you that we really tried hard to stick out and make a statement for the disabled :)

We played 'A Minute to Win It' with everyone at the rehab, even the staff members joined in!...so everyone ended up looking a little like we did in the photo! Was such a treat seeing everyone looking a little out of place for once! I guess one is never too old to play around and look odd!...so many things turned out a little lob sided with regards to our plans but everyone caught on quickly that it was not about the competition and rather about the fellowship and bonding that happened. Days like these make my life! One sees how the most collected and rigid kind of people start tapping their feet to the music, putting on a funky looking props and some stepping it up by doing a dance in front of everyone. It was a beautiful moment that I don't think I will ever forget! It is such a pleasure to be able to be working alongside these three stunning girls! We all have our insecurities and weaknesses but yet we borrow and lend what we possibly can to one another which to me is real team work and growth!:)      
You soon however notice that life carries on and you find yourself setting new goals soon after having reached one, no matter how big or small. This may be due to our ambitious nature or our personal drive that keeps us going and reaching for the stars. My personal drive is pure HOPE! It is hard to explain the 'contents' of this 'ingredient' but holding onto this thing called HOPE helps me get up in the morning as well as working with clients with a poor prognosis.

My reply to the many questions about why I am working so much is;

'there must be something that inspires me about what I am learning and doing other wise I would have become a tour guide a long time ago!'         

What are we really after in this life?!

 

"I think it is a very hard choice. The price, we think the price is worth it." - Madeleine Albright

*** 

On Thursday last week I decided that I had enough of the city fumes for a while and went home to breathe some fresh sea air! Best decision ever! However, when I entered my home there was little breathing of fresh sea air. All that was in the air were the terrible nuclear fumes coming from Syria...  

When it comes to politics I am a little this...

 

 

I know I know, I should totally get plugged into the newspaper to remain updated about all of these things that are going on around us!..but I often get comfortable and enjoy not having to stress about the bad things in life. Less to stress about helps me sleep better!

 

That should not be our thinking and I am embarrassed to have had such thoughts on the matter! What a selfish kind of thinking when there are people in Syria and other places that can't sleep because death may have the better of them in the morning! We very often think ourselves small and insignificant in this world (well I do) but that should not be so! 

 

Let me show you one very nicely laid out perspective on the Syrian matter...





 



Who knows if this is true, or just another one of these propaganda clips making its rounds...all I know is that there is some sort of power struggle going on and when that is the case, man will walk all over human rights which is a shame because that is not what we are here for! Lets face it, man has come very far in terms of discovering his own potential which is why technology is advancing so fast and we are able to cure our own diseases. People that have walked the earth before us have put systems in place which have brought wealth and comfort to many on the one hand and poverty and suffering on the other. These systems have been carried through the generations to this very day! The systems I am referring to are of rigid origin and if something does not run according to plan, it will spin out of control and not even paper money will be able to save the mess.  

 

So you are probably thinking where on earth does OT fit into all of this!? Our profession is all about being good advocates for our clients which has everything to do with human rights. In fact, the rights of humans are so important to us that we will even treat criminals or murderers in order to fulfil our role.

 

Our role....a difficult one to describe in words but not with the heart. Our role, one that covers many a occupation yet focuses on the desirable occupation of our clients heart. Our role, one so free yet so specific to man.

 

It is so easy for man to lose his focus on what is important in this life. Like it was said in the clip, "What kind of psychopath is willing to intentionally set off a global conflict that would lead to millions of deaths just to protect the currency of a paper money." 

 

All of us have our own little or big power struggles going on especially my client who is caught in a whirlwind of religious-family 'traditions' and his own prideful ego. His story is a clear example of how a power struggle can slowly but surely chip away at a grown man's life. Seeing this power struggle unfold on a much smaller scale than the one going on globally at the moment, just shows how destructive the craving for power can be. 

 

Us OT's are probably not going to be able to change the world's thinking but we can start small. Like someone once said, "It's only when you stop basing your involvement on the chances of success that success actually becomes possible." This for me means to let this course shape me, which starts in the boardroom, presenting my client.

 

Our mid term presentations took place on Tuesday this week. I was mighty tired when I woke up that day, not exactly in the mood to make a difference. What I didn't do was to practice what I was going to say which didn't really help my nerves! What made it worse was that I was after the tea break. This meant that there were amazing presentations before me, pointing out what I should and shouldn't have done. I must admit that I generally quite enjoy presenting something that I am passionate about but I have totally had better presentations than this one....but in the end  I needed to remind myself that it wasn't and isn't about me! My feedback was reasonable and I will definitely look at the things that were mentioned in the future.

 

I really enjoy what I am doing even though I often feel like my brain is malfunctioning and I am being crushed from all sides! :) Oh and by the way, I disagree with Madeleine Albright's statement that I put at the beginning of my blog because I don't think it's a very hard choice to decide what's worth the price....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 









 

This is my motto by Confucius for the weekend! Mid term case presentations are on Tuesday and there is still loots of work to do on my part! Especially on my write ups! 

So WORK WORK WORK it is.... 

The power of emotions

...laughing & crying on the same day!?

 

When starting off your day you have absolutely no idea what it may bring!...except maybe for what is written in your diary...and that may not even happen the way you have written it out so neatly. The same holds true for OT sessions! You can plan years ahead, with ample amount of effort and yet nothing will run according to your perfect plan A or even plan B!...On Monday night I was feeling very unprepared and somehow not confident about my work for the day ahead. It might have been due to the response I received about my treatment write ups (which I must admit were messed up). 
 

 ***

 

So let's face it, when talking to men about feelings they will find the easiest way to flee the conversation hey!? Well yesterday, my 28 year old male client was the one who brought up his feelings during our session about communicational barriers. Not only that, but he was getting a little emotional...the topic that was being discussed must have been close to his heart because I have never witnessed him listening so intently!...usually he's the one that will carry a conversation! 

 

The session also spoke to me...especially the three factors that we should work on in order to improve our communication skills.

1. Our body language
2. Listening
3. Speaking

In the last while I have felt a little excluded from all networks in my life. There were times when I felt quite lonely with my thoughts and feelings...guess it could be due to my love language which I think is ' spending quality time with loved ones'. I understand, life has been a little busy for us all and that there is plenty of change hovering in the air and that everyone sometimes forgets to listen....then again it could be because I don't talk about my feelings enough, or maybe it lies in the way I express myself...lots of time to discover that one:) 

 

The day on prac ended on a lighter and brighter note. We discussed our treatment write ups where I discovered that I may want to fix everything (even the irrelevant stuff) in one session when we should actually not try to eat the elephant in one go. I found the feedback really helpful and supportive! My last session however made my day! I played an adapted snakes-and-ladders-slash-that's-Life game to assist my client with decision making which we both enjoyed so much that we could not help smiling and laughing...don't worry the OT side of things was achieved (in my opinion) but the fact that it was done with so many happy vibes was heart warming!

 

 

   

        

...when you feel like clay that is being moulded into something new

The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.
Carl Rogers

He, the service user was asked to engage in the activity of identifying and clarifying the different components defining his self concept. This was done by looking at one of his interests, mainly pottery. For just a second  I felt like the clay that was going through his hands...being shaped by all sorts of forces, rounding away the rough edges.

 

What makes OT so different from other courses is that it does not only build up your knowledge but it also shapes the way you handle and approach different people in this life which is why you have to be willing to 'round off those rough edges'. Some say we are all born with a set personality others say it is acquired. I believe that one is born with a large portion of your personality and that the rest is acquired over time. Life shapes your every being like pottery in the potters hand. 

 

The question, 'What do you look out in people especially in a boyfriend or a spouse?' was posed in class this week. One girl piped up "money" another "intelligence" a third "looks"...to me what counts most would probably be the personality and the character of people. (cheesy I know) This situation made me realize that if I find the personality or character so interesting, I should also be willing to give mine a good analysis in order to become more therapeutic. 

 

At the moment I feel a little like my head is all over the place...watch your handling skills, watch that your activity is appropriate, watch your scientific writing, watch your goals and aims setting, watch what and how you say things to your clients, watch your body language...I have decided to take it step by step as there is no point in rushing things...it will take time and effort but I am strongly holding on to the analogy of the clay being moulded into an unique end product....

 

 

 

 

 



That tune that says it all on a Thursday morning...

 

"Wake Me Up" - avicii

 

Feeling my way through the darkness
Guided by a beating heart
I can't tell where the journey will end
But I know where to start

They tell me I'm too young to understand
They say I'm caught up in a dream
Well life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes
Well that's fine by me

 So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost

I tried carrying the weight of the world
But I only have two hands
Hope I get the chance to travel the world
But I don't have any plans

Wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to close my eyes
Life's a game made for everyone
And love is the prize

 So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost

Didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know



We all have our addictions!
 

 “I used to think a drug addict was someone who lived on the far edges of society. Wild-eyed, shaven-headed and living in a filthy squat.
That was until I became one...”
― Cathryn Kemp, Painkiller Addict: From Wreckage to Redemption - My True Story

 

When we hear 'addiction' we immediately think that someone, somewhere along the line has given in to peer pressure or has not got the sufficient coping mechanisms for life. It is often associated with individuals from the lower socioeconomic class and younger people as they are seen to be the most 'psychologically unstable' and have life the hardest. Many see individuals with addictions as weak as they are thought to be looking for the easy way out...fact is, we all have our preconceived ideas about addictions...and let's face it we all have some sort of addiction!

May it be caffeine, watching TV, eating, jogging, you name it...too much of something and not being able to live without that something may become an addiction! Yesterday,we met our clients for the first time and 'oh my' were we surprised that most of them were higher functioning! Let me give you an idea:

 

So the first thing that shot through my mind was, "how on earth are we going to treat our clients if they have the intellectual insight to what's going on with them"?! The problem is that our will power might be stronger than we think but the chemical imbalance within can sometimes be stronger than any forces and therefore there is the need for drugs such as Naltrexone, Acamprosate and Disulfiram as well as psychosocial treatment which is where our skills as OT's come in. Nice to know that we are just as important as drugs hey!:) What we examine are things like the clients cognitive believes, coping and stress management, motivation, communication and interaction skills. The treatment is underlined by models such as Stages of Change, Harm Reduction, Contingency management, Project mainstream or the 12 Step Group Participation. It is sounds easier than it is as we also become an important therapeutic tool which means our handling skills need to be effective. I will be focusing on my handling skills as prac unfolds as it is very important to find a stable balance when it comes to the way one approaches treatment with the clients. As Chantal said, "Just be yourself".

Girl, interrupted

 

 

Part of our psychosocial learning requirements is to acquaint ourselves with movies that have cognitive illnesses as an underlying topic. I found this an excellent idea as these movies give us a good idea of what people with cognitive illnesses go through. I watched 'Girl, interrupted' which I found mind boggling!

 

“Have you ever confused a dream with life?

Stolen something and have the cash?

Have you ever been blue?

Or thought your train was moving while sitting still?

Maybe I was just crazy

Maybe it was the 60’s

Maybe I was just a girl...interrupted”   

                                                                                        -          Susanna Kayson

The scene is set by taking the viewers into the torn thoughts of Susanna Kayson (protagonist) who is an eighteen year old girl, fresh out of  high school, in hospital, having her stomach emptied due to her having mixed a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka. On the hospital bed she voices the delusion of having no bones in her bruised wrist. She also gazes into the eyes of her class mate’s father’s eyes with whom she’d been having an affair. Once out of hospital, Dr James Watson (psychiatrist) who is a family friend, pushes Susanna into the admission to a private mental hospital called Claymoore. She is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.  

 

What Susanna learnt within these two years of her hospital stay was that she had to learn to show her mind ‘who is the boss’. This, as Dr Wicks put it could only be done together with a great deal of control. Susanna was yearning to feel alive which involves reflecting and owning up to your feelings which she struggled to do. This could be due to many factors including her context which I think may have played the lead role. She thrived on dreaming about dying which was quickly crushed by seeing death at face value. Susanna sums this up by saying, “When you do not want to feel, death can feel like a dream, but seeing death makes dreaming ridiculous.” Together with this emotional insight into her illness Susanna recovered and chose to go out into the unsheltered world to live rather than consume herself with her negative thoughts of death. “Maybe everyone is a liar and the world is stupid and ignorant, but I’d rather be in it.” (Susanna)

 The movie was great and Susanna's journey to recovery was tremendously wild yet I could relate to some of the feelings that she was encountering, especially the question of what is my role in the greater scheme of things.

“Was I ever crazy?

Maybe or maybe life is?

Crazy isn’t being broken or swallowing a dark secret,

It’s you or me amplified.”

-         Susanna

 

 

 

 



Oh the motivation!...

 

'I have immortal longing in me.' - William Shakespeare

 

What motivates you to get up in the morning and accompanies you to put on your unique 'armour' that so perfectly defines you, in order to take on the world??

 

Some OT students said seeing that smile of accomplishment and pride on their clients faces after completing a task successfully. Others said that they love seeing a difference or positive change within their clients. One student even said that it brings her immense pleasure just sitting and listening to her clients. These are all great motivators!

 

So, what motivates me? The human mind has always interested me. Finding out why people act and think the way that they do has fascinated me my entire life! To me it is an adventure to get down to the core of peoples issues...I often want to solve everyone's problems!! (ugh, trust me it is not always a good thing to be wired in that way) This does not mean that I am good at it or can do it!...but I would like to think that I have become a little more accepting, aware and understanding of different peoples ways and means of living their lives. I feel that together with OT I may able to help them gain insight in a professional and appropriate way as well as teaching them coping mechanisms for the challenges that they are facing.

 

Wandering through life, I have come across many of my imperfections or wrong doings and have noted that few people pointed them out to me or would just ignore them by playing over them. This, they may have done out of love to protect me. We all know that love can sometimes add or contribute toward the already existing problem instead of helping correct the flaw or making one conscious of it. Many people, when confronted about their issues become hypersensitive and feel that others are 'attacking' their personality, character or malfunctioning body which creates havoc within their hearts. Others may take it far to serious and their self esteem might take a huge knock. To me there is always a 'source' as to why someone is portraying the behaviour or thoughts that they are displaying for all to see...and this source, may it be low self esteem, negative thoughts  etc. we will be looking at closely when assessing and treating our clients this semester which I am quite excited about!...(the nerves are starting to creep in after mock practical though)  It will take a great deal of tact and sensitivity as I have experienced first hand, how uncomfortable criticism can be, even if it is constructive and done with a whole lot of love. We need to be able to receive it and to give it in order to grow, which will require a whole lot of learning! eeeeeeek*

 

"If you want to leave footprints in the sand of time, don't drag your feet." - Arnot L. Sheppard

 

I have been allocated to Newlands Park Centre for the Psychosocial block together with three other girls. Newlands Park is a substance abuse rehabilitation centre where a three month programme is run with the clients which includes individual sessions as well as groups. Our module coordinator will be our supervisor for this semester which I am happy about BUT I also know that we will be working very hard :) These next couple of days will be dedicated to reading up about substance abuse and how we as OT's go about treating our individuals.

 

Here are some interesting yet scary facts to begin with;

 

SA drug statistics

• About 65% of murders in South Africa were associated with social behaviour largely fuelled by alcohol abuse.
  Drug consumption in South Africa is twice the world norm.   (CDA-2009)
• 15% of South Africa's population have a drug problem.   (CDA)
• Drug abuse is costing South Africa R20-billion a year and could pose a bigger threat to the country's future than the Aids pandemic.
• According to SAPS figures, 60 percent of crimes nationally were related to substance abuse. In the Western Cape, the figure was closer to 80 percent. The perpetrators of these crimes are either under the influence of substances, or trying to secure money for their next fix.
• In 2004, government disbanded the SA Narcotics Bureau (SANAB), a dedicated drug-fighting unit within the SAPS that had achieved some notable successes. Since its closure, drug-related crimes have increased exponentially - in fact by 30 percent.
• The recently-released United Nations World Drug Report had named South Africa as one of the drug capitals of the world.
• The abuse of alcohol and usage of dagga has lead to the country to being one of the top ten narcotics and alcohol abusers in the world.
• One Rand in four in circulation in SA is linked to the substance abuse problem - 2009.   (CDA-Bayever)
• Drug arrests leapt from 300 in 2006 to 1500 in 2011 in Cape Town

Rehabilitation

• Between 2% and 6% of those admitted to drug rehabilitation centres are hooked on prescription medications.
• “Most drug rehabilitation centers have a success rate of less than 3%.”    (Prof. .Malaka / University of Limpopo).



http://www.tnt.org.za/index.php/2012-06-29-07-13-28/statistics

This information scares me a little and just goes to show that we can't change the whole worlds problems at once but we can always start small...

"Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway." - John Wayne