Mental health work and race

As the summer starts and I begin my first “big girl job” I am reminded of all the things that have been on the back burner because of school. As a psychology major and a person working in the mental health field I want to remind people that fall into this category to not forget about yourself. Of course, you want what is best for your client(s) and you should always be emotionally invested in your work but, I find it is very easy to lose sight of yourself. Remind yourself that your career is not what life is always about. I am very passionate and dedicated to my work, I enjoy being a supporter and advocate for my clients. That being said I know I will have days that I feel defeated. I will have days where all that I did won’t be enough and there will hopefully never be days I need to deal with a clients death but, I need to be prepared for if that were to happen. People in mental health fields, do not blame yourself. You have done all you could have and tried to better anothers life. I am sure your client is or was eternally grateful, family included.

I also want to highlight the important fact that not all mental health diagnoses are the same. You could have many clients with bipolar disorder and manias aren’t always the same between them. Someones mania could be energized anothers could be extreme happiness, a lot of the times both but, you get the jist. If you have a client for example that has schizophrenia and you have never worked with anyone that had this diagnosis, do not generalize the diagnosis to how the media protrays this illness. It is very easy to stereotype when there are media sources telling you it is “weird”, “unnatural” and that the person flat out is just a psychopath. This is not the case and quiet frankly you need to brush up on some reading if you believe this. Another example I wanted to add that just drove me crazy was when the movie “Split” came to theaters. Just because a person has dissociative identity disorder does not mean they will lock you up and kill you. Actually, I have met someone with this disorder that was one of the sweetest people I have ever met. This is not to say also that you won’t have clients that do meet the “stereotypical” diagnosis. I am saying to treat clients like human beings, friends almost. You want your client to graduate, dont give up!

To go off of this I wanted to show the correlations between these generalizable statements and how it correlates with race. Since my break from WordPress I got my political views out online and in academic papers. Sharing and debating politcal views online… not my strong suit. I find it very easy to get upset with biased news articles that instead of saying “mentally unwell person” or “terrorist” use very different language depending on the race of the victim. I saw a news article titled “muslim kills people” on the other hand when a white male did the same the media would of course use the “mentally unwell” “lone wolf” things of that nature headlines. When it comes to people that are African American they love to show the most “gangster” picture on the news. Rather than with a white male it could show him and his family or something that could pass as a head shot, kind of like they are making you feel bad for the white man. If you do not see the problem here, you are the problem. America seriously needs to realize the constant stereotypes constantly being pounded into us whether it be through friends down to the bias media. I want to show that just because you have a certain illness or are a different color than white that you are normal. You’re human and do not let the media make you think of yourself a certain way. You are yourself. I am Kiendra. All rainbows and butterflies. Show how you are better than the stereotype and that it is not true.

I want to start writing more it has been a while and has been something I have enjoyed since a young girl. I hope to be writing once a week, with the way work works out it will depend. Alas fellow comrades.

Kiendra Simpson

AA Liberal Arts: Social and Behavioral Science Spring 2018

BA Psychology Fall 2019

The misuse of protection orders

Im back with my unpopular opinions and this one I’ve seen many other posts about but I feel is VERY necessary. I have known so many people who have antagonized their ex blames on them somewhere along these lines then will get this piece of paper that says they can’t go near you or a child if you have one. Well, orders of protection are 9 times out of 10 on a male partner and you want to know what happens after ? The female will constantly message the man and try to get him to answer or hang out or something. This is not ok! Obviously you’re pretty stupid to break one of these considering that you will get jail and or prison time depending but on both ends. If you are openly inviting this person places and talking to them you get in trouble as well so, don’t think you’re off the hook. I am so sick of women constantly playing victim when they brought it upon themselves. As refered to in my first blog post if you hit a man and expect not to get hit back you’re just ridiculous and just flat out crazy. I myself had an order of protection at one point against my dad. It was gone about a month later but I know the ins and outs I went through an on going separation between my parents and know all about custody and legal rights and let me tell you most of the time these are either cancelled, moved into restraining orders or there for a reason that is due to a girlfriend wanting to control their exs or current boyfriends life. Don’t believe me? Look up the many cases on google. That’s my rant for the day and think it needed to be said.

Friends and the suckiness

 

Before I get into this blog post let it be known I know I suck. I am not the best friend in the world, in fact, I barley have friends. The friends I do have are awesome, loving and just the best people ever, I love you all. To the people I’ve lost a long the way, I’m sorry but if we stopped being friends it was probably because of you. Wait what? Let’s recap to a little bit about me. I was a cheerleader in high school and a sorority girl in college which means I know all about cattiness and girls plus I mean I have a vagina. I know when people are being fake and I know when people are subtly hinting towards not liking someone or something a long those lines. It’s not hard to read body language espeaiclly when it comes to women. Also, being that I was involved in the “basic girl things” I also am completely different from the typical girl which mostly every girl says. I was also a band kid in high school I love music and instusments. In college I am in a sorority, yes, but on the outside to most people looking in I’m just Dr.Cs assistant or the girl who makes practice tests for each test so make sure to ask her for one! So common misconceptions about myself make it so people see me as what I’m not or just see me for the boring things on the outside. The same can happen with friendships. People can see someone as something they’re not. Unfortunately, this has happened to me many times and I’m sure it has to everyone else as well. I have invited toxic horrible people in my life that I felt with all of my heart would never betray me. The outcome of course would make anyone step back and reevaluate their friend group. Once I realized that mostly all of my friends were toxic, selfish and just not good people to call friends I would disappear without a trace (besides social media) which is not good on my end but I don’t really care because they needed to be out of my life for my sanity anyways. For my friends I have now, congrats you aren’t terrible people. To the others; I hope you find real friends. Ones who make you see what true friendship is and that it’s not stabbing someone in the back. I also hope you the best. I can hold a grudge like no tomorrow so consider yourself super lucky I’m even writing this excerpt.

What my sorority taught me

Usually sorority posts are very negative and show the exact opposite of what true sisterhood is. Personally, my sorority is not what everyone would think. Yes, of course drinking and partying is something that mostly all Greek houses do. Although in my sorority, it doesn’t matter your background, whether you do illegal things or whatever the case is. Delta Chi Omega was founded in 1954. DCO stands for devotion, chastity and open mindedness. We are a group of classy girls that stunt red and white letters and pearls. We strive to have diversity in my house and to have fun. We also make sure to emphasize our secrecy as our top most importance (so no I will not be telling you and juicy secrets in this.) Sisterhood is more than friendship and is truly alive and well in our house. There is not one of my sisters that would ever leave me behind or make sure i’m not OK in any circumstances. During pledging this is emphasized a lot. My house has taught me the best way to be organized and to use my time management skills. Being in a sorority you are always busy whether it be attending/planning mixers, attending a seminar, keeping up relationships with other Greek houses and way more. Also shoutout to my brother house Kappa Sigma Epsilon you’re all awesome. My sisters are strong, independent and just all around great. My big is the best person I’ve ever met ever and my pledge sisters are literally like real sisters because of how much time we spend together (and yes even the arguing!) My sorority has also taught me that not all sororities live up to the stereotypical name. I was probably the last person any one thought would join a sorority… seriously, all of my friends from back home were super surprised including my mom. But again, sororities are not what you think at all. It is more of a business then anything and the business needs employees which are the sisters. There is so many other things I have learned just by being a new sister and just making it through late March and I already know this is where I belong. My sorority is my home away from home (even though some of my sisters live literally in the same town as me) but still. Delta Chi Omega. FITB.

Why I will not be watching 13 Reasons Why

13 Reasons Why is a book I picked up in my 10th grade year of high school. At the time, this book made me feel like Hannah Baker was me. I was going through a lot at the time and found comfort in the book. Now, looking back I can see fully why I would like it. Being a person who was always interested in psychology I was always drawn to books that had tragic twists in it or something of that nature. I am not sure what the series is like but I can’t imagine it would be much different then the book. The reasons I will not be watching it is I feel the book kind of glorifies her suicide. Yes, this character Hannah went through A LOT but it shows an effective way to make people feel like complete shit and blame others for suicide. When I was reading the book, this actually made me think of ideas similar to her. Sending out tapes to people who did you wrong while you were alive after a tragic death is completely horrible. Not to say suicide isn’t horrible because it is. If these people did so many mean things to her as soon as they heard of her passing they would feel pretty shitty anyways. But let’s make it worse maybe to the point those people would want to take their own life as well. I also believe the show should be taken off of Netflix. Social media is a huge influence on the younger generation (everyone knows that.) I have seen countless posts about this series. The show could potentially have enough influence on children that they think it’s ok to take their own lives, like it’s normal and ok when it is not at all. There is also a very graphic scene of Hannah Baker taking her own life in it which if a child saw could scar them. All in all this is my opinion, I personally don’t even think the book was that good having read it 3 years ago as compared to now. When you’re 15 struggling with self image, depression and bullying this book could be a trigger. Now when you’re 18, in college and know way more you realize so much more.

Why I find it necessary to be with my boyfriend all the time

One thing I am sick of hearing being directed towards me is the question “Why are you with your boyfriend so much?” Well I will tell you. Me and my boyfriend have been inseparable since 11th grade. We came to college together and are each others best friends. When I say best friends I don’t mean it in the cliche relationship meaning. Airik and I are not like a typical relationship. Starting out as friends, we already knew everything there was to know about each other. He met my mom and I already met his parents before we were dating. Airik and I are known to do everything together. Of course, every once in a while we get sick of each other… maybe more than every once in a while but he’s the one person I can yell at and 5 seconds later we are talking about something completely random and right back to what we were. He is the one person that can make me laugh after a horrible day and make me feel like everything is going to be okay. His arms feel like home. I could go on with the sappy stuff but quite frankly this isn’t about how much I love him, which everyone knows is with everything I have, but to address the lingering question above. Why do I spend so much time with him? Because simply, I can. I don’t ask any questions on what someone else does with their lives, so, if I’m not asking you about your lifestyle I expect the same back. I love my boyfriend and it is necessary for me to spend as much time as I want with him and when I want to.

Feminism

Feminism is a word that is completely misused in America. There are too many radical women describing themselves as this word but do non- feminist actions (the absolute worst). Now, while you’re asking yourself “is this me?” ask yourself the following:

1. Do I actually know facts behind what I’m saying
2. Am I calling myself a feminist because I hate men
3. Do I know who Susan B Anthony is
4. Do I know what all the great women suffragists did for all women
5. Do I say things such as “It’s because I’m a girl”
6. Do I respect other women and what they do with their lives

This brings me to my next point. One of my biggest pet peeves. It is proven that men are stronger than women there is no way around that fact, but, when a woman hits a man as compared to when a man hits a woman… what are the outcomes. I was taught growing up “If you get hit you hit someone back”. No matter the gender. So let’s look at the two situations in context. Hitting someone in the first place is wrong unless harm is brought upon you, at least in my opinion. So in context if a woman hits a man I believe the man has FULL RIGHT to hit a woman back. Now, I know people are reading this thinking i’m crazy but trust me, there is a method to my madness. The definition of feminism on first Google search is “the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.” This means what you want for women would be the same for men. If you call yourself a feminist then you should fully agree with me. When a man hits a woman it is unfair due to his strength and probably not needed to handle a situation in which violence is not already happening in. Women need to stop believing they have some kind of rights over men when we’re all equal. No gender is better than the other.