Ralph rode past the mental health facility on his bike and looked over at the people inside and yelled, “STILL CRAZY!” It had been several long months and he had finally managed to wean himself off his obligations to counseling and medication. There was an enormous personal satisfaction in getting off the medication, because the meds tended to make him really depressed and suicidal. Now his life was finally getting back on track since the latest hospitalization.
The hospital was actually kind of nice. The staff there was very helpful in getting him back on track. It was incidentally the same place they had filmed, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Fortunately Nurse Ratched was not on staff and there was an outdoor area that was very important to Ralph in his personal recovery. The patients were all so helpful, many of them had been there before and most figured they might possibly be there again.
Direct experiences like vision quests were nothing to be taken lightly and one does not seek them out but sometimes they just happen. The medical communities pharmaceuticals were helpful to come back especially if you had flown so high that you crashed into the lower realms. What was really important though, was the ability to ground into the earth reality and being able to go outside was so important for this. Struggling with the doctor’s was not really helpful and just prolonged the time it took to get over their strong medications.
After he was released from the hospital, he was required to go to the mental health facility as an outpatient, but this was not much fun. Counseling sessions left him feeling sick and apathetic. But he had gone through this many times and knew what to expect. The consolers were there to tell him that, “He was permanently damaged and had a chemical brain imbalance that required lifetime medication.”
This was just professional level crazy talk. If you break your arm you don’t put on a cast and leave it on for the rest of your life right? Why would you do that to your brain? There is no way to explain this simple fact to most medical professionals and unfortunately most friends and family find it easier to side with them.
A spring flower that survived the recent light snow – click for viewing full screen
He remembered the first time he met Grunhilda in a counseling session. The small dimly lit room, the fan blowing constantly, and the giant computer monitor that Grunhilda focused most of her attention on. He waited patiently while Grunhilda input various data into the computer for the longest time.
Finally she looked up. “So are you taking your meds?” Grunhilda asked.
“Yes, but I don’t like too, they make me depressed. The first time this happened I almost killed myself after I was medicated for years,” Ralph replied.
“Well, you need to take your meds. I take my meds,” she said.
“Sorry to hear that, it is no way to live. But I’m glad they work for you,” said Ralph.
“I’m not here to make you ‘better’ I’m just filling the government contract. I’m kind of behind, so if it works for you lets schedule this time next week,” she said pointing at a time slot on the monitor.
“Okay,” said Ralph wondering why he spent all this effort to get down there today. Grunhilda hastily ushered him out of the office and walked him out of the facility.
Ralph thought to himself. Make friends with your demons, if you try to fight with them they are going to win. Don’t sit in the field of bliss for too long, no one can do this without strong support from their friends. He remembered the unbearable beauty, the heightened awareness of smell, taste, touch and feelings. The direct experience of being an insect, a planet, a star… A billion years of beaming love out into the universe only to explode in a brief instant. (More happens in two beats of an insects wings)
To exist at such a level one can’t even sleep and fear can bring one in an instant into the darkest of places.
Sure they can cure ‘mental illness’ but I think the cure will involve removing creativity, art, poetry, and the glorious feelings of wonder. A straight jacket for the brain and an end to free will. This is no way to live.
Whatever happens, be love. One does not need a target for that love. Nobody can ever fully experience the reality of anyone else. Be love.
Thanks for reading! The story is fictional and original material written for Steemit. The photo was taken by me with my Galaxy S7. The YouTube video is not my work but fits with the idea of the story.
Whatever happens, be love. One does not need a target for that love. Nobody can ever fully experience the reality of anyone else. Be love.
You should put that on a t-shirt. Thank you for your wonderful story. Wishing you love:)
Thank you! It might be a bit long for a t-shirt but nice idea. Wishing you love too.
nice one @lightsplaher wish you all the best in your post, thanks
Thanks, nice flower.
you are welcome my teacher
it's definitely an end to free will and no way to live. I hope the world can do better by mental patients soon. First time of reading a fictional piece from you. Quite good.
I think things are very much improving as compared to the way things were done even a hundred years ago. Compassion, free will and the acceptance of others with different views is important for finding good solutions to much more than just mental health issues if you ask me. Thanks for the feedback!
Yes, yes. Thank you for the upvote.
It is a good thing to rehabilitate mental patients but the depressed ones must be treated because I know what depression is, I suffered from it from my childhood and it wasn't so good. But truly some mental patients are more creative and can excel in the normal people's world in the fields where they are good at in doing. Support and understanding is what they need.
I think support and understanding is very important for everyone. Medication for mental patients is a complex subject because there are so many differences between people and potentially debilitating long term side effects. Unfortunately it is difficult for many people to afford help for their issues and often times doctors are not really wanting to treat severe mental issues through counseling and just want to leave patients on medication.
I'm glad you are over your depression, I know that can be a real bummer.
LOL, I'm glad people don't take my stories too seriously, I do try to inject a bit of humor in them. (Hopefully no one is too offended - I've been accused of inappropriately laughing at things on occasion).
I know it is cliché but love really works.
Hahaha... yes😊
Love always works well my dear @lightsplasher 😉
I'm astonishing after reading your whole content. And i guess the power of love.
Really , you shared a lovely story ...
Excellent the ending words " One does not need a target for that love. Nobody can ever fully experience the reality of anyone else. Be love."
Thanks for the share
Thank you. I'm glad you liked the story.
Very nice post.
How are you buddy
Thanks, doing fine and enjoying things. How are you?
I am fine buddy. Keep me in prayers
i like to read..always..i learn many thing from your post ...
it gives me so much pleasant so easily...
just love to read your post...
i have nothing to explain..
such a great post...you shared.
Let it all go that way, without losing creativity :D
Maybe from there it will heal
I think the world is slowly healing but it does take a bit of creative thought to see that.
interesting stories like in your quote "Whatever happens, be love Someone does not need a target for love" so let us spread love without expecting anything in return. thanks @lightsplasher for this great post.
Thank you. Often times you can never really see the outcome of what you are and what you do.
a very interesting spiritual story and sanya loved it ... this is a great post and I will always follow you and will always wait for your great post @lightsplasher.
Thank you! I'm always having fun writing.
Very nice flowers.
hopefully be personal like this flower.
thank for you🌹
Thank you. A very nice flower picture.
thank for you🙏
already a long time I was waiting for your post @lightsplasher. this story is great and useful. I love can always follow you. success friend @lightsplasher.
good morning my teacher
Good morning, how are things with you?
I am very happy today, the teacher is the most kind to me thanks the teacher
my senior do not forget visit me hehe :-) :-) :-)!
@lightplasher, You creating awesome writing story tale. I'm wondering after completed your lovely story. We all prefer to contribute love. Without love world cannot be live. Love build up humans relationships and other things. Thanks for given interesting one.
Thank you. Really love is instrumental in helping mental health, physical health and the health of the planet if you ask me. It could go a long way in solving our economic problems too.
the story is very beautiful, I feel touched by this story, this is what you story deisini story about your friend, love for a long time you do not make a post, how are you my friend @lightsplasher
Hai @lightsplasher please help me as yuo as my best senior in this steemit, thank
The most important and the most valuable thing in human life is health @lightsplasher.
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Wooow very amazing post. This post very useful and interest. Nice to meet you @lightsplasher.
Anda sangat senior di steemit dan saya sangat junior di steemit, saya sangat menghargai bantuan dari Anda untuk membantu saya @saifulwalker , thanks.
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and for sick people if the waiter is maximal so get satisfactory results everyone feel pleasure thanks my senior @lightsplasher :-) :-)
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Pleas upvote my intrducemyself, amazind story health my senior thank for appretiation @lightsplashet
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great post and amazing ... this post is very useful and I love to read your post ... happy to meet you @lightsplasher.
have a good day.and thare for vary inosent pearsion
to eliminate madness then do not forget we are looking for new things that can make us happy.
visit my post because if you bunkan @lightsplasher the other stone does not exist.
@lightsplasher is awesome.
Sometimes, doctor and counselor made things even worse than it has to be. Their words are just big bullshit sometime.
It happened to me before.
an inspiring story, takes pains to make a long story, so meaningful, so for the reader to be entertained. thanks lightsplaser.
wow....excellent post..
& great story....
i really love your post..
thanka for sharing...
dear #lightsplasher i just #upvote
Every disease there must be a way to be healed. But the most severe, sometimes most people look for their own disease.
By taking drugs that damage the body for a moment's pleasure.
May we not be among the people who lose in health @lightsplasher.
Very nice story & the article, miss you bro @lightsplasher
Very interest A spring flower that survived the recent light snow.
I hope you @lightsplasher visit my post.
your post @lightsplasher is amazing for me because mental health is very important.
I love the picture of the flower. It does not seem to be in my place.
To exist at such a level one can not even sleep and can surely take a person in an instant to the darkest place.
please visit my post.
@lightsplasher is incredible.
Please visit my post.
@lightsplasher is incredible.
mental health is very important.
Its awful to go through that kind of depression. Its feels lonely and the thoughts of suicide begin to creep in. Its sad to see people go through things like this. But finally am glad that you have come out of it..
teacher visiting my blog @mnur
Amazing story health, visit my post ok my senior
This post very useful and interest my friend @lightsplasher... nice to meet you.
Greeting success @lightsplasher.
You are a good coral words and you can what you said the word is like a flower, really nice we read .. More confident and more vibrant with love of flowers .. Nice and beautiful your words .. thanks for the solution of his words .. I am getting more knowledge .. Once again thanks @lightsplasher