Sunday, February 22, 2009
They need help.
I do get a few crank letters to this blog. Addressed to me. You don't see 'em. I choose not to publish the letters. Because I think the people are sick. Yes, there are strange people in this world. It amazes me. How strange. If you do get your letter published -- well, then I think you're reasonably all right. I share some of the unpublished letters with friends, or with mental health experts. And they concur. At the very least, these letterwriters need counseling. They have mental problems. They often are angry and bitter people. Never do they sign their real names. If they did, I'd try to see that they get help. --Jim Broede
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I'm also interested in studying these cranky and disturbed letterwriters. In what motivates them to act the way they act. Why do they do this? In a way, they are educating me. It's as if I'm taking a psychology or psychiatry course. And they are potential patients. Case studies. They are not very likeable people. But what makes them this way? If I were a psychiatrist, I'd try to draw them out. And maybe I'd write a book called, 'What makes them tick?' They are not people I'd want as friends. I separate them. And look at them in a clinical sense. Anyway, how does a psychiatrist reach a patient? Instead of friends, I look at them as patients. As case studies. A friend, I enjoy. And like. And accept. And I cease being analytical. But with a patient -- well, it's another approach. Call me an amateur psychiatrist. I think I'd make a good psychiatrist. I'd find ways to draw out my patients. Make them talk. I think there are many people out in the world that really should be institutionalized. Used to be they were deemed crazy. And put away. And treated. They are not necessarily dangerous. But they live an increasingly illusionary life. Many of 'em have compulsive disorders. And really need treatment. Because their compulsions are ruining their lives. Making them unhappy. I'd be the 'happy' psychiatrist. One who tries to get his patients to think 'happy' thoughts. --Jim
I think it's a challenge. Getting unhappy people to think happy thoughts. I suspect that's the best way to combat depression. Forcing one's self to be happy. Mind over matter. I find that unhappy people often deteriorate and become downright nasty. Yes, they head in the wrong direction. From bad to worse. If I were a head doctor, I'd encourage my patients to become actors. To learn how to 'act' various roles. To play happy characters. Actors are supposed to try to live their parts. In a pretend way. Well, pretending to be happy may do the trick. Because it feels so good. I recommend pretending that one is in Paradise. Where everything is soothing. Calming. Relaxing. Often, unhappy people are just plain uptight. Stressed out. Maybe if they went for a walk, it would divert their minds. They'd tell themselves, 'Hey, I can move my body. Maybe I can move my mind, too.' --Jim
Cranky people have usually overreacted to something. They become disturbed. Angry. Because something has upset them. And they lose control. They cease thinking rationally. They tend to lash out. And hurl insults. It's as if someone else is to blame for the way they feel. When they send me a nasty letter, they are attacking my perceived behavior. I've done something to annoy them. They're pissed off. Instead of calming down, they rifle off a bombastic letter. As if they want to hurt me. But turns out I'm amused. Maybe I shouldn't be. But the point is, I can't take them seriously. They are doing harm to themselves. Not to me. They would have a victory if they just ignored me. And got on with the rest of their lives. No sense in wasting time by spouting vitriolic at me. I've got a thick skin. I can take it. I'm the psychiatrist. The head doctor. I'm trained to listen. And to anlayze. And to come up with a prognosis. And a treatment. In most cases, I'd recommend counseling. --Jim
No, I'm not talking to myself. I'm talking to you, little anonymous nut case. And you're talking to me. Evidenced by the fact that you keep writing. Despite the fact that I choose not to publish you. Simply because you are a nut. In need of treatment. You should seek help. Maybe you are seeking it here. By your continued presence. Maybe I'm helping you to see the light. To see yourself. If so, we're making progress. Did you ever ask yourself why you read this blog? Why you keep coming back to it? Maybe you see me as your counselor. Your psychiatrist. You can be cured, you know. --Jim
jim
this is too funny..that person..needs a bed and a number..as we say.. on our psych unit..Love Rosie
Yes, Rosie, this one is a real nut case. I keep suggesting that she gets help. Or that she just ignore the blog and me. Almost seems like she's stalking me. She hides her identity. So I'll give her a name that I think fits. LuluBelle. She's a real Lulu. It's a woman, I'm sure. I've shared her correspondence with people in the mental health community. I'll send you examples. You're a retired psychiatric health nurse. Give me your take. I think she's harmless. And delusional. --Jim
I'm happy to hear that you've enrolled in a psychology course, LuluBelle. That's a step in the right direction. But you'll need a lot more than that to get fixed. I recommend one-on-one treatment, direct, from a psychiatrist. Seems to me you wrote two years ago or so, and you were enrolled in this same course. Did you flunk it originally? I sense you aren't the brightest bulb in the class. --Jim
Ah, LuluBelle, one of your students wrote and told me he/she thought you were nuts. That you are being observed. With a great deal of amusement. He/she says it's enlightening having a bona fide nut as a teacher. At least I know I'm a bit crazy. I often call myself Crazy Jim. I like my kind of crazy. It's a delightful, fun-loving crazy. Fess up, LuluBelle. Admit that you are nuts. It'd be the sane thing to do. You seem fearful of being nuts. Really, some of the nicest people I know are nuts. --Jim
Another thing, LuluBelle, you sound like a lady who checks under her bed every night. To make sure there isn't someone hiding down there. Another sign that you're nuts. --Jim
If you really are a teacher, LuluBelle, I'd challenge you in class. I'd suggest that you don't know what you're talking about. That you're not qualified to teach. Instead, you should be a student. You should be more receptive to learning. A good teacher really learns. Actually, a good teacher may be the best student in the class. Blends right in. In such a classroom it would be difficult telling the teacher from the brightest student. Every time you write to me, you are displaying a closed mind. That's a handicap. An impediment. But hey, you can be reached. If you just let me be the teacher. For a moment. You need a little flicker. A little insight. --Jim
Now someone called 'anon56' has joined the LuluBelle chorus. "You seem to be having a one-sided conversation here," writes anon56. "I don't even think your Lulubelle is real." Rest assurred, she's real. Lulubelle may not be her real name. But she's so wacky it's understandable why she'd want to hide her true identity. She's a teacher who has been outed by one of her students. --Jim
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