'Someday, friends might turn their backs Falling leaves might hide your path You'll try hard, might come in last Yeah, but just around the corner You'll move mountains, you'll make waves You'll be fearless, you'll be brave There'll be nothing you can't face'

Rachel Platten - Girls

Navigating the Mind

I recently had the chance to dive into the world of mental health and occupational therapy through the lens of the movie "A Beautiful Mind" (2001). It's incredible how a film can take you on an emotional rollercoaster and leave you with profound insights.

The movie tells the story of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician grappling with schizophrenia. His journey, filled with delusions and hallucinations, paints a vivid picture of the complexities of mental health conditions. It's safe to say that watching Nash's struggles and triumphs has forever changed the way I view this field.

Nash's life, dominated by his mental health condition, serves as a stark reminder of the occupational barriers individuals with mental health challenges face. As an occupational therapy (OT) student, I've come to understand the crucial role we play in breaking down these barriers. Our mission is to help people like Nash regain their independence and find meaning in their daily lives. "A Beautiful Mind" reinforced the idea that there's no one-size-fits-all approach – customized interventions are key.

In my own experiences working with clients battling mental health issues, I've seen firsthand how conditions like schizophrenia can lead to social isolation and make everyday tasks seem insurmountable. One client, much like Nash, struggled with auditory hallucinations that disrupted their ability to concentrate on basic activities. To help them, I had to adopt a holistic approach tailored to their unique needs.

The film simultaneously challenged and reinforced my understanding of mental health and occupational therapy. It reiterated that mental health conditions are intricate and can significantly impact a person's life. It underscored the importance of empathy and individualized care because everyone's journey is uniquely their own.

On the flip side, it pushed me to ponder the limitations of medical models in addressing mental health. Nash's recovery wasn't just about medication; it was about social support and his own resilience. This aligns with the holistic nature of occupational therapy, where we consider not only the physical but also the psychological and social aspects of well-being.

Throughout the movie, I couldn't help but wonder about the role OT could have played in Nash's life. We're trained to assess and address the impact of mental health conditions on daily activities. In Nash's case, an OT could have helped him develop coping strategies, manage symptoms, and adapt his environment to support his goals.

The film also shed light on the stigma surrounding mental illness. As OT students and future practitioners, we've seen how the lack of social support can worsen mental health issues. Part of our job is encouraging clients to connect with supportive friends, family, or support groups. It's a way to break down stigma and promote understanding, creating safe spaces for those battling mental health challenges.

Watching "A Beautiful Mind" has truly transformed my perspective as an OT student. It emphasized the importance of empathy, individualized care, and tackling occupational barriers in mental health rehabilitation. As I continue on my occupational therapy journey, I'm dedicated to advocating for the needs of individuals facing mental health challenges and helping them find meaning in their lives.

American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTA) official website's mental health resources page - www.aota.org/mental-health-resources

A Beautiful Mind" a video where John Nash experiences a particularly challenging moment due to his schizophrenia https://youtu.be/ehhy-_Cg4QU?si=cK9QWvqM-pGacnxc

References:

1. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2014). What is occupational therapy? Retrieved from https://www.aota.org/About-Occupational-Therapy.aspx

2. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2021). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(Supplement_2). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.75S200

Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. Prentice-Hall.

promemoria ✨ × #salutementale #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthrecovery #positiveaffirmation #affermazionipositive #illustration_daily (presso Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpw1Rqcswxh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

*Disclaimer* This does not imply that someone who has abused you did not love you. It only means that the act of abuse is not love even though it may have been labeled as such. “I am doing this because I love you.” “I love you, but” There should not be a “but” after “I love you,” as it implies that love is conditional.    I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this passage from “All About Love.”    It isn’t our faults, really. We are shown how to love by our caretakers and them by theirs.    We live in a culture that shames love. That considers it weak. We also live in a culture that doesn’t fully understand what love even is.    You see the utter avoidance in modern day dating culture with “catching feelings” being a death sentence.   Cheating runs rampant and always seems to be justified in some way.. since the remorse and guilt is even harder to face.    People list off all the things they hate about their partner or their best friend and then label it as love.    It’s not love.    And it breaks my heart at how many of us believe it is.    Love is “the will to extend oneself for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.”    “The experience of genuine love - a combination of care, commitment, trust, knowledge, responsibility and respect.”   I don’t know how to love, truly. I still love with expectation. Which forms into bitterness and resentment when it’s not met. I’m aware of it and working to improve it. But through that I’m wanting to bring more awareness to love and loving, to talk about it more so it’s not so taboo.    We’re so scared to love because we believe that love hurts. It’s the abuse that we’ve been taught that coexists with love that hurts.    True love, the opposite of fear, will in fact set us free.

Ibu

Aku memegang pundak ibuku hari itu. Rohku yang sudah memasuki fisik orang dewasa telah membuat rasa pegangan tanganku berbeda dari sebelumnya, ketika kecil.

Dulu, ketika kecil, aku ingat sekali bahwa lengan ibuku begitu besar. Bahkan dulu aku harus mengeluarkan seluruh tenagaku untuk memijit lengan ibuku yang sedang lelah karena pekerjaan sekolah yang sangat seabreg.

“Kurang keras Nangg” Protes ibuku karena pijitanku kurang terasa baginya.

Aku yang mendengar instruksi itu langsung mengerahkan segala otot-otot kecil usia 8 tahunan untuk mengerahkan tenagaku. Akhirnya, momen pijat tangan ibu lebih mirip kepada meremas lengannya ketika itu.

Hari ini, segalanya telah berubah. Lengan ibu yang dahulu besar sekali, kini terasa kecil. Berat badan ibuku turun karena dimakan usia, sedangkan fisikku terus menguat karena bertambah dewasa.

Walaupun menjadi tua adalah keniscayaan, tapi jika aku bisa meminta, aku akan memohon kepada semesta untuk tidak menuakan ibuku. Aku ingin bisa seumuran dengan dia, menjadi orang yang fisiknya semakin menguat bersama, kemudian menua bersamanya. Aku ingin seusia dengannya, agar aku bisa memahami bagaimana menjadi dia di waktu yang sama. Kami sering berbeda pendapat, dan aku menduga hal ini karena kami hidup di waktu yang berbeda. Maka, jika aku bisa seumuran dengannya, mungkin akan lebih banyak hal yang sama daripada hal yang berbeda.

Selain itu, aku juga takut kehilangan dia.

Bukan apa-apa, aku hanya tak yakin apakah aku bisa hidup tanpanya. Dunia tanpa dia sepertinya akan gelap dan berat. Doa-doanya tak akan menemaniku lagi. Support verbalnya tak akan lagi aku dengar. Kemudian, bagaimana aku bisa hidup?

Aku baru tersadar bahwa teman-temanku yg sudah kehilangan orangtua adalah manusia-manusia kuat yang perlu dikuatkan. Kok bisa ya mereka masih semangat ketika oratuanya telah tiada? Apakah ibunya telah menetap dihatinya? Atau karena memang karena mereka kuat sehingga diberi ujian yg berat?

Jika memang begitu cara semesta bekerja, aku lebih memilih menjadi orang yg lemah. Aku tak ingin kehilangan ibuku.

Aku bisa hidup tanpa saudara, tanpa teman, bahkan tanpa sahabat. Tapi aku tak yakin apakah aku bisa hidup tanpa ibuku.

Semoga kamu sehat selalu, Ibu.

Let’s talk because no one talks about how hard it is to be alive after an attempt at unaliving. Let’s talk because no one talks about the grief that comes along with setting boundaries and taking care of yourself first. Let’s talk because no one talks about how one minute everything you know can change in the best way and the worst way simultaneously. Let’s talk because no one talks about how hard it is to be okay sometimes. But in the same breath - let’s talk because the very good days are the days you are the most grateful to be alive. Let’s talk because medication CAN work and it CAN greatly improve your quality of life if you find the right dose&medication that works for YOU. And let’s talk because MENTAL 👏🏻 HEALTH 👏🏻 MATTERS 👏🏻 #BellLetsTalk 💙 @bell_letstalk #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthrecovery #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthadvocate #itsoknottobeok (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn3OPtYLbqA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Mistakes or even failure should not destroy you Depression about something can kill you slowly Remember that no one is as strong and tough as you This is the time to rise Your greatness shows when you fall and then you get up again That's you ! Let me show you something Here👉🏽 https://bit.ly/3IkBrbP 👈🏽 #healing #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #motivation #mentalhealthmatters #health #healthylifestyle #mentalhealthrecovery #mentalhealthquotes https://www.instagram.com/p/CfrGZkvvchv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

What is a Mental Health Technician

A mental health technician (MHT), also known as a behavioral health assistant, is a person who works with clients in mental health settings like hospitals, outpatient centers, colleges and universities, and prisons. Mental health technicians provide support services by maintaining the safety of those they work with while receiving treatment. They often work alongside therapists or case managers…

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放手

在放手的過程中，你會失去很多過去的東西，但你會找到你自己。——迪帕克喬普拉

“In the process of letting go you will lose many things from the past, but you will find yourself.”— Deepak Chopra

#心理日签 #ego #mentalhealthrecovery

#quotes #psychologist #psychology

#Repost @b0rderline_girl with @make_repost ・・・ #bpd, #bpdawareness, #bpdwarrior #bpdrecovery, #bpdmeme, #bpdthings, #bpdlife, #bpdwarrior,#actuallyborderline, #borderlinepersonalitydisorder, #borderline, #borderlinepersonality, #borderlinepersonalitydisorderawareness #bpdfacts #bpdbrave #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillness #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthrecovery #mentalhealthmatters #mentalillnessrecovery #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthwarrior (at Goonellabah, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdLIMRqBzHh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Please reflect on a peaceful world and make this day special. All are welcome.

namiwm.org

#peace #peaceful #MLK #MLKJr #mlk #mlkjr #love #love

#mentalhealthrecovery #mentalhealthmatters #veteransmentalhealthawarness #mentalhealth #notalone #mentalhealthsupport #mentalillness

Something I'm still trying to get through my own head. Boundaries are important. So I wanted to share this because I dont want anyone to ever forget this, and never give in to someone pushing your boundaries. Yes it's easier said then done. But we got this. #mentalhealthrecovery #mentalhealthwarrior #mentalwellnessmatters💚 #mentalhealthawareness #chronicillnesswarrior #potssyndrome #tbisurvivor #tbirecovery #dysautonomia #boundariesarehealthy https://www.instagram.com/p/ChiiyceubDz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It's #mentalhealthawarenessmonth It's ok to not be ok, tell someone you're not ok. It's ok.