Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Hospital stay

Well I'm back home. (Not that any of you knew I was in the hospital.) This time I stayed 11 days to make certain that my medications were working together. You know you've been inpatient too many times when the psych ward begins to feel like a second home.

Everyone in the psych ward is different - age, race, religion - yet we are all dealing with a mental illness. It is such a blessing to be around others who are facing the same challenges. During this stay I would often observe the way that being together gave us strength. A 65 year old granny chatting with a 19 year old skater. A 40 year old Muslim talking about God with a 31 year old Christian. We are all equal, we all need help. I wish the rest of the world could have this experience. (But who's going to admit to having a mental illness?)

I've got a schedule, and it includes staying awake all day long. I'm going to the gym every weekday. I do chores and make meals. I'm functioning again. I'm doing my part to control this disease, and the medicine does the rest. For now, the new medication is working with me - let's hope it lasts for a long while.