Crisis Intervention

I was telling my roommate about one of the most bizarre things that has ever happened in my life (and probably yours)...like one of the stories where if I told you, you wouldn't believe me/one of those stories that you just can't make up.

And she said, "You can really see your RA training right there. That plus all of your other crisis intervention trainings made it actually best case scenario that it happened to you and not anyone else."

Although the calmness did backfire because my other roommate said, "I had no idea what was going on. But I heard you talking to someone but you sounded so calm and normal, just a little loud." (It happened at my house.)

And my other roommate said, "I finally got up because it was getting loud, but you didn't have any distress in your voice so I didn't actually think anything was wrong."


I texted some of my closest friends, because I just couldn't understand what had happened.
Of the four this is exactly what happened:

Me (time, 5am): I just woke up from a sound sleep. Wanna know why? Because I heard peeing. Loud peeing. Then I hear keys rattling. I see an outline of a tall figure. I turn on the light. I see a random human who just peed in my bedroom."

Friend 1: You're joking!
Friend 2: No f*ing way.
Friend 3: WTF?
Friend 4: (calls me). Um...what!? (Which she repeats for about 3 minutes.) Just...what!?

My response: No joke. Real life. I'm also not exaggerating.

So anyways, yes I did crisis intervention with a random person (turned out to be a friend of a friend of a friend) who I had never met, never seen, never heard of, who was extremelyyyyy drunk in my bedroom at 5 in the morning.

Can you just imagine this with me?
You're sleeping in your bed at your home. Your bed is on one side of the room, door and lightswitch on another. You hear pee. You don't know if it's the dog (although sounded like too much pee from a little dog), one of your roommates, someone you know, someone safe, someone dangerous, male, female, etc. And honestly, if a person was drunk enough to pee in a bedroom, not know their name, or who they were, and they were touching my things...it's very possible that they could have done something to me because they were so out of control and out of touch of their actions.

Because that's the scene. And I had to make it so the situation was the person by my bed and me by the door (safety!!!), lights on, and get enough information out of a drunk person as possible.

I did it so successfully that none of the roommates came to the rescue, because they thought I was just fine.

Basically, here's what happened, as far as the conversation goes:

Me: Do you know (name of roommates)?
Person: No..(female voice)
Me: Do you know anyone in this house?
Person: No..
Me: Do you know who you are?
Person: Yes, (tells me her name).
Me: Okay, let's go ahead and turn the lights on.
Person: No, keep them off.
Me: I think it'll be better if we turn them on.
Person: I just need to go to the bathroom
Me: Okay, perfect. Let's get you to the bathroom. (turn on flashlight on my phone, confirm female, young, drunk, pee from them)
(Person starts walking to the left, so I also walk to the left to ensure distance between us, and that can get me to the door)
Me: Let's go to the bathroom. It's right here.
Person: No, I'll just stay here.
Me: I think we should go to the bathroom.
(Now at the doorway, so I can turn on the light)
Me: Let's go to the bathroom.
(Person starts touching all my stuff)
Me: Hey, do you still need to go to the bathroom?
Person: No, I'm from adrenaline and I want a job.
Me: Okay, but first we need to go to the bathroom.
Person: So no job?
Me: Not right now. Bathroom right now. And I'm going to call 911 while we go to the bathroom.
Person: Call the police? Okay.
Me: Cool, and let's go to the bathroom.

Then I hear my name from downstairs from a familiar voice (FV).
Me: Do you know this person?
FV: Oh my gosh, yes, I'll be right there.
--and then they drag them out.

And then I clean up the pee. And then it is suggested I use this bleach stuff. I didn't think it was a good idea, but this person is better at cleaning than I am. I trusted their judgment. It was 5:30 in the morning. They said it should be fine. It wasn't. Now I have a bleach stain on my carpet. And we're trying to figure out who should pay for it.
Me? (It's in my room)
The roommate who suggested to use bleach?
The roommate who brought the person over to the house?

Crisis situations don't really scare me, largely because of my RA training, mixed with crisis intervention trainings, being trained in mental health first aid, and I have been faced with similar situations when I was an RA, though none quite so...invasive. But also, when you're an RA in a residence hall, you sort of can expect this. When you're at your home in your room, not so much.

I'm pretty good at being calm when I need to be, and in general know what to say and how to calm a person and gain control of a situation. And luckily I was able to do it last night. But looking back, some of those what if questions can definitely be haunting. And it does feel kind of violating. My space was violated and in a sense, so was my security.

But now. Somehow it's become my fault and my responsibility to fix the mess (literally and figuratively) and now I'm just getting mad. 

America is Beautiful

I love America, right? Right.

I also love people. So I need to sort out my thoughts to this whole coke commercial thing.

So I didn't get to see it on TV and the only thing I have heard about it is from people in response to the backlash. So personally, I have not seen any backlash to it (other than when people screenshot things, I guess.) All I've heard is people say how dumb people are for causing the backlash.

I think, perhaps a better response in this case would be to do 1 of 2 things.
1. Ignore the backlash. Not always a good option, in this case, it may be.
2. Simply respond with love. When you talk about the coke commercial, talk about how great it is (if that's your opinion) instead of how stupid people are for their response to it.

Because I haven't actually heard anyone say that the coke commercial is beautiful (actually I have heard 1 person). With the exception of the one, I haven't heard anyone say:
-Wow, America is beautiful.
-Wow, America is wonderful.
-Wow, this commercial really highlights the incredible diversity in the country.
-Holy geeze, this commercial is one of the greatest pieces of advertisements I have ever seen.
-Now this is what is representative of my values.
-I love this!
-*Tears*
-Coke wins.

I had to go and find the coke commercial on my own to know what people were talking about it. Because no one posted it. (Again, within the last few minutes 1 person finally did.) If you love this commercial and/or the product, help promote it. Post it. Share it. Talk the good things about the product/commercial. Not any of the bad repercussions. Not worth it.

To me, this commercial is worth it. I love it. Because above, those are my thoughts and immediate responses.

Also, edit update---CNN just posted a poll of "what do you think about the coke commercial, does it offend you or not? And every comment I read (I only went through about 100 of them) said no. So seriously, talk about the good things in this case. I'm over that debate and I just want to talk about how awesome I think this commercial is. (Although, I am willing to agree and point out that our national anthem is the Star Spangled Banner, not America the Beautiful, but you know what, a patriotic song is a patriotic song, they both talk about the beauty and glory of America.)

I need help adding to my list, just like I did with my adulting one!! Help me out.

Reasons why I love America:
1. Everyone has a voice.
2. I can vote.
3. You can vote.
4. I can wear what I want.
5. It's huge.
6. I can go to school.


Behind the scenes:

Also, the coke commercial reminds me of this. Another thing I love. 

Chris Tomlin, World Edition. 

Blue Like Jazz

I checked out books from the library. I think I'm going to bring these lists in with me next time and get these books:

http://sarahbessey.com/in-which-i-share-10-books-that-changed-my-faith/

http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinlarosa/books-that-will-change-the-way-you-see-the-world?bfpi

I saw the book Blue Like Jazz and remembered it being on the list. Because it's a library book, I can't write in it. So I just typed out quotes I liked for me to reference later. It's hard to describe this book, it's unlike any book I've ever read. 

"Somehow I had come to believe that because a person is in need, they are candidates for sympathy, not just charity. It was not that I wanted to buy her groceries, the government was already doing that. I wanted to by her dignity. And yet, by judging her, I was the one taking her dignity away....I love to give to charity, but I don't want to be charity. This is why I have so much trouble with grace."

"If we hear, in our inner ear, a voice saying we are failures, we are losers, we will never amount to anything, this is the voice of Satan trying to convince the bride that the groom does not love her. This is not the voice of God. God woos us with kindness, He changes our character with the passion of His love."

"Stop ten people on the street and ask them what they think of when they hear the word Christianity, and they will give you ten different answers. How could I defend a term that means ten different things to ten different people? I told the radio show host that I would rather talk about Jesus and how I came to believe Jesus exists and that he likes me."

"I listened to hard because it felt like, while she was telling me stories, she was massaging my soul, letting me know I was not alone, that I will never have to be alone, that there are friends and family and churches and coffee shops. I was not going to be cast into space."

"I think a person who is lonely should dig into a community, give himself to a community, humble  himself before his friends, initiate community, teach people to care for each other, love each other....Jesus wants us interacting, eating together, laughing together, praying together."

"The real issue in the Christian community was that it was conditional. You were loved, but if you had questions, questions about whether the Bible was true or whether America was a good country or whether last week's sermon was good, you were not so loved."

So Close

I was so close to being all healed.
And I am so close to being home.

2 weeks ago, I went back to the doctor--it was supposed to be my last time. We were supposed to start me to get off of my final medicine, and I was supposed to be almost good to go.
Instead, I started regressing, my speech got off again, mobility slightly off, I was super light-sensitive and hearing sensitive. I went into the doctor and just started crying--my irritability was sky high, my emotions were sky high. And those four symptoms had been going on about 1 1/2 weeks prior to this visit.

So, I got put back on another medicine (the one I had earlier in the semester), plus another (so 3 medicines in total) and have another appointment for tomorrow.

Finals week is this coming week--I'm all done, but have to get all of my students through it (tutor student-athletes at KU). Last week was my final week, so all my stuff was due the past 2 weeks.

The light and noise sensitivity started to go away--I still have it, slightly. Emotions and irritability have started to subside.

But actually, I'm doing pretty well. I've been super tired lately, go to bed early, wake up late.

And! I am going home this weekend for two weeks! I was briefly there in May (less than 2 days), so not counting that, haven't been home since last Christmas.

Concussion Update

Went to the doctor on Monday. The last time I went to the doctor, I still wasn't reallyyyy legitimately recovering. So, I'm finally recovering, though not yet recovered.

I didn't do well on my cognitive impact test=( But! We have theories.
I go in the afternoon. I had a long day, had to take 3 tests for a training (100% on those!), had to drive an hour to get to the doctor, I was late, it was raining, I was stressed, I was tired. So, doc is cool with my results and is still quite pleased.

So here's where we're at:
-I am going to go the concussion clinic only one more time in 3 weeks!
-I have been approved to have alcohol. Haven't had a drink since the concussion in July.
-I still cannot participate in contact sports, roller coasters, ride a bike, water parks, etc--anything where I can get another head injury (where it's fairly likely)
-She is willing, yet weary, to officially approve for me to do extra cognitive things (like more work, classes, school, etc.) Unofficially, I'm doing it all anyway and she knows that. But officially, I'm still not technically approved for every thing.
-My symptoms are super low, which is great. But they still exist. Not as often and not to the same degree. But I will be on some kind of restriction (like no roller coasters) until I have no symptoms related to the concussion, no matter to what degree. Even if I only have 1 and it's slight, still not allowed.

What Would You Do If You Could Not Fail?

Me? I would take the GRE and the LSAT.
If I had lots of time and lots of money.
I would apply for PhD programs and law school.
I would want to get my law degree, PhD in Clinical Psyc, PhD in Social Psyc, Master's in Organizational Leadership or Org. Psyc.

When I'm really dreaming.
I'm profiling people.
I'm adjusting systems to better serve people.
I'm consulting.
I'm facilitating group therapy.
I'm doing individual counseling.

But I can fail. And I haven't figured out the whole timing aspect.
But I can fail.
So I either need to learn how to be okay with failing.
Or I'll likely be stuck in case management.

I've never directly shared my dreams or goals.
So here we go. Step 1 to being okay with failing.
Sharing dreams.

Your turn. 

Friendship Struggle

"I didn't want to hear what you would say."
"I knew what you would say."
"I didn't want you to judge me."
"You would point out the red flags and all the warnings I should have caught."

I just got off the phone with one of my best friends. She was upset, hurting, crying. She told me...

"I haven't told you about this, because I knew what you would say. I know you would never and haven't ever, ever, ever, ever, ever (she really did use that many "evers") rubbed it in my face or say 'I told you so'. But I always know it,  I always know that you're right, and I don't want to face it and I have to when I talk to you."

She isn't the only person to tell me this. So many people in my life (seriously, so many. I would venture to say well over 85% of the people in my life who we actually have a legit relationship) tell me these things.

Especially when it comes to relationships.
I don't know what to do about it, how I'm supposed to feel about this, if I'm supposed to change, what's the most right, if this is good, if this is bad, if this is helpful, if this is hurtful.

My friends are afraid to tell me things (bad).
My friends tell me I'm almost always right (good?)
My friends are afraid I'll judge them (bad).
My friends know and believe that I won't ever rub anything in their face (good).

I sometimes ask these questions, when my friends finally tell me whatever it was they were holding back:
What red flags would I have pointed out/why would I point out red flags?
Why do you think I would have thought this was a bad idea?
Why did you fear my reaction?
Why didn't you think I'd support this?
Why did you think I'd have that reaction?
What do you think my reasons are for cautioning you (or whatever)?
What do you think my "goals" are for you?
Do you think our goals are the same?

And always. Always. Always. They are able to answer those questions. The response has never been "I don't know, Ashley. I don't know why you would point out red flags, I think you're just a judgmental jerk. I don't think you care about my happiness. This was a good idea, I don't think it's right for you to think it's not. I think you want me to not do anything with my life. I don't think you want me to have a relationship."
Never have any of those things ever been said, hinted at, or thought.

My friends are always able to identify the red flags, the warnings. They know they exist.
My friends always respond to the fearing reaction question and why I wouldn't fully support something with "because I knew you'd be right"
My friends always say my reaction matches the situation.
My friends are always able to identify my reasons for cautioning them.
And they always answer the goals questions with "because you care about me".

Every single friend. Every single time. (And believe me, it's been A LOT of times with A LOT of friends. And a lot of times with the same friends. Almost every friendship, we've been through this conversation.)

So that still leaves me in the dark. I don't know what to do.
My friends don't think I judge them, but always fear I will.
My friends know I care about them.
My friends know I don't ever rub anything in their face.
My friends know I don't ever make them feel bad about their choices/decisions/actions.
My friends know I can identify when something may not be all rainbows and sunshines.
My friends know I can identify when someone may not treat them well.

But my friends are afraid to tell me things.
My friends don't want to tell me things.
My friends keep things from me.
My friends are afraid of my reactions.
My friends think I'll judge them.

Am I a good friend because of this.
Or am I bad friend because of this.

Am I thinking about this too black/white, pro/con (If you notice, those were all broken into pro/con lists), too either/or?

Do I need to change?
Am I supposed to change?
Am I helpful?
Is my process beneficial?

If you've been in this situation with me.

How many things have you decided not to tell me because you either feared my reaction, assumed my reaction, thought I'd be mad, thought I would judge you, etc?

Or, perhaps to make it more "strengths based"
How many times have you thought about what you assumed my response would be and took that into account and that changed your actions/made an impact?

You don't have to give details, I don't need/want an explanation, we don't need to discuss it. You can just say a lot, a few, never, almost everything, more so recently, more so in the past, whatever.

I asked someone this questions and they told me, "I don't think I have ever not told you anything but a few times I have procrastinated tell  you in fear of your reaction"

And then they said, "It is because you are so influential. I value your thoughts and opinions."
Another friend told me, "But I trust my relationship with you and what you have to say plays a big impact on what I think".

So maybe. I'm doing okay.