I belong to a mental health drop in center. Never would I think in the middle of my successful career 15 years ago (with a few R Wing hospitalizations thrown in) that I would be hanging around with a bunch of loonies like I am.

And ya know what? Its the best thing that ever happened to me. I also volunteer and run art groups and this week we made tie dye tshirts. Well; I forgot to put the rubber gloves on at one point and now my hands are blue. Besides that luxury problem life is pretty darn good.

The center is funded by the United Way, has structured activities,freeoutings, and lunch for $1. Prepared by a cheftrained inGermany no less. I feel like I am at a slightly twisted form of the "Cheers" bar from TV. Except everyone drinks gallons of coffee and Koolaidinstead of booze 🙂

I never would have found this place had I not been in the middle of a huge anxiety episode that lasted months. I wouldnt leave home, had no where to go if I did, and had no friends to speak of at the time. I did an internet search on mental health support in my community and the place came up. So I went and checked it out.

It gives me structure, a safe enviroment to socialize, mostly nice people, one good meal of the day, interesting groups and activities. No one expects anything from me; I can just hang out and be myself. The fact that I started volunteering doing the art groups has been very fulfilling – I feel like I am giving something back. Because the groups are going so wellwe got a $2200 grant for art supplies!

I'm sharing all this in the hope that maybe one person out there needs somewhere safe to go – to get out of the isolation of anxiety. Hopefully your community has a similiar organization that can help you. I wish every one did.

1 Comment
  1. triggered 12 years ago

    Good idea to share this, Mo. I bet the art classes at your center are the best! Visions of smurfs just popped into my head.

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