by Ashley Thompson

Created on: August 17, 2008   Last Updated: January 01, 2010

Craziness, a disease or a trait, either of which can be enlightening to work with. As a home health nurse, I've encountered both the true mentally ill and the crazy by personality. Although sometimes difficult to manage, I have learned to love the role that I am privy to play in these peoples lives.

I have seen the gauntlet of mental illness, from schizophrenia to bipolar disorder and everything in between. I have scared away demons and fought giant human size spiders for my clients. I have helped them distinguish between reality and fantasy to best of my ability. The field of mental health has no space for judgmental, unkind individuals. It takes a certain amount of patience to encounter the issues surrounding the mentally ill and the crazy alike.

Most mentally ill individuals realize they are different. They know that the voices they are hearing are not real, this realization does little to quiet them though. Allowing a mentally ill client to express his delusions is essential to helping them. Allowing them to voice their inner most thoughts can open your own mind to the horror of mental illness while imagining a world of fantasy. When even moderately understood, mental illness can be successfully managed by an open minded clinician.

Sharing the ups of mania, and the downs of depression that are classic in bipolar disorder can mean the world to the sufferer. Knowing that they are not alone and that someone understands speaks volumes to patients. It can honestly, in some cases, help them realize their current state of mind by simply watching your actions and hearing your words.

As far a crazy goes, I've encountered all kinds. I've encountered the lady with cats who is obsessed with soap operas. I've sat and visited with 90 year old patients who love to discuss their sex life. I've seen people do crazy things, say crazy words, listen to crazy music, and wear crazy hats. I love to hear their crazy stories of their younger days. Are these people truly mentally ill? No, they aren't.

Maybe the mere fact that I love working with these types of people makes me crazy. I am neither scared nor worried when dealing with the mentally ill. I am simply glad to listen. The world they live in may be crazy from my point of view but it's their world and it should be acknowledged. I can't cure craziness, and I don't want to. What is crazy to me may very well be normal to another.

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