Comparison Essay # 6
"How building a bridge compares to your own life"
You almost die, life falls apart, life collapses in on you. These are just some of the comparisons I get from patients during my experiential groups. We have fun, build things, then find a way to compare it to life. Here are some direct quotes from patients that were instructed to build a bridge out of 20 staws, a 3 foot length of masking tape, and 4 sheets of computer paper. They were instructed to use all the material, could not have any extra material, and was then asked to stack small tubes of toothpaste on their bridges until they collapsed.
Staff: Today we built bridges, loaded them up until they collapsed, then counted how many items the bridge held. So someone give me an example of how this compares to you life? (hands go up all over the room)
Patient: Well, I screwed over everyone in my life, my addictions totally controlled me. I had no say in the matter. When I hurt those around me, I burnt the bridges that connected me to those people. It's just like the bridge I built here, I loaded the bridge I built here with so much stuff, it could'nt hold it and collapsed, there is no way to reconnect to the other side, just like my life.
Staff: Thats very insightful, it sounds to me like you are realizing the consequences of your actions, thanks. Someone else?
Patient: Ya, I built a really stong bridge and it held a lot cuz I've done this group before and I learned how not to do it when it collapsed on me last time. This time I did it different, this is just like my life cuz I really fucked over my dad about a year ago and really hurt him, but now I've rebuilt the bridge to him and I made it much stronger this time. Plus, I know what should or should'nt be put on this bridge and I don't overload it, just like the one I built.
Staff: Fantastic! Thank you, that was great. How about someone else?
Patient: Can I go next? It took me and the partner you paired me with to build this bridge, she had some good ideas, but at first I didn't want to listen and the bridge looked pathetic. But when I added my ideas together with hers, it worked out really well. Our bridge held the most, this compares to my life because in the past I really didn't listen to people that gave me good advise. I built my bridges in my life alone, they were not sturdy and when heavy problems came along they all crashed and burned. This is my third time here at the hospital, I'm only here for a medication adjustment. I rebuilt things in my life, only this time I listened to advice from people that cared about me. It was just like the activity we did here, you can't go through life on your own or you'll crash and burn, you need support just like I got from my partner.
Staff: You all did a great job tonight, try to understand some of the points your peers made in this group, rethinking how you do things, and realizing it takes help is the first step towards dealing with you own mental health issues. Thank you for coming to group, for those of you that can go, it's time to line up for gym.
You almost die, life falls apart, life collapses in on you. These are just some of the comparisons I get from patients during my experiential groups. We have fun, build things, then find a way to compare it to life. Here are some direct quotes from patients that were instructed to build a bridge out of 20 staws, a 3 foot length of masking tape, and 4 sheets of computer paper. They were instructed to use all the material, could not have any extra material, and was then asked to stack small tubes of toothpaste on their bridges until they collapsed.
Staff: Today we built bridges, loaded them up until they collapsed, then counted how many items the bridge held. So someone give me an example of how this compares to you life? (hands go up all over the room)
Patient: Well, I screwed over everyone in my life, my addictions totally controlled me. I had no say in the matter. When I hurt those around me, I burnt the bridges that connected me to those people. It's just like the bridge I built here, I loaded the bridge I built here with so much stuff, it could'nt hold it and collapsed, there is no way to reconnect to the other side, just like my life.
Staff: Thats very insightful, it sounds to me like you are realizing the consequences of your actions, thanks. Someone else?
Patient: Ya, I built a really stong bridge and it held a lot cuz I've done this group before and I learned how not to do it when it collapsed on me last time. This time I did it different, this is just like my life cuz I really fucked over my dad about a year ago and really hurt him, but now I've rebuilt the bridge to him and I made it much stronger this time. Plus, I know what should or should'nt be put on this bridge and I don't overload it, just like the one I built.
Staff: Fantastic! Thank you, that was great. How about someone else?
Patient: Can I go next? It took me and the partner you paired me with to build this bridge, she had some good ideas, but at first I didn't want to listen and the bridge looked pathetic. But when I added my ideas together with hers, it worked out really well. Our bridge held the most, this compares to my life because in the past I really didn't listen to people that gave me good advise. I built my bridges in my life alone, they were not sturdy and when heavy problems came along they all crashed and burned. This is my third time here at the hospital, I'm only here for a medication adjustment. I rebuilt things in my life, only this time I listened to advice from people that cared about me. It was just like the activity we did here, you can't go through life on your own or you'll crash and burn, you need support just like I got from my partner.
Staff: You all did a great job tonight, try to understand some of the points your peers made in this group, rethinking how you do things, and realizing it takes help is the first step towards dealing with you own mental health issues. Thank you for coming to group, for those of you that can go, it's time to line up for gym.
posted by psychman1 | 4/24/2006 10:08:00 PM
5 Comments:
John, I thought I would put a spin on the last essay, comparing different games, projects and crafts to life is exactly what I do with patients everyday at Acadia Hospital. So I was really excited to do this comparison essay on "life and bridges". If this is to different or unacceptable let me know and I'll try to change it. I liked using the actual way I start and close my groups for the intro and outro. as actual
strike that "as actual" on the end of the post above.
This is not too different, but it's nicely different, cleverly done, careful--not overdone, not stuffing the idea in the reader's face til we cry 'uncle' which sometimes happens. I also like that you're not in it directly but it is still completely individual. Nice trick, one I'm working on in ENG 162.
Can I use this in the future?
Yes sir, you certainly can.
I liked this one too...a lot.
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