Meet Mental Health Today's Resource Director

Had I been told, that someday, I would find myself a resource director for anything, my response would have been one of incredulity. And yet, when looking back on my life, it is a most natural progression.

From early childhood I studied music and the world of classical music was my entire focus. Unlike many of my contemporaries I did not experience the teen love angst of what I wanted to pursue as a career. My world was to be that of a classical musician/teacher/performer. After graduating from undergraduate school I taught Junior High Vocal Music for three years until seriously injured in an automobile accident leaving me with multiple health problems. These health problems are so severe that returning to teaching or any gainful employment, was an impossibility. I was thrust into the world of medicine as a patient.

Past unresolved traumas/losses/ and insecurities sequestered in the recesses of my mind
and heart were superimposed on my new stressful realities. For the first time in my
life I felt adrift, unsure of myself as an individual and aware that my life no longer
followed the carefully planned predictable path, I had constructed for it since childhood.

Once sufficiently stable physically, I elected to return to The University of Michigan
for graduate studies. Thinking I could perhaps still remain involved in education, I decided to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum Development and a Certificate in Aging from The U-M Institute of Gerontology. 

Upon graduation I experienced a severe setback physically. It became even more evident that working within the K-12 education system was not going to happen. After another two years of serious medical complications I again returned to the University of Michigan. This time I obtained a Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. This seemed a natural alternative given all I had been through myself. However the pace of the program negatively affected my health resulting in severe physical and emotional setbacks. Finally, I had to accept my life was not what I had ever imagined. I would have to work at discovering what this new life was all about.

When one is forced to face their mortality at just that moment when one typically feels invincible, the world can feel overwhelming, and self-esteem takes a terrible beating. 

The world of medicine is ill equipped to address the problems and needs of young adults suddenly disabled. Unfortunately, one is left to fend for themselves.

My response was to seek out every possible avenue of assistance to maximize the quality of my life. I sought out skilled therapists/physicians/psychiatrists/and educators. All encouraged me to constantly look for anything which would maximize the quality of my life. They encouraged me to try new hobbies. Given I am one who does not understand the concept of boredom that was not hard advice to follow. I slowly discovered new strengths and interests. 

The proliferation of information on the internet has made it possible to research any subject one can imagine. I find that my rather diverse education serves me well in this regard as I do not think in a linear fashion as my mind crosses through several possibilities when attempting to find a solution to a problem. I truly enjoy finding resources which are helpful to people so that their lives can be as rich as possible.

My future plans include finishing a M.S.W. degree and then a combined Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Work with my dissertation having something to do with the use of internet message boards as support/networking/information communities to people struggling with mental and emotional illnesses.

For relaxation I write poetry and will have two of my poems included this year in anthologies published by WaterMark Press. I am currently writing some children's stories with the goal of publishing them and hope to one day publish a volume of my poetry. I enjoy singing with The Ann Arbor Cantata Singers and participated with them in the 9-11 Rolling Requiem Memorial. 

In addition I garden and dry my own flowers which I use in dried flower crafts and take special orders from people in need of unique gifts. I have been working on an oil pastel drawing technique I call 'shadow drawing' and am being encouraged to enter some of the drawings in competitions. Next year instead of doing dried flower crafts for craft shows I will be doing sewing crafts specializing in First Communion Dresses and Veils Baptismal Gowns/party dresses for little girls/ and holiday crafts such as placemats/Christmas Tree skirts/tablecloths/Christmas stockings/etc. I also make very unique Christmas ornaments. I read anything that isn't nailed down. I have a Skye Terrier named Caspar who is an absolute little lover. He manages to worm his way right into the center of every situation!

Please feel free to post a question on one of the Resource Board Forums.

At this time Madrigalsings is ill and very fatigued. When she is feeling better she can take your email. Now is not a good time to send her email. We wish her good health very soon.