LJ Idol Season 8, week 25, Cesspool

[imafarmgirl]

Some would say I work with the cesspool of society. Every day I meet with sex offenders, career criminals, child abusers, substance abusers, the poor, the de-institutionalized, the downtrodden, the homeless, the mentally ill, minorities in so many ways, and all of them disabled. It is often a thankless job. Sometimes I wonder why I do it, but

Comments

[halfshellvenus]

*siiiigh*

This must be so hard. Most of this woman's problems are of her own making, but thanks to alcoholism and probably especially her BPD, she can't really help herself. I'm not sure how well BPD can be medicated, or whether the condition prompts people to avoid their meds (like schizophrenics who miss a couple of doses), but it's much more sinister than people realize.

You must have the patience of a saint to deal with this woman, but your ability remind yourself that she really can't be more than she is must also help.

I feel exhausted just reading this, but you ARE helping her even just by listening, and also by continually straightening out her Social Security/wages issues-- and praising her for working when she can. She IS trying. Maybe that makes it all the harder.

[imafarmgirl]

BPD is not really medicated. Her depression symptoms related to it are medicated though. At least she's in counseling, a lot of people with BPD don't want to go. I find people with BPD to be a challenge to work with. I've had a few clients with it.

Dealing with this woman sometimes drives me crazy. I can't always be reasonable in my head but I am reasonable with her if that makes sense.