SuncatcherJo: Therapy

Surely many of you already know that creativity becomes therapy for many people with emotional or mental issues. (No, no, I did not say everyone, I said "many"). Not only does it engage the right side of the brain, giving a break away from that more analytical left side, (which doesn't engage for me too often) but perhaps for some 0f us that right brain helps keep us grounded. That is, if being and staying grounded is difficult for some 0f you as it often is for me. Actually, I have shared with many the fact that I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression in the early 80's after most of my life wondering what was wrong with me. Why was it so hard to cope, or to not feel overwhelmed, afraid, torn apart? Some people prefer we kept that information to ourselves. It should be our individual private problem. Others understand, or it opens their mind to learn something foreign to them. To those.....thank you.
Why so publicly now? As in a Blog that anyone in the world might see? Is it because I might be Narcissistic? I don't know. I wouldn't want to be intentionally. In mental illness it has not been my experience to have a doctor blurt out such earth shaking news. It's here today because it affects so many and it can literally rip families apart. It is prevalent and it is overlooked. How can such a crisis within society still be shrouded in a cloak of stigma? IT CAN BE TREATED, once an individual is willing to accept they have some form, or even multiple forms, of this this disease.
Over and over, since it is a disease that can not be seen, it remains invisible and misunderstood even in this day and age. There are no conclusive tests as with cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes,etc. Thus sympathy, empathy, and knowledge can be limited and even hard to find. Millions, likely billions of dollars are used for research regarding "physical" disease. Is the brain not a part of our "physical" self? Is it detached from our body working on it's own? Certainly it can appear to be working against us and our well being all too often.
Would crime rates be so high, would so many people be shot to death by police because of a mental illness. Would the homeless rate be sky rocketing? Could more people function to hold jobs if those jobs were available? Question upon question related to mental illness, a disease within the brain. An old saying come to mind, "keep us in the dark, and feed us b------t." Why?
Why am I writing this now? Why am I upset........again. Because when things are just drifting along nicely it is so easy to just keep drifting. Then, with heredity a strong indicator, along with many other triggers for those afflicted, it rears it's ugly head again in some form or shape and your in the rapids no longer drifting. Hang on, it can be one Hell of a ride. It is Mental Disease.
So many before me and after me, have and will say similar things trying to help the lucky ones untouched by this disease to just try and open their minds. With it touching and destroying so many families, why the discomfort when it is said aloud? Judgement is quick, education takes effort and time.

Now, would you like to see a couple pieces of my latest.........therapy? Then I have to go to my art/craft room and create. I know it's good for me and a good sign when I am able to do so rather than sit in my chair and stare at a wall, letting all the "what if's" spin their web. We've had a crisis, we need to deal with it, and right now I can.
Maybe work on pine needle coiling for awhile.

Watch for information on upcoming Christmas Craft Bazaar in Athena, Oregon!

4 x 4 tile painted
alcohol ink