A Crazy Story

I was in a hospital's psychiatric unit as an inpatient for about a week. I had a roommate and made friends with a couple of other patients.

When I got out, my mom prepared a big dinner to celebrate. On the one hand, the freedom was something to celebrate for sure; being an inpatient meant my options were always limited. On the other hand, it felt strange as I was not at a neutral point in my life even, merely ready to go to outpatient care. Was that really so much to celebrate? Or were we celebrating my escape from the loony bin?

During my first day of freedom, I thought "I should think of some good stories to tell my family!" about my stay. I was in the psych ward! Surely there were some crazy stories! About crazies! The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized -- or perhaps, the more it sank in home -- that those stories about what other people did or did not do were not only not my stories to tell, but were only amusing if mental illness is a legitimate punchline.

I did tell a story, however. It was about a fellow patient who constantly judged others and commented on her perception of them. I told how appalled I was that she could see condemn other inpatients for well, the things that meant they were receiving intensive care. I told how that fortified my desire to work in the field if possible.

Then my dad told a story about how he was like a crazed madman in high school when he wrestled.

Ableism hurts.

So on gsn.com's website you can play "Dove Hair Care Difference" or something of a similar name. It's a puzzle game where you have to find the difference between two pictures. You can always get at least one by clicking on a woman's chest, as the most common things to be changed are her neckline and whether or not she is wearing a necklace. Also: breast pockets, long hair that falls over her chest. Sometimes you get crotch or butt clicks too. Every. Single. Puzzle.