Lost My Job and Doubting Myself

[BonesMS]

Hello Bonesy-

Well, we all know here that our Summa Bones is gifted and talented!!! Hope that you find everything that you need and that you have a fun weekend.

Love,

Changing

Thanks, Changing!

One of the pieces of information I came across about Aspergers is the hypersensitivity to pain.  That would explain why needle sticks were so painful to me while they didn't seem to bother anyone else.  Because I have to get flu shots every year (because of the population I am working with), along with getting TB tests for the same reason, I've developed a strategy to help get me through it.  I make it a point to either sit down or lie down and do Lamaze-type breathing during the needle stick.  For some reason, it helps me.  I've also put my new-found knowledge to work, and spoke up, when I went for my flu shot today.  I explained to the nurse that I have a phobia of needles and need to sit down during the procedure.  A couple others started to make their little "comments" about "what's the big deal...doesn't hurt that bad...la-de-da...."  Last year, I was silent while they ran their mouths.  This time, I spoke up and said "My nervous system is different from yours and my system feels pain more intensely than yours, if you don't mind!"  Shut them up.

Bones

[BonesMS]

I've hooked up with two online Asperger groups and discovered that I'm not the only one experiencing certain things.  It feels good knowing that I'm not alone with this.

Bones

[Hopalong]

that's wonderful, Bones!
Educate us when you're in the mood.

hugs
Hops

[BonesMS]

that's wonderful, Bones!
Educate us when you're in the mood.

hugs
Hops

Thanks, Hops!

Will do!

Bones

[BonesMS]

FYI, here's the beginning of some of the information I found on Aspberger's.

http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

Bones

[Hopalong]

Wow.
Reading that blog by the autistic girl, Moggy?, is really moving and interesting...

Hops

[BonesMS]

Wow.
Reading that blog by the autistic girl, Moggy?, is really moving and interesting...

Hops

 

Bones

[BonesMS]

My colleagues and I are having a bit of a rough patch emotionally.  Given that we work at a Hotline, we expect to get a variety of calls from a variety of people with a variety of issues.  I think it is inevitable that we would eventually get that one call that none of us could help in spite of our best efforts.  That call happened this past week involving an individual who was both homicidal and suicidal.  No matter how hard the counselor-on-duty tried to help him, the caller hung up on him, went outside with a gun, had a show down with the local police and lost the battle.  Intellectually I know that none of us can save the world and, at the same time, having a caller commit suicide by cop is still painful.  (BTW, the counselor was someone else, not me.  This situation is new for all of us and we are all still processing it.)

Bones

[changing]

Dear Bonesey-

I am so sorry about the tragic suicide- I know that you are committed to helping others and the shock and trauma must be devastating for you. You do so much good in the world, it is sad that in the process you sometimes get wounded as well, like a Red Cross  medical person on a battlefield. Please don't blame yourselves at the Crisis Center, and please be gentle with my friend Bonesey.

((((Bonesey)))) and ((((Crisis Center staff)))) and (((( Poor Soul who could not see a way out))))

Changing

[BonesMS]

Thanks, Changing!

I'm being as supportive to my colleague as much as possible.  The administrators have been strongly advising him to get benefit of the same kind of counseling that police officers go through after something like this.  I've also concurred with the administrators because an incident such as this can contribute to Compassion Fatigue.

Bones

[BonesMS]

Just a bit of an update.  The staff are still informally processing what happened last week.  One of my colleagues, who is studying for her degree in social work, asked me a lot of questions last night about how something like this could happen.  I was able to answer most of her questions to the best of my ability.  However, there is still those questions that no one else can answer because we can never be inside that person's head at the moment he pointed his gun at the police.

Bones

[Ami]

I am so sorry bones. It must be a tremendous shock.           Love   Ami

((((((((((((((((Bones))))))))))))))))

[BonesMS]

I am so sorry bones. It must be a tremendous shock.           Love   Ami

((((((((((((((((Bones))))))))))))))))

It was a tremendous shock to all of us.  It will probably take a while to adequately deal with this.

Bones

[BonesMS]

The winter homeless shelter is about to begin and, it appears, one of the host churches has changed their schedule so I don't know what schedule I'll be working that first week.  I was hoping to know my new schedule by now so I can figure out what to do about Thanksgiving.

Bones

[BonesMS]

Just got an update that helped calm me down.  I have a "Plan B" since the original hosting church, for the first week, rescheduled.  I'll continue working the Hotline and the winter shelter program will begin on November 25th instead.  Whew!

Bones