Day 24 of 100 intentional, reflective steps.
On the third day at a workshop on trauma I had a major mental collapse. I didn’t know that is what happened. I just thought I was emotional. At lunchtime on the fourth day our group therapist said “the director (of the workshops) would like to talk with you.” Ok. I didn’t know what to expec but I certainly wasn’t expecting what was behind door number three.
I knocked on the director’s door. A warm smile and pretty face answered the door. However, this woman had about 20 long acupuncture needles stuck in her face and ears and acted like this was completely normal . (Apparently she was relieving her tension. Most people settle for a chocolate bar, Netflix and a glass of wine.) I wanted to point out the needles out to her, just in case she had forgotten them but I was afraid she would face-palm and kill her damn self. Say something pithy to remind her? “Don’t worry about losing your dart game.”
We embarked on a very serious conversation about my mental health, based on some “regressions” they had seen. My regressions? “Hey Lady! You have 20 needles. IN. YOUR. HEAD.”
At one point she picked up the phone to answer it and FORGOT (Momentarily. I’ll give her a 7 on the landing.) to take the needles out of her ear before putting the ear piece up to her head. Wait. WHAT? Dear freaky therapist lady. Step away from the phone! The irony. She was the one who was about to make her brain into a pin cushion and I’m the one who needed help?
I did try acupuncture. Apparently I’m too toxic. The needles kept “jumping out.” They didn’t want to be there anymore than I did. The only thing acupuncture did for me was get me to sit still and shut up for 10 minutes and give me 15 minutes of comic relief.
It was all very sitcom comical and odd. The right decision was made and I became a patient of the hospital. I just hope she found her Zen and that it didn’t call her on the phone.