For those not in the know Drogo is one of the Patron Saints of mental health (illness even).He’s also in charge of such diverse areas as cattle, broken bones, unattractive people to name but a few.
I hold my hand up – I suffer from something which used to be known as mental illness but now is more often referred to as mental health problems.Why, I don’t know. I have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (once known as manic depression) and get to take a fistful of pills to keep the worst of it at bay.On the whole they work but sometimes I slip one way or the other. More often downwards which is at least a lot cheaper than a high – I tend to spend alot of money on things I am sure I desperately need and can’t survive without. Unfortunately the internet facilitates this predilection. Ebay was my downfall for a while but I have cured (mostly) myself of that addiction.
Once upon a time I was a solicitor but I kept ending up in hospital so they retired me. There is something very demoralising about being retired whilst still in one’s twenties - although I do have a sneaking position that it keeps my car insurance down.So that’s alright then. Nowadays i do voluntary work at the local psych. unit. I am currently the whole of the activity department which would be great if I was any good at art and crafts. My forte is driving patients to the post office to pick up their benefits.
As perhaps to be expected my first incarceration is forever etched on my memory. Subsequent visits are more blurred. It was one of the old asylums which now is part of the prison. Which makes a bit of a change from being turned into luxury flats as seems to have been the way of some many of these institutions. But I digress. I was taken there by ambulance and was escorted down a long, long corridor.Shuffling along in the opposite direction was this man in too short trousers and down at heel slippers.
The ward I was taken onto was an all female ward covering my locality. There were a few individual rooms and one large dormitory. Someone must have been being nice because I was given a room.
That is probably enough for now. Watch out for the next exciting installment.
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