Journal Entry Date: 01/15/2025

              I am grateful for the argument with my parents that led me to this stay at a crisis house. This stay got me to realize what I need to do to better treat my schizophrenia. The silver lining to this argument is that I got the opportunity to take a long-needed break from smoking marijuana in a safe environment with others who are struggling. It gave me the opportunity to hear from addicts and receive the message that change comes with being honest with yourself. My time at the crisis house gave me the time to put a plan together for how I will handle any stressors that come with interacting with my family. I know not all interactions will be bad. I am more confident about how to handle bad interactions and how to limit those interactions. I know continuing my treatment and counseling along with the coping skill I am learning will give me the tools I need to manage living at my parent’s house.  I am grateful for learning anger management today. I learned several new techniques/strategies. One I plan to use, which I may need time to employ, is to express my anger. It will be a challenge just to assert my feelings, though that challenge/difficulty will make this strategy all the more impactful. In the meantime, I can recognize my anger early to catch it check it change it. I can let my anger go by visualizing a stream/river and watching my angry thoughts and feelings float downstream. I am grateful for the choice I made to check into a crisis house. I am grateful to be working on my mental health.

Leaves on a stream
Letting go of worries concerns
The great river
A metaphor for life’s currents
To go with the flow