Since I last updated, I have had some proper time off, which was spent with friends and family. Although my alone-time was mainly spent studying, this really is my goal from now until June.
Before the break I finally submitted my Arts Council application for the fourth time. I really hope that it is successful because I have the kind of determination that just will not stop, especially having put in so much work to it at this point – it feels impossible to give up on and probability wise, how many times would I have to submit for it to eventually be accepted, or would there be a possibility that it may never be accepted? I should find out the outcome in March and should this be unsuccessful, I am unsure whether I could prioritise editing the application right in the middle of my assignments, which will all be due in May… however, I would have a chance to resubmit and not have to change any of the timeline which would make things a lot easier. I guess this is a time where all I can do is try to manifest.
On Christmas Eve, I was officially diagnosed as Autistic. During the festive period, I posted a video about how this felt as I found myself almost wanting to deny it, and thinking that they might have made a mistake, questioning the legitimacy of it, having gone through the right to choose and received the diagnosis from Psychiatry UK. It was very overwhelming news and certainly makes me see my professional life, as well as my personal life, in a new light. I think the fact that it is a medical diagnosis has been difficult to come to terms with, but as I said in my video, this doesn’t mean I am “wrong” but rather just different from the neurotypical norm. I received a lot of love and support from quite a few people after posting the video, so this was really appreciated.
I was with family travelling to different places across England for five days and once I returned, I went straight back to my university library. I dropped a couple of books off and picked up nine more! I felt very overwhelmed when I came back home, until I was able to tell myself to pick up a book and start reading, which I did for an hour. I did see somewhere that reading can be as beneficial as yoga in terms of the mental relaxation and so taking this action did calm me and allowed me to feel like even though I may not be able to read as much as I would like to that I will make progress if I do the work.
I started writing one of my essays on the 30th December and this has dominated the time that I have dedicated to my studies, to the point where I’ve written way more than necessary, will still have more to add based on the next few months of my placement, and so will inevitably have to reduce the overall text quite brutally.
Tomorrow I will begin my individual client work, which feels really scary, but I’m hoping will feel easier with time. One of the issues that is worrying me that I didn’t have to deal with on my previous placement is that it has been deemed that going to the assessment with any kind of bullet points on paper with a pen is not appropriate for this client group. I may be able to bring something to the final assessment session because I have dyspraxia, which impacts my ability to hold a lot of information in my head, and so that is my biggest concern, as well as not having the space and time to get down the information that I need. I am also starting to feel sad about ending with the group that I’m in at the moment, but I think it is important that I have that experience of an ending at this time.
This week I also start back at work. I received some news that one of my clients wants to cancel as they want a different tutor, dissatisfied with the progress that child is making. It is really hard to not take these things personally and see it as a failure because I don’t quite see how another tutor would be better. I have also already planned the first six weeks of lessons and so that is potentially a waste of time and ink and paper… however it would mean not having to wake up so early on Saturday mornings.
Watching: Squid Games, Love on the Spectrum Australia, Traitors
Reading: Faces in the Water by Janet Frame, Letters Home by Jennifer Wong, The Changing Shape of Art Therapy by Andrea Gilroy, and Introduction to Art Psychotherapy by Anthony Bateman
Podcasts: What Now? with Trevor Noah, Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast, ADHD Chatter
Music: AURORA, Beyoncé
Again, if you’re able to share or donate to my crowdfund as I train to become an Art Psychotherapist, or buy some books, please do!
Poet on page and stage. Creator of She Grrrowls. Facilitator. Writer. 