Going better

Even though I was called last night and told that my brother's wife's father passed away last night, I am doing okay now. I am feeling things again and the world doesn't seem so bleak.

I still believe that the world is going to heck in a hand basket, but I want to stick around to see just which disaster, natural or man-made, destroys us.

Hopefully it won't happen until after I'm gone and the economy will get better before then.

I am currently taking a course through the University of Phoenix NW Arkansas to get my Bachelor of Psychology. Even though I am already 42 years old, I plan to go for my Doctorate so that I can become a therapist. I think that having someone on the other side of the desk that can say "been there, done that" will help a great many sufferers.



On to me.



I have been on this side of the desk in the mental health field for over 20 years. My diagnoses range from Manic-Depressive/Bi-Polar Disorder, to Schitzo-Effective Disorder, to Dissassociative Identity Disorder/Split-Personality Disorder. I also suffer from several minor disorders, though they might not seem minor to some, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from being sexually abused as a child, to Self-Mutilation and Suicidal Tendencies.



I have been going through a rough time as of late with school pressure and other things going on in my life, not the least of which is the economic times.


I can't go to just anyone with these things. I need someone to talk to that can understand and relate and say "been there, done that, got the papers to prove it".



I don't want to go to the professionals because I refuse to go into the hospital on a locked unit again. I don't want to call any of my family and worry them as they live so far away and have plenty of problems of their own.

testing out

I have decided to try to test out of some of my courses. I can test out of up to 18 hours, and that would save me a few months.

All about me

My real name is Kim but I go by Kristi. That's a long story that I don't want to get into right now.

I was born and raised in and around the suburbs of Detroit, MI. I have also lived all over Michigan including the Upper Peninsula and traveled with a carnival around Wisconsin. I spent three years living in small towns around New Jersey just across the bridge from Philadelphia. I currently live in Cassville, MO, with my boyfriend Bob. I moved here from NJ in May 2009.

I have wanted to be a counselor for as long as I can remember, so I decided to pursue that dream and take Psychology here at U of P. I have been involved in the Mental Health system for over 20 years and believe I could help people from the other side of the desk. I would like to specialize in Personality Disorders, specifically Dissassociative Identity Disorder, more commonly known as Multiple Personality Disorder.

I am very excited and scared all at once. I have great support in Bob, but I don't know too many other people here. I plan on leaning heavily on the facilitators of U of P. I'm going to need a lot of help as I've been out of school for almost 25 years. I was going to try to test out of some classes, but I really think I would benefit better by taking all the courses. Four years sounds like a long time. Anything could happen between now and then. I'm hoping nothing life shattering will happen that will make me have to leave school.

I look forward to meeting everyone. I have plenty of time and internet access at home, so I think I would be a valuable asset to any Learning Team.