On work, anger, and how my faith drives what I do.
A note on my new job, originally posted as a Note on Facebook:
On Friday, I posted that I'm officially being paid to be Malkavian.
It's vague, I know.
Here's what that means, for the curious:
I am an independent contractor for Crisis Company. Crisis Company provides Crisis Intervention Training for a variety of law enforcement and private agencies in dealing with mental health crisis and de-escalation. The training comes in two parts - classroom, and role-playing.
Now, rather than have the officers/students themselves role-play with each other, Crisis Company does something unique ~ they hire professionals to come in and play those mentally unstable folk. That's where I come in... with any one of 25 fully flushed out, true-to-life characters. These characters are various states of mentally ill, from suicidal to psychotic, from just plain stressed out to substance abusers, from PTSD rape victims to developmentally disabled and anywhere in between.
However, it's not just a matter of portraying accurate presentation - that presentation responds based on a training method and the actions of the officer, without breaking character. It means that despite what I'm playing, I need to be aware of the actions of the officer, and alter the presentation appropriately. On the fly.
Those of you who know my gaming, professional, and mental health background get why I love this job already. I have 25 human NPCs with derangements at my fingertips to play with the first hand experience from both the officers' and the victims' sides.
Those of you who don't, let me put it this way:
* I've had mental health issues in the past, and have worked hard to be psychologically healthy. I know the lingo, the pain, the drugs, and the emotions. I know what it looks like, because I owned a mirror back then.
* I've spent 5+ years working security in various environments, and have been exposed to much of the mental health and stress spectrum - I've rarely worked an easy contract where there was only healthy people. I've had to de-escalate a few of these situations myself. I'm also a criminal justice major, intending to work with criminals for the rest of my life, and many of those criminals have mental health concerns that have been addressed in my classroom experience.
* I've been involved in the local live-action role-playing (game) community for 5+ years now as well. In that time, I've prided myself on portraying real characters with 'authentic' histories, mannerisms, costuming and intentions. I'm able to step in and out of these characters fluidly, and pour effort into playing hard by the rules of the game.
It means I get to use my primary hobby and my background to influence the future of my field. Even though I have no intention of being in enforcement, the entire justice system is connected and interdisciplinary. More than that, the statistics on mental health issues in the justice system are staggering - an average of 15% of offenders currently in prison require mental health services, to say nothing of the traumatic brain injury or co-morbid disorders.
As I've continued to study psychology, sociology, and justice, I have refined my interest to be primarily in rehabilitation and corrections, with special interest in sexual offenses. I am of the firm opinion that most offenders will not recidive if given adequate reason not to - generally in the form of treatment for disorders, education, and social support.
But what does that mean for the work I'm doing now?
It means that officers trained in verbal de-escalation of mental health crisis are less likely to use tactical means and force in these situations. More than that, it means that the justice program operates better under its own motto of "protect and serve."
I could cite specific examples, but I'm under a confidentiality agreement.
On one hand, I get to manipulate law enforcement officers, role-play fun characters, and get paid. But the work, as I see it, is more important than mere fun. It means I'm helping the very people I hope to make my peers be better at their job because of my ability to bring these characters to life and help educate them at the same time.
For some of my fellow roleplayers, this may be just another acting gig. It might be a chance to add something new and unique to their resume. For me, it's a chance to bring what I know (enforcement/mental illness), what I love (role-playing/educating), and what I intend to pursue (criminal justice) into harmony - for a living.
How many people can say that?
********
In light of this, and moreso in general, this article makes me ill. I have friends who have served and who are currently serving. I've got military folk all over my friends and loved ones, and I know plenty of folk who've been fucked over by that same military they served. One of the scenarios I run with law enforcement officials is connected to this exact issue ~ returned combat veterans. So. Angry.
To make matters even more fun, I was made aware of this article, and it's sister article on fibromyalgia today. (Response from the National Fibromyalgia Association is here)
I mean hey, if I was just sane, skinny, and rich - I'd be fine, right?
******
In more pleasant news, I got to do one of my favorite things to do tonight ~ and it's earned me the right to claim the title of "The Google Map of Emotions," which I originally shortened to "EmoGoogle." Not sure I like that, but I'm open to suggestions.
Long story short, it's always an honor and a privilege for me to be a go-to for folk who are having emotional "stuff," or who need grounding and mellowing out, or perspective. There's jokes about being folks' "Buddhist refill," "breath of real air," and, of course, "Jiminy Cricket." Most times, I just get a call that means "I'm stressed out and need your help."
When I think about it, one of the best compliments I've gotten this year was to be called for help, sanity, and "Sam time" by four people in three days - and have all of them feel better because I was there. It means I'm a good influence on people - I'm helping. A lot of times, it's just by being there, and that makes me feel good about my faith.
Because it means my barista knows too.
~Samantha
On Friday, I posted that I'm officially being paid to be Malkavian.
It's vague, I know.
Here's what that means, for the curious:
I am an independent contractor for Crisis Company. Crisis Company provides Crisis Intervention Training for a variety of law enforcement and private agencies in dealing with mental health crisis and de-escalation. The training comes in two parts - classroom, and role-playing.
Now, rather than have the officers/students themselves role-play with each other, Crisis Company does something unique ~ they hire professionals to come in and play those mentally unstable folk. That's where I come in... with any one of 25 fully flushed out, true-to-life characters. These characters are various states of mentally ill, from suicidal to psychotic, from just plain stressed out to substance abusers, from PTSD rape victims to developmentally disabled and anywhere in between.
However, it's not just a matter of portraying accurate presentation - that presentation responds based on a training method and the actions of the officer, without breaking character. It means that despite what I'm playing, I need to be aware of the actions of the officer, and alter the presentation appropriately. On the fly.
Those of you who know my gaming, professional, and mental health background get why I love this job already. I have 25 human NPCs with derangements at my fingertips to play with the first hand experience from both the officers' and the victims' sides.
Those of you who don't, let me put it this way:
* I've had mental health issues in the past, and have worked hard to be psychologically healthy. I know the lingo, the pain, the drugs, and the emotions. I know what it looks like, because I owned a mirror back then.
* I've spent 5+ years working security in various environments, and have been exposed to much of the mental health and stress spectrum - I've rarely worked an easy contract where there was only healthy people. I've had to de-escalate a few of these situations myself. I'm also a criminal justice major, intending to work with criminals for the rest of my life, and many of those criminals have mental health concerns that have been addressed in my classroom experience.
* I've been involved in the local live-action role-playing (game) community for 5+ years now as well. In that time, I've prided myself on portraying real characters with 'authentic' histories, mannerisms, costuming and intentions. I'm able to step in and out of these characters fluidly, and pour effort into playing hard by the rules of the game.
It means I get to use my primary hobby and my background to influence the future of my field. Even though I have no intention of being in enforcement, the entire justice system is connected and interdisciplinary. More than that, the statistics on mental health issues in the justice system are staggering - an average of 15% of offenders currently in prison require mental health services, to say nothing of the traumatic brain injury or co-morbid disorders.
As I've continued to study psychology, sociology, and justice, I have refined my interest to be primarily in rehabilitation and corrections, with special interest in sexual offenses. I am of the firm opinion that most offenders will not recidive if given adequate reason not to - generally in the form of treatment for disorders, education, and social support.
But what does that mean for the work I'm doing now?
It means that officers trained in verbal de-escalation of mental health crisis are less likely to use tactical means and force in these situations. More than that, it means that the justice program operates better under its own motto of "protect and serve."
I could cite specific examples, but I'm under a confidentiality agreement.
On one hand, I get to manipulate law enforcement officers, role-play fun characters, and get paid. But the work, as I see it, is more important than mere fun. It means I'm helping the very people I hope to make my peers be better at their job because of my ability to bring these characters to life and help educate them at the same time.
For some of my fellow roleplayers, this may be just another acting gig. It might be a chance to add something new and unique to their resume. For me, it's a chance to bring what I know (enforcement/mental illness), what I love (role-playing/educating), and what I intend to pursue (criminal justice) into harmony - for a living.
How many people can say that?
********
In light of this, and moreso in general, this article makes me ill. I have friends who have served and who are currently serving. I've got military folk all over my friends and loved ones, and I know plenty of folk who've been fucked over by that same military they served. One of the scenarios I run with law enforcement officials is connected to this exact issue ~ returned combat veterans. So. Angry.
To make matters even more fun, I was made aware of this article, and it's sister article on fibromyalgia today. (Response from the National Fibromyalgia Association is here)
I mean hey, if I was just sane, skinny, and rich - I'd be fine, right?
******
In more pleasant news, I got to do one of my favorite things to do tonight ~ and it's earned me the right to claim the title of "The Google Map of Emotions," which I originally shortened to "EmoGoogle." Not sure I like that, but I'm open to suggestions.
Long story short, it's always an honor and a privilege for me to be a go-to for folk who are having emotional "stuff," or who need grounding and mellowing out, or perspective. There's jokes about being folks' "Buddhist refill," "breath of real air," and, of course, "Jiminy Cricket." Most times, I just get a call that means "I'm stressed out and need your help."
When I think about it, one of the best compliments I've gotten this year was to be called for help, sanity, and "Sam time" by four people in three days - and have all of them feel better because I was there. It means I'm a good influence on people - I'm helping. A lot of times, it's just by being there, and that makes me feel good about my faith.
Because it means my barista knows too.
~Samantha