Another one, which I wrote at a time when I was terrified of having a complete breakdown and ending up in hospital. I think others might relate to it, even if you don't have kids - just take out the "family" bits.
The Client’s Experience
I lay my family’s plight out before you
I feel vulnerable and exposed
I don’t like asking for help but I must
I wait with hope...
You speak
Your judgment yawns wide and cavernous
Our needs vanish from sight, swallowed whole
Drowned in the clamour of misunderstanding
I try to walk on anyway
Feeling angry and despairing
I lay my family’s plight out before you
I feel vulnerable and exposed
I don’t like asking for help but I must
I wait with hope and trepidation...
You speak
Your forms do not have boxes which fit my family
Our needs are not quite right
Asking too little / too much, being too sick / too well
I try to walk on anyway
Feeling somehow / everyhow a misfit
I lay my family’s plight out before you
I feel vulnerable and exposed
I don’t like asking for help but I must
I wait with little hope and much trepidation...
You speak
Your platitudes rain down from oblivion
Our needs unheard cannot be met
Being offered excruciatingly unhelpful help
I try to walk on anyway
Feeling completely unseen
I lay my family’s plight out before you
I feel vulnerable and exposed
I don’t like asking for help but I must
I wait with trepidation...
You speak
Your offer of imperfect help says you “get it”
Our needs are somewhat met
Offered real help after so much searching
I can walk on with some dignity
Feeling relief and gratitude
Maybe I can manage, next time
Maybe I can help someone else, next time
Maybe if you hadn’t helped there would be … no next time
Kristin © February 2012
