Why Blog as an Occupational Therapist?

Blogging is a powerful tool that has given my life purpose and drive.

Blogging “promotes self-directed versus teacher-directed learning, encourages self-reflection as a model of social experience and self-identity, and enriches the process of learning”

Maag, 2005, p.23

After being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder I was faced with many scary questions.

“Will I ever be able to work in mental health?”
“How can I create change on a larger scale?”
“How can I redirect my anger from stigma into something powerful and positive?”

So I decided to journal. But putting pen to paper seemed like such an effort. I was writing about all these ideas and dreams I had but keeping them locked in a secret diary. So I challenged myself to think outside the square and I made a WordPress account.

Why Blog?

• Stigma encountered by friends, family, community, health care professionals
• Tired of the shame of having the illness
• Hearing other stories of OTs told they couldn’t work or graduate
• I wanted to understand myself deeper
• To share my story
• To shape, inform and challenge practice
• To live out my passion for occupational justice and disability empowerment
• Raise awareness of childhood abuse, trauma and violence

Personal Benefits

• Blogging is a way of expressing myself. Not only through words, but images, videos, posters, and so many more creative ways.
• I am living less in my head and more in reality. Its easier to clarify thoughts and feelings if they are on paper. Greater objectivity than subjectivity (wise mind concept)
• Instead of writing more academically like you would for an assignment. I write in a way so that multiple audiences can understand. It’s so much easier!
• It’s fun and I can be creative with it!
• I have written about many topics a lot which have personal value to me such as therapy dogs!
• I have questioned many of my values and emotions. And with the help of readers, I have gained an outside perspective on how to look at things differently.
• I realised I had knowledge that was valuable and the people wanted to learn from me. This has been huge in my occupational identity and purpose for my life.
• It’s been a way to document my progress
• It is a platform for me to share my CV, experience and research activities.

Clinical/ Academic Benefits

• I can write about situations and seek other’s opinions on how to handle a situation differently.
• My mental health knowledge has grown tremendously. Not only do I physically attend a mental health group, but then I implement these interventions into my life, then I reflect, then lastly, I write about how this intervention has helped me. Thus teaching others.
• I am developing partnerships with key clinicians and organisations around the who are involved in working with people with BPD. These people know recommend my blog to their clients!
• I am growing in confidence and competence in partnering with other consumers.
• I am becoming a point of reference in which other clinicians ask my opinion on certain topics to do with trauma, self-harm and BPD.
• I have learnt to market myself as someone knowledgeable and skilled in BPD. This has given me so much confidence and self-respect. It has also inspired me to start my PhD.

References

Ezzamel, S. (2013). Blogging in occupational therapy: knowledge sharing, professional development, and ethical dilemmas. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(11), 515-517. doi:10.4276/030802213X13833255804711