May 28, 1982

Sunday, May 10, 2009

May 28, 1982

Self Portrait in a Shadow

Heavy Fruit on My Head
Self-Portrait

5a.m. Vision
(I was on call for my job and it was not unusual for the phone to ring in the middle of the night. If I remember correctly, this was a wrong number. But, something I had been worried or concerned about burst into clarity upon awakening.)

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All of these Art Therapy drawings are available for further developement.

I would like to offer the use of these therapy images to anyone that would find them useful. You may use them in preparing school papers or use in publishing. I do not care if there is a monitory reward for you. I only care that if for any reason they could be of service to anyone, they will have found a purpose.

I only ask two things.

1. - Do not claim them as your own. I am the author and owner of them and still retain the originals.

2. - Send me a copy of your final project.

Finally, I am available for questions or an interview at any stage of the develoment of your project. Please do not hesitate to contact me if for any reason I could be of service.

Ask me for a copy of them on a CD. I will gladly send one to you which would make it so much easier to work with them.

Beckie Saar Leone

About My Therapy

Everyone thought I was soooo stable, the rock for everyone else's support. I was happy and sure of myself. Looking back, I did have some depression as a child, but nobody realized it.

I do not intend to sound trite, but my depression began when I was 22 years old, just after I married in Kansas City. When I was 24, I had a miscarriage and my marriage was not sound. I called my gynacologist and told him I had a hormonal imbalance and was ruining my marriage. He told me, "No, you have an emotional problem and need to see a Psychologist". After a good cry, I made the call. After 4 years of counseling and group, a child, a better job, additional education and a divorce, I thought all my problems were behind me.

My daughter and I moved to Atlanta when I was 28 and not long after things started falling apart - again. Upon the recommendation of my sister, I began seeing her sister-in-law, Elaine, as a counselor. She was affiliated with Lila Bonner-Miller's Psychiatric practice and I joined their group therapy which used art therapy as an adjunct.

I was in this group setting for 7 years. This was before the days of medication and diagnoses for me. I'd like to say my problems ended there, but they did not. I have spent most of my adult life involved one way or the other in mental health settings.

I'm not really sure what my "official" diagnosis is, but I would say I have a large component of OCD (Obsessive Compulvise Disorder) and Bipolar Type II (not full blown, but real none the less).

The good news is, since I am no longer in the "work-force", my illness is very controlled. But, I am alone most of the time and do not have to interact with or please anyone which greatly relieves the stress and concurrently, the depression. Since I am no longer able to work in my first chosen career, being mentally healthier is a good trade-off!

Beckie Saar Leone

Art Therapy 1980 - 1985

Sunday, May 10, 2009

May 28, 1982

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Carl S. Burak, M.D., J.D., Psychiatrist and Author

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