ISSUE 69, 2019
• Mental Health in the Young • Introvert or Extrovert • Artist: Kimi Kurahara • Paintings, poems and fiction
MAGAZINE FOR WELLBEING
Front cover: Pixabay/ 12019
Equilibrium Patron Dr Liz Miller Mind Champion, 2008.
What Equilibrium means to me‌. WEB ALERTS If you know anyone who would like to be on our mailing list to get the magazine four times a year (no spam!), please email: equilibriumteam@hotmail. co.uk (www.haringey.gov.uk/ equilibrium).
Equilibrium is devised, created and produced by . students with experience of the mental health system.
Photo copyright remains with all individual artists and Equilibrium. All rights reserved, 2011.
I enjoyed writing a short article for the mental health magazine Equilibrium based on my personal experience of having a mental illness for the last 20 years. The office environment and people were all friendly and gave support on tap, especially when you got stuck for ideas or needed technical help using the computer. The other contributors present all shared a mental health history, so gelled well together, and we were made to feel very welcome. Norman I found Equilibrium at a crucial point, where I found an open door to try a new healing form of writing and expression. Honest, happy, healthy. One thing I have to say, I go at my own pace and learn little lessons on computers, in art and writing, communicating, and ultimately a chance to get some self-confidence and self-esteem back after being belittled and degraded and abused. I found the open light of Equilibrium at the end of a dark tunnel of life. Equilibrium gives me a purpose. Thank you. Blessings. Richard The magazine means a lot to me for the reason that it allows me to write about various aspects of mental health and wellbeing. This is one of the only places where you can talk about this sticky matter and issues surrounding wellbeing. Working here also allows me to meet like-minded people who are passionate about talking about their experiences of their conditions. Seeing these issues being published spreads information on mental health, and other topics, even further. Devzilla Equilibrium has been a fantastic form of expression for me. I have the choice to write about what I want and I can put my ideas into practice. I have been with Equilibrium since 2007, and I never run out of ideas of things to write about. I have enjoyed writing articles and reviews about plays, books and galleries. The Equilibrium team has changed from time to time, but we still manage to produce four copies of the magazine a year. Angela
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EDITORIAL Hello and welcome to another issue of Equilibrium. We are hoping that the bad weather is not getting you down and is an excuse to curl up in the warm with a hot drink and a good book. Some of you will have noticed that this is a shorter issue than usual. However, we hope that you enjoy the variety of pieces that are still on offer, as they are no less thought-provoking than usual. This will also be my last issue of Equilibrium, which is a great sadness. I have loved every minute of this job, and I will miss the work and the team at the Clarendon Recovery College a great deal. I wish them all the best for the future; thank you for making this job so great! I also want to thank both our contributors and our readers. Without you, the magazine would not be possible! I hope you continue to enjoy reading this lovely and underrated publication for years to come. I know that I will. Namaste for the last time, Emily, Editor
DISCLAIMER Equilibrium is produced by students. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly forbidden without the prior permission of the Equilibrium team. Products, articles and services advertised in this publication do not necessarily carry the endorsement of Equilibrium or any of our partners. Any material that has been reprinted is, as far as we know, in the public domain. If you have any concerns about anything printed within Equilibrium, please contact the team via the email below. Equilibrium is published and circulated electronically four times a year to a database of subscribers; if you do not wish to receive Equilibrium or have received it by mistake, please email unsubscribe to equilibriumteam@hotmail.co.uk
THE TEAM Facilitator/Editor: Emily Sherris Students: Dev, Nigel, Richard Graphic Designer: Anthony J. Parke
CONTACT US Equilibrium, Clarendon Recovery College, Clarendon Road, London, N8 ODJ. 0208 489 4860, equilibriumteam@hotmail.co.uk.
CONTRIBUTIONS Wanted: contributions to Equilibrium! Please email us with your news, views, poems, photos and articles. Anonymity guaranteed if required.
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Pixabay/ ID 729714 EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 4
Summer/ Issue 38
Are You an Ugly Duckling? Liv Johannesson
M
ost of us have heard the
spectrum. In Quiet, introverted traits
terms introvert and extrovert,
are described as: reflective, cerebral,
and most of us have an instinctive
bookish, unassuming, sensitive,
perception of which describes us
thoughtful, serious, contemplative,
best. These traits are discussed in the
subtle, introspective, gentle, calm,
widely popular book Quiet, the power
modest, solitude-seeking, risk-
of introverts in a world that can’t stop
averse and thin-skinned. Extroverts,
talking by Susan Cain. In her book she
on the other hand, are described
mentions a professor named Brian
as: ebullient, expansive, sociable,
Little, and I believe his theories about
gregarious, excitable, dominant,
personality traits have relevance in
assertive, active, risk-taking, thick-
cases of burnout.
skinned, light-hearted, bold and
The definitions for the terms
comfortable in the spotlight. One
introvert and extrovert are being
important point of the book is that we
debated by scientists, but it’s now
have become an extroverted society,
widely accepted that there is such a
thus leaving the introverted
thing as extroverted and introverted
population struggling to take part in a
persons. We all fall somewhere on a
satisfactory way.
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Brian Little’s theory says that we
This way of looking at our
can all step out of our natural
personalities encourages us not
state as introverts or extroverts
to be held back from doing what
when we need to. As introverts, we
we love or need to get done just
learn to act as extroverts in order to
because it doesn’t come naturally
achieve our goals and function in
to us. We can become comfortable
society, but an extrovert can likewise
doing it anyway, as long as we
learn to adapt typical introverted
balance it out.
traits to succeed within that kind of environment. Little himself is a good example: by
For example, no matter how introverted you are, you can still take on delivering an important
day, he is an engaging, extroverted
presentation to a large group of
and funny teacher, but by night he
people; just make sure you prepare
hides in the solitude of his home,
for it and compensate for it. If you are
reading books. Because he loves his
a bubbly extrovert, you can restrain
students and loves teaching, he acts
yourself for deep analytical studies;
more extroverted in order to be a
just meet up with a group of friends
better teacher.
afterwards. I think it also helps explain
Little claims that stepping out of
why stress problems are on the rise.
our persona takes its toll. To be the
Imagine you’re an introvert
extroverted teacher, he also needs
who needs a lot of solitude for
his solitude to recharge his batteries.
contemplation and to regain your
Like yin and yang, stepping out of our
energy. You commute to work on
persona needs to be balanced with
an overcrowded train or Tube. You
more time to relish in our natural state.
spend your day in an open office
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Summer/ Issue 38
with constant noise, people talking
impact on our lives. It’s the slow-
over your head, phones ringing,
burning stress that we can’t seem
maybe even the radio playing.
to escape long enough to recover
Then you return home on another overcrowded train. If you live in a big city, chances are you share a house with others. You spend the evening trying to avoid their music, chatter and TV sounds. Maybe you are still lucky, and the house goes quiet by
so farfetched to argue that one probable cause of this slow burnout is that we don’t get to spend enough time being in an environment that is natural to us? I take the example
the time you need to go to sleep.
of an introvert because our society
Perhaps you’ve had the chance to
is adapted for extroverts, and there
escape for a quiet walk, but where
is a predominantly extroverted
else during that day did you have a
population, leaving the introverts on
chance to recharge your batteries?
the margin of society.
When, during that day, were your needs met? How long can you keep going like this before you run on empty batteries? We all know how we feel after a night with poor sleep. We are irritable, less patient and less tolerant to sounds. Those familiar with high stress levels pixabay/ LeandroDeCarvalho
from that will tip the scale. Is it
However, I’m sure the same can be applied to extroverts forced to act as introverts for too long. Perhaps, like the ugly duckling, we turn out to be swans once we accept our true nature and demand the right to have our needs met. After all, we should
and burnouts know it’s not
cherish our individual strengths, not
the rush of stress that has a negative
be punished for our different natures.
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Pixabay/ SplitShire EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 8
Summer/ Issue 38
An Eye on the Young Nigel Prestatyn
W
hen we think of individuals
back to my brother in his school, and
suffering from mental health
feel inclined to say he was probably
issues, we often invariably think of
regarded as the only child in the school
adults. But growing up with an elder
with mental health problems, which
brother with a severe mental illness from
was probably due to ignorance. It’s not
a very young age has made me aware
all about hearing voices and seeing
of the reality. This was over forty years
visions, as was the case with my brother.
ago. I think in today’s climate we are
The spectrum is broad and far more
much more aware of the ubiquitous
complex. In general, we can say we are
nature of mental health issues among
dealing with issues, including depression
the young. There is a greater awareness
and anxiety, that are a direct response
in general. Maybe because now,
to what is happening in our lives.
as a parent with one child hitting his
As a parent, I spend the majority of
teens and another doing the same in
my time focusing on an array of health
three years’ time, I find myself with a
issues concerning my children: diet,
heightened awareness of the difficulties
teeth, eyesight, exercise, fresh air, for
facing young people today.
example. We regularly get our kids’
Mental health statistics tell us that
teeth and eyesight checked, etc. We
one in ten children are affected by
take them to the GP for various injuries
mental health problems. So in your
and physical ailments. We are ‘on it’,
average class, perhaps three will
so to speak, with regards to all non-
suffer from mental health issues. I think
mental health related issues. But mental
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health issues among children can lurk
mental ill-health, such as changing
undetected for some time. Maybe
schools, divorce or the death of a
the child is not even aware of it until
loved one. The transition from primary
the warning signs are so pronounced
to secondary school is very marked
that they are picked up by parents.
and is, in itself, a stressful time for most
Perhaps that is one of the difficulties?
children. Suddenly they are faced
Statistics show that 70% of children
with an academic workload to deal
and young people who experience
with and thoughts of detention if goals
a mental health problem have not
are not met. They find themselves in a
had appropriate interventions at a
world of pressure and deadlines. Some
sufficiently early age.
make the transition well, others less so.
There is either a greater stress on
All this while their bodies are changing
children today than when I was
and developing. It can take time for
growing up, or perhaps simply a
children to find their feet and feel a
greater awareness. Certainly anxiety
sense of stability in a world that can, at
around climate change is new and
times, feel volatile.
having a profound effect. Certainly the current political chaos surrounding Brexit has ramifications. If not directly in the child, then as stress trickled down from parent to child. There are many
As a general guide there are areas that we can recognise as mental health issues arising in the young. This list was in part sourced from the Guardian and gives a good breakdown of areas to be aware of:
social pressures stemming from social media, opening up new avenues of bullying and pressure to be a certain way. Then there are general traumatic events in our lives that can trigger
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• Depression affects more children and young people today than in the last few decades, but it is still more common in adults. Teenagers are more
Summer/ Issue 38
likely to experience depression than
teenage years and are more common
young children.
in girls than boys.
• Self-harm is a very common
One of the best ways young
problem among young people. Some
people can be helped is if their
find it helps them manage intense
parents have an open dialogue about
emotional pain.
it. This is perhaps easier said than
• Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
done. I certainly have one child who
can cause young people to become
is stubbornly monosyllabic. However,
extremely worried. Very young
I believe with some persistence and
children or children starting or moving
empathy an exchange is usually
school may have separation anxiety.
possible. It might simply begin with,
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
‘How was your day?’ Regularly
can follow physical or sexual abuse,
asking this question may act as a
witnessing something extremely
useful gauge as to their current
frightening of traumatising, being the
mood. Listening with an open mind is
victim of violence or severe bullying or
essential. Prior to this, a ‘safe space’
surviving a disaster.
where a dialogue can surface
• Hyperactivity. Children who are
should be created. Often feelings of
consistently overactive (‘hyperactive’)
distress can pass naturally with young
often behave impulsively and have
people; however, in cases where this
difficulty paying attention. They may
is persistent and harm the quality of
have attention deficit hyperactivity
their lives, some form of professional
disorder (ADHD). Many more boys
intervention may be recommended.
than girls are affected, but the causes
The list below gives links to various
of ADHD aren’t fully understood.
support networks available.
• Eating disorders usually start in the
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
Let us take a quick look at things
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that can help the mental wellbeing
• feeling they have some control over
of young people. Again, this list was
their own life
sourced from the Guardian and is an
• having the strength to cope when
excellent summary of areas to look at:
something is wrong (resilience) and the
• being in good physical health, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise
• having time and freedom to play, indoors and outdoors
• being part of a family that gets along most of the time
• going to a school that looks after the wellbeing of all its pupils
• taking part in local activities.
ability to solve problems.
Organisations that can help: •
Childline
•
YoungMinds
•
Contact
•
Family Lives
•
Barnardo’s
•
Kidscape
•
Penumbra (Scotland)
•
CALM (Campaign Against Living
Other factors are also important:
Miserably)
• feeling loved, trusted, understood,
•
valued and safe
Suicide)
• being interested in life and having
•
opportunities to enjoy themselves
Mental Health Coalition (CYPMHC)
PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young
Children and Young People’s
• being hopeful and optimistic • being able to learn and having opportunities to succeed
Source: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/c/
• accepting who they are and
children-and-young-people
recognising what they are good at
• having a sense of belonging in their family, school and community
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Summer/ Issue 38
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Arts - Kimi Kurahara Anthony J. Parke
Kimi Kurahara is a Japanese artist, born
Mad Hatters and March Hares. The
in Tokyo. She has devoted a lifetime to
surface appearance is innocent and
her art. Having had a very rich career
beguiling, befitting perhaps, given the
to date, she has exhibited in numerous
subject matter, which is ostensibly that
prestigious galleries across Japan over
of young children, of which most are
the years.
predominantly girls.
Kimi Kurahara is one of those
These paintings are unusual in that
artists whose paintings work on a
they make the subtlest of transitions
peculiarly subtle level. They have
between the oversized eyes of anime,
the quality of fictional characters,
and the western illustrative characters
as though extracted from a world of
found in children’s books. They are
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Summer/ Issue 38
essentially doll-like in their features. So
her own worlds, and we the witness to
it comes as no surprise to learn that a
it. In a sense, Kimi is bringing about the
childhood Kimi was an avid fan of dolls.
reanimation of her childhood love of
As an established artist, she has built her
dolls: resurrecting them with their own
career not only by painting dolls, but
accompanying paraphernalia and
also in making dolls! For Kimi, the two are
history.
intrinsically bound. For many, the nostalgia for dolls often
Why create a world with doll-like figures? Perhaps her characters are
leads to collecting in later life, but for
designed to soothe a psychological
Kimi it’s a case of creation, rather than
need or, to speculate further, fill an
passive collecting. She is the creator of
emotional void (as real dolls do at times).
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After all, dolls are representations of
are designed to transfix. As the artist
people. So Kimi creates a beautifully
herself acknowledges, she is working
controlled world in which to explore.
around a facsimile of dolls that she
While innocuous at first glance,
grew up with. Dolls can be peculiarly
on further inspection the neutrally
disturbing objects given the right
expressive, staring characters have
context; and that is expressed
the unusual capacity to disarm. They
subtly here. These are curious lives,
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opening themselves up to a viewer’s
Japan’s great history of Karakuri
imagination. We are left to create
doll making, dating back to the
our own narrative around these
19th century. She offers a more
children. They appear to want to
modern, contempoary version, with
connect. In fact, with their hypnotic
the added ability to transfix and
gaze, they demand our attention.
mesmerize in worlds wondrously
Kimi Kurahara’s paintings are a
unique to her.
two-dimensional continuation of
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Saraswati Sets to Work Marianne Antonis
Pixabay/ 9091
H
er tread is the quiet brush of a sandal on stone, and there are
Not so you’d notice. Not at first. Hummed quietly under her breath: the
no sounds from her lips, until there is
song of a scale. Not a major or a minor:
silence on the Parkland Walk, just out
if the joggers took off their earphones,
from under the bridge near the Cranley
they’d hear the raag and think she was
Gardens’ steps. Then the scales begin.
praying. Maybe they’d wonder about
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Summer/ Issue 38
this white woman with white hair,
been flattened.
singing as if no one could hear her.
The white woman with white hair
Maybe she is praying. But she
opens her mouth. She gasps. There is
doesn’t know. She doesn’t yet know
no explanation. She thinks she will not
about the goddess. She doesn’t know
sing again, ‘til this has all fallen into
that this is the goddess’ scale. And
place, ‘til she stops seeing the image
she has no idea what she is praying for.
of that man, or at least knows the why and how…
So it is unexpected: the flood. There is no water: feelings and thoughts rise way above sea level. There are no dikes. No oars and no floats. She feels a sadness whose depths are unending, and tears flow. Then a rage surges through her gut, as if it could never stop. She is yelling, ‘No!’, and ‘Why did you…?’ at that man in her mind, as if he could
She doesn’t know that for the seven hours since midnight, the goddess of speech and song, of wisdom and knowledge, has been peering around the bridge at Cranley Gardens, looking for a singer. Not a jogger or someone lurking; for a tune or a scale being hummed or sung. She doesn’t know that this goddess
hear her, as if he’d want to admit
has a whole river named after her, in
anything.
India…long dried up.
There is no one around her, no one to turn to. In front of her, on the Parkland
The mouth of the white woman with white hair resumes its singing. Not just the plain up and down of
Walk, an invisible surge of water has
the raag now. A whole improvisation
flown along the path. Stones and flint
comes from inside her.
have been washed out of the clay
The pictures of that man, and what
and strewn in mounds at the edge
he did, are still there. She doesn’t
of the path. The edges are no longer
know the why and how.
distinct. Swathes of brambles have
Her mouth still sings.
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