Catherine Kenwell
Bio
I live with a broken brain and PTSD--but that doesn't stop me! I'm an author, artist, and qualified mediator who loves life's detours.
I co-authored NOT CANCELLED: Canadian Kindness in the Face of COVID-19. I also publish horror stories.
Achievements (1)
Stories (77/0)
Psych Ward? Not Me, I'll Just Gaily Skip Along
No, I’ll never report suicidal ideation. And no, I’ve never taken myself to the hospital to be admitted, although I’ve seriously considered and attempted suicide countless times. I know this is wrong. But I have a bigger fear of psych wards than I do suicide.
By Catherine Kenwell8 months ago in Psyche
Buttons, Buttons
“Buttons, buttons, who's got the buttons”…it’s a refrain from an old children’s game that few recognize nowadays. It harkens back to a time when children weren’t parked in front of computers or TVs; when gaggles of youngsters played together, with whatever they had on hand.
By Catherine Kenwell8 months ago in Motivation
We Didn't Get the Dog We Wanted
Sometimes we don’t get the dog we want; rather, we get the dog we need. Case in point: Sunny, a part-border-collie rescue dog, returned to foster three times before he came to live with us at 10 months of age. Sweet but traumatized, he was a dog who needed a stable environment. We were frustrated by his excessive neediness and fear-based aggression. As a border collie, he was whip-smart and learned quickly, but we never believed he would end up teaching us to love, grieve, and be more empathetic.
By Catherine Kenwell8 months ago in Petlife
Ginkgo
The ginkgo, with its delicate fan-shaped leaves, has always seemed to me a little exotic to be growing alongside everyday maples and oaks. I suppose it’s because I knew ginkgo as a healer years before I saw my first tree. Ginkgo biloba is a stalwart in traditional medicine, often recommended for mood disorders, memory problems, and inflammation. Healers, in plain sight. Magnificent.
By Catherine Kenwell8 months ago in Families
Shopping at Costco with a Brain Injury
I wrote this in early 2016, shortly after we moved to our current city. Since then, there have been some interesting developments. After reading about the introduction of ‘reduced stimulation’ store hours for people with autism (which also benefits people with brain injury, post-concussion syndrome and PTSD), I’ve reached out to local and chain retailers to request something similar. Ideas to reduce sensory stimulation include dimming the lighting, turning off the PA system and music, postponing cart collection, and providing extra guidance and assistance both on the floor and at cash.
By Catherine Kenwell8 months ago in Psyche
The Doing and the Undoing
We all grieve. And each of us grieves differently. As adult caregivers to our parents, we do what needs to be done. This is a glimpse into our story, because putting it to words helped me dissect the layers of not only grief but responsibility, not just sadness but the packing and unpacking of a life that was so dear to us.
By Catherine Kenwell8 months ago in Families
Running Away With the Circus
A few days before my 50th birthday, I received a traumatic brain injury. At the time, I was a long-distance runner, and sports had always helped me keep my life-long depression at bay. But depression after a brain injury is much more finicky and severe, and I needed something new in my life.
By Catherine Kenwell8 months ago in Motivation
The 5-Minute Rule
For the first few years after my brain injury, whenever I was faced with making a decision I would momentarily freeze. My mind would go blank, I’d stare into space, and I became catatonic (in other words, in an immobile or unresponsive stupor). Being in an already-stressful environment would make it even more pronounced. This involuntary behavior caused a great deal of misunderstanding and argument in our household and amongst family. It tested the limits of my marriage and my sanity, until I learned how to deal with it. Thanks to the Ontario Brain Injury Association and Brock University for helping me put this approach into practice. I think it's helpful for everyone who finds themselves decision-making challenged.
By Catherine Kenwell8 months ago in Psyche
