[dormouse]

This week's interview will be of MrsSchu2u! Her interview will last until Tuesday, April 12.

Guidelines:
-Post only a few questions at a time.
-No debating or arguing with the interviewee, just good-natured interrogating!
-The interviewee is free to skip any questions.
-MrsSchu2u will pick next week's interviewee out of the people who participated in her thread.

Here is some basic information about her to get you started:

-Real first name: Sarah
-Age: 36
-Sex/Gender Identity: Female
-Relationship status: Married
-Location (as specific as you are comfortable being): Norwalk, IA
-Religious beliefs (or lack thereof): liberal Christian, lifelong member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
-Political leanings: very liberal
-Are you a vegetarian or vegan (or something else)?: Vegetarian
-What is the meaning behind your username?: When I met my husband, he had "vanity" license plates that said "Schu2u". I always gave him relentless teasing about it. When we got married, he triumphantly announced, "Ha! Now you are MrsSchu2u." He now has regular plates, but I'm always amused when I see the name.
-Have you ever met anyone famous?
-Do you live with any companion animals? 2 dogs. Ashley is a lab mix and is a Love Goddess. Tucker is a pug. He is very hard headed, but totally entertaining.
-Do you live with any companion humans? Husband, Jeremy (omni). Two kids, Matthew (age 12, vegetarian) and Hannah (age 10, omni)
-Where is your favorite place that you have visited? I really loved Chichen Itza. It felt very sacred. I'm also happy whenever I am anywhere near water, especially an ocean or large lake.
-What do you enjoy most about being veg*n? I've personally taken control of my health with my vegetarian diet. I also feel better about my relationship with nature and animals.
-With whom would you most love to have dinner? I think about this a lot, and my answer changes all of the time. Right now, I would say my deceased grandmother. I would like to catch her up on the last 3 years and get a hug.
-Do you have any secret talents? I'm a pretty good singer.
-What dish/recipe can you make that knocks people's socks off? I recently got a recipe for Alfredo sauce from one of my patients. My son and husband licked their plates.
-What's your favorite restaurant? HuHot - It's a mongolian grill. I love that I can eat vegan and the rest of my family is happy as well.
-What do you do to cheer yourself up when you're feeling blue? Take a walk, listen to music, talk with my best friends, and shop when I have a little extra cash.
-What's your biggest cooking/baking disaster? Probably my first attempt at cooking tofu. I didn't realize that the water needed to be pressed out. It was edible, but we weren't all that excited about it.
-What's the one food/product, that you'd love to "veg*nize"? Really good cheese. It's really what keeps me vegetarian, and it isn't doing my heart any favors!

 

[mrsschu2u]

-Have you ever met anyone famous? - I missed this one! Lots and lots of politicians. Basically, all of the democrats who have run for president or VP in the last 20 years. My favorite musician, David Wilcox. A few actors. Seth Green, Andy Dick, Johnathon Silverman, Wendy Kaufman, Brandon Routh (I used to work with his dad. We are good friends).

 

[SomebodyElse]

Pirates or ninjas?

 

[mrsschu2u]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomebodyElse

Pirates or ninjas?

Probably pirates. I'm not quiet enough to be a ninja, and I like the idea of being on the ocean. I'd be a peaceful, laid back kinda pirate though.

 

[Capstan]

What does your husband Jeremy do for a living? What do you do for a living?

Is it true Iowans are the most stubborn people on earth?

Did you meet Obama?

 

[mrsschu2u]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capstan

What does your husband Jeremy do for a living? What do you do for a living?

Jeremy is an IT guy. He manages "messaging" technology, which means email, blackberry, instant messaging, fax machine, and anything else you can send or recieve a message on. Email is his specialty.

I am a social worker. I currently work on an inpatient psychiatric unit. I conduct groups, 1:1s with folks, and anything else that comes up throughout the day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capstan

Is it true Iowans are the most stubborn people on earth?

Hmmm... good question. I know some stubborn people, without a doubt. I'm hard headed and have been accused of being stubborn more than once in my life. I don't think I can speak for all Iowans though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capstan

Did you meet Obama?

Yes. Three times. He was a very gracious listener. He's absolutely a motivational speaker and a great "salesperson", but in smaller groups seemed to have a clear grasp on what is and what isn't within the realms of presidential duty. He was a politician.

 

[*AHIMSA*]

When are you happiest?

Does your family participate in any regular volunteer activities?

If you could map out a few important things for your children's futures, what would they be?

 

[mrsschu2u]

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AHIMSA*

When are you happiest?

What a difficult question to answer! I'm really happy at the end of a long day when I have made a special connection with another person. I'm happy when I take really long walks. I'm so happy when I spend time with my family (immediate and extended). I'm happy when I have a day to choose anything I want to do. I'm happy when I see my children becoming great young adults and making those decisions independently and for the right reasons. I look for happiness.

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AHIMSA*

Does your family participate in any regular volunteer activities?

We are very active in our church. Last year, my father and I organized a Hunger Walk to benefit our local food pantry. We enlisted other groups in town. Then, along with my children, we raised about $2000 of the $9000 total. That was incredible and they can't wait to raise more this year. When the kids walk with me, we always take trash bags and pick up as we go. As a social worker, I sometimes have to say no, which is difficult for me. Otherwise, I can "give to the point of exhaustion."

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AHIMSA*

If you could map out a few important things for your children's futures, what would they be?

I want them to go to college, not just for the education (which I highly value), but also for the social experience. I want them to find partners that compliment them. I want them to be passionate about what they do in life, no matter what that is.

 

[Pixie]

Do you have a fear/ phobia?

Who is your favourite actor?

 

[mrsschu2u]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixie

Do you have a fear/ phobia?

Yes. Going to the dentist. There is nothing rational about it. I've never had a bad experience. No amount of deep breathing or relaxation exercises calm me down. I have to premedicate and be driven by my loving husband. He goes in with me and holds my hand. It's such a strange experience. My whole body shakes and I can't stop crying. My dentist and hygenist are saints for putting up with me. It's really pretty embarassing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixie

Who is your favourite actor?

I don't know if I have one. I'm partial to actors who can sing. Hugh Jackman has a great voice. Kevin Spacey is pretty great. I always love his characters.

 

[dormouse]

What are some of the pros and cons of your job? (I am curious because my boyfriend is seriously considering Clinical Social Work as a career)

 

[mrsschu2u]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dormouse

What are some of the pros and cons of your job? (I am curious because my boyfriend is seriously considering Clinical Social Work as a career)

I have so much freedom to program the day as I wish. I love meeting people and learning their stories. Two days are never the same. I still learn something every day after 16 years. I'm never on call (in my current role). I love the psychiatrist that I work with. I also have a good team of nurses.

Negatives happen when I see an obit in the paper, when other teammates aren't pulling their weight, when I feel like patients are discharged before they are ready. It's hard to not always believe, "I could have done more." It takes effort to keep myself mentally healthy. I work for very little money.

There are lots of pros and cons.

 

[mlp]

To what extent do you see psychiatry helping people in the long term? (I see so many people cycling through the same behaviors/thoughts over and over again - these patterns seem incredibly difficult to change, even for the most motivated.)

Do you see yourself doing this same work always?

What is the most challenging mental illness/diagnosis to work with?

 

[mrsschu2u]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlp

To what extent do you see psychiatry helping people in the long term? (I see so many people cycling through the same behaviors/thoughts over and over again - these patterns seem incredibly difficult to change, even for the most motivated.)

Long term depends a lot on the individual. I really believe that people can be and are helped by medication, but they HAVE to learn to challenge those cognitive distortions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlp

Do you see yourself doing this same work always?

I did In Homes work for years and really loved that. I had a hard time leaving it, but did so for the sanity of my husband. A friend of mine was shot and killed here about 10 years ago doing in homes. That weighed very heavily on all of our hearts. I really do enjoy what I am doing now. I don't forsee any change in the near future, but I'm also a little bit prone to "wild hairs".

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlp

What is the most challenging mental illness/diagnosis to work with?

Hmmm... schizophrenia is the most chronic in nature, so it's hard to feel like there is ever progress in the traditional sense. That's more a case of long term management. For me personally (and for many of the people I work with), Axis II diagnosis are the most difficult by far because they are maladaptive patterns of behavior, not chemical issues and brief therapeutic issues that can be managed in an acute hospitalization setting.

 

[SomebodyElse]

What does Schu2u actually stand for?

 

[Snowcone]

Sharks or dolphins?

 

[mlp]

Favorite childhood memory?

What do you like to read?

What's the most surprising thing you've learned about life so far?

 

[Phoenix Days]

Have you seen any good movies recently?

Do you like tea? If so, what is your favourite kind?

 

[Puppet Master]

What is your guilty pleasure?

Digital or analog?

Boat or aircraft?

 

[Amy SF]

Strawberry preserves or orange marmalade?
Which are you more comfortable in, jeans or skirts?
Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry, other than a wedding and/or engagement ring?
What culinary delights would you pack for a romantic picnic in the park with your husband?
Is there a book that changed your life? Do you have an all-time favorite book?