Adjustment Disorder and Internet Gaming Disorder

(Photo by Fredrick Tendong on Unsplash)

The final project for my Online Digital Obsessions class asked us to create a fictitious patient with an electronic addiction, adopt the role of a college counselor, do a full psychosocial assessment, and create a treatment plan for this patient’s therapeutic intervention. In the end, we were required to predict the challenges and outcomes for this patient. At this time, there is no official diagnosis, “Internet Gaming Disorder.” The proposed diagnosis was referred for further study by the American Psychiatric Association. However, it is expected to be adopted in the future. Playing video games is only a problem when it becomes the dominant interest in somebody’s life and undermines their normal functioning in day-to-day living.

Adjustment Disorder and Internet Gaming Disorder

by Dawn Pisturino

Thomas Edison State University

Introduction

       Jeremy Reed is an 18-year-old Caucasian male who was referred to counseling by his academic advisor for depression.  He says that adjusting to university life has been difficult, and he has been feeling increasingly depressed.  He began playing World of Warcraft on his computer to relieve stress and cope with his depressed feelings.  He became so involved in the game that he began neglecting his homework, and his grades are suffering.  His academic advisor referred him to counseling so he does not lose his full-ride scholarship to the university. 

       The client says that playing World of Warcraft makes him “feel good,” and he does not want to stop.  He has made new friends and become a “top player.”  He admits to feeling more depressed and irritable when he is not playing the game.  I explain to Jeremy—who is a biology major—that he feels good when he plays World of Warcraft because the activity activates the reward system in his brain and stimulates the release of dopamine.  The more he activates this system, however, the more he craves the gratifying pleasure produced by the game.  He needs to spend more hours playing the game to reach that same level of pleasure and craves playing the game when he is not able to do so.  Playing the game has become more important to him than his academic performance, so he is neglecting his schoolwork and falling behind.  As he loses control over his impulse to play, I explain, his life will spiral more and more out of control.  He is at great risk for not sleeping and eating, neglecting his hygiene, alienating his roommate, and losing his scholarship and admission to the university if he does not reduce his game playing and start improving his academic performance.  Jeremy agrees that this is true but also states that he does not want to completely give up playing the game (Gros et al., 2020, pp. 2-4; Tavormina & Tavormina, 2017, pp. 422-424).

Clinical Assessment

       For this assessment, I am using the Therapist Clinical Assessment/Psychosocial Assessment tools used routinely at Flagstaff Medical Center Behavioral Health Unit in Flagstaff, Arizona, and the PHQ-9 questionnaire because I am familiar with these forms.  The PHQ-9 is used to screen clients for symptoms of depression and has a proven track record of accuracy and reliability.  Clients who fill out the form are scored based on their responses.  Scores equal to or greater than 10 can indicate a depressive disorder (American Psychological Association, 2020, para. 1-2).

       The client, Jeremy Reed, presents as withdrawn with a flat affect and a disheveled appearance.  His thought processes are linear and logical with organized thinking.  He is alert and oriented.  His speech is coherent and clear, but he is delayed in his responses.  His psychomotor activity appears normal, but he makes poor eye contact.  His thought content is realistic, but he exhibits poor insight into his excessive video game activity even though his memory and judgment are within normal limits.  He denies hearing voices, having hallucinations, or experiencing extreme mood swings.

       Jeremy denies any current suicidal and homicidal ideation.  He denies any actual self-harm or harm to others.  He denies any thoughts of suicide/homicide in the past or making any gestures or threats of violence against others.

       The client denies any history of sexual, verbal, emotional, or physical abuse.  He does not recall witnessing any extreme acts of violence.  He reports that his parents argue sometimes but always resolve their differences amicably.  He is an only child and has no half-siblings or step-siblings.

       Jeremy confirms that he is a healthy heterosexual male with little sexual experience.  He is currently single and not sexually active.  Although he would like to have a girlfriend, he believes it would interfere even more with his studies.

       The client says he is a nominal Protestant and only attends church at Christmas and Easter.  He has experimented with yoga and meditation in the past to live a healthier lifestyle.  He does not routinely pray or engage in spiritual practices.

       Jeremy currently lives on campus in a dorm and has no housing needs.  He is unemployed at the moment but worked part-time at Burger King in high school.  He is studying biology and plans a career as a biologist.  Since he has a full-ride scholarship to the university, his parents help out with his expenses.  He says he does not want to lose his scholarship or disappoint his parents.

       The client has no military experience and no legal difficulties.  He has never been arrested or suspended from school. As far as he knows, his developmental history was normal.

       Jeremy says he played basketball in high school and still enjoys playing when he can find the time and other players.  He has no significant medical history, no known allergies, and takes no prescribed medications. The client appears well-nourished and physically fit.  His tonsils were removed at age 10.  He broke his arm when he fell off his bike at age 12.  He is already registered with the university’s student health services.  Currently, he reports staying up late playing video games, feeling tired the next day, and eating too much junk food.  He says he lacks the motivation and concentration to study.

       The client denies any mental health history.  He states that his depression and anxiety began a couple of months ago when he began his freshman year of college.  This is his first time living away from home, and he is having trouble adjusting to university life, living with a roommate, and being away from his family.  He is carrying a full load of credits and feels stressed out and overwhelmed by all the homework, expectations, and pressure.

       Jeremy believes his paternal grandfather was a heavy smoker and alcohol drinker.  His father drinks alcohol occasionally, mostly on holidays.  His mother takes Vistaril occasionally for anxiety.  He admits to trying cannabis twice but did not like it.  He denies all other substance use except alcohol, which he uses occasionally on the weekends.  His only source of caffeine is Coca-Cola.

       The client states that his main form of recreation right now is playing Internet video games, i.e., World of Warcraft.  He wants to cut back and resume his studying, but he derives a lot of satisfaction from the game and does not want to stop playing the game completely.  He admits that he loses track of time while on the game.  He is not fully motivated to quit.

       Jeremy describes his strengths as being goal-oriented and a good student.  He is strongly motivated to complete his college degree and start work as a biologist.  He describes his weaknesses as being too introverted and serious.  He believes he has poor coping skills when it comes to stress.  He wants help overcoming his depression and anxiety but says he is not interested in taking medication.  Although he does not see playing video games as a serious problem, he admits that it has already affected his grades and academic standing.  His PHQ-9 score is 13, with 4 boxes checked in the gray areas.  His score indicates moderate depression that is making it difficult for him to function at his normal baseline (American Psychological Association, 2020, para. 1-3).

Probable Diagnoses and Treatment Plan

Probable Diagnoses

Problem #1 – Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood (ICD Code   F43.23) ( ICD-10 Coded, 2022, para. 1)          

       Adjustment disorder occurs when a person is faced with a stressful life situation, such as going away to school.  Jeremy describes having a difficult time adjusting to university life and being away from home.  He has no prior history of depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues.  His symptoms appeared less than three months ago after arriving on campus for his freshman year, meeting the DSM-V criteria.  He reports increasing depression and anxiety that are affecting his ability to cope with his new situation.  If Jeremy agrees with the assessment and treatment plan, his prognosis looks good. (American Psychiatric Association, 2015, pp. 120-121; Kenardy, 2014, para. 1-3; Mayo Clinic, 2023, para. 1-13).

Problem #2 – Internet Gaming Disorder (no ICD code until ICD-11) ( Petry et al., 2015, pp. 1,7)

       Internet gaming disorder (IGD) appears in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5^th Edition (DSM-V) in Section III under the heading of “Conditions for Further Study.”  The DSM-V provides criteria for IGD that closely align with the criteria for other addictive disorders, like substance use disorder and gambling disorder.  Clients who meet at least five of the criteria could be considered suffering from or at high risk for Internet gaming disorder (Petry et al., 2015, pp. 1-5).

       Jeremy has been playing Internet video games to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.  He has been spending increasing amounts of time playing video games and spending less time sleeping and studying.  As a result, his academic performance has declined, and he risks losing his full-ride scholarship.  Currently, Jeremy meets six of the criteria on the DSM-V list of criteria: preoccupation, tolerance, neglecting other activities, escapism, and risking losing his educational opportunities.  He has only been playing for a couple of months and is not fully motivated to quit, even though he recognizes that he needs to make some changes in his life.  If he agrees with the assessment and treatment plan, however, his prognosis looks good (Petry et al., 2015, pp. 2-3).                                           

Treatment Plan

Goals and Objective

       Jeremy’s primary concern is protecting his full-ride scholarship and earning his biology degree.  His second goal is to learn new coping skills to deal with his depression, anxiety, and stress.  His third goal is to achieve more balance in his life between studying and recreation.  His fourth goal is to reduce his time playing video games and participate in more physical activities, like basketball.  Overall, the client’s objective is to return to his normal baseline status before going away to college.  He wants the same self-confidence and control over his life that he had before.  He wants to regain his motivation and commitment to studying and succeeding in school.  He wants a positive outcome that will help him grow as a person and mature into adulthood.

Action Plan

       Psychotherapy is the primary evidence-based treatment for both adjustment disorder and Internet gaming disorder (IGD).  The client will benefit from weekly psychotherapy sessions to discuss how and why leaving home and starting college has made such a huge impact on his well-being, including his use of video games to relieve stress.  If psychotherapy is insufficient to stabilize the client, a course of medication may be helpful.  The client, however, is unwilling to try medication at this time (American Psychiatric Association, 2015, pp. 63, 121; Gros et al., 2020, p. 15; Kenardy, 2014, para. 4, 6-7, 10; Mayo Clinic, 2023, para. 22-23; Petry et al., 2015, p. 6; Tavormina & Tavormina, 2017, p. 424; Torres-Rodriguez et al., 2017, pp. 1003, 1005-1006, 1010-1011).

Interventions

       Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in helping clients to recognize and re-frame harmful patterns of thought and behavior.  The client will be referred to a therapist who is proficient in CBT since it has been proven successful in treating both adjustment disorder and IGD.  I will encourage the client to continue seeing me on a weekly basis at the clinic for one-to-one motivational and support counseling and provide him with opportunities to participate in clinical workshops that will help him to learn new skills in stress management, anger management, relaxation activities, mindfulness and resilience training, and goal-focused solutions.  With Jeremy’s cooperation, we will devise a schedule that maps out times for study, recreation, and playing video games that supports his class schedule and enhances his goals and objective.  I will suggest that he join a campus support group for new students.  I will refer him to mental health peer support services for monitoring and help.  If the client requires medication, I will refer him to a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner for evaluation and prescriptions. 

I will get consent from the client to speak to his parents, make them aware of the situation, and offer them support.  Since Jeremy is in a vulnerable age group, he needs intense support to get through this temporary setback.  Otherwise, this could turn into an ongoing issue (American Psychiatric Association, 2015, pp. 63, 121; Gros et al., 2020, p. 15; Kenardy, 2014, para. 4, 6-7, 10; Mayo Clinic, 2023, para. 22-23; Petry et al., 2015, p. 6; Tavormina & Tavormina, 2017, p. 424; Torres-Rodriguez et al., 2017, pp. 1003, 1005-1006, 1010-1011).

Challenges

       Since Jeremy is highly motivated to protect his full-ride scholarship and complete his degree, his prognosis is good as long as he follows the treatment plan.  Challenges include ongoing depression, anxiety, and stress that may undermine his motivation, time constraints due to carrying a full load, and relapsing on playing video games.  I will provide him with literature and books that will help him to understand the biological, neurological, and psychological nature of his problems.  This may pique his interest as a biology student and keep him involved in his therapy.  I will suggest that he drop any extra credits that he is taking.  The client will be given positive encouragement and reinforcement to stick to his goals.  I will work with his assigned  peer support person to monitor his progress and participation.

Conclusion

       Eighteen-year-old Jeremy Reed was referred to my office for depression, anxiety, and excessive playing of video games by his academic advisor.  Jeremy’s symptoms began when he moved into the campus dorm to start his freshman year of college a few months ago.  Since then, he has been spending more time playing video games and less time studying.  His academic performance has suffered, putting his full-ride scholarship at risk.

       This client is positive for symptoms of adjustment disorder and Internet gaming disorder.  His age makes him a high risk for long-term mental health issues, including suicide, if he does not participate in treatment.  If he cannot control, reduce, or eliminate his video game activity, he will continue to decline academically, which will impact other areas of his life (Kenardy, 2014, para. 2).

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2015). Understanding mental disorders: Your guide to

       dsm-5. Washington: American Psychiatric Publishing.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Patient health questionnaire. American

       psychological association. Retrieved from

       http://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/practice-settings/assessment/tools/

       patient-health.

Gros, L., Debue, N., Lete, J., van de Leemput, C. (2020). Video game addiction and emotional

       states: Possible confusion between pleasure and happiness. Frontiers in psychology.

       doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02894.

ICD-10 Coded. (2022). ICD-10-cm code f43.23. ICD-10 coded. Retrieved from

       http://www.icd10coded.com/cm/F43.23/

Kenardy, J. (2014). Treatment guidance for common mental health disorders: Adjustment

       disorder. Australian psychological society inpsych 2014, 36(5). Retrieved from

       http://www.psychology.org.au/inpsych/2014/october/kenardy.

Mayo Staff Writers. (2023). Adjustment disorders. Mayo clinic. Retrieved from

       http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adjustment-disorders/diagnosis-treatment/

       drc-20355230.

Petry, N.M., Rehbein, F., Ko, C., O’Brien, C.P. (2015). Internet gaming disorder in the dsm-5.

       Current psychiatry reports, 17(72). doi: 10.1007/s11920-015-0610-0.

Tavormina, M.G.M., Tavormina, R. (2017). Playing with video games: Going to a new

       addiction. Psychiatria danubina, 29(3), 422-426.

Torres-Rodriguez, A., Griffiths, M.D., Carbonell, X. (2017). The treatment of internet gaming

       disorder: A brief overview of the pipatic program. International journal of mental health

       addiction. doi: 10.1007/s11469-017-9825-0.  

~

Dawn Pisturino, RN

February 19, 2023; March 24, 2023

Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

“Just Me and the Clock” on Masticadores USA

(Photo by Lucian Alexe on Unsplash)

I want to thank Barbara Harris Leonhard and her staff for publishing my poem, Just Me and the Clock, today on Masticadores USA. I hope you will visit them and show them your support. Thank you!

Just Me and the Clock

by Dawn Pisturino

Long hours of night creep slowly by.

Tick. . . Tick. . . Tick. . . Tick. . .

The clock clangs one.

I am utterly alone.

Just me and the clock.

Tock. . . Tock. . . Tock. . . Tock. . .

Please read the rest of my poem here.

Enjoy!

Thank you!

Dawn Pisturino

March 21, 2023

Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

The Healing Power of Music

(Photo by Dark Rider on Unsplash)

The Healing Power of Music

by Dawn Pisturino

Both Aristotle and Plato commented on the healing power of music. But it was not until the 20th century that the idea of music therapy began to take hold.

Music therapists are trained healthcare professionals who utilize music to encourage wellness, healing, and a better quality of life. They work in psychiatric facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, hospice programs, schools, and other organizations.

People with mental illness benefit from the influence that music has over mood and emotions. In the hospital setting, music has been used to reduce pain and suffering, relieve tension, and promote sleep.  Nursing homes employ music therapists to keep senior citizens active and socially involved. Music has been used in hospice programs to provide comfort, relaxation, and a better quality of life for people who are terminally ill. Music therapy is used in special learning programs at schools to improve communication and coordination skills.

Research has shown that music can improve depression and insomnia, reduce blood pressure, lower respiration and heart rates, and alleviate nausea caused by chemotherapy.

Children who take music lessons tend to have higher IQ scores and do better in school. In the home, music is a valuable tool for reducing stress, engaging in physical exercise, and creating a more positive environment. Employers have found that background music in the workplace can help reduce stress among employees.

Listening to the sounds of nature can also be therapeutic. Birds singing, waves crashing on the beach, a babbling brook, the wind blowing playfully through wind chimes, whale songs, the purring of a cat — these all have the power to soothe frazzled nerves and fill us with a sense of comfort and joy.

Dawn Pisturino

April 2, 2007; March 13, 2023

Copyright 2007-2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Published in The Kingman Daily Miner, April 24, 2007.

[Please note that I will not be posting again until Friday]





Electronic Addictions, Las Vegas Style

(Photo by Nathana Rebouças on Unsplash)

When people go into a casino, they are mesmerized by the colors, bright lights, and dinging bells of slot machines that, nowadays, look suspiciously like video games. In fact, the video game craze has influenced what kinds of games casinos offer to their customers. The live-action table games are slowly being replaced with interactive video games. Not only is this cost-effective for casinos, but machines can be manipulated to take more of the customer’s money.

But why are people so attracted to the Las Vegas type of bells and whistles that they find in casinos, amusement parks, and video arcades? Why are they mesmerized by these same effects on their video games, computers, and smartphones? Are consumers being trained to use electronic devices like toys – and not just tools for business and communication?

According to an article posted on the Psychology Today website, “the typical American spends about 1460 hours per year on their smartphone” (Brooks, 2019, para. 2). The author attributes this behavior to the variable ratio reinforcement schedule, a conditioning process that draws users over and over again to their electronic devices, and in particular, video games. With the right psychological rewards in place, users can quickly become hooked (Brooks, 2019, para. 3).

In a variable ratio reinforcement schedule, rewards are delivered randomly so that the electronic device user has to use the device more and more in order to get the psychological reward. If the user stops using the device, he gets no reward. But if he keeps going, the reward will eventually be delivered, hooking the user even more (Brooks, 2019, para. 4-5).

Why does this happen? Dopamine is released by the brain when the reward system is activated. A random reward reinforces the reward system further, leading the electronic device user to unconsciously look for the stimulus that delivers the reward (Brooks, 2019, para. 7).

The anticipation and expectation of reward entice the device user to keep using the device and receiving the reward once more . . . over and over again . . . until the user has lost control over his own impulses. Unless the user has strong sales resistance and self-discipline, he may find himself glued to his device, drawn there like a bee to honey. This is why the mental health diagnosis of impulse control has become so pertinent to the abuse and overuse of electronic devices (Brooks, 2019, para. 8).

Reference

Brooks, M. (2019). The “vegas effect” of our screens. Psychology Today. Retrieved from

       http://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-happy-life/201901/the-vegas-effect-our-screens.

Dawn Pisturino

Thomas Edison State University

January 7, 2023; January 23, 2023

Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Rain – A Poem

(Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash)

Rain

by Dawn Pisturino

Drizzling rain

On the windowpane

Calms my stormy brain,

Bringing sunshine again.

~

My husband and I have both been going stir crazy with the gloomy, rainy weather. Plus, it’s freezing cold!

We welcome the sunshine!

Dawn Pisturino

January 20, 2023

Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Reprise: Lessons from Lewis Carroll

Have you ever felt like Alice falling down the rabbit hole? It wasn’t until she hit rock bottom that she found the tools to cope with her environment.

Or what about the White Rabbit? His obsession with time makes him sound like a classic Type A personality.

We all know people who act as if they are running a marathon race against Time. The most familiar thing out of their mouths is, “I’m busy. I don’t have time. Not right now. Good grief, I have to be somewhere in five minutes!”

Like the Red Queen, they are always running in place and getting nowhere fast. And no matter how hard they try to catch up, they never will. And no matter how much we try to convince them to slow down, they never will—until they suffer a heart attack or some other misfortune.

Appearing and disappearing like the Cheshire cat, they smile smugly and proudly tell us how terribly important they are; but they may as well be saying, “We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”

“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.

“You must be,” said the Cat,” or you wouldn’t have come here.”

Alice had many curious adventures in Wonderland, but even she had her limits. When she finally got tired of the Queen of Hearts screaming, “Off with their heads!” and all the other zany, madcap characters, she stood up and cried, “I can’t stand this any longer!”

And with one pull of the tablecloth, she was back home again with her beloved kitten Dinah.

The wacky world of Lewis Carroll can be seen as a reflection of our own crazy world. And, just like Alice, we sometimes have to pull ourselves in many directions to adapt to our environment. But when we can no longer tolerate living in this way, it’s time to stand up and shout, “Enough is enough!”

(White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane)

Dawn Pisturino

2007; January 18, 2023

Published in The Kingman Daily Miner, September 11, 2007.

Copyright 2007-2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.





Poetry Book Reviews: Fritzinie Lavoile and Khaya Ronkainen

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Ruminative Words by Fritzinie Lavoile (2022). Available on Amazon.com.

Fritzinie is a young Haitian poet whose poetry reflects wisdom beyond her years. Her verses are tender, insightful, beautiful, and filled with hope. Though young in years, she freely shares her thoughts, emotions, and experiences on various topics: love, heartache, disappointment, betrayal, survival, racism, and the deep and abiding love and support found within her own family and faith. Her poetry is a vehicle for helping others find their “safe space” and become their own “safety net.”

From the very first poem in the collection, I was hooked:

“May our love be like the branches on a tree . . .

which not even the strongest of winds could break.

May our love rise above obstacles . . .

that block its path towards the light.

May our love stretch its every inch

as it reaches for life.”

Surviving an earthquake, she writes:

“Sometimes I feel like I am still that six-year-old girl in

Haiti.

In the middle of an earthquake.

Stuck under that brick wall.

Everyone tramping on top of me

yearning to survive,

deafened to my cries.”

In spite of difficulties and pain, she perseveres:

“I press my eyes

begging for tomorrow to come.

The night insists on being a little longer

teaching me the importance of longing.

Of being patient.”

Although I do not know Fritzinie personally, I feel a connection to her after reading her lovely collection of poems. Her strength and resilience shine through her words, giving me hope that even the darkest days will still produce young poets with the energy to shine through the clouds and write to inspire and uplift those around them.

Website: http://www.ruminativewords.com

The Sheltering by Khaya Ronkainen (2022). Available on Amazon.com.

Khaya is a South African poet living in Finland. Her impressive collection of poems is written with thoughtful consideration, deep emotion, and keen observation of the world around her.  Written during the COVID-19 pandemic, she addresses issues like depression, isolation, grief, friendship, and family. Her experience with the pandemic and lockdown reflects the experience of so many other people who suddenly found themselves suffering in silence and alienation: Why did this happen? Are we doing the right thing? Will it ever end? Will life return to normal? What is the end result of such a dystopian event? Finally, leaving the shelter of home prompted new concerns: Is the world a better place? Are we better people now? Did we learn anything new? Will it happen again?

“The world is already divided

No sooner have we all agreed

that this pandemic knows no colour

than we witness reality

Life is cheap for those who can afford

The common enemy encircles

gathering strength, widening the gap

between the haves and have-nots

Inertia and action, fraternal twins

whose distinction seems unimportant

yet change hangs in the balance”

Expressing herself through poetry helped Khaya get through the pandemic. Yet, while humans sheltered at home, nature continued its orderly routine. Flowers still bloomed. Birds still warbled. The earth still turned. And when that final autumn came before the restrictions were lifted, leaves still burned with color and hope:

“Nothing depicts autumn like October’s blazing

sun before it dips beneath the horizon. While

I toast marshmallows in the evenings and

drink apple cider sangria deep into the night, I

acknowledge you are a multifaceted season of

the soul. A season to dance with things I

cannot control and reclaim freedom. I’ll

indulge and celebrate on your good days.

Because I cannot stop leaves from falling.”

We could not stop the pandemic, but we endured. What we choose to do with that is up to us. The world is still a beautiful place:

“A blue tit puffed up with boldness

reminds of its presence

and calm outlasts

the storm.”

Website: http://www.khayaronkainen.fi

~

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today!

~

Dawn Pisturino

January 16, 2023

Copyright 2022-2023 Fritzinie Lavoile. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2022-2023 Khaya Ronkainen. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Poetry Book Reviews: Paula Light and Lamittan Minsah

(Photo by Arash Asghari on Unsplash)

Monochrome: Poetry from the Ashes by Paula Light (2018). Available on Amazon.com.

Paula is a California poet whose poetry collection is a delight to read. She writes with a gentle hand. Her poems are like butterflies which attract us with rich colors, feather-weight movements, velvety textures, and delicate wings. She explores the nature of love, loss, sadness, and acceptance with profound understanding and peace. At the same time, she has a sharp wit and approaches life with humor and positivity. When you read her WordPress blog, you will experience both sides of this very talented woman.

“Immersed in words,

Steamed in verse,

Lovesongs burning up my dreams . . .

It must be true:

I still hold

A torch for you . . .”

And from her poem, Grace:

“The night sky knows my sorrow:

An ice wind screams your name,

While thunder booms in horror

And lightning damns this place.

Then softly comes the music;

Gently falls the rainsong;

Rhythms drip down smoothly,

And the moon is bathed in grace.”

Website: Light Motifs

Let’s Talk Bride: A Poetry Collection by Lamittan Minsah (2020). Available on Amazon.com.

Lamittan is a Kenyan poet who has written a collection of poems about a very special person in his life, Apostle Darlan Rukih, also known as the Bride of the Lamb, a minister in the Bride of the Lamb Ministries International.

This book has a fascinating backstory. Darlan Rukih was born a hermaphrodite (someone who is born with both male and female genitalia and characteristics, also known as an intersex person). Since this condition is not accepted in Kenyan culture, Rukih grew up isolated, alienated, and rejected by others. But faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ helped Rukih to overcome this disability and to serve by helping others. Rukih first married a woman and was blessed with a son. After that relationship failed, Rukih dated a man and got pregnant. Blessed with two children, Rukih is devoted to helping children in need in Kenya. Reference: Mpasho website.

Lamittan’s admiration for the Bride of the Lamb knows no bounds in this fine collection of poems which praise Rukih, God, and His son, Jesus Christ. Lamittan expresses both his joy and his sorrow in these poems:

“There’s beauty walking in Africa,

Traversing a lonely desert –

A damsel formed by the maker

Out of the ribs of Adam, long ago.

There is beauty

Such as one that never was before.”

~

“They nailed our Lord by force.

The heavens roared,

His pain had reached God,

And for a moment,

Darkness covered the firmament

And hid God’s gaze from his son . . .”

Follow Lamittan Minsah on WordPress to read more of his poetry and stories and to learn more about Kenyan culture. His business site, Laminsa Indies, encourages and aids “budding writers, musicians, actors/actresses, self-publishers, photographers, drawing artists, dancers and many other talents from the creative industry.” Check it out!

Website: Laminsa Indies

~

Dawn Pisturino

November 21, 2022

Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Poetry Book Reviews: Barbara Harris Leonhard and River Dixon

(Photo by Hayley Maxwell on Unsplash)

Three-Penny Memories: A Poetic Memoir by Barbara Harris Leonhard (2022).

       Available on Amazon.com.

Barbara is a retired English teacher (ESL) whose award-winning work has appeared on Spillwords, MasticadoresUSA, and other poetry sites and magazines. Most recently, her poetry appeared in Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women (2022), edited by Gabriela Marie Milton, and a #1 Amazon Bestseller. She currently serves as the editor of MasticadoresUSA.

Penned with heart-felt love, devotion, and pain, this memoir is an honest family portrait that mirrors both the mother and the daughter. The bond between mother and daughter is complex, but Barbara beautifully describes both the comfortable and uncomfortable sides of this relationship. Anybody who has cared for a parent suffering from Alzheimer’s, will relate to Barbara’s experience. Anybody who has missed out on motherhood and lost a child, will find Barbara’s story deeply moving. But there is no self-pity here. She has written about her life with honesty and compassion. She has experienced trauma and heartbreak. But she accepts what life brings and looks hopefully to the future instead of staying shackled to the past. She presents herself as strong, determined, and willing to learn from life’s lessons. She has written a remarkable collection of poems that are powerful in their very simplicity. Whatever trauma and pain you have endured, her poems will edify and uplift you in a positive way. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

In writing about her miscarried child, she says:

“You left my broken womb

as the bloody remains of what

was never to come. I still feel you

in the waves, the flow

of my sacral river – your tears?

Your fears I’ve abandoned you?

No, Honey. No! I’ll never forget you.”

Finally, her experiences with encephalitis and her mother’s Alzheimer’s:

“Not enough that I am

the spitting image of Mom

and her namesake.

We both experienced

a brain injury. The encephalitis

burned away my young memories;

       Alzheimer’s, her short-term ones.”

Barbara has been nominated for a Pushcart award for her poem, Mom and I Play Lassos with Our Hysterectomy Scars, a deeply provocative and sensitive poem which is included in this collection.

Website: Extraordinary Sunshine Weaver

Lost in the Hours: A Poetry Collection by River Dixon (2020). Available on Amazon.com.

River is a multi-talented poet, fiction writer, and publisher at Potter’s Grove Press. His fiction leans toward the dark side. But his poetry is honest, raw, straight-shooting, and direct. The first thing you come to realize when you read his poems is that River is a realist, not an idealist. There are few hearts and flowers here. He writes with power, intelligence, profound understanding, and articulate expression. He shares a healthy cynicism about life and the world in general. I like his poetry because he says what many of us are only thinking. He’s not afraid to criticize the status quo:

“While you drown in a shallow pool

Of only three inches of self-worth

They taught you well

How to hold your own head under

And convince you of rainbows

While they blot out the stars

One by one . . .”

His works are also available from Potter’s Grove Press, along with other avant-garde authors.

Websites: The Stories In-Between

                 Potter’s Grove Press

~

Dawn Pisturino

November 19, 2022

Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

“The Girl on the Bus” on Spillwords

(Photo from Spillwords)

I’m pleased and honored to announce that my poem, The Girl on the Bus, has been published today on Spillwords. I want to thank Dagmara K. and the staff at Spillwords for publishing it. Please visit Spillwords and show them your support. Thanks!

The Girl on the Bus

by Dawn Pisturino

The bus driver watched you in the mirror,

His eyes wide with fear,

When you stood up in the middle of the bus,

Crying like a terrified child.

Passengers waited with bated breath,

Wondering what you would do.

The sharpness of your pain . . .

Please visit Spillwords here to read the rest. Thank you so much!

Have a beautiful day!

Dawn Pisturino

November 17, 2022

Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.