Dangerous Thinking

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This is the blog of Dr Iain Bourne, specialist trainer in crisis mental health. It represents no more than occasional, random and personal reflections on all issues on violence, suicde, self-harm, psychosis and trauma – and life! I hope you (friends, colleagues, course participants, clients and people I may never meet) may find the time to contrtibute.

Being Different in Different Places

I’m in Belfast again. In  fact I am in Bristol Airport so often that other travellers are beginning to recognise and talk to me! This time I was stuck in a “Speedy Boarding” Easyjet queue that was slower than the “Slow” queue. I suddenly was aware that my bag was vibrating and had to dis-assemble my whole violence bag – full of weapons and blood soaked clothes to switch off my electric toothbrush – in full public view. Airport security saw nothing – but seemed very interested in selling an elderly, confused person their unique plastic bag for£1.00 – just in case she was about to set up an elaborate chemical laboratory in in the toilet and send us all to kingdom come!

I can recognise that I am about to rant, so I’ll stop now before I become the worst version of angry old man!

Till later!

Filed under: 1, , , ,

The blood is boiling …

Despite my violent antics during training courses and my more mysterious side – I am now genuinely on the warpath! I’m in Trowbridge and although its hot here – the group I’m working with are a pleasant and genuine group of people – it has nothing to do with them. Someone, however,  has crossed me tonight – a bully – and I am on the warpath!

I can feel my fingers tingling, and I know I won’t sleep tonight. Goodness knows what state I’ll be in by tommorrow morning.  Unfortunately (or fortunately – however you see it) I can’t get to this person (people) right now as I’m not in Bristol. I have, however, called them and told them that I’m on my way and I’ll call on them tommorrow when I get back.

While I feel like letting rip, I think the COLD approach may be more effective. These days I tend to scream and shout a lot, causing a lot of fear and flurry. But I recall when I ran St. Elizabeth’s – no one could ever recall me screaming or shouting, but many recalled the coldness of my anger.

It was, as it is now (with my training) all an act.

But now it’s for real and it’s not the time for ranting – that’s what they’re expecting. Instead I’ll let them squirm – say little and stare a lot – and when they’ve backed themselves into a corner, I’ll go for the kill! These guys are way out of their depth!

Listen to me – Gangsta Bourne! Well may be I’m a bit of a scaredy cat – but I they don’t know that and I think I’m a far better actor than them – and this is my business!

And actually, I am angrier and more upset right now than I can recall for a long time.

It leads me on to who could be in danger. No-one, other than those involved,  so most of you are safe. But if someone crossed my path and wouldn’t back of, there might be a war. I think about being in Belfast – most people, even during the Troubles – were probably safer there than they would be in most parts of the UK.  But if you were in the wrong place at the wrong time …

When I go to war – sorry – looking for reconcilliation – tommorrow night, it has to be tactical. I also need to know what I require to withdraw. I can be silent and menacing, but they have to have let out too.

You can catch up with this thrilling next installment – if I’m still alive – tomorrow!

Personally, I hate this stuff, I hate the feeling that hangs around, and I just wish this stuff didn’t have to happen. It’s my business – violence – but but I wish it’d stop and people  could just be left alone to get on with their lives.

Filed under: General, Violence, , , , , , , ,

Being in a Queue

I’m in Belfast again. In  fact I am in Bristol Airport so often that other travellers are beginning to recognise and talk to me! This time I was stuck in a “Speedy Boarding” Easyjet queue that was slower than the “Slow” queue. I suddenly was aware that my bag was vibrating and carefully started to investigate – acutely aware that the same bag mostly contained various weapons and blood-soaked clothes. A blood-stained knife fell out in the process of turning off my electric toothbrush. Smiling profusely and trying not to sound too Iranian I apologised and pushed everything back into my bag (which actually also has bloodstains on the outside).

The man behind me in the queue then starts talkling to me about the length of the queue! He clearly thinks that the knife is not an obvious topic of conversation but that we are kindred spirits because we have a mutual waiting experience.

Actually,  he was South African, as is my mother. So we had a good discussion about SA. It moved onto sport and I realised I had torn loyalties. I am British, but if it comes to supporting England or Scoitland it will always be Scotland (my dad was Scottish) – but actually I probably have more South African blood than anything else. The Lions are in SA right now, but I want them to win. Yet if the Springboks came here – I think I would want them to win … unless they were the favourites in  which case everything changes.

I have a strong feeling about all of this – its just that I don’t know what it is!

Filed under: General, , , , , ,

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