Media Project: Toilet Tissue Roll

                     

For my media project, I was assigned the client Alice. Alice has multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. People with MS might experience a host of issues, including weakness, dysmetria, speech problems, vertigo, diplopia, and pain. Alice has Secondary-Progressive MS. Some characteristics of this type is relapse and remit, but breaks soon stop. Remission is only a little bit better (not back to baseline). In addition to physical symptoms, MS can have profound emotional consequences. For Alice, the MS diagnosis has been difficult to process, causing stress, grief, and generalized anxiety.  She is retired and misses working in her garden and community. In the process of focusing on a client’s physical health, we neglect the emotional health. Emotional health is an essential component overall health and wellness.

 

Alice’s emotional state is interfering with her social participation. After looking up some community resources, I found an MS support group, who gathers for birdwatching twice a week. Alice loves birds and loves nature, so this was a great fit, especially since this might contribute to bringing her garden back to life. Using the toilet tissue roll, I was able to assist Alice in making a bird feeder. This was accomplished by spreading peanut butter on the outside of the roll and covering it with bird seeds. Alice enjoys meeting with the group and appreciates being around others who have a similar diagnosis. She is more willing to leave her home and socialize without the fear of being judged or misunderstood.

 

I enjoyed this project because it forced me to be creative, while considering how to use a toilet tissue role in a therapeutic, goal-directed activity to achieve a goal. A client’s time is valuable and so I wanted to provide an intervention that addresses their health needs and personal interests.