mental health

Trauma From The Perspective of a Stubborn Survivor Who Fell Down The Rabbit Hole

Everything by The Paltry Sum: Detroit RichardsJune 27, 2023June 27, 2023

Evaporation

Everything by The Paltry Sum: Detroit RichardsJanuary 17, 2023January 17, 2023

Existential Road Rash/I Ain’t Depressed, Doc

Everything by The Paltry Sum: Detroit RichardsJanuary 15, 2023January 16, 2023

Writing the Past by The Paltry Sum: Detroit RichardsApril 22, 2021April 22, 2021

I left home after my father strangled me, wrapped his hands around my neck after I asked to go out to watch a movie. I didn’t ask for money, I had a weekend job, I just wanted to go out with my friend. Let’s call her Naomi. Naomi was a sweet girl from a nice […]

Everything by The Paltry Sum: Detroit RichardsApril 16, 2021April 16, 2021

It is a wonder any of us are sane

I make snap judgements about people by the songs they write. I know for a fact I would dislike Donovan on a personal level – irritating little Pixie, that Lou Reed would end up being my snarky big brother and Janis Joplin and I would have painted the town various shades of crimson, before I […]

Everything by The Paltry Sum: Detroit RichardsApril 15, 2021April 15, 2021

Anxiety

I am scared most of the time. I am scared of other people, their reactions, and the ways they can hurt me. I am scared of hurting other’s feelings, but some people don’t seem scared of hurting mine. I am scared of my ex husband. I am scared of the future. I am scared of […]

Everything by The Paltry Sum: Detroit RichardsApril 9, 2021April 9, 2021

What it is like to be scared all the time

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t scared. I am scared most of the time. In the camper, I was scared of cops, of doors being knocked on by people telling us to move on if we were boondocking, or else random people who would seek to disturb my peace, of my husband finding […]

Everything by The Paltry Sum: Detroit RichardsApril 8, 2021April 8, 2021

I am not crazy: I am traumatized

I have ptsd, at least I presume I do. No one gives enough of a shit to offer me an evaluation, and I will be absolutely honest here, I will not touch antidepressants ever again – they really don’t do anything but make me worse, and I have no interest in valium or xanax or […]

Everything by The Paltry Sum: Detroit RichardsMarch 11, 2021March 12, 2021

No, I will not be quiet.

I’m afraid I am not the right woman for this job, this work of writing, of a little anti domestic violence awareness. You see I am not quiet, I have no interest in making other people feel comfortable. I will speak my mind and I do it loudly and firmly. I will not be swayed […]