Moving the mask, adjust to function, managing..

Man asked 'How's the depression?' and then quickly said 'I don't really want you to slip into a phase'  . It is true that people could be scared that reasonably seeming functional human beings could trip out, break down, cry all over the place and just become really difficult to handle.. so things have to be handled gently with people who have disclosed they are mad.

I tried to explain that really and truly there are no deep phases, just times which might be triggered by various things when it might become harder to mask things or to function. Other times of course it is easier.

A lesson I have learned is to not pretend with anyone and also to know when people might be bored or bothered so as to gently say.. let's move the conversation on because you don't really want to know.

One thing with learning to move the mask is to cut through crap and try to work on being honest without causing harm in the communications.

People have asked 'what do you do?" and fumbling for an answer could consume energy.

The answer which would not do well at a cocktail party or interview is .. I manage mental health, try to get through every moment of time and to be useful and find ways to ensure that I could earn money to sustain myself as I manage mental health, try to get through every moment of time and be useful and find ways to ensure that I earn money ....


Concentration is an issue some days. A man I know said he is meditating every day and it is working out for him. 

Recently, physical exercise is easier some days than other days. There are mind body connections and the mind controls how much the body does and does not do. Acceptance is key as time moves like . 

Moving when you do not want to move. Getting up when you want to lie down. Talking to people when you do not feel like talking to anyone. Reading when you don't think you should be reading. Celebrating nurturing situations and reflecting on those which seem negative and not bothering too much with them.

And laughing, laughing is important.. not the laughter which comes from cynicism or masking pain but laughter which comes from a bit of detachment and working out the absurdity of things .

And not really answering the question 'what do you do?"


Comments

  1. Marie WoodknotOctober 25, 2015 at 2:17 PM

    Hope you feel better.

    I am glad I have hypomania to balance things out. Also I know I this is for a short duration.

    I am quietly very proud of myself because this is the longest I have ever worked in an organisation in my entire life. I am over my old record by five months.

    But the merger means that I have to change my approach I think,.. didn't anticipate that,.. but have begun to lay that cover.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Turpentine mango madness

Image
Some of the mango was stuck on the stubble around my mouth. I looked at the mirror, a bit of shame because I had just collected an invitation from a well dressed guy and I wonder how I must have looked to him.. look at dis big man .. he cyan eat mango good . Thing is.. wiping off mango from stubble is difficult.. and the casual swipe with a hand which might have some juice is also useless. The turpentine mango is useless when it is green - it tastes awful, like turpentine.  Mother Nature works a miracle because the ripe one though, is sweet, juicy, no strings and no turpentine taste. And the colours on the skins are bright yellow/orange/pink/purple/red shades that are probably meant to draw all species of mango lovers. The trouble with turpentine is that you cannot pick it green or 'turnin' ' to ripen like say how they do it with Spice mangoes.  You have to leave on the tree until there is some point.. when there is no taste of turpentine. So you look at the m...
Read more

My experience with depression - Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar

Image
(The University of Guyana held Turkeyne & Tain Talks 2 on Monday 12 September, 2016 on Suicide Prevention . Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar made a presentation based on her experience. This is the text of the presentation) by Raquel Thomas-Caesar I am not an expert on the issue of Suicide and Depression but this is my personal journey dealing with such issues. I have never spoken publicly about this at such a forum and I hope that it serves to help others even if only a small way- Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar South East London,  June 9, 1995 As I sit under the tree, hidden from all eyes…I wait….to go. I wait to die. Then it hits me…OMG. I really don’t want to die. What have I done? My head is swinging, fuzzy, I can hardly walk. But I barely make it up and up the hill…I see two young black men in the distance…they come towards me, I could only imagine they thought I was on drugs..I beg for help. My Angels.  I wake up in the hospital. This was me- 21 years ago.  In a fore...
Read more

Going into the unknown at the Indigenous Heritage Exhibtion 2024

Image
 (The Moving Circle of Artists' work is presented in the 2024 Indigenous Heritage Exhibition at Castellani House until 30 September, 2024. ) There was no print catalogue available. The QR code image was around, but I did not have the technology to use the QR code even with assistance of the attendants. I hope the organisers will put labels on the work items for viewers who cannot access the QR code. I apologise to the artists whose work I reference without the proper attributions Going into the unknown Place hot and I feeling a lil jumpy despite the yoga routine earlier in the day. Some unexpected challenges which pile up and then come in to chill out in the gallery and find that I have to do guess work on the art and so. Switch my mind, thinking yeah, go into the unknown.  NO titles to guide you.  Friends on social media had shared pictures of some of the most striking pieces so there is a familiarity in a way. And a helpful attendant shows the PDF on his phone to che...
Read more