Mental Illness

If we are worried about something, obsessing over it, fearing it, and dreading negative outcomes regarding it, we are using our imaginations to build this something into a much larger problem than it may in fact be.  We make it a barrier to be avoided rather than a challenge to be faced and overcome.  It is much more dangerous to ourselves to continually avoid and put off facing our fears.  Trying, failing or succeeding, and reflecting on the outcome afterward, then perhaps even trying again, are necessary steps in learning.  Remember that we don't have to solve a problem all at once or have an immediate definitive solution.  But we do need to make an effort.  This effort does not need to define us, as lots of motivational-types encourage us to believe.  We don't want to lose our ability to remain aloof!  Stay cool, little ones.  Emotion can hinder rational thought and feed the power of fear; however, emotion can also be used in tandem with rational thought and provide our spirit a shield or armour, or wings, or whatever it is we need to face our challenges.

On another related note, I recently wrote the following to an acquaintance during a pretty low ebb in mood.  Seems fitting to throw it into the mix here:

Sometimes when I feel sick (in the head) it's better to put it out there to an acquaintance rather than someone I'm super close to. 1) there is a fear that I'll drive those few close ones away from me and 2) if you as an acquaintance choose to ignore the reaching-out, I can chalk it up to "ah well, we're not that close and it's obvious I'm a bit off, I can't expect her to understand". Why am I sharing this with you? I don't know, I guess it's part of fighting "the stigma" of mental illness, and seeing my second point (2) above as a cop-out on my part. It's hard to live life in a regular sort of way when the thoughts come at one like this. Swirling self-doubt, and yet I hold down two jobs and struggle along (only from time to time is it a struggle: it's not all bad). Yesterday was tough. And the resources aren't there for the highly functioning. I make my own resources. Thank you for being there, stranger. Please share as you see fit. Maybe it will help others to understand.