Just want to encourage you to jump on over to Philip Dawdy’s blog and read his interview with Tom Wootton, author of The Depression Advantage and The Bipolar Advantage. Some good food for thought. And the whole spiritual stuff he talks about….well….I feel like that sort of transformation is happening to me. A sort of acceptance and maturity finally coming to me in spite of my issues which perhaps will always remain to some degree. I like how he says it’s how we act, and not so much how we feel. What is our behavior? How do we behave in the face of difficult feelings? That seems to be more the measure of good mental health than anything else and I agree.
Depression
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Another quick point –
I think we all need to become aware of the reality that we are okay –
I don’t think the conventional model works well, because it places a person into a false reality –
Scientific proof that they have a brain imbalance, or faulted personality of some kind –
How is a person ever to develop a healthy sense of self, and an appreciation for their own experience, while simultaneously learning to accept this false reality?
I don’t think it can be done – I poke around the conventional sites from time to time – many people who are new to this – thankful for their ‘proper diagnosis’ and ‘treatment’ – finally able to know who they’ve always been – the ‘I am bipolar’ crowd……..
This wears thin I think – after several month, or many years on the psych drugs, and time coming to ‘terms’ with their ‘illness’ they are damaged – deeply injured
It would be far better to help a person accept their own reality, and to learn to embrace it – learn the tools and skills needed to cope with the ‘here and now’ – this is the only place any of us have any lasting peace –
And, I think that in this time of ‘here and now’, we are much more able to deal with the reality of who we are, and what we might become without drugs, and without labels, and with hope – hope in the future can alleviate immediate pain, and the pain can drive us to make changes in the present to give us hope for the future
And, I think it is best accomplished as ‘soberly’ as possible – without the psych drugs – or as we slowly taper.
Duane
I enjoyed the reading interview –
It was insightful – promising.
The word that is used constantly is ‘management’ – How do we possibly go about ‘managing’ our gifts? – the ‘gift’ of life, for instance? Are we not called to do something more with a gift than ‘manage’ it?
I can understand that there is a need to recognize symptoms, but the psychiatric model, and NAMI line is that we need to learn to ‘manage’ our ‘ilness’ –
What about ’embracing’ our ‘experience’?
I really liked the insight here – the call to embrace the greater parts (and pain can be one of the greatest parts – not always pleasant – but great in learning) of our journey – the connection to a spiritual source – a meaning to our pain – very good stuff!
Duane
Keener,
thank you so much for your comment and no you’re not regurgitating. It’s wonderful to hear from someone who doesn’t want to pathologize their weirdness!!
I love the Milligan quote—it’s wonderful!
I don’t believe I’m mentally ill either and neither does my husband, but shoot I’ve had lots of those pesky “symptoms” in my life. Yes, it’s all about reinterpretation and embracing the reality we’ve been blessed with!
cheers to you too!
Hey Gianna
I really enjoyed reading this interview. It blends well with my philosophy about my self. I still see myself as someone who experiences depression and anxiety but I don’t see myself as ill or having mental health problems. I have worked super hard (as have you and many other rejectors of psychatric assumptions) to develop self awareness and coping strategies. Catching it and changing it is the key for me too. Without feeling the depths of despair at time, I would not be the person I am or have had the motivation to understand myself and consider ‘what makes me truly happy. As Spike Milligan said “Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light.”
Of course its not easy at all and the support of others is essential.
I’m probably just regurgitating the points already made lol. But I guess what I’m saying is I agree and I applaud the attitude of ‘I’m me and it’s not a problem’.
As ever I truly wish you wellness.
cheers
keener