I Dare You Darlin’

This post was inspired by, and is dedicated to, my very dear friend Ruby.  She has been facing some severe difficulties recently, as described in her post I Am Disabled.  But she isn’t the only Canvas blogger having a very rough time lately.  Lulu, James Claims, and Manic Monday have all hit their own major bumps and dips in life lately, which you can read in their own words, on their own blogs (respectively, As the Pendulum Swings, James Claims, and Manic Monday).

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Be Your Own Advocate

The title of this post doesn’t refer to joining groups whose purpose is to reduce the stigma of a mental health diagnosis, although that’s certainly a wonderful thing to do.  I’m also not referring to shouting about your mental health diagnoses from the rooftops, although God knows I all but will (I think if I literally did it, they would lock me up and I would further ingrain the stereotypes associated with manic-depression).  I’m talking about educating yourself, really learning about all things related to whatever your particular malady happens to be, psychiatric or even physical.

Who’s Feeling Homicidal? I Am, I Am!

Last month, ManicMuses wrote about irritability and how she deals with it in her first post, Irritability – My Special Compass Point.  I have to say that I applaud her for having a plan in place for when this flag is thrown, and I am also incredibly envious, because I rarely visit irritability-land, I go straight from being calm to being filled with murderous rage.

Case in point.  My aunt is in town this week.

I Am Not Entirely Who I Appear To Be

I am also not ready to tell you the gory details of my whole story, not directly nor explicitly, but something is pressing me to do this.  And I can leave it up to all of you to read or not read and judge or not judge and form your own opinions.

I haven’t lied to all of you.  I haven’t pretended to be someone I am not.  I have, however, refrained from directing everyone to a crucial piece of my past and my history.

Stigma? What Stigma?

Yes, everyone.  It’s me.  Again.  Ruby had to jet off to paradise and I promised her I’d pick up the slack while she was away.  Lucky you.  😉

The title of this post may seem a bit odd, or at least it will after you read on and realize that I am not being facetious or sarcastic with it.

So The Things Is, About Triggers –

Any of you reading this possessing a basic grasp of the English language understand the meaning of the word “trigger.”  Like the mechanism with the same name on a gun, when you a hit a trigger with someone you will cause a reaction in them.  It may be major or it may be minor, it may make sense and it may not, you may bear the full force of it, or you may never even be the wiser.

To Out Thyself Or Not To Out Thyself

That is the question.

One of the nice things about having voices across the spectrum, people who have roles in all walks of life – personal and professional – is that we can really get some different input and perspective on the question about being open with our mental health diagnoses.  Is it so wrong to hide it from people?

What Brings Me Here

When Ruby told me about this project, I have to admit I wasn’t very ready to jump in.  It’s been a long time since I blogged.  But the more we talked, and the more she explained to me about what she and Lulu were trying to do with this blog, the more my interest was piqued.

I don’t keep a blog anymore.  I keep a journal, but that’s because I like to keep my thoughts as my own.