boy-girl, girl-girl, boy-boy, long-distance, face-to-face, internet, any combination of the above
click to read SSG’s bio
I am going out on a limb here and I hope that the powers that be (a.k.a. Ruby) are ok with it.
The thing is, we’re a family, right? So, I figured that I should keep my Canvas family* on the know.
I’ve been Team Canvas for… what, two years now. And then there is this other Canvas dude, who joined our lovely family just a couple of months ago. He’s been a bit quiet around here but he has his reasons**.
The funny thing is dude and I…
Wait for it…. Continue reading
I have two drafts posts here on Canvas [okay, I actually have more than two but those two are… particularly difficult]. I’ve been meaning to finish them for a while. I started one back in May and the other one a bit more than a month ago. I tried again just now. Read the first one, couldn’t bring myself to write anything. Closed that tab, went to the other, felt myself being triggered again. Closed that tab too.
Sigh…
So, I’m going to write about something that has been bothering me for a while instead. Continue reading
The first week of The Compassionate Brain series focused on the link between compassion and neuroplasticity of the brain. First let us start with some definitions:
Neuroplasticity: The brain’s ability to change due to environmental changes or training. These changes can be both structural and functional. All events in our lives affect the neuroplasticity of the brain. Just reading this post is changing the neuroplasticity of your brain.
Compassion: A recognition of another’s suffering and a desire to end that suffering. Continue reading
There is a completely free webinar series on compassion and the brain/mind. This is something my pdoc recommended so I decided to check it out. It’s pretty interesting so far, and I’ve decided that I would like to blog the series for those who would like to know the information without sitting through an hour long webinar. Since I am a couple of weeks into the webinar series, I will have to play catchup, but after that it will be a weekly publish. Continue reading
This month’s topic was suggested by the very lovely Laura. She thought discussing how people make good relationships work in spite of their mental illness would be a good topic. In her words, “I know we have some very fortunate souls on our blogroll and on Canvas who do have relationships that work. I would love to hear from them about what makes them work, and how they found their mates, etc.”
You know I usually like to get the ball rolling by discussing my own experience in this arena, no matter how atypical I feel it is. Continue reading
As a person with more than her fair share of mental health problems, I find it really difficult to maintain relationships, mainly friendships (I don’t trust people enough for any other kind!).
I always put this down to perhaps I’m a horrible person. I seem to go through friends like nobodies business and always blame myself when the friendship falls apart.
Since my diagnosis with Borderline Personality Disorder (or Emotional Dysregulation Disorder, whatever you want to call it), researching the illness and the way other sufferers perceive the world has helped me realise that I’m not entirely to blame and it is my point of view of things that is askew. Continue reading
A mother recently asked for my help regarding my personal experiences living with bipolar disorder as well as some hopeful thoughts as though I am some sort of model for recovery.
You see, her daughter has recently been diagnosed with the illness and is having difficulty accepting treatment. Such as blowing off her therapist, resisting medication (while attending appointments and still taking the meds, just met with much resentment). Jordan, the daughter, I have never directly talked to as she is very hesitant to talk to me and has never met or talked to anyone with a mental illness. Continue reading
We all have our own strengths and weaknesses. But no one can deny that having certain mental differences from others presents unique challenges in our lives. In The Life Olympics – Part 1, we began by opening discussion about how our differences present difficulties developing and maintaining friendships.
In this installation, I would like explore relationships. Continue reading
A Canvas Of The Minds 