Posted by DaisyM on August 2, 2004, at 20:16:24
In reply to Re: The Experiment Continues, posted by starlight on August 2, 2004, at 11:38:50
>>>But then again, I wouldn't even think of calling unless I was to the point where I was suicidal or needed to be hospitalized. But, I'm a very high functioning person.
<<<I'm sure you didn't mean this the way it sounds to me...kind of like IF you call, you AREN'T high functioning. We could argue the merits of being too high functioning. (gosh, I hear my therapist in my ear again.)
Pushing yourself works for some people. For others, the real work is in slowing down enough to let your feelings catch up with you. I'm sure we all bounce between wishing someone would take care of us so we could "just" take care of what ails us...and other times we are very glad we have responsibilities that force us to get out of bed everyday.
I think I'd like to gently remind you that mental illness, and depression are illnesses...they aren't life choices. Kind of like my husband, with his diabetes. He didn't choose to have it and he takes really good care of himself -- eats the right things, takes his shots and exercises. Most days, he drags himself to work, no matter how bad he feels. BUT, he still has kidney failure that makes him so sick sometimes that it keeps him home from work. He tries not to let illness drive his life, but sometimes he has to give in to it. It isn't as easy as mind over matter.
Starlight, I know you are usually supportive and your questions sincere. And you seem like a really strong articulate person. So, I don't want to come off as scolding, or otherwise overly sensitive. I guess I just think we all need to be careful when we look at how others are dealing with things, because from day to day internal strength varies.
But I completely agree that survival needs can play a strong role in our ability to keep going. The flip side is that crashing is so much worse in these situations that suicide may seem like more of an option. And that worries me.
poster:DaisyM
thread:371026
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040728/msgs/373360.html