Ou est moi?
In case you wondered, I’m still in L.A. Today I’m hoping to see the world-famous Tar Pits and go to an outdoor farmer’s market. I wish this felt more like a real vacation, but I don’t feel truly unencumbered unless I’m by myself. I suppose it’s because socializing can be a bit of an effort. I’m one of those people who needs approval and wants to be liked, which means I try not to have any “off” moments. I also am aware that people know about my mental health problems, and I want to be a good poster child—proving, through my behavior, that it’s possible to be functional and friendly and happy and personable even with a serious mental illness. Even though I still struggle with mood changes and med maintenance, I consider myself in recovery, at least compared to how I used to be. So I feel like wearing a sign around my neck: “Recovery is possible!” What a dork.
I’m hoping to be able to post one more item later, en route, and one more tonight. If you’re on the East Coast, my schedule might be a little annoying. And if I can’t get a wireless signal later, I guess I won’t be able to post much. Oh, and here’s the deal for tomorrow: I’ll be on a plane for most of the day, so the posts will be scarce. But Thursday I’m back full-throttle.
I hope you’ve all had a wonderful or at least bearable few days during this annoyiing Christmas season. Here’s a link (thanks, HS!) to another good NYT article about troubled children to keep you busy.
[When I went to take a photo for this post, something weird happened. Dude, I'm feeling so fragmented.]
liz | 12:22 PM | Uncategorized
LS,
The LaBrea Tarpits are a gas!!! Very enjoyable.
Also, be sure to have a hot dog at Pink’s on LaBrea. It’s mucho famous and legendary. In fact, folklore has it that Orson Welles pulled up there late one night and downed something like 25 dogs at one sitting!!
Dennis
Here is my advice, for what it is worth. For the balance of your vacay, toss the laptop into the Pacific (or unplug the desktop) and enjoy yourself.
“socializing can be a bit of an effort. I’m one of those people who needs approval and wants to be liked, which means I try not to have any “off” moments. I also am aware that people know about my mental health problems, and I want to be a good poster child—proving, through my behavior, that it’s possible to be functional and friendly and happy and personable even with a serious mental illness. Even though I still struggle with mood changes and med maintenance, I consider myself in recovery, at least compared to how I used to be”
I feel ya, I was thinking about that today as I snuggled alone in my bed all day. How medication has improved my life and how I still have symptoms, but at least they are tolerable (most of the time) to myself and those close to me. For years I went unchecked, taking meds when and if I wanted, visiting various hospitals, angering and confusing my family. Basically a “tragic mess”, now I’m just quirky with good and bad days. And if it never gets any better than this, I’ll be okay with that too, because like you, I’m in recovery, I take it seriuosly. Well not all the time, I like to laugh at myself when I can.
I’ve seen a picture like that before. Reminds me of the two sides of manic depression.
my husband suffers from bi-polar sks manic depression- and well I’ve worked in the field of MH for oh, about 8yrs…it’s soooo hard to deal when it’s someone you love as opposed to “work”…you have given me hope- that recovery may be possible for my husband if he does as you do-meds- treatment etc. htank god for NAMI
I just like to say that your website is absoulutely brilliant!!! Do you think my sites too brilliant
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