mental health awareness month
You know I am a fan of synchronicities and yet another struck me recently. I had it in mind to write down something similar this morning, and when I opened my daily reading, this was the quote that I was met with:
"That's why the philosophers warn us not to be satisfied with mere learning, but to add practice and then training. For as time passes we forget what we learned and end up doing the opposite, and hold opinions the opposite of what we should." - Epictetus, DISCOURSES
I have been committed to this habit and re-learning now for
a few years and have found it extremely beneficial, both for myself and for my loved
ones. Reading "stoic" thought in combination with very, very flowery
and spiritual content, has provided me an incredible refresh on the everyday
and has provided a greater purpose in mundane things. I will be the first to
say that we must commit to learning as a lifetime obligation and I am doing my
best to continue doing just that.
Sometimes, I think that includes working a bit backwards.
This month, in addition to some packaged learning modules about mental health
matters, I started reading a book that I wish I had as a child and especially
as a teenager.
Here are highlights quoted from the book:
"When you think
about the future, you may look at it in a pessimistic way. You may even feel intimidated.
You may lose your temper easily and then spend the next few hours feeling
guilty for doing so. Being affectionate and sociable becomes hard. For this
reason, others prefer to isolate themselves and sit alone for many hours. As
self-doubt takes over, your energy levels may become extremely low. You may
become preoccupied with negative thoughts. What's more, you worry about how
others perceive you...
...Manic episodes can lead you to life-threatening risks, but the risky behaviors associated with hypomania are usually much lower. On the contrary, during a hypomanic episode, confidence and self-image are much higher. This can easily make you persuasive and charming." - BIPOLAR DISORDER AS A TEEN
These were lines written to describe the bipolar experience
in softer language to young people with the mood disorder. I know that I have,
in not so many words, described these exact experiences in writing on this
page. I have said it many times before, but to see it so plainly written out
and as a shared experience the world over, is incredibly sobering, humbling, and
empowering.
It is a constant reminder that while there is a potential
source of so much frustration and damage to relationships in my past, it is
always my obligation to recognize these moments as they occur and to
immediately get a fucking grip on them. The constant reminder that "mental
illness is not your fault, but it is your responsibility."
Nonetheless, it is really quite an experience to read
through these types of books and learning modules and see myself and loved ones
so strongly represented.
So, this month (and every month), I recommend doing some personal reading and
learning. If you struggle with a known disorder, brush up on the current
literature. Or find a topic that affects you or loved ones. Or just rekindle a
previous topic of interest that you have let the constant-education lapse on.
Avoid doom scrolling for a bit and learn something about the world as others
see it, or re-hone your focus on how you do the same.
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Topics I have pursued this month:
Courses: Managing Mental Health, Domestic Violence and Abuse Awareness, Mindfulness for Anger Management
Reading: Bipolar Disorder As A Teen, OMG That's Me!: Bipolar Disorder, Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Some other on-going, rewarding routines I have been maintaining:
- Teaching immigrants English with a local organization
- Building a community garden and hosting town cleanups with
my town's Environmental Committee
- Joining my workplace's mental health and wellness "employee resource group" and scheduling our first group hike this month
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That is all for now. Hope everyone is doing well. <3