Now I am in more of a position to focus on making a positive change, but how? My blog can't be all about my psychotic episodes because those are few and far in between. It can't be all about my great progress because that's boring as hell. So I need a new direction. A fresh start. A blank page, if you will. So where do I go from here?
Here are some of my ideas:
- Articles about mental illness in the media
- Highlighting coping mechanisms
- Overviews of certain mental illnesses
- My work in the mental health field
- Book and movie reviews
Wow, those all sound pretty dull in comparison to drunk posts, anecdotes about anorexia, and startling confessions of cutting and suicidal thoughts. Well, maybe if we're lucky, my potential medication change tomorrow will bring about some good stories to blog about. If not, what do you guys think? Where would you like to see this blog go?
Bonus question: Does my writing suck now? I feel like my posts have become dull dull dull since this medication.
I think overviews of mental illnesses would still serve your original purpose of taking away the stigma of mental illness. Many people have already passed judgement on people with mental illnesses based on the titles of their diagnoses: "I hear she's depressed so she must cry all the time." "You had postpartum depression? Did you hate your baby?" "If he's bipolar, he's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." "He cuts because he just wants attention." "If she is or does X, then Y."
ReplyDeleteBy educating people on the reality of variety of the diagnosis, you take away the stigma of the "crazy" assumption. Plus since you're now a peer mentor (YAY FOR YOU!!!!) you could use that as inspiration and link in some personal accounts (obviously without violating any confidentiality rules).
On a writing note: I still love your writing style :) The style now is very similar, but the tone is different. Before I could "hear" the manic, and now I can hear the personal investment almost more now that the writing is more, linear? I also really like how you use "we." It's not just a third person writing, it's not just you vaguely writing about you. It's you writing from a very personal place but specifically connecting your readers to that place and giving them an extension to "the bigger issues" :)
I hope that makes sense :)
I would also like to see overviews of mental illnesses. Writing about articles and illness in the media would also be great. Maybe you could highlight the misconceptions about mental illness that the media often makes or dissect different articles regarding mental illness and share your point of view. The media generalizes and stigmatizes mental illness all the time and too often people blindly follow the media and whatever it says. I'm sure no matter what you write about your personal experiences, and your work in the mental health field, will be a part of your writing. That's what makes it so relatable.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I enjoy reading the blog because of your writing style. The way you write draws people in and makes them relate. You're giving people valuable information, and adding in your personal experiences, in a way that makes them want to keep reading. I don't find it dull at all. :)
Thank you both for your encouragement and suggestions. You have given me the confidence that this blog won't become blah when it changes pace. And you've given me some direction on which route to take. Any advice or input you have in the future is totally welcomed too!
ReplyDeleteI also like how you both zoned in on the stigma and how generalized mental health issues have become. It's so incredibly and disappointingly true. Both of you mentioning it reinforces in me how necessary it is to make a change, but also that there are still those of us out there who don't "follow the crowd," so to speak.
And thank you for reassuring me on my writing style! I can feel the difference between medicated and unmedicated, but I don't have the outside point of view to see how it presents itself in my writing. If you guys say it's still good, I won't give up just yet
Wow I wrote a response to this when you posted it and it didn't take (stupid mobile devices) and I just realized that I never responded again. Oops... well lets see if I can recapture what I wrote like a month ago and have it still be relevant?
ReplyDeleteokay, so I kind of disagree with your other commentors. I would be really bored by overviews of research in the mental health field. Now that is just me, but if I wanted to read articles, I would go read them. I think your blog is so compelling because it is so personal and so REAL. That being said, I am sure you feel different writing, but your writing style has changed very little. The narrative feels less harried and stressed and urgent, but that is a direct result of your mood and the mania passing, not your talent as a writer. I think that as you continue to improve and you feel your new normal, that feeling of being dull will pass.
Since you are doing so well in your recovery, what I would really like to see is some insight into how your daily life progresses. Tell us about your little victories, how your perspective changes, and your inevitable backslides. I am sure that there will be some, because that is the nature of change - the key is to not be derailed by it. You are a tentative success story. Think of this as AA and you are talking to people struggling with their demons showing them that even though yours are still present, there is a way to battle back and reclaim your life. I think you are an incredible inspiration and you are so brave for putting all that raw emotion down on "paper" and if it were you a few months ago, wouldn't you have liked to see that someone who feels just like you is making progress one tenuous step at a time?
Hang in there and keep writing about you. Don't dilute it with frivolity, but tell us the real story, no matter how "normal". Because its such a contrast. And because human interest is what people like to hear.