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Default Jun 25, 2020 at 05:50 PM
  #1
This is an article from NAMI's blog. I really relate to it and wonder if others do, too.

COVID-19 has altered daily existence dramatically, but, for many of us, it's simply globalized a way of life that was already all too familiar.

Mental illness affects about 20% of people, and the symptomology resembles the new reality that the whole population is now experiencing: the isolation, the nagging fear, the obsessive worry, the fluctuating energy and motivation levels. Before COVID, many of us simply called this life as usual.

Those who have lived with mental illness are in a unique position to, dare I say, deal with our "new" global reality perhaps even better than others? We come equipped with decades of handling the emotions/feelings/circumstances that may feel new to those who've not been plagued before by depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD and the like.

We get this. It's our stomping grounds. We know what it's like to be okay one day and not able to move from the couch for the next five. It's in our wheelhouse to be immersed in fear and panic, yet go on putting one foot in front of the other day after day after day. The world is just now experiencing our norm.

Yet it is also in our repertoire to heal. We understand what it feels like to give each other grace, to be easy on ourselves on harder days, to adjust our expectations, to be tender with our symptoms. We have things like coping skills and therapy and medication to combat the loneliness and obsessive fear of a life beyond our control. Yes, we have been a population marginalized in the shadows for the way our minds function. But, maybe, now is our time to light the way.


-Julie Benn

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Default Jun 25, 2020 at 06:59 PM
  #2
That was a nice read. I get a sense of hope and pride from the author. I do think she is right, for some people with mental illness. It was me, for years. Then in Fall of 2019, I started to really work on being social, being consistent in showing up to volunteering, I was going to be looking for a job. Then the pandemic hit. I was so angry. I was angry at the pandemic, and at the world. I'd worked so hard to "become functional" in a world that stigmatizes people who cannot work. I was so angry because it was and is so obvious to me that there's a certain way society goes about doing things and they were all blind to it. Now they can see. Because they have all "become disabled" so to speak. I'm really going off on my own tangent here. But, I'm not really angry anymore. I've gotten used to the fact that this is a pandemic and that this is the "new reality." I'm building a hope of my own. I'm still volunteering, I'm selling my art online, I'm taking classes. Yeah, maybe I can be a light for some people.


I do believe there really is something to productivity, routine, schedule, working. Too much is stressful, but so is too little. I've learned that in my journey. Isolation = mental illness, for many, too. It can be a vicious cycle too. Don't feel well, isolate. Isolate, feel worse.


There's my ramble, BethRags. It was a good article. It sparked my own thoughts though.
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Default Jun 25, 2020 at 07:10 PM
  #3
Yes to it being familiar, isolation is very familiar for me and I've felt bad that I embrace the isolation. Just three years ago I moved back to Minnesota to help mum. That means family cause most of them live with-in an hour/ an hour and a half and think nothing of driving that far to drop in. The constant people around is hard to get used to and I welcomed the excuse to isolate. And yeah to one foot in front of the other. Yup.

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Heart Jun 25, 2020 at 07:26 PM
  #4
Dear BethRags, Thank you very much for this article! I have a friend who told me about NAMI (which eventually led me to discovering PC.) I will share this with her. It made me think of that spiritual reminder that says we should look for the silver lining. Who knows what the ripple effect will be. Hugs to you!
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Default Jun 25, 2020 at 07:51 PM
  #5
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Originally Posted by WovenGalaxy View Post
That was a nice read. I get a sense of hope and pride from the author. I do think she is right, for some people with mental illness. It was me, for years. Then in Fall of 2019, I started to really work on being social, being consistent in showing up to volunteering, I was going to be looking for a job. Then the pandemic hit. I was so angry. I was angry at the pandemic, and at the world. I'd worked so hard to "become functional" in a world that stigmatizes people who cannot work. I was so angry because it was and is so obvious to me that there's a certain way society goes about doing things and they were all blind to it. Now they can see. Because they have all "become disabled" so to speak. I'm really going off on my own tangent here. But, I'm not really angry anymore. I've gotten used to the fact that this is a pandemic and that this is the "new reality." I'm building a hope of my own. I'm still volunteering, I'm selling my art online, I'm taking classes. Yeah, maybe I can be a light for some people.

I do believe there really is something to productivity, routine, schedule, working. Too much is stressful, but so is too little. I've learned that in my journey. Isolation = mental illness, for many, too. It can be a vicious cycle too. Don't feel well, isolate. Isolate, feel worse.

There's my ramble, BethRags. It was a good article. It sparked my own thoughts though.

Nope, not a ramble! You made excellent points and shared such insightful personal information.

That you did the hard work you did, starting in the Fall of '19 cannot in any way be negated or erased. You did it - and you will do it again...and, as you pointed out, you are taking classes and selling your art. I admire you so much for that!

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Default Jun 25, 2020 at 08:02 PM
  #6
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Originally Posted by BethRags View Post


Nope, not a ramble! You made excellent points and shared such insightful personal information.

That you did the hard work you did, starting in the Fall of '19 cannot in any way be negated or erased. You did it - and you will do it again...and, as you pointed out, you are taking classes and selling your art. I admire you so much for that!
Thank you, BethRags! I need to learn to be less self apologetic. They were, after all, just my unique thoughts, which is all anyone really has. Nothing to apologize for or feel bad about. Thank you for your kind words re my journey!!
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Default Jun 25, 2020 at 08:03 PM
  #7
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Yes to it being familiar, isolation is very familiar for me and I've felt bad that I embrace the isolation. Just three years ago I moved back to Minnesota to help mum. That means family cause most of them live with-in an hour/ an hour and a half and think nothing of driving that far to drop in. The constant people around is hard to get used to and I welcomed the excuse to isolate. And yeah to one foot in front of the other. Yup.
I've lived a life of being fairly isolated to being very isolated. I was an at-home mom while my children were growing up. My husband was at work all day and it wasn't long before my kids were in school all day, too. I was used to being by myself most of the time, although my evenings were busy family time.

When my children moved away and left for college my husband and I also separated. He and I remain best friends, but I live alone with my cats. So living in solitude is my life now, as I almost never leave my apartment.

A main reason for my decision to stay at home all of these years has to do with my mental illness, and past traumas. It's all exhausting. And meds have made it nearly impossible for me to live a normal life.

When SIP first began here, back in March, it didn't seem much different to me than the way I'd lived my entire adult life. It was almost amusing to me to hear people, or read about people, feeling furious about having to stay at home.

The biggest change for me during this time is wearing a mask when I do go out, and seeing others wearing them.

Anyway, I know what you mean about welcoming the excuse to isolate. In a strong way it feels like the world is finally doing what I always did, and was considered unusual for doing.

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Default Jun 25, 2020 at 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by WovenGalaxy View Post
Thank you, BethRags! I need to learn to be less self apologetic. They were, after all, just my unique thoughts, which is all anyone really has. Nothing to apologize for or feel bad about. Thank you for your kind words re my journey!!

You're welcome and you are awesome!

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Default Jun 26, 2020 at 02:40 AM
  #9
Mental disarranges, for example, gloom, uneasiness, and substance use issue, ... It is evaluated that in any event 10 percent of the total populace is influenced, and ... Psychological well-being, Well-being and Disability: A New Global Priority Key United ... Maternal Depression and Stunted Children: An Avoidable Reality
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Default Jun 28, 2020 at 12:12 PM
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Mental disarranges, for example, gloom, uneasiness, and substance use issue, ... It is evaluated that in any event 10 percent of the total populace is influenced, and ... Psychological well-being, Well-being and Disability: A New Global Priority Key United ... Maternal Depression and Stunted Children: An Avoidable Reality

Yes, and also domestic violence.

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Post Jul 18, 2020 at 01:23 PM
  #11
Yes I can relate to that entire statement .....I've lived with bipolar a long time ...even before I was diagnosed and learned about the symptoms as I looked back at my life I saw how my life went through the highs and lows extremely
During the times I had been so depressed even severely depressed I would isolate for months. Even seeking out jobs working overnights in warehouses where there wasn't alot of workers .....
Now with this pandemic sometimes i have been isolating more and more. At first it was to help slow the spread of this virus as I don't want to get infected and unknowingly infect others ....
Tho now after losing 2 close friends in March ,1 to virus and 1 who took her own life ...I can hardly sleep ...especially knowing so many are suffering and dieing everyday ...
I already gave agoraphobia but it has gotten worse the more I stay in by myself the more I'm actually afraid of going out ...I don't think it's just because of virus but now due to my mental health
I do have days tho few I'm able to get things done in my apt .. yet more days I just have less and less motivation to get anything done
I'm not in a crisis ....I had a wonderful counselor for over 13 years who helped me understand my illness and symptoms ... And now I have PC ....which I'm on everyday now and is a great support ....so I know what to do when it comes to my symptoms ...just the loneliness does get the best of me some days ....yet some days I win the fight and able to get a little motivated
I hold on to Hope cause no one knows what tomorrow may bring ..if it's a bad/sad day and I get through it than it's a day I won the fight ....if it's a good day it gives fuels my strength to fight the next day
It's what I like about PC talking with friends it's like one day they help when I'm down the next I can help when their down ...knowing were not alone in the fight is a huge help and very encouraging
Thank You for posting that message. I hope I made sense ....please be safe everyone
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Heart Jul 19, 2020 at 04:10 AM
  #12
Dear @sadp8r, Thank you so very much for your post! God bless you! You speak for many of us so well! I'm not bipolar, but on every other level I am the way you describe. And I am so very sorry about the loss of your 2 friends. I couldn't help crying. That is so extremely, painfully sad. I hope with all my heart that you will be able to find a way to some sort of peace & comfort for yourself. I will keep you in my prayers. And like you, I feel that PC has been extremely healthy for me, & I'm very grateful I found it & all of you!
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Smile Jul 19, 2020 at 09:54 AM
  #13
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Dear @sadp8r, Thank you so very much for your post! God bless you! You speak for many of us so well! I'm not bipolar, but on every other level I am the way you describe. And I am so very sorry about the loss of your 2 friends. I couldn't help crying. That is so extremely, painfully sad. I hope with all my heart that you will be able to find a way to some sort of peace & comfort for yourself. I will keep you in my prayers. And like you, I feel that PC has been extremely healthy for me, & I'm very grateful I found it & all of you!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MESSAGE IT MEANT ALOT TO ME I APPRECIATE IT ...
Honestly I wasn't doing well in March and April ...now my sleeping is all messed up ...I'm up all night and only sleep a few hours during the day ....some days I'm worried about having another total relapse in symptoms again ...I had been doing so well in my recovery when it comes to my mental illness
So I have been on PC more everyday ....even tho I wasn't on PC alot I still came on now and then to keep in touch with several friends
Yes PC is Huge support in my life ...it helps knowing were not alone especially at a time like this with all going on in the world
I do Hope also You are safe and well ....Thank You Again
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Default Jul 19, 2020 at 11:35 AM
  #14
I guess I'm a little bit "late to the party" on this. I had seen various articles about when the pandemic hit and the lockdowns, people who were struggling with isolation and introverted would feel more in place. The main point of the articles were that people who do not have those issues can now know what it's like for those who are struggling.

For me, being introverted and isolated, it was kind of nice at first when the lockdown happened. There was less noise and commotion around me. But I had never noticed anyone else complaining about how alone they felt. I know a woman, at my apartment, who is very outgoing. I had spoken to her a few times during that period. She said that she had to work at home and liked it that way. It seemed like she was doing well socially still when the lockdown was going on. So I never felt like anyone else was going through the same struggles that I'm going through.

And now the lockdown has eased, even though there's a new lockdown order. I've noticed that on the avenue where I ride my bike near my place, the bars have opened back up and people have been crowding in. They don't wear masks and sit close together. It's like the whole thing never happened. It was depressing when those places were closed, but I liked having it quiet and no traffic. Now it's back to the way it was and it's a letdown.

There's an acronym FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). To me, the F should really stand for Feelings instead of Fear, I think. That's more accurate.
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Default Jul 20, 2020 at 12:12 PM
  #15
@will19 - I can relate a lot to what you've said. For the first part of lockdown I was pretty happy, because it allowed me to feel like I wasn't being lazy if I stayed at home and isolated. As lockdown started easing I became progressively more anxious at the prospect of being forced to go out and once again feeling like a failure because I didn't want to. There are some things about lockdown that annoy me - beaches are closed, it can be uncomfortable wearing a mask when you go for a run, and we have a curfew - but it feels like a massive waste that the world does just seem to be going back to "normal" without really assessing whether that normal was a good thing.
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Default Jul 21, 2020 at 12:57 PM
  #16
California was the first state to SIP, then we reopened way too soon. Now our numbers have spiked, so we're back in lockdown, for the most part. No end in sight. I've become numb at this point; it's difficult for me to know how I'm feeling about this entire pandemic, as far as isolation. Maybe I feel like I'm getting a bit too comfortable with the convenient excuse of not having to see people.

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