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Link – The 4 Words That Showed Me Someone Cared When I Was Struggling With Depression
He gave me advice only when I requested. He didn’t try to change me. He didn’t try to save me. All he did was ask “How are you doing?” Those four words told me at least one person cared. That’s all it takes to be a good friend and support someone. No one dealing with…
Sharing – Don’t insist on being positive – allowing negative emotions has much to teach us
The article goes on to discuss the various ways those emotions we are trying to avoid by always being positive are actually good for us. How sitting with and processing those emotions help us learn and grow.
Of course, the one thing I will say about that is this. Be prepared to do that work alone, or very nearly alone. The world is full of people who are not comfortable with their pain, sadness, grief, etc., and refuse to do anything but “be grateful.” They also have zero tolerance for other people “bringing them down” with their own emotions.
These people are not capable of being a support to anyone else. The refusal to acknowledge the entirety of human emotion makes them utterly incapable of sitting with someone in their pain. Sadly, as these ideas have gained popularity, they have also limited our support networks. They have created a shortage of people who will sit with us.
Sharing – Fourteen MORE Incredible Memoirs about Mental Illness and Addiction
This is a powerful statement made by Rachel in the introduction to her list. “I believe more than ever we are only as sick as our secrets. By sharing our stories and reading others, we rid the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction and we can begin to heal and thrive.” If you’re looking…
Link – Why We Don’t Listen to Trauma Survivors (the “Contagion” principle)
This article is referring to events and people I do not know much about, beyond some public information I’ve seen about the yoga communities, but this line did catch my attention: “Sometimes we can’t acknowledge the trauma of others,” she said, “until we acknowledge the ways in which we ourselves have been traumatized.” Matt talks…
Sharing – How Social Anxiety Affects the Brain
It’s an interesting read and might help you understand what is happening. When I say “that’s how my brain works” when describing how I conclude that people don’t like me, it is the way my brain works and interprets things. I’m not just being dramatic.
Neither are your friends and loved ones.