bellbird
MyPTSD Pro
I'm really keen to hear the groups' perspective on this topic.
Apologise if this has already been covered somewhere and I've missed it.
So yesterday, a friend [for anyone who reads my diary, this wasn't N] told me that I shouldn't go in to university on days when my depression is bad because it isn't fair on others who have to share the same space as me.
(context: I had been crying, at times, at my desk. But only silent crying; no sounds; just the type where the tears fall down your cheeks. At other times I had rested my head on my hand because, well, I was exhausted and needed to in that moment.)
My friend told me that it isn't fair on my officemate (or anyone whom I interact with/encounter during my day) to have to experience (merely by being in the same room) that type of behaviour from me. That if I'm going to act that way, I should just stay home.
That people come to work to get away from troubles that might be happening at home, not to face more.
I didn't have much to say back to her at the time, but having now slept (albeit not that long) on it, it has me thinking about the dichotomy between the perception and (inter-personal) treatment of mental and physical health.
Say I had a broken arm, would this conversation ever happen? :
"So yesterday, a friend told me that I shouldn't go in to university on days when mydepression is bad arm is broken because it isn't fair on others who would have to share the same space with me.
(context: I had been crying, at times, at my desk. But only silent crying; no sounds; just the type where the tears fall down your cheeks. At other times I hadrested my head on my hand cradled my arm with the other because, well, I was exhausted and needed to in that moment.)
I can see how there would be an obvious issue if someone had a broken arm that they had refused to get any treatment for.
Or if I was there with a contactable illness.
But are the tears rolling down my cheeks really that offensive to other people that I must lock myself away until they've dried up and have once again been replaced by my usual facade of some happiness-derivative?
It seems the very people who encourage you to "open up" and "talk about it" because "you're not a burden" are also the fastest to want to shut you away, to act like mental illness is something that Just Doesn't Happen, and then exclaim how they haven't seen you in two months and wonder why.
Apologise if this has already been covered somewhere and I've missed it.
So yesterday, a friend [for anyone who reads my diary, this wasn't N] told me that I shouldn't go in to university on days when my depression is bad because it isn't fair on others who have to share the same space as me.
(context: I had been crying, at times, at my desk. But only silent crying; no sounds; just the type where the tears fall down your cheeks. At other times I had rested my head on my hand because, well, I was exhausted and needed to in that moment.)
My friend told me that it isn't fair on my officemate (or anyone whom I interact with/encounter during my day) to have to experience (merely by being in the same room) that type of behaviour from me. That if I'm going to act that way, I should just stay home.
That people come to work to get away from troubles that might be happening at home, not to face more.
I didn't have much to say back to her at the time, but having now slept (albeit not that long) on it, it has me thinking about the dichotomy between the perception and (inter-personal) treatment of mental and physical health.
Say I had a broken arm, would this conversation ever happen? :
"So yesterday, a friend told me that I shouldn't go in to university on days when my
(context: I had been crying, at times, at my desk. But only silent crying; no sounds; just the type where the tears fall down your cheeks. At other times I had
I can see how there would be an obvious issue if someone had a broken arm that they had refused to get any treatment for.
Or if I was there with a contactable illness.
But are the tears rolling down my cheeks really that offensive to other people that I must lock myself away until they've dried up and have once again been replaced by my usual facade of some happiness-derivative?
It seems the very people who encourage you to "open up" and "talk about it" because "you're not a burden" are also the fastest to want to shut you away, to act like mental illness is something that Just Doesn't Happen, and then exclaim how they haven't seen you in two months and wonder why.