Awarded Arts Fellowship & Coming Out As Ptsd Sufferer...slowly

[watundah]

Very exciting!! Best wishes!!

As a fellow artist, one thing that helps me at shows is knowing that people aren't looking at me, they're looking at my work. Somehow I can separate them emotionally and it removes a lot of the anxiety. Hope that helps.

 

[NatBird]

Th

Very exciting!! Best wishes!!

As a fellow artist, one thing that helps me at shows is knowing that pe...

@watundah
Thank you. Much appreciated:)

In regards to work - I feel it's a slightly different experience being a poet, especially when reading/performing as it is easily taken as autobiographical. I find it much harder to create the distance you speak of.
When I am in a reasonable head space I take the 'I'm a vessel' approach - the words are passing through and all 'I' need to do is allow.

Congratulations on being at the stage to show your work:)

I'm curious to hear about what processes you go through before shows, in terms of PTSD and how you manage?

 

[watundah]

My anxiety spikes any time I have to be center of attention. Interestingly, it's not as bad around strangers so I quit inviting friends to my events...residual peer pressure, I guess. Also it's always before it starts. Once I'm there and I realize I'm not a fake or no one is going to hurt or embarrass me, I calm down and get in the flow. I used to take a beta blocker to help with stage fright when I did presentations for work. That was a God send!

 

[NatBird]

My anxiety spikes any time I have to be center of attention. Interestingly, it's not as bad around str...

@watundah thanks for sharing that - especially about being the centre of attention. I experienced a lot of shame around that when I was younger.
I'm quite anxious about the first few readings as there will be no strangers just other fellows:/ oh well. I'm sure I'll post about it!

 

[I_will_recover]

@NatBird
This brings me joy and hope. So much I'm in tears.

 

[NatBird]

@NatBird
This brings me joy and hope. So much I'm in tears.

@ I_will_recover thank you for being happy for me:)
Are you an artist?

 

[I_will_recover]

@NatBird
No I'm not I'm just genuinely happy when "one of us" succeeds at something that brings us comfort and a sense of self worth. Congrats.

 

[NatBird]

@ i_will_recover thank you. the support is much appreciated.

 

[UnKnown-Self]

I stand and applaud you @NatBird ! How exciting and I feel excited for you :) I hope you do share it would be wonderful to read your work. What a great achievement, Congratulations!