Monday, June 01, 2009

Blogging Therapy Version 6


Just got back from the library and picked up John McManamy's 'Living with Depression and Bipolar Disorder.' I have come across McManamy on numerous occassions in my adhoc research. I just started reading it, but I want to use this post for any quotes I find.
McManamy's Closing Address at the 2002 Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance,
"In the New English Bible translation of the book of Ecclesiates, it says: "In dealing with men it is God's purpose to test them and see what they truly are." It's the only explaination, in my opinion, for why bad things happen to good people. For all the suffering all os us in this room have endured - all the pain, tragedy, humilation, hardship, and loss - and I know we are far better beings as a consequence. We may hate our illness, but we can hardly hate what our illness has made of us."


A blog comment from 'Eric': 'Each day we win, we survive, and thos who have not have had these forces pushing them have no concept of how strong we are, we all are, for winning a war daily againgst things that would immoblise any of them."
(I like this quote - an eloquent FUCK YOU to those who don't get it and think we are weak.)

4 comments:

Dash said...

I really dislike that comment from 'Eric'. Along with those with depression that constantly re-iterate how non-depressed people couldn't possibly understand what they are going through. Fair-enough, perhaps we can't grasp the whole of it.

But comments and thinking like this make it all the harder for people like me to EVER understand what you are going through. How can we understand if Eric is constantly pushing us an arm's length away?

Edward Harran said...

All valid points Dashwood. Agree completely - barriers do not do anything in helping "you guys" understand "us". It is vital that there is an open dialogue .

On the same token, I can understand the source of Eric's comment - it is not neccessarily directed at others, more an inbuild frustation, and subsequent anger, that comes out of battling with "it" all the time. Most people, in my case anyway, are genuinely heartfelt, but there are a rare few who tell you to "just get over it". Comments like fuel that anger and in a strange way, it validates your own personal worth.

"I'd like see how you would deal with it if you were in my shoes..." - a comment like this is directed at the misformed, not the caretakers. There are always ignoramuses out there - you have to deal with it somehow.

Eric comment is an example of one providing himself with self worth, self-identity and meaning to his hardship.

Edward Harran said...

All valid points Dashwood. Agree completely - barriers do not do anything in helping "you guys" understand "us". It is vital that there is an open dialogue .

On the same token, I can understand the source of Eric's comment - it is not neccessarily directed at others, more an inbuild frustation, and subsequent anger, that comes out of battling with "it" all the time. Most people, in my case anyway, are genuinely heartfelt, but there are a rare few who tell you to "just get over it". Comments like fuel that anger and in a strange way, it validates your own personal worth.

"I'd like see how you would deal with it if you were in my shoes..." - a comment like this is directed at the misformed, not the caretakers. There are always ignoramuses out there - you have to deal with it somehow.

Eric comment is an example of one providing himself with self worth, self-identity and meaning to his hardship.

Edward Harran said...

All valid points Dashwood. Agree completely - barriers do not do anything in helping "you guys" understand "us". It is vital that there is an open dialogue .

On the same token, I can understand the source of Eric's comment - it is not neccessarily directed at others, more an inbuild frustation, and subsequent anger, that comes out of battling with "it" all the time. Most people, in my case anyway, are genuinely heartfelt, but there are a rare few who tell you to "just get over it". Comments like fuel that anger and in a strange way, it validates your own personal worth.

"I'd like see how you would deal with it if you were in my shoes..." - a comment like this is directed at the misformed, not the caretakers. There are always ignoramuses out there - you have to deal with it somehow.

Eric comment is an example of one providing himself with self worth, self-identity and meaning to his hardship.