Tuesday 16 April 2013

N as in NEUROTIC (A-Z Challenge)

Neurotic people build "castles in the air" out of their fears, failures, and nightmares.

 Psychotic people live in those castles.

 Psychiatrists collect the rent.

 See how easy it is to understand life! 

 In truth, this is all kind of funny, until you stop and think about the reality of mental illness. The sickness comes in many forms, but has one constant factor; it steals peoples' lives. Sometimes it drives them to despair beyond their ability cope, and leads to suicide. Much more often, it steals their energy, hope, and love. 

 Mental illness is about a lot more than building castles in the air, or living in them.

 I know this, because I live daily with mental illness. I have since I was in my teens. 

 N is also for neural, night, nine, normal, and nepotism (and also for Navaho!).

 Blessings and Bear hugs, friends!
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26 comments:

  1. Megan16 April 2013 at 07:15

    amen for this post!

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  2. DJan16 April 2013 at 07:55

    You are my hero, Bear. You know whereof you speak, and you are an inspiration to many. Sending you back some big bear hugs. :-)

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    1. Rob-bear16 April 2013 at 11:09

      That is so kind of you, DJan. Thank you!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  3. Josie Two Shoes16 April 2013 at 08:43

    Stopping by from A-Z and liking what I find here. You are so right about how mental illness can steal people's lives, and pieces of their family's lives too. It is hard, but there are things that one can do to make living with it a little easier. My heart goes out to any family that deals with this issue, and that's really more common than one thinks. Looks to me like you have done pretty well with life, Bear, despite any obstacles in your way!

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    1. Rob-bear16 April 2013 at 11:12

      Thank you so much, Josie, for coming by and leaving such a kindly note. Challenges for families are just as real; my wife of 44 years has been through a lot with me.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  4. Mary Kirkland16 April 2013 at 10:51

    I like the way you put that. If more people understood mental illness it wouldn't be so stigmatized.

    Dark Thoughts Blog

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    1. Rob-bear16 April 2013 at 11:16

      Thanks, Mary. I'm so glad you understand about stigma, and mentioned it. That is exactly why I write about this — in an attempt to cut through the stigma.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  5. Unknown16 April 2013 at 10:54

    As a rent collecting landlord...I often tell people "neurotic" is about the best we can ALL hope for... at least then we know youre not nuts. Thanks for addressing a toughie in typical gentle Bear fashion.I'm so happy I found my way to your site!Always take care, Z~

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    1. Rob-bear16 April 2013 at 11:27

      Thank you, Zoe! I have managed to be successful in three different careers, despite sometimes-crippling mental illness. I'm very grateful for rent collecting doctors, psychologists, and others.

      Thanks for the bit about being neurotic as the best we can hope for; that really resonates, given the shape of our world.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  6. innerchild16 April 2013 at 11:49

    Enjoying reading your blog, I'm glad you dropped by mine so I could find yours :)
    Interesting to think about what you said.
    www.emmyleigh.wordpress.com

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    1. Rob-bear16 April 2013 at 13:02

      Thanks for coming by, innerchild. I'll be by in a bit to visit you again.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  7. D..J. Kirkby16 April 2013 at 13:00

    That is an absolutely brilliant analogy. I too live daily with mental health problems - it part of the autism package, and one of the more challenging ones to deal with.

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    1. Rob-bear16 April 2013 at 20:38

      I'm sorry to hear of your challenge; I'm happy to see you doing things because/in spite of your challenge. And thank you for the helpful comment.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  8. Anita16 April 2013 at 13:13

    Bear, you're the most sane neurotic person I know. Btw, does my support make me a nepotist?

    I speak fondly as I inject a little humor into this serious matter. Recently, a relative has gotten more obsessed with trying to damage people's lives via facebook and other social media. I wonder about his mental state of mind.

    Thank you for "bearing" your soul. Keep talking - it helps us all.

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    1. Rob-bear16 April 2013 at 20:44

      Most sane neurotic person, Anita? That's very kind and sweet. But you don't see me on my really bad days. And what nepotism? Sorry to learn of your unhappy relative. And I would wonder about that person's sate of mind, too.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  9. Golden Eagle16 April 2013 at 16:18

    I like your analogy. It brings mental illness down to earth in an illuminating, understandable way.

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    1. Rob-bear16 April 2013 at 20:45

      Thank you for the comment, Eagle. You're a very good writer, and I appreciate your thinking, and support.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  10. potsoc16 April 2013 at 19:06

    For the last year, I have been presiding the Société de schizophrénie de la Montérégie's board of directors. Half the board is made of people coping with some form or other of mental illness and they do a wonderful job.
    Our volunteer general director's daughtet has a severe form of shizophrenia and has been hospitalized for the last 22 years but her mother has single handedly set up a resource for mentally challenged people who, with the 30 or so volunteer of our organisation put up an energetic fight and, by golly, they are winning their own war.

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    1. Rob-bear16 April 2013 at 20:47

      Merci, Paul. I'm excited by your story. When we help one another, important and wonderful things can happen!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  11. Kristen16 April 2013 at 20:29

    It's wonderful that you can write about these topics in an interesting and engaging way. I hope you can teach a lot of people with your blog.

    #atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

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    1. Rob-bear16 April 2013 at 20:50

      Thanks, Kristen. I do what I can. And if I can help others speak up, or get help, or understand mental illness, we all win.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  12. Unknown16 April 2013 at 21:11

    I admire your honesty. Keep going strong!

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    1. Rob-bear16 April 2013 at 21:55

      Thanks Julia; you're very kind. And I certainly intend to "keep going strong"! Especially with encouragement from people like you.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  13. Lydia18 April 2013 at 04:00

    Hugs to you Bear. I consider this post sort of in honor of my cousin who committed suicide at age 27. It was back in the 80s but still feels raw.

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    1. Rob-bear18 April 2013 at 19:29

      Oh, Lydia, I am so sorry about your cousin. The demons are there, and they can be very frightening!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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