tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239140084937897595.post1377705689862698831..comments2023-10-19T10:26:30.108-04:00Comments on Yin and Yang: No Shame, But EnduranceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239140084937897595.post-22264307280964990882007-03-05T00:31:00.000-05:002007-03-05T00:31:00.000-05:00I dunno Kate. I've been wrestling with this issue ...I dunno Kate. I've been wrestling with this issue myself recently. Until now I've always said, or had been taught by my twin sister, the psychiatrist, NOT to identify myself as A schizophrenic, that I was much more than my illness. But I'm not sure these days how much I do that schizophrenia has not affected and does not now affect. It is an illness that may help create who we are as well as the lives we live and end up with even in recovery. <BR/><BR/>So I'm torn. I don't want people to think I'm "just a mental patient" or "that schizophrenic who writes" but on the other hand, I do want...well, I guess I'm not sure what I want. I'm not, despite my blogging, an in your face kind of person and do not in general go blabbing about my illness, though when asked what my book is about I do tell them the title and subtitle, which is usually enough to get the ball rolling.<BR/><BR/>I guess like anything about me, I don't want to have to hide it, sequester it into some secret place that only a few people can know about...unless they have known me when ill. It is an important part of my life, and like you I want it taken seriously. So "like I said" I'll have to think more about this entry...and about what I've been pondering for a while, before I can respond better.<BR/><BR/>Sorry this was so incoherent. Your entry was much more cogent!<BR/><BR/>Fondly,<BR/><BR/>Pam WAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239140084937897595.post-72674186622546249222007-02-28T22:26:00.000-05:002007-02-28T22:26:00.000-05:00At the recovery meeting I go to, we are very consc...At the recovery meeting I go to, we are very conscious about identifying ourselves as an illness. Thus, when we do introductions, we say, "Hi, I'm Elizabeth. I'm a believer in Christ, and I 'struggle' with whatever." Our primary identity, then, is as a believer and child of God. We only 'struggle' with our mental illness. It's not who we are...although I know there are times when that's what it feels like. When I was in the worst of my illness, it felt like the title "bulimic" summed up my entire being.<BR/><BR/>Interestingly enough, the less I feel like being a bulimic is my primary identity, the less I feel the need to tell people about it. About my bulimia, and my depression, that is. For a long time, I kind of shoved it on people. I think in some weird way it was a badge of honor. It also got attention. And, I think I always threw it out there almost as a dare to people. "I'm a bulimic, and I dare you to reject me or say anything about it." So, if the person didn't go away, then he or she passed, so to speak. Does any of that make sense?<BR/><BR/>In any case, hope you and the kitties are well.<BR/><BR/>BethAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239140084937897595.post-50170277157622561872007-02-28T21:36:00.000-05:002007-02-28T21:36:00.000-05:00Hi Kate,Recently I was diagnosed with diabetes. I...Hi Kate,<BR/><BR/>Recently I was diagnosed with diabetes. It was such a shock to me. It may be the best thing that has happened to me in the last year. I am now forced to face my weight gain. For me it was a wake-up call. Every morning before I eat breakfast I check my glucose levels and record it in a book. After my breakfast I walk about 3 miles. Before lunch, before dinner and before I go to bed I check my blood glucose level. The testing are hard facts that tells me and my doctor whether I'm staying on a good food regiment. I also have a cut-off time in the evening of 8:00PM of no food.<BR/><BR/>I hate that I have diabetes but I’m learning to take better care of myself. My doctors believes if I do what he prescribes I will loose about 1 lb a week and that is a weight loss of over 50 lbs in a year.<BR/><BR/>I just want to give you a little encouragement that if you find yourself with diabetes, you can manage it with diet, exercise and medication.<BR/><BR/>Also, regarding the word schizophrenic I'm glad that you are not ashamed or afraid of the word. I think you were very brave to share with your Al-Anon group that you have schizophrenic. It's not always easy to share something that may frighten some people. I do believe talking about it helps erase the stigma of the disease.<BR/><BR/>Yaya-IngAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com