Let's Talk About Mental Health
My personal struggles with Bipolar Type II. If you relate to anything I've talked about in this post: I see you.
I've been struggling lately, and I just realized it. Funny how things catch up to you like that. I had a dreadful week. I couldn't muster up the stamina to get nearly any freelance work done, rationalizing my decision with the fact that I have minuscule savings holding me afloat. Even though I wasn't working, I actively avoided working on my book with my deadline quickly approaching. The dishes in my kitchen sink have reached Mount Everest's potential - I even bought paper plates to continue avoiding them. Don't even get me started on laundry; I haven't touched the washer and dryer in two weeks.
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About the Creator
Ashley Lima
I think about writing more than I write, but call myself a writer as opposed to a thinker.
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Comments (6)
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Become a paid subscriber to get access.I felt your words deeply! Thx 4 sharing this powerful piece Ashley! It was so very inspiring!
Thanks for sharing these parts of yourself Ashley. I hope you are on the up again now…or at least getting there. I struggle with my MH on a weekly basis too in recent years.. so I feel you and see you too! ☺️ Best!
I know today has been a bad one. I've been dealing with depression and anxiety for a long while now and it's a real struggle. Some days I'm functional, others I'm not, but most of the time I have a hard time realizing it's not really me that's failing. I might not have bipolar disorder, but I certainly know what that side of it feels like. It's not easy.
I love your frank and open way of writing, Ashley, in poem and fiction form and that is evident here. The fact that you've written this, published it, is very courageous writing. We need more like you. This is messy, sad, but, powerfully honest. I mean that with the greatest of respect. I wish you didn't feel as you did and weren't sick, but I am glad you are able to channel a lot of it into your writing, as there are many who are unable to and hopefully more pieces like this will help others. I hope it helped you a little, at least. I have my own mental health issues, my wife suffers from poor mental health and I know lots of people and have known lots of people. So, I appreciate this piece a lot. Like Will, I admire you...I know you are doing what you are doing because what else or who else is going to do it, but it's worthy of respect and admiration because it's a hard thing to face not being well or having the health you wish you did and still facing it...that shows strength...beneath all that illness (that you can't help at all). So yeah, thank you for writing this. I hope you get some less pressured, brighter days soon, Ashley! Keep writing and I'll keep reading (and I really wouldn't be surprised if this was Top Story soon)
I feel some of those emotions myself, and I have not been diagnosed with a disorder, I may have some, just never been checked. What I am saying is that after Covid, things just seemed a lot harder. Kids don't want to go to school, people are struggling for normal again. I cannot imagine being in your situation plus the added stress of life. I admire your ability to accept yourself, accept the added pressures, yet make the decision to face it head on and arise everyday to face a daunting world. I found comfort just writing all kinds of stuff here, some are silly, some not so good and some good stuff in between the weird stuff. Always keep looking up, find strength in the little things when the big things seem daunting. Read my poem "Lavender Morning" https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/lavender-morning%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E . Have a wonderful day. 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗😍🤩. Keep on writing, it is really therapeutic. Blessings and be well.
I know this is not a happy days have never been brighter piece, but it may be the best writing I have read on Vocal. I admire you, I admire anyone who keeps their life together with bipolar. I lost one of the most important people in my life because the only way the could deal with their disorder was drugs. Losing them was one of the hardest things I have ever felt. Sorry to bring things down. This was really amazing writing.