May 08 2013
As I’ve certainly mentioned here countless times already, I’m moving to New York City at the end of the summer–in just three and a half months. I’ve wanted to do this for years, and I’ve visited the city so many times while I’ve been in college that it’s long felt like a second home. Or …
Apr 14 2013
[Content note: depression] People struggling with mental illness (or any sort of illness, or anything crappy, really) are constantly exhorted by well-meaning people to find the “silver lining” in their experience. This often takes the form of tropes about “learning who your real friends are” or “learning how to fully appreciate life” or “understanding what’s …
Mar 14 2013
Positive thinking is the bane of my existence. Not because I can’t do it, but because I’ve so often been exhorted to do it in the most unhelpful of ways. I’m someone who prefers to talk mostly about the neutral or negative aspects of my life to friends and family because I don’t want to …
Jan 15 2013
Alternate title: YEAH WELL I’M NOT OFFENDED SO WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE OFFENDED BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IF I’M NOT OFFENDED IT’S NOT A BIG DEAL AND WHY CAN’T WE JUST HAVE THE EXACT SAME FEELINGS ABOUT EVERYTHING I often encounter people who are Not Offended by bigotry or microaggressions and are very proud of that …
Dec 03 2012
[Content note: depression and suicide] There’s a disturbing and pervasive idea out there that the psychological troubles of teenagers are inconsequential and unworthy of attention because they’re just a part of “teen angst” or “growing up” or whatever. I’m thinking about this now because last night I ran across this Facebook page. It’s called “No …
Oct 26 2012
Earlier I decided to write a series of posts about depression beyond the DSM diagnosis. The first post was about trust. Here’s the second. Throughout my life, I have been exposed to two diametrically opposed views on openness–how much people should share with their partners, friends, and acquaintances about themselves. The first view, which my family taught …
Oct 17 2012
I’m going to do a series of posts on what it’s like to live with chronic depression, beyond the DSM symptoms that you always hear about. I want to help people understand. I’m in a particularly good position to do this now because my depression is technically in remission, which means that I no longer …
Dec 28 2011
[Snark Warning] I am not a cheerful person. I don’t wear my happiness on my face, and I do not consider it my moral duty to brighten the day for perfect strangers. I am an introvert despite the fact that I’m usually pretty friendly and sociable when spoken to. Most of the time, I inhabit …
Dec 21 2011
I propose a moratorium on the term “Debbie Downer.” “But whyyyy?” you might argue. “Those negative people are so annoyinggg!” Perhaps. But I think we need to stop using that phrase, for several reasons. The first thing I think of when I hear the phrase “Debbie Downer” in one of the contexts it’s most commonly …
Sep 23 2011
[Snark Warning] Like many depressives, I have a love-hate relationship with humor. A well-crafted joke, anecdote, or cartoon can cheer me up during the worst times, but because of the various cognitive deficits associated with depression, I have a lot of trouble processing humor when it’s directed at me or my life. Enter another thing …
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:)
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