imnotalwaysstrongenough

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I’ve been struggling lately because I want to be able to talk to people about some things I went through a long time ago. I want to be able to offer support and be supported. I want to make a difference in mental health advocacy and disability advocacy. I’m usually fairly open about my health situation but there are a few things I still can’t get myself to talk about much. I feel like I’m doing a disservice to myself and others by not being able to talk openly about my suicide attempts when I was 11, about 17 years ago, my 9 years of self harm starting that same year, the emotionally and verbally abusive relationship I was in when I was 19, and the episodes of psychosis I had in my early 20s that put me in the hospital and were being caused by medication I was given after a misdiagnosis. I’ve gone through a lot of therapy and feel like I’m past those events. I’ve accepted what happened and I’ve come to see them as a part of my story that I learned from. They taught me how to be a better person and that I possess a strength I never knew I had. It’s not that I don’t try to talk about them, I do. But it’s like, when I open my mouth the words won’t come out. How do you guys get past that stage when you want so badly to comfort, help, and advocate for others and yourself? #CheckInWithMe #Advocacy #imnotok #imnotalwaysstrongenough #MentalHealth #SuicideAttempt #Suicide #EmontionalAbuse #Psychosis

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Struggling today... #AnxietyDisorder #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #Depression #HighlysensitivePerson

Today I may no longer be employed. My battles with crippling anxiety and the fear and inability to express my needs for accommodations in the workplace, coupled with an ill-informed understanding of what my rights are (let alone feeling deserving of such requests) have led to my inability to even show up. My employers have tried to be patient with me through months of me struggling and I am grateful to them for that, but I can not show up and fight anymore through the very real struggles that are simply beyond my control. They don’t know me prior to September when I started this job, in the beginning stages of my cycle and without knowledge that I’m not always this bad. I’m not only this bad. I need to get real help. I need the time to figure out what that looks like. I have an appointment Monday with a social worker and a new PCP. I fear that my lack of speaking up before it got this bad, my succumbing to the fear and staying silent in hopes I could get through it alone, the stupidity of knowing damn well that’s not how this works, and getting to the paralysis point before making real moves in the right direction, may have severely damaged my relationship with my coworkers and employer. I lay that down for now, right here. It will have to wait for resolve....(and fucking shit, I hate waiting and not knowing, this is crazy-making...) I need to take it one thing at a time. What is done is done....and all the other fucking mantras that are surprisingly helping me right now (this is a nice change from my usually-cynical demeanor...).
Though I am overwhelmed with fear for what comes next (and I’m not clear on whether I was fired, quit by default for not going in since Monday, or what the actual outcome of my self-defeat will result in yet...) I am hopeful that I can allow myself the grace, compassion and patience, that I so don’t feel deserving of, to address the causes of my current situation without further deteriorating into the hateful thoughts, served up sloppy with seconds, by depression and anxiety. I have to know (be reminded of) that I am not who I am at my hardest times or in my worst ideations of self. I tell others this very thing when they’re in it.....and I’m going to attempt to apply it now, to myself, because I can’t continue to say it if I’m a hypocrite who can’t apply it....I’m calling myself out....(I’m so mad at myself for calling myself out and want to kick myself’s ass right now....)
Wish me luck. Self love is not my strongest trait, but I feel like that is changing. At least, I’m working on it. Always working on it....on all of the things. Thanks, Mighty! I feel a lot less alone in it. It helps to have a venue for which to lay our woes. ##fightforyourrightswhenyouhavethefighttodoso ##imnotalwaysstrongenough #Takingadvantageofamomentoffearlessness #Whoknewhashtagsweresoaddictive ##postthedamnthingalreadyandgofindahug