Comments on Wellness Writer: What is Preventing You from Getting Well?

Rob,Thanks for sharing the quote and thanks for yo...

2008-07-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

Rob,
Thanks for sharing the quote and thanks for your kind words. When one is as sick as I was, it's important to find meaning in the experience.

The only reason I can give for having been ill for so many years is now that I'm well, I can use my writing ability and my understanding of the illness to help others.

Susan

Susan,I read through the comments and this quote s...

2008-07-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

Susan,

I read through the comments and this quote seems appropriate.

“Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”

I have not been reading your blog long, but I find it has depth and substance. You clearly enjoy helping others.

This is a very good topic. I'm at a loss to answer the

Mary,I think it's just feeling any little sense of...

2008-07-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

Mary,
I think it's just feeling any little sense of accomplishment. And accomplishment is relative. When I was terribly ill, vacuuming seemed like a fine accomplishment, and if I could just do the living room, well, that was better than nothing.

Of course, I see your poems in a far different way. I used to feel poetry was just another form of writing to heal, but after reading Poetic

I so agree with you Susan. I remember the days wh...

2008-07-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

I so agree with you Susan. I remember the days when I couldn't get out of bed, how sad I felt. Even now when I mope around I feel awful inside, but when I do the littlest thing, like I just finished doing, vacuuming, I did feel a little better inside. Writing my poems helps me also. I know I have a long road to cover yet, but I hope and pray someday I will get there, and feel free again..Mary

Jazz,When I talk to others who are depressed, and ...

2008-07-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

Jazz,
When I talk to others who are depressed, and read blogs where people are going through a difficult patch, I want to say, "Force yourself to take one baby step toward wellness every day."

A baby step can be getting up, showering, and getting dressed even if they have to go to bed for the next four hours.

It can be cleaning off a table that's cluttered, watering a plant,

Susan--Oh, I agree, there are always little stumbl...

2008-07-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

Susan--
Oh, I agree, there are always little stumbling blocks that feel insurmountable, but if we can just take some positive actions--like you did by sending out a bunch of book proposals--suddenly things don't seem so bad, because rather than sitting back passively and saying "No one wants my stuff" you've taken action yourself to move things forward. And a lot of times, just that feeling

Jazz,Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Wha...

2008-07-08T08:39:00.000-07:00

Jazz,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. What was interesting for me--and as you know, I share your views on medication--was that I looked at the question as "What is preventing you from getting well at this moment in time?"

And, at that particular moment, I felt that the things that were truly holding me back were the following:
1. Because of erratic behavior that was

Susan--I hate collages with a passion, but I can a...

2008-07-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

Susan--
I hate collages with a passion, but I can answer in writing better anyway... I think what kept me from taking matters into my own hands and getting well for the years I was on meds was partly that the mainstream information that is out there is completely supportive of the medication-for-life mindset, and that was all the information I had. You know yourself what a hopeless, dismal

Dear Marja,I'll be interested to know how it works...

2008-07-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Marja,
I'll be interested to know how it works out.

Susan

What a great idea, Susan. I had a plan to do somet...

2008-07-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

What a great idea, Susan. I had a plan to do something similar at Living Room this Friday - but writing instead. Will have members take some time to think about it and write down what helps them to be well. Then we will compare notes and discuss.