When I think of those with a mental illness (including myself) and their standing in society I think of two words -lack of understanding and our vulnerability.
Why vulnerability? Because by and large our minds are very "open".What you see is what you get, honesty, lack of scheming thoughts. A while ago I wrote a passage on "So what is their mental illness" It centred around those in society that are bullies, whether it is them too that have mental illness undetected.??
So if we are more vulnerable than your average Joe Blow, are we easier to be taken advantaged of? I think so. Is in some cases, our lack of cognitive learning from our childhood made us easy targets?
Here is a few examples I want to share with you.
It was one winter in the northern suburbs of Melbourne when working as a labourer for a telco. The freezing winds lashed the land. My leading hand had the luxury of a closed cabin of the backhoe. I had thermal underwear and coats on. I got a sore throat and flu symptoms. It was so cold I was shaking and wanted to declare sick for the rest of the day. The foreman arrived and asked me what the problem was. As I started explaining that I had flu symptoms he interrupted and told me to board his car to talk. We sat in his car, heater on full. He said "it isnt that cold" and "your sore throat will pass" and "we have to finish that area today". So I replied "so if it isnt that cold why are we sitting here in a heated cabin"? and "you can help by swapping over positions every half hour if finishing is paramount".I wasnt popular.
Another. My ex partner asked me about my hobby- model airplanes. "how much do you think you've spent on your hobby in the last 7 years. I replied "$11,000". She said "are you proud of that expenditure". My reply "yes, compared to the $35,000 we've spent on cigarettes for you"
Of course these examples occur with anybody but I find that my actions of over comforting others , to allow them free reign on subjects is too lax- too obliging. I'm not often like the above examples and those examples are a reflection of planning following extreme discomfort or knowledge of a coming attack.Mostly I never see it coming. I lack defence.
To manage your recovery from your mental illness requires many things. You must learn wit as part of recovery. Failure to do so can give wider implications like the torment that follows if you "let it ride".Stand up for yourself by turning the tables.
Protect yourself by not being an easy target of the hypocrite.
