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You and Me by Debbie Sesula

Topics Discussed

0:24 – Do You Do This To Yourself?
0:44 – Does Being Tired Mean You Are Depressed?
1:01 – Does Being Overly Excited Mean You Are Manic?
1:29 – Take a Step Back

This poem illustrates the frustration that a lot of people who have mental health problems have experienced. It is aimed at helping people understand others.

However, I find that the real power in this power is how I relate to myself.

by Debbie Sesula

If you’re overly excited
You’re happy
If I’m overly excited
I’m manic.

If you imagine the phone ringing
You’re stressed out
If I imagine the phone ringing
I’m psychotic.

If you’re crying and sleeping all day
You’re sad and need time out
If I’m crying and sleeping all day
I’m depressed and need to get up.

If you’re afraid to leave your house at night
You’re cautious
If I’m afraid to leave my house at night
I’m paranoid.

If you speak your mind and express your opinions
You’re assertive
If I speak my mind and express my opinions
I’m aggressive.

If you don’t like something and mention it
You’re being honest
If I don’t like something and mention it
I’m being difficult.

If you get angry
You’re considered upset
If I get angry
I’m considered dangerous.

If you over-react to something
You’re sensitive
If I over-react to something
I’m out of control.

If you don’t want to be around others
You’re taking care of yourself and relaxing
If I don’t want to be around others
I’m isolating myself and avoiding.

If you talk to strangers
You’re being friendly
If I talk to strangers
I’m being inappropriate.

For all of the above you’re not told to take a
pill or are hospitalized, but I am!

This represents the stigma people often feel by other people.  But what about your own thoughts?

Are you doing this to yourself?

Sometimes it’s us labeling ourselves. When you get excited do you think you’re getting manic? On a day that you are sad do you think you have depression?

One of the most important steps for me in my recovery was when I started to distance myself from the definition of depression. If I really do get depressed, I can see it.

If I label any form of sadness that arises as depression that starts a downward spiral.

Obviously there is a fine line between isolating yourself out of depression and isolating yourself because you want to be by yourself. Being able to recognize which one it is can free you of limiting thoughts.

Not only can you rise above depression, but once you do, keep going, and be careful about labeling every mood change as related to your “diagnosis.”