Humanity

Why write about my mental illness 🤪

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Why write about my mental illness 🤪

Mental illness is not shameful they want you know. It’s not wrong to ask for help. Then why are people so secretive and embarrassed about it? If it’s so darn common, and doesn’t make you a bad person, then why be afraid to talk about? Isn’t it better to blow off the stigma by admitting that you have problems in your own life, but you are trying to learn and become a better person?

None of us are perfect. All of us struggle a bit on our lives, and it’s good to be honest about who you are and what you believe. I don’t think there is anything wrong with documenting where I am now and how I’m trying to improve myself and my life as I work towards a better tomorrow, through a combination of reading, watching and listening to Youtube videos, and in-person mental health counseling.

Self-introspection is a good thing. Why do I believe the things I do? Why am I so set in doing this certain ways, what are my cognitive biases? How can I overcome my biases to have a better perspective on the world? How I can become better at my presenting myself in the room, be better at taking appropriate risks? After all, there is no gain if there is no risk. Life is like markets, there is a lot of reward to taking more calculated risks and not fearing everything. A calculated risk not taken is an opportunity missed.

Most mental illness is kind of silly, as my therapist likes to point out. Whether it’s needless worry, obsessive thoughts, or risk aversion it’s mostly is non-harmful and you could probably live with it forever as you have from years past. Especially if it involves mostly low risk activities. But like an engine out of tune, you can run, but you won’t run smoothly or at peak efficiency. After all, the flywheel will keep an engine running even if it’s misfiring. That’s why it’s important to learn about my cognitive biases, and seek advice from a wide variety of trustworthy sources that can have keys to unlocking a better future.

This year seems like the time was right to finally fully address my long-term problems I’ve had with mental well-being. I have the nice corner office downtown and good salary at work. I am saving and investing, and that off-grid homestead I want is not that far in the future if I can stay the course. But I want to do better, and I can do better if I try.

The danger of catastrophicizing and missed opportunities

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The danger of catastrophicizing and missed opportunities

One of the issues I find lately is catastrophicizing, the unfounded and unrealistic worries that I have about small problems, that if left unaddressed could lead to bigger problems. But also that might not be worthwhile to address immediately. The video I shared a bit earlier because I found it kind of interesting — it’s something I’ve been talking about with my therapist and it’s something I’m trying to avoid more in my life.

I am pretty good at doing cost-benefit analysis and a times keeping things in context. But I am also a vivid news consumer and smart enough to know there are real risks out there in the world. Preventative maintenance is important, but also not every problem need be fixed immediately. Professionally, I am aware of set boundaries and procedures, but in my own personal life, I often find it more difficult to know what boundaries and what risk to take.

But at the same time, I’ve become so darn risk adverse. I think this video is a reminder that it’s important to take risks, not be so conservative. A risk not taken is a possibly missed. Avoid all risks means you pass up on a lot of good that can come from taking more risks. It can be downright depressing if you dwell on risks and don’t take some risk. The worse isn’t likely to happen, and if it does, I am a lot more affluent and able to take harm then people who are living much closer to the margins.

Goats and Soda : NPR

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Cancer Risks Increase With Alcohol Use, Leading To Over 740,000 Cases Last Year : Goats and Soda : NPR

"Fewer than one in three Americans recognize alcohol as a cause of cancer," says Harriet Rumgay, researcher at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization. "That's similar in other high-income countries, and it's probably even lower in other parts of the world."

A new study shows just how much of a risk drinking can be. At least 4% of the world's newly diagnosed cases of esophageal, mouth, larynx, colon, rectum, liver and breast cancers in 2020, or 741,300 people, can be attributed to drinking alcohol, according to a study in the July 13 edition of Lancet Oncology. Men accounted for three-quarters of alcohol-related cancers. Of the 172,600 alcohol-related cancer cases diagnosed in women, the vast majority, or 98,300 cases, were breast cancer.

The Wind Cries Mary

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The Wind Cries Mary this summer

I think it’s wonderful that they have legalized marijuana. While I don’t smoke, I really don’tmind occasionally smelling it in the woods and on the air in the parks. If people want to smoke in the park, then all the more power to them.