How social media forces me to step away, and the (my) cycle of mental illness.

Social media is great… especially for people like me who are introverts, but want to keep in touch.

But it gets to be too much sometimes. So I step away. I put my phone on do not disturb, so I don’t constantly see notifications, and I just write, rest, or spend time in nature.

In the process of hurting my back, and doing the things needed to get it healed up, I was sort of forced into a break, but I slowly realized I was needing one anyway.

If you know my story, then you know I struggle with mental health diagnoses, and as much as I would love to be “even keel”, and emotionally leveled out, the fact is I’m not that way.

I’ve been working on my #jeepminicamper and that has been a source of accomplishment, and also a way to distract my mind from morbid thoughts, unrealistic fears, and some depression.

The thing about mental illness, for me anyway, if I don’t manage it right, all of the things I do to distract my mind, come creeping back up if I try to pretend that they aren’t there. So I just deal with it. I put myself in the very present, noting the things around me, what I’m doing, or not doing. What is actually real, and not some illogical thought process that is stemming directly from a ptsd symptom, or a cloud of oppressive depression.

It’s hard. It’s just hard some days. I get tired. I get frustrated, I get angry, I cry. I question everything, I question my life’s worth, I question my worth as a human being, I even guestion the things that bring me peace, wondering if I’m even worth peace.

Those things are the trickery and deception of mental illness. It comes to steal kill and destroy. Destroy families, destroy relationships, friendships, and in worst case it will take your life.

How social media forces me to step away, and the (my) cycle of mental illness.

I’m hyper vigilant…this stems from a home invasion, and domestic violence. But that hyper vigilance seeps into other areas… and compounds symptoms. If I’m going through a cycle of depressive episodes, that hyper vigilance will look for everything that is depressing in my life… logical? Absolutely not, but that’s the cycle some days.

So today’s ramblings are what I’m currently struggling with. I share because I know I’m not alone in struggling with mental health… although I am physically alone, I still want to be open and share, because someone else needs to hear that they are not alone.

You are not alone.

I may not be the best to talk to all the time, but I will listen, and be an ear. Sometimes that’s all a person needs.

So with that, I’m peacin’ out for today.

Thanks for listening. I’m working on a podcast, but it’s new territory for me, so please be patient. Also, please share, like, subscribe if you feel inclined, I would truly appreciate it.

✌️

Click the my picture to see all my social links.

Doer of the Prayers

blurred portrait photo of woman
Doer of the prayers

I was reading some facebook posts that I had posted, and one said something like know your enemy, and know which battles to fight, and which to walk away from.  (That was paraphrased, but you get the gist.)   I have had some interaction with some people through out life and one thing I have noticed is that fear, anger, hurt; all keep people from looking outside the box.  I have done that myself….and thankfully for the grace of God, I wasn’t turned away when I finally pulled my head ouf of my ass and listened.  One of these people has become one of my best friends.  If I had listened to what others had said, we wouldn’t be friends.  Luckily this person has a genuine heart and “took me back” after I had been a stupid dumbass.

chainsaw
Doer of the prayers
https://shassyswalkabout.wordpress.com/SurvivalFrog

Judgement isn’t meant for me to do.  Ignoring someone who is genuinely trying to just say a prayer…isn’t the issue.  That issue is between that person and God.  I pray for some people that I would, instead, rather poke a stick in their eye…. but keep doing it.  God knows my heart already, so he knows I am doing it because He has told me to, not because it’s going to make whomever I pray for a better person.  I know that sounds selfish, but the “doing of the prayers” isn’t up to me, so I’ll leave that to the Boss. What’s up to me is to do what I’m told.  Even when it pisses me off.  And let me tell you, it does sometimes.  My prayers are occasionally loud and angry, but God knows what I mean.  I’m not mad at God, and He knows that….and He is patient enough to let me vent….after all, He made me, so He knows how I feel.

✌️Shassy

Ghosts

Ghosts

Cold ghosts from the grave

Clawing up with rose colored glass

Only to slither under skin

Feeling warm, then reminds of sin

Come at me, defiant one

Trick me with your violent pun

For I will always see

The truth in you

Blackened

Fetching

Luring

The prince you think you are

Not true

For you

Are nothing; death destroying

Disguised as diamonds

Under rotting flesh

Stealing from others

Incapable of feeling

Light shines through your guise

For in reality you are far from wise

So try as you may, to sway and disguise

Truth will prevail

It will be you who dies.

©️shassyswalkabout.com

Ghosts from the past

Flashback

Flashback

Obtrusive words

You bring to me

After a speck of guilt filled kindness sent

Though they weren’t,

They were

Only wanting

Always needing

I push down feelings of betrayal

Once again

You kill me with your presence

Without even being here

Your effervescent light is just trickery

Armor on

Tears repressed

I must realize the facade

Step back

Retract

Breathe deep and weep.

Flashback

©️shassyswalkabout.com

There are times when others only want to talk to us, or see us when we seem to fit into their lives.

There are times when others only want to talk to us, or see us when we seem to fit into their lives.

Our society has conditioned our ever present brains to accept what is put in front of our faces, usually via an electronic device or screen. We post a smiling face, nice house, fancy car, when in reality a lot of our lives are filled with pain, dysfunction and calamity.

Suicide thoughts run rampant among those of us who have had to deal with a lifetime of trauma. Or any trauma. Whether it’s from combat, familial abuse, spousal abuse, or abuse from a stranger. Anything traumatic, that makes a person question their safety, whether it’s emotional, spiritual, mental or physical,WILL CHANGE YOU.

I don’t care what you say. It changes a person. Someone who has experience trauma, will not come out on the other side the same, and a lot of times, they don’t even recognize what’s happening, and have no idea how to deal with it. (Me).

This has been me for the majority of my life. Not knowing what’s wrong, wanting to “fix” it, not understanding why I made horrible choices and decisions, and stumbling through, hiding my pain and ignoring my own emotional well being, thinking that crying, or showing emotion, was considered a weakness.

This year has been a really good year of understanding, self discovery, setting boundaries, forgiveness, mixed in with a range of emotions including extreme anger, heartbreak and acceptance. It’s not a done deal, as life is about change, and since we (me, you) are still here, then the progression will continue.

How much should a person share? Where’s the boundaries? When does it become too much? Or not enough? A lot of people really don’t care when they ask “How ya doin’?” It’s a knee jerk reaction, and honestly, we as humans need to watch our words. I STILL have a hard time with that… thinking that everyone means what they say. They don’t. They are full of shit.

Not every person is an asshole, not every person INTENDS to not mean what they say. But there are people who just provide lip service; they say what they think you want to hear, and walk off. Stay away from those people.

AND, there are genuine, good humans, who say things, then life happens and they, for some reason out of their control, couldn’t follow through, or said something that came out wrong. I’ve done that myself.

We aren’t perfect. Our lives aren’t perfect. We wake up with morning breath, we don’t always shave our legs (haha), we get so depressed that we feel like we would be better off, not alive anymore, or can’t shower, eat, breathe without physical pain. If I posted the 90 bazillion other photos of how I really feel during the day, most days, I’d have someone calling for a welfare check.

I guess I want to normalize being REAL. No, we don’t need to share everything, no one needs to know how many shits you took today… (unless you are in the hospital, or work in the medical field… but that’s another post…lol).

Needing validation is a human necessity, in my opinion, but, it needs to be done in a healthy way, and not filled with falsified “look at my perfect life” Instagram photos, or creating the perfect reel, with the perfect children, skinny perfect wife and hot ripped husband. We need to support each other as humans, perfectly flawed and messed up.

Yes, keep yourself healthy, because we all know that batshit crazy person (people) who’s narcissistic abusive behavior will ruin you. Set your boundaries, and for the love of mud, do not let them move. Flexible, maybe, but have a hard line. That may sound like a bass-ackwards way to describe it, but 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. (I have crisis in my contacts). Don’t be ashamed of not being what society or people think you should be. It’s not their business.

Also, if you’re an asshole, keep being you boo…you’re not fooling anyone.

✌️Everything is here.

There are times

Keywords: there are times, there are time when you might feel aimless, there are times in life lyrics, embittered there are questions unanswered

Scan this code for all my contacts 30 Nov 22

Scan this code for all my contacts. 30 Nov 22
Scan this code
Scan code donation links camper/van fundraiser

This is my centralized location for everything. It’s all here in one place.

You can scan this into your phone, and it will take you right there.

Please considering donating to camper/van fund. All donations are tax deductible and I will have an accountability person, all funds will be open for inspection. Complete transparency where your donations will go.

Just a quick note. My mental health cycles, and I have to take time out some days to cope.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, peace and blessings.

✌️ Shassy

#MoveMePoetryBattle 19 Nov 22

beverage in cup next to open book

#MoveMePoetryBattle 19 Nov 22-Submission

MoveMePoetryBattle
Poetry
19Nov22
#movemepoetrybattle #poetry #writingcommunity

This weeks poetry battle was to use this image writing our poems.

This is my submission.

You can search Twitter hashtags #MoveMePoetry, #writing community to see more submissions from amazing authors and poets.

✌️ Shassy

https://linktr.ee/Hrsygirl

Check @JustGoWild on TikTok, and he’s written a book about his adventures, you can find that book here.

Also, check out my short story. It was written raw and while I was dealing with and extremely difficult PTSD episode. But it’s all true. You can get it here on Barnes and Noble, or HERE on Amazon

“Clock” MoveMePoetry 11-4-22

“Clock” MoveMePoetry

Don’t drip my time

Encase it with chains

Make me feel wetness

On my legs

As you beg

To keep me

One last time

I will not give in

This rattling tin

Of a heart

Is shorn short

Of time

Release me

As I release you

From forever shackles

Man made hackles

Of shine

One

Last

Time

Your clock strikes mine.

MoveMePoetry Medium Poetry Battle Clock writing poetry

©shassyswalkabout.com

NaNoWriMo 50k Words during November

NaNoWriMo 50k words during November

NaNoWriMo shassyswalkabout.com writing poetry
NaNoWriMo poetry writing 50k words shassyswalkabout.com

During the month of November, I am participating in a writing challenge through the non profit called NaNoWriMo. (See link for more info).

NaNoWriMo.org

https://NaNoWriMo.org

This is a challenge where you can network with other writers, the general public, or completely keep your writing private. It runs until the end of November, and the challenge is to write at least 50,000 words. That’s 50k.

I’m at a little over 10k right now.

If you divide it up, it’s writing approximately 2000 words a day. That’s easy to do if you can get in your zone.

Let me know what you think. 😊

If you don’t see much of me on here, that’s why. I’m in my mojo and writing, though I will try to check in and share my progress.

✌️

Shassy

You can click here for all of my sites and info. 😊

(Steaming pile of cow shit)

This time I win (Steaming pile of cow shit)

Cow shit 
I win 
This time


I don’t know how many times I’ve been through this in the last five or six years.  Up the rollar coaster…feeling like I’m king of the mountain…working hard, going to school, smelling the roses….then I crash into a huge pile of fresh hot steaming cow shit. Judas tits…then I climb back up out of the steaming hot pile of cow shit…get myself put back together, which takes a momentous amount of time because when I say I crash…I do it very well. I start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel…and whammy, I’m there!  Yeeeeee haw!  Whoopie I’m here! Wait, what?  Ok….so back to working hard, smelling the roses and all.  Then something happens again, and down I go into a different pile of shit.  Deep down inside I know why this has happened.  My intuition is pretty good.  Or gut feeling, whatever you want to call it.  I’ve spent all this time and energy on trying to ignore what causes my glorious swan dives into piles of fresh shit.

//cdn.refersion.com/creative.js $rfsn_creative.generate(‘refersion_client/61494/creatives/dynamic/99130-0e2861919be5d285c13f0b6a1cea5895.json’, { aid: ‘6892022.191c9e’ });

But this time is different.  I’ve never said THAT before. This time when I climb up out of that shit, I’m going to learn to put my boots on and walk through it, instead of diving head first into it from an abnormally high cosmic altitude of escape.  I’m learning new ways to cope with the reasons I take those dives.  I already knew what those reasons were…but I kept trying to pretend I was “ok”.  No, I’m not “ok”.  I’m hurt and traumatized.  I’m scared and filled with fear.  I live in a world dominated by irrational feelings caused from fear; a world filled with anxiety and panic. Triggers that I should not have to deal with from anyone, at home or at work.  Intimidation and abuse is NOT ok, and it will not be tolerated in my life anymore.  That fear and anxiety may go away some days, or some days it may not.  Either way, there’s going to be new and better ways to handle my life, so that I create a daily way of living that is functional and progressive.  That’s been the biggest issue.  Not admitting what the traumas are, and that I HAVE been affected by them.  Just accepting that fact and getting the right help, has been the biggest and most proactive thing I have done for myself in these last few weeks. I don’t care what you think about why I’ve been gone…or anyone for that matter.

This time is different…this time I win.  🙂

//cdn.refersion.com/creative.js $rfsn_creative.generate(‘refersion_client/61494/creatives/dynamic/99130-0e2861919be5d285c13f0b6a1cea5895.json’, { aid: ‘6892022.191c9e’ });

Click here to get it on.