Friday, March 15, 2013

Five Minute Friday - Rest


It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker


What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.
Set.
Go.

Rest. A four-letter word that means so much to so many different people. I can rest from work now. I can rest from taking care of the kids. I can rest from cleaning the house. I can rest.

With someone with Bipolar Disorder, the rest doesn't come as easy. Especially when you are in a depressive cycle like I am right now. Rest is but a fleeting memory of long ago wishes. Rest means attempting to center myself from a raging beast inside of me. Rest means attempting to calm the beast while I read a "not so stimulating" book, or watch a "not so stimulating" movie to give the beast distraction. Rest means following my action plan. Watching for symptoms. Avoiding triggers.

This isn't my first attempt at soothing this particular amusement park ride. I've lived with Bipolar Disorder for a long time. A very long time. I've had depressive episodes that have lasted only a week and have lasted for over three years. The hard part is never knowing when or how they're going to rear their ugly head.

So, I rest. And enjoy the peacefulness of sanity and stability until it's time to rest no more. Until it's time tame the beast of depression.

Stop.


Click on the Five Minute Friday logo below and see what others have written for their prompt. Have a great day.

Five Minute Friday


19 comments:

Jessica said...

Praying for you.

Mary Jo said...

While I've never had to deal with Bi Polar Disorder personally, I am studying to be a licensed counselor and am working with a group therapy class on this disorder right now. From a clinical side I understand what you're saying, but obviously I've never experienced it first hand. Hope you get to enjoy this season of rest for a very long time. Praying for you. (Here from FMF)

Blond Duck said...

Popped in from SITS! Feel better!

Vicki M. Taylor said...

Jessica, thank you from the prayers.

Mary, Thank you, I hope you never have to deal with Bipolar personally.

Blond Duck. Thanks so much!

Unknown said...

An audible groan escapes my lips and I hurt with you and nod my head with the struggle I cannot pretend to "get" like you do, but that I can empathize on the level of bigger-than-life struggle and stability-seeking, taming ever the lows and rears. Family experience yet still...I can never put your in restraints of saying I get it. Because I can't. I could never. I'm not inside your skin. But I celebrate it. I celebrate you because you're brave and true and you do not hide when so many could but it would be lies and detriment and tragic to hide your beauty and grace. For I can SEE you have leaps of it.
Thank you for baring. For your bravery. My heart is spilling.

Vicki M. Taylor said...

Leigh, I so appreciate your comments. You touched my soul. Thank you.

The Dose of Reality said...

Vicki, we hope this depression cycle is over quickly. This post has shown that a great writer can get so much truth and insight across to readers, even if only given 5 minutes. Thank you. --The Dose Girls

Robin said...

Beautifully said! I fight chronic major depression. I know how that sneaks up on me and how little I can do when it does. I hope you find moments of peace and joy in the middle of the darkness. And I hope the darkness passes quickly. Blessings to you.

Stopping by from SITS.

Vicki M. Taylor said...

Dose Girls, thanks so much. I find that sometimes I can write through the pain and darkness. Even if it is pain and darkness that I write.

Miss Robin, I pray for you and your depression. It really does come and go at its own pace. For no rhyme or reason. I find distraction techniques work for me. I forget for awhile I dark it is.

jamie @ [kreyv] said...

I can't imagine what you're going through, but I hope you feel better soon!

KC @ genxfinance said...

We may not fully understand but we are praying for you.

Kendra Larios-Mendez said...

I've seen first hand the toll that Bipolar Disorder can have on a person. Even on a family. I love that you are so up front and "in your face" about it, even for only 5 minutes. Thank-you for sharing. Happy SITS Day!

Adrienn Hunt said...

Happy SITS day, and thank you for sharing something so personal. You are inspiring.

MamaRabia said...

Thank you for sharing your story. I hope that sharing it is beneficial to you as well as someone else who might read it and need a friend.

Classic NYer said...

Rest is a beautiful thing... even more so for you I imagine. Thanks for sharing.

Julie said...

Thoughts are with you. I hope you get through this rough time. I've dealt with anxiety and ups and downs (one Dr said I had bipolar disorder but another said I don't have that, just a mood disorder and the symptoms of ADHD although no diagnosis) and I have found that reading and exercising helps me with that. I still have my moments but I don't have to take any medicine for anything and I haven't since 2004.

Happy SITS Day to you! Congrats and have a wonderful evening. :)

Julie @ This Gal Cooks

Melissa said...

What a fantastic idea!

Unknown said...

What a peaceful way of relaying your struggles. Knowing what triggers to avoid is key. It took me YEARS to learn what triggered depressive episodes for me. Once I did learn the triggers, at times, I can catch them before I spiral, other times I have to focus really hard to retrace my steps. Happy SITS day.

Blessings~
Alethea

The Real Mom said...

Yep, rest is essential. For people of faith like myself, we even believe that God wants us to take an entire day to rest & just be with Him! Happy SITS day, late.