[venusss]

I recently seen few people react to a lot of pressure by totaly not being able to handle it............ while me, the crazy one..... I seem to posses this acquired calmness. Maybe having been through dark times, I don't see things so tragically as somebody who encounters some greater trouble for the first time. Maybe I been forced to learn to cope, so cope I can.

I thought I was sensitive to stress..... but I seem to be doing comparetedly well. And eh, the others even thing I am this supercalm creature, since I learned not to learn my emotions show. Apparently that can be used as weapong too.

So maybe i should be thankful for all the trials.

I think you are right in a sense. I seem to be able to handle a lot of situations that some people break under. On that same note, I also snap in situations most normal people could handle..

[RisuNeko]

I can relate completely. Everyone I know thinks I'm super calm and emotionally stable because things that would upset an average person are nothing to me in comparison to what I've been through in the past, and like you, I've learned to hide my emotions when I'm not doing well. It is a really effective coping strategy. I feel like it makes us more empathetic as well because we know what it feels like to be struggling. That's the main reason I'm going into a "helping" career and why I'm a caregiver now.

[~Christina]

Pretty much proves you are a very strong person.Most people I know learned to be strong the same way ... Suchs you have had to go through many trial and often pure hell, but you have.

So from one "crazy to another ... lets rejoice in it all

Originally Posted by venusss

I recently seen few people react to a lot of pressure by totaly not being able to handle it............ while me, the crazy one..... I seem to posses this acquired calmness. Maybe having been through dark times, I don't see things so tragically as somebody who encounters some greater trouble for the first time. Maybe I been forced to learn to cope, so cope I can.
...
So maybe i should be thankful for all the trials.

Might as well get something good from them.

Originally Posted by ChaoticInsanity

... I seem to be able to handle a lot of situations that some people break under. On that same note, I also snap in situations most normal people could handle..

I relate to this VERY much.

Ahhhh, Toughing It Through, I know you all too well….Through the dark, troubles and trials. Keeping it together when it's not. Always keeping the cards close, never letting on how bad it is. Doing what has to be done regardless. Ugh. No lack of experience there. It is also possible that someone cracks not because something is new and unfamiliar, but from the wear and tear of the enduring. That's kind of where I'm at these days. After half a century, throw in some physical decline challenge and…. well, yeah, there are some cracks in the shell. Sigh.

We learn some stuff that gives a different perspective. And there's plenty of opportunity for practicing one's mask.

I think it depends too, on what the pressure is. And how someone is doing when it starts. Is it sudden? Does it build? How intense is it? Is it from people being in your face? Situations? Can you let it be and it will pass or is it unrelenting? Is it something that has taken you by surprise or is it something you can see coming? Is it time pressure? Expectations? Deadlines? Is it one thing, or are you getting dog-piled by it from every direction?

[scatterbrained04]

I would agree that we can handle some things better.

After awhile, I've gotten pretty good at handling depression for sure. I suspect most of us can handle it better than someone who has never or rarely been depressed.

Being bipolar has definitely given me tools to be able to handle all the crazy stuff that I sometimes have to deal with in regards to my son.

It's a lot easier for me not to sweat the small stuff. Unless I'm irritable. Then the small stuff becomes big stuff.

[emgreen]

You're one of the most together women on the boards, venusss.

[indigoChild337]

Venuss,
Absolutely, strength assigns our pain a function. In my case, to better help others. I will say, however, that I remain intensely sensitive to stress and upheaval. Unless I have the fortunate indifference of depression. By that I mean, a complete lack of concern. I am still learning to calm myself down and cope differently. I am glad you have found some peace. That is a big step.

Congratulations on handling these stressors well. Yes, I do believe dealing with mental illness makes us stronger. We fight a daily battle, which most can only imagine.

It's good to look at the positives when you can. I'm glad you found a silver lining.

Sorry, a bit dopey for this post. But I am one of the most calm people to be around in a crisis. When there have been accidents, injuries, deaths, quick decisions, I am the most level headed person on the scene. I am constantly told I am the most sane person in my family, yet the only one with a diagnosed mental illness.

What Innerzone said - yep yep yep

Keep up the good work Venuss, and look after yourself so this event doesnt catch up to you.

[Trippin2.0]

I know what you mean V, sometimes I hear someone whine or panic about something mundane and I'm thinking "Pssssht, come back and talk to me when you've got real problems"....

Idk, sometimes though, it's not MI related and people are just flipping lucky I guess, nobody close to them has died, they've never had money trouble, let alone scurrying around to find food / rent money, they've never had their heart ripped out and torn to shreds....

I met a girl like that once, well my brother and I did, shortly after our dad and eldest brother died, and we couldn't stand her, she knew no form of disappointment, thought the world is a wonderful place and that we were cynical for not seeing it.

Thing is, we didn't dislike her or anything, we didn't begrudge her her sunny disposition, she was just way too, idk, on a whole different level. It's like she didn't live in the real world at all. We couldn't relate to her.

The reason I'm relaying this particular story, is because neither her nor my brother suffer from MI, yet we both had the same experience with this girl.

Alllll of that being said, I agree, my skin is tough because I've had to deal with more than the regular Joe, and that is ok with me.