Posted by Dale (207.175.214.135) on February 25, 2000 at 21:48:40:
In Reply to: Class Discussion! posted by Mrs Holloman on February 24, 2000 at 09:28:38:
I may be one of the lucky ones because my episodes haven't lasted more than 7 weeks during the last 17 years. And I get 2 to 3 years in between. So during the episode I stay focused on the day or week that I anticipate the attacks stopping and normal life begining again. Also during the episode I allow myself to become pretty self-centered. I'll refuse to do anything that I don't feel really comfortable doing. Its a sort of responsibility vacation I go on. Normally I carry the load one expects from a guy with a family of 5 who owns his own small business.
Looking back to the early days, 20 years ago, when I was in my early 20s I can't imagine how I made it with my sanity intact. Some would question the validity of that premise, but, nevermind. I went through quite a cronic phase always pretending there was nothing wrong with me. Of course, people would ask why I was stoned in only one eye. Admittedly I had an issue about physical defectiveness that prevented me dealing with it in a more conventional way, long story. In those years I would say my approach to survival was to not acknowledge the beast. Let's pretend this isn't happening and maybe it will go away. It did of course. And I got to think it wouldn't ever come back.
Good question. thank you for asking.