Came across your post from your link on the conversation. Wanted to let you know I relate. I have Bipolar Disorder - the very definition of an "episodic illness", I guess. I was having trouble putting into words just how devastating the whole episode is when it comes along - not just for the actual mood part of it, but the before and after effects. You described it perfectly. Keeping an eye on that mental weather takes up a hell of a lot of time within itself, right? And on those days when everything is going downhill even the sunlight is too offensive to process, never mind a workplace with other people who you have to be nice to, customers to speak to, phones to answer. It's hard enough to brush your teeth and eat on those days. I guess with me, on the upside, is that with a manic episode I could make up for those months of lost productivity. Hopefully my employer can deal with the months I can't show up to work before that, or the embarrassing situations that are sure to ensue when I get a little bit psychotically manic.
As you said, western capitalism is ill equipped to support anybody that does not provide a well oiled cog in the cost benefit machine and it is not for us. Not for a lack of trying, though.
I hope you are looking after yourself and that somebody gives this government an empathy implant so we can all get on with trying to find a way to live life in the best way possible with these "episodic" illnesses.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Came across your post from your link on the conversation. Wanted to let you know I relate. I have Bipolar Disorder - the very definition of an "episodic illness", I guess. I was having trouble putting into words just how devastating the whole episode is when it comes along - not just for the actual mood part of it, but the before and after effects. You described it perfectly. Keeping an eye on that mental weather takes up a hell of a lot of time within itself, right? And on those days when everything is going downhill even the sunlight is too offensive to process, never mind a workplace with other people who you have to be nice to, customers to speak to, phones to answer. It's hard enough to brush your teeth and eat on those days. I guess with me, on the upside, is that with a manic episode I could make up for those months of lost productivity. Hopefully my employer can deal with the months I can't show up to work before that, or the embarrassing situations that are sure to ensue when I get a little bit psychotically manic.
As you said, western capitalism is ill equipped to support anybody that does not provide a well oiled cog in the cost benefit machine and it is not for us. Not for a lack of trying, though.
I hope you are looking after yourself and that somebody gives this government an empathy implant so we can all get on with trying to find a way to live life in the best way possible with these "episodic" illnesses.