Member Writing and Poetry
(Identities changed for privacy purposes)

 


(This is a wonderful metaphor written by a member about the mental health system and how Find the Light Online Support Group has helped in maneuvering through the process. It is an excellent depiction of our very supportive, caring group. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we have. No names are mentioned to allow for privacy. The member has given permission to publish.)

“Feeling Invisible” A Metaphor

Most people seem to be motoring along every day, taking the potholes as they come, annoyed at some other drivers, but generally overall, enjoying the trip--I don't feel I'm there. Instead I'm in the ditch waiting for the auto club.

Obviously I need help out of the ditch. I'm not a complete weakling, but getting unstuck from the ditch is more than I can do on my own. So I call for help and I wait...and wait...and wait...While I understand that there was a 5 car pile up down the road, someone struck a pedestrian around the corner, an old lady's car caught fire a mile away...I still need help. It makes sense that those people are helped first, but what am I to do besides wait?

Getting fed up, I get back in the car and try to put it in drive and reverse alternately to try to rock myself out--no good. I've only spun holes in the mud and got myself more stuck. I go to the rear and try to use all my weight to push the vehicle. Not gonna budge. I go roadside and try to flag people down. Most don't know me and are wary so they keep on driving. A couple who do stop, check out the situation only to agree that I'm stuck, and try more of the same that didn't help me in the first place. They can't call anyone for me, those who know I need help are out helping others with more dire need. So they give up, say they're sorry they couldn't help, and drive off.

Finally, someone who can help shows up, but I'm not a member, don't have the cash to pay b/c they don't take credit cards, they need different equipment for my type of situation, or I am a member but my membership doesn't cover the predicament I'm in.

Are you injured? Are you alright? Are you HURT? No, sorry, you're going to have to wait some more until the bigger truck can get here. They can drop me off somewhere, but that still doesn't get my ride out of the ditch.

And I get down on myself. I WANT to get out of the ditch myself. Wish I never got there in the first place, but if I could, I would. I don't like the feeling of needing someone to come rescue me. Ideally, give me the tools I need so I can do it. But even with instructions and the right tools, I don't know if I'd be able to.

And you can't help thinking, "you know, if I had jumped the ditch and struck the tree on the other side, I'd be out of here by now." I'd have more problems than needing a tow, but I'd have the help. But that's not my style. And so I wait...

Then this van full of people comes along. They're very nice. They have been where I am and can empathize. They pour me some hot cocoa they have with them, tell funny stories, and wait with me. They let me vent about the auto club, about missing time on the road, and ease my anxiety over missing things going on in my life while I'm stuck. They stay until the auto club comes back and tell me that they are always around, stop in and chat with them anytime. Out of this horrible nightmare of a day on my journey, I've made some friends. Apparently even when you're stuck, there are choices involving how you spend your time there.

As they pull away, I read the license plate on the van, "FTL4U".

Limerick for My New Friends

There once was a whole bunch of folk,
A bunch of women and an occasional bloke,
Our struggle with depression,
Became an obsession,
We felt like something was broke.

We couldn't get out of bed;
We struggled to find the right med,
Our true selves had died,
We constantly cried,
And we couldn't feel right in the head.

Cheer up, said a friend,
You act like it's the end,
They couldn't understand,
How to give us a hand,
So to get by we had to pretend.

Now I know what you're all guessing,
This is sounding pretty depressing,
Don't get out of joint,
I do have a point,
This really is a mixed blessing!

So, along came a lady on the net,
Who said, I can help those people I bet!
She set up a site,
Called Find The Light,
And she hasn't stopped helping us yet!

In the end the moral of my tale,
Is when you feel the most frail,
Please don't give up hope,
There are many ways to cope,
Your friends here will not let you fail.

 

 Last update: August 3, 2010