A Weapon Against Fear

Anybody can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy. – Aristotle

 The following excerpts from “I’m Afraid” describe how poetry, a suggestion  I initially rejected,  became part of my arsenal in combating Fear and his progeny.

In my mind, cerebellitis and bipolar disorder were two separate entities that needed to be dealt with one at a time. Dr. Kafrissen disagreed. Depression, denial, anger, and loss were feelings common to any disability, he said, mental or physical.

He assigned a social worker, Jack, to provide me with additional counseling. Because he believed that the healthy spouse was as much in need of support as the disabled one, Jack asked Laura to attend several of our sessions. – Excerpt from “I’m Afraid”

Since my manic episode and discharge from the hospital, Laura and I were meeting regularly with Jack. One issue that he returned to again and again was anger.

“Considering the roller coaster ride that you’re on, you both must feel angry at times. How do you deal with it?” he asked.

Laura responding first, said, “Sometimes I can control my anger and direct it at the person or thing that deserves it; sometimes I just lose my temper and say things I don’t really mean; and, sometimes, I just swallow it.”

When Jack turned to me, I said, “I rarely express my anger in a controlled way, so I usually swallow it and try to forget it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always stay forgotten. It comes out at the wrong time, and is directed at the wrong person.”

“It’s not healthy to suppress your anger. You need to let it out … to express it,” Jack said.

“It’s also not healthy to yell at people, or punch them in the nose,” he said, smiling. “You have to find a happy, healthy medium. By no means is it easy, but you need to try.”

 When I mentioned something about the seminar, Jack suggested writing, especially poetry, as a therapeutic method of expressing emotions. I told him that I might try it in the future, but the only writing that I intended to pursue at the present time was for the seminar. – Excerpt from “I’m Afraid”

 

This is one of my earlier blogs from my website previously not posted on Facebook.

Check this Page again on Friday, 3/10/2017, to view a new, related blog.

I offer these thoughts for your consideration.

Welcome to my World!

As they say, “Stay tuned for more!”

Do Not Be Afraid!!!