Limbo: My last post was discarded when i... - Different Strokes

Different Strokes

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Limbo

ObiWanKeslowly profile image
5 Replies

My last post was discarded when i opened the camera app and the page restrarted... Opa, try again.

6 years ago i made a TBI and stroke. With great effort and determination, and a few words had, unbeknownst to me, i was out of rehab in 3 months.

Out of the frying pan, into the fire, as goes the proverbial. Back with my friends, I felt as if I was a hazard with legs. I just wanted to be cool and one of the gang again so i started smoking fags and weed sometimes. This just made me even more of a danger and a responsibility to them, and being oh so english and polite, none of them gave it to me straight.

After a while of breaking my back worrying about being around people and trying to make friends, i gave up. One of the highly affected zones of my mental capacity was relation with people. I didnt know how to cough up anything i wanted to say, and i spent all my energy worrying about what others think about what i do or say, so i was never relaxed!

I spent a long time at home, in my room, as a recluse. I still had to see the others i lived with, but not without gritting my teeth and furrowing my brow. I adopted some antisocial habits, such as masturbating as a means to withdraw from everyone (sort of like a statement that i dont need or want anybody, i think), and foul moods in which i was unapproachable (my response to the closed wall which was everybody, especially family).

This went on for a long time, trapped in my small mind. Mind you, it wasn't all bad. I am a lot of fun for myself, by myself! But i still felt this gaping chasm that was other people in my heart and in my life. So, i set off to different places around the world, looking for honest, sympathetic people, but to no avail!

Its not that i didnt find such people, but that i was too closed in my little box of a head to be aware of anybody else, and i felt all the time like there was this subtle, fundamental piece of the puzzle that i was missing, and even the miserable folk had it and could relate to other people. I was (still am, a little) like the kid who, left out of an adult conversation, desperately wanted to be included.

In both my eyes there is a large blind spot to the side. In my relating to people, as a group, there is a large blind spot to the side. In independent action, planning and impetus to make any move, there is a large blind spot to the side.

Last year i was living abroad but still struggling with little me and his problems. So i set off to india and met with my father to attend some talks of a renowned teacher and have a nice holiday. My plan from the start was, after my dad got his return flight, i would be free and alone and independent in the miraculous land of the heart, India.... Six months on my visa, stupid amounts of money for india (thank you, taxpayers), and a brain that cant see further behind or beyond than yesterday and tomorrow. And i trusted that if my money or communications were to be lost, i was in goOd hands. Freedom.

Dun dun dun! Corona f*cking virus!! My parents, as usual, are fretting about their little slow child who is planning to stay abroad amid the time of CRISIS! I knew i would be just fine if i stayed, such was my trust, but a little unsure of how i would be if i were to return, such was my distrust.

My plans were undettered, although i heard that a lot of family would join us to outlast the quarantine. That is, until i watched Will Smith's Seven Pounds on the hotel TV. This inspired me to think deeply on selfish or selfless action. I reasoned that my family needed me, even if I didn't need them. So i just about managed to nab a ticket, from the last few days before india's quarantine, back home.

I have run a bit astray, so I will endeavour to be more concise from here on.

Back with family now, there is quite the little tribe of us clanging our pots and pans together. This was a very special time, to be with family while they are unburdened of work and together in such numbers for such a span of days. Other than that it was a bit gruelling to come back home to everyone and everything that i am used to...

The first quarantine had ended, and I had just been meeting up with a few of my old friends. This was very nice because immediately i felt the benefit to my confidence of letting go of the scorn of them, and what's more, i even remained quite confident with strangers and in groups, whereas before i would sink into the oblivion of my social blindness in response to these situations. Calm, even if i said or did something unprotocol!

What a freedom! That box is ticked! Hello, world outside!....

Not so fast, sonny-jim. I am still now struggling with initiation, although i have had a few bright ideas to enter the world again. I feel that i need it to be some distance from family and the haunting of the strings that i fear that they can pull. And this covid business is taking a dump right on my availability for change!

All i want is to be over this period, so that i can get on with it and share my love with the world that i have been accumulating in the store house. But i have the feeling that i cant, or dont want to, do this while i still have any ties to family, for they all know me as the small-me, and fit me into this box. And still they intrude on me with their unwelcome, impure curiosity. My therapist was advising me to allow the flow of the energy of F*CK OFF!!! Haha.

But maybe this being closed to family might be a hurdle i must vault, to make my way outside to my very own life. The kind-of-plan or secret wish of mine is to bust out, go through a bunch of stuff alone, without them, then return many years later to let my family really see me. This sounds like a fairy tale. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that everyone knew all along, and they're just egging me on 'til i do it.... Or maybe they're trying to crack me open here, and then they will let me out of the spider's web.

I don't know, I don't care. I just feel like i should be gliding on my own wings now, and some tendency to stagnate, or perhaps a witch's curse, is tying me down, still. But for now i will just try and enjoy my time, wherever i am or am not, and remain as authentic as the mountain inside, even if i can't express it through all the snow!

Thank you so much for reading my nonsense. I welcome any feedback, and if you are another one who is stuck in some strange limbo, or you have anything to say, i would love to hear from you.

From a storehouse of love,

C

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ObiWanKeslowly profile image
ObiWanKeslowly
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5 Replies
Wittycjt profile image
Wittycjt

Take a breath. You still need time to heal...sorry you just cant rush that along. I know it “seems” frustrating but your body and mind can only do what its ready to do when it’s ready. Its okay to take time for yourself but keep in mind that those who love you are concerned for you...their timing may not be correct but they believe they are behaving in your best interest. No matter what they say, if they have not had a stroke they do not understand. The brain heals in its own way, in it’s own time. That doesnt mean for you to just give up or hide away....but remind yourself you must be patient and do what is good for you and try to be tolerant of those who think they can or are trying to help. It can be frustrating i know, been there, still doing that. I must say...i stand firm on my convictions and have had to remind them, nicely: “No matter what you think, you are not me, you have not had a stroke so you dont understand”. Now i will remind you: your mind believes what you tell it, tell it good positive things...I can do this, i will do that, i have done this, i can accomplish that. I hope this makes sense? You will be able to fly!

ObiWanKeslowly profile image
ObiWanKeslowly in reply to Wittycjt

thank you, it makes good sense.

Wittycjt profile image
Wittycjt in reply to ObiWanKeslowly

Doing any better now

nilosalamat50 profile image
nilosalamat50 in reply to Wittycjt

Hello Cindy I just want to know if the perispinal etanercept treatment is long lasting. I'm a 6 month stroke survivor and I'm interested with the treatment. Was your stroke a ischemic? Had the clot removed during the stroke attack? Hope you reply. It will surely help me decide to proceed with the perispinal etanercept. Thanks. Nilo

Wittycjt profile image
Wittycjt in reply to nilosalamat50

I think you messaged me and we talked correct- youre in the Phillipines?

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