MoonGalSenior Contributor
Friendships and Fractures
There are times when the brain makes things turn inside out. A few words spoken/typed no boundaries in place because I am in an irritable state (mixed state - bi polar - hypomanic with depressive features) becomes a catastrophe in a friendship. It has happened before and will (probably) happen again. I cannot help some states at all. It is emotionally damaging to the other person, to me. I just say a few pointed unguarded and careless words. BANG! Gone and hurt someone I really care for again.
It is the worst part of the bi polar in me. Irritable as I morph into or out of hypomania. Ragged, frazzled boundaries wavering. Over identification with the person, taking something personally instead of from a distance. It hurts them. It hurts me.
No matter how much I AM in myself and ‘behave’ in the ways other’s expect when I am in that irritable out-of-myself state something WILL go wrong. My love and partner knows it, knows how to manage it, others cannot see on social media what my state is they see only what they percieve as hurtful words. I could take them back if I could I would redo it all differently if I could.
Not an excuse just what happens. It is hard to maintain friendships when a person cannot see or perhaps does not care what is going on for me in a moment of time. And takes what I said personally. Reaction occurs. I make it worse. They pour fuel on my fire. Conflagration. Within hours of days I am back in my right mind. And I have this fractured friendship legacy to mend or mourn if the former is not possible.
I have been thinking about the incident and all the follow up backwards and forwards constantly, over thinking, one minute hurt, next angry, next gutted... I woke up at 5am again today, and immeditely my thinking ran away with me, crying, out of bed by 5.21am - trying hard to get a grip. But I want to say to this person, give me a break! I was not WELL when I said what I said, make an allowance. But apparently despite trying to say that I am "not taking responsibility". I have so few friends, I am intense and over identify with people who are nice to me, but right now I feel manipulated by this person.
Why do a few angry words end up in thinking hell, but no matter how many nice things said, shared, how much in common, how much laughter - all gets blown away by one moment of intemperance. It was not even 'personal' I just took the person to task for using mental illness as a slur against someone. I feel broken.
I SHOULD have read a novel instead of getting on social media. I hope I can catch myself next time, say "No fit state right now to engage safely" and just read instead. You don't ever end up falling out with a book.