Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter

Grief is the Thing with Feathers is a new novel about a family wrestling with grief:

The poetry of this piece of prose demands a poetic response:

Gut-wrenching.

Challenging immediacy; chaotic raw pain.

Need for comfort; need to comfort; need to/forced to grow (up).

Immersive voice, language, rhythm gets in your head, gets in your speech.

Visceral; discomfort; pushing: vastness.

Supports: coping together, coping separately.

Feeling. GRIEF. ANGER. VIOLENCE. PAIN. Expressed through the body; expressed through the words in this book. 

Unlike any other novel or memoir on grief this text tells you nothing.  But it shows you everything.  The pain and anger and violence and chaos of grief is not told, but shown to you and felt by you.  

I have never felt less alone in my grief.  I hope it helps you feel the same. 

Help Lending Your Self a Hand

 

I was having an off day and trying to stop beating myself up.  A friend kindly reminded me that it is "normal" to be tired on the weekend sometimes, and not do all the projects and chores you wanted to do.  I am a person.  You are a person.  It is ok.  So to make my new found person-ness stick in my brain I drew the above on my hand.

Someone can tell me to "be my own best friend" until said person is blue in the face, and it still will not sink in.  But this works sometimes:

• Stop.
• Come to a Full Stop.
• Imagine your best friend.
• He/she is very upset, maybe even crying.
• You ask your best friend to tell you what is wrong.
• You hear your best friend say all these horrible things about his/her self (insert what you are currently thinking about your self here).
• Now imagine what YOU would say to your BEST friend who shared all this with you.

Depression: A Primer by Ellen

This is a great little illustrated book that goes over the depression basics.  So whether you've been recently diagnosed or you want to understand what a loved one is going through, this book is great. She not only covers what depression is like but hits on the different kinds of depression and different kinds of treatments.  A fantastic quick read.

Meditation vs. Medication: A Graphic Essay

Here is a short graphic essay by Deanna Zandt.  Struggling with depression and anxiety is hard enough without fighting an epic internal struggle about medicating.  This graphic gives a helpful perspective on the subject.  Reminder: You are not weak.  You are fighting a disease.  There is no shame in taking medication.

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Oh my gods!  I can not begin to describe how wonderful this book is! I laughed so hard I cried; I hurt my face and back; I almost peed myself on the subway! If you are in a dark place and need a laugh, or hug, or support you will find it all in Lawson's new book.  I have never had a book make me smile so much.  She has been down in the guck and the mire.  Whether it's depression or anxiety she has been there.  And she is there with you.  Please read this book.  Thanks to Furiously Happy I know I am not alone and I now have an arsenal of funny happy memories to help me fight my monsters.

"Everything is Awful and I'm Not Okay: questions to ask before giving up"

This is a random document I found on Facebook one day. The questions are really accurate. It truly is amazing how much small items can make you feel better. Remember: stay hydrated...and fed.

Introductions 2.0

As promised I give you my revised introduction:
 
I want this to be a resource, providing short reviews about helpful books, websites, and other sources on grief, depression, and anxiety.  And as I get braver and bolder I will share my story.  I could be smart about this and make the blog be specifically about depression, or anxiety, or grief. But for me the three are so interconnected and entwined separating the tools for each would be disingenuous.

Above all I want to be honest.

For ease of access I will designate each resource for people looking for a specific topic.  And I will keep the posts short and to the point.  I can not focus well or for long when I'm in the middle of a depression, episode of anxiety, or grief wave.  It is unfair to ask you to.

As my therapist would say,"Aren't you doing this because this is what you wanted for yourself?"

   
Yes. Yes it is.