Struggles & Priorieties: A Balancing Act

Struggles & Priorities: A Balancing Act


Prioritizing and struggling to maintain a cohesive balance with mental illness is something rarely addresses in recovery. There are a lots of traps out there. Addictions, chaos, unfamiliarity,  anxiety, changes, challenges of retaining emotional control, and boundaries are many good examples of how one can get sucked into old patterns.

Old patterns will die hard, and painfully. The more honest we are in our ongoing recovery, and how to throw away the chains that bind takes a lifetime. Don't let that scare you though, as this is going to be for the duration into the foreseeable future.

Priorities are what makes certain situations, tasks, and homework paramount for growth, and success. There is work, and there is time for play, a theme of prioritizing. But, there are struggles apparent with priorities because of unmet expectations of the self, or others, or unclear objectives that get clouded by miscommunication. Because lets face it humans by our very nature are emotional, conflicted, vocal, and aggressive creatures building on selfless or selfish needs.

Yet with communication, and having a good place to build upon each success takes patience, and trust of your situation (self). One of the common problems I've faced is expectation, because there is a whole lot of it out there. Where you might be okay with your situation, or recovery process, someone will often enter into the picture not by chance, but by manner of randomness. Its how we and our illness directs our recourse of mitigating that issue before it manifests into a larger problem.

Priorities are not the end but a process of living with and through mental illness. I can't count how many times I've chosen to recuse myself rather than just get through the event. There are going to be tasks you aren't going to like doing, and no matter the situation or feeling its just the way it is.

Whats broadcasted does influence some degree how priorities are made or kept, but there is a level of truth to which we must adhere towards with recovery and that is: we aren't the target, or the intended audience for that distortion. It brings up the point of the body image issues that young girls are subjected to as an example. But often it becomes an issue because of a taboo or societal conditioning that builds up this expectation.

Ultimately, prioritize what is important to you, if that means getting up, following a set routine then that is okay. I got to say that routines are not the bad guy either, it helps with recovery. Knowing what to expect (to some aspect), to follow your path and inner guidance is also useful. Never be afraid to try out new routines, as life is fluid and free to some extent.

So in this post remember that priorities are all over. Bills, rent, food, job, families, children, spouses, you get the idea. Thanks for reading.

B.