December 27, 2007
It's that time of year again
The end of a year also marks a new beginning; for many people, it is a time for personal reflection, assessment, and goal setting. I have been treading water in 2007, with two children, a full time job, and household concerns. I have spent the last few days reflecting on the past year and, in particular, on my goals: what I've achieved and where I still need to see improvement.
For people who suffer from mental health disorders, goal-setting, prioritizing, and all the tasks related to life planning and high functioning, can seem overwhelming. If you look too closely at the big picture, you may feel that your goals are unattainable. I have noticed that many parents, not just parents with depression et al., struggle with five main areas of functioning: Framework, Fitness, Focus, Finances, and Fun.
A lack of time, having to work as part of a team as opposed to concentrating on individual endeavors, and generally thin resources all contribute to functioning angst. Improving these areas of functioning, however, will make it easier to conquer larger goals, including the ultimate goal of general high function.
These areas of functioning flow into each other in a cycle (hey, another cycle, just what the bipolar parents need). Each area builds on the others, making the whole stronger.
The Framework is your system of organization, routine, and scheduling that helps you to identify priorities, goals, and tasks, and plan out your day. Constructing a strong framework will help you to find the time in your day for Fitness.
Fitness will help give you the energy you need to keep up with the work and, together with your Framework, will help you to Focus.
Focus improves our ability to perform tasks well and keep track of what has already been accomplished and what remains to be done.
Once you have Framework, Fitness, and Focus, it is easier to identify problems and troubleshoot them--you will have your priorities set, the ability to create an action list, and the endurance and drive to look for solutions to increasingly complicated issues. This groundwork is necessary for the fourth area of functioning, Finance. Many families are broken apart because of financial insecurity and arguments around money. Do not underestimate the power of financial security in mental health and building strong families. I do not mean accumulating wealth, I mean knowing how much money is coming in, how much is being spent, when it is being spent, on what it is being spent, and perhaps most importantly, WHY it is being spent. Eventually, it can lead to saving and accumulating wealth, or it can mean cutting back on unnecessary expenses or seeking other sources of income. In all cases it means being honest with oneself and not avoiding bills, debt, or spending like there's no tomorrow. Bipolar parents, this is an especially important lesson for you, since many of us struggle with managing money during bouts of mania or depression.
If you're physically unhealthy, you will be mentally unhealthy and unable to maintain your framework. For many of us, no plan means no focus and no function. For many of us, it leads to financial problems which increase our mental health problems exponentially and can hamstring our later attempts to seek help. Without a functioning system, there will be little enjoyment of life, no Fun; depressive episodes increase in frequency and duration.
I am not saying that if you just have a system, that you will suddenly be cured and never have a care in the world, but what I am saying is that good mental health thrives in the right environment. An environment that is organized and fit will certainly encourage functioning, and help you marshal resources when you're having a downswing.
What does 2008 have in store for any of us? No one can truly know for certain, so we have to try to plan for many contingencies and simply prepare our minds and bodies for whatever rigors of life we may encounter.
Posted by lunasmom at 11:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack