THE MEETING
I called the helpline and spoke to Andy. He was kind and inviting. He directed me to an organized group of people that meet once a week who were "one of us". I wanted to attend regardless of the anxiety and fear of the unknown. Driving there I was sure I would be on time despite the confusing directions.
Take the parking garage to the right, go straight, then into the building, take a right past the lobby, then a left, then a right, then look for the 2nd to 3rd door down.
I was lost in the parking garage literally going around and around. I was confused and panicking. I suddenly stopped my vehicle and began to breathe rapidly. My heart was pounding so fast I grabbed my chest and the thoughts began racing.
I should get out of here.
THIS IS A SIGN.
What was I thinking. These people have an established group and I know how that is when a newbie walks in. After all, I was the President of the "Let's talk about people to take the focus off of me" club.
OMG. OMG. OMG.
I can't even find the building let alone the classroom door!
BEEP! BEEP! I looked up in the rear view mirror realizing there I was parked in the middle of the roadway and a car cannot get around me. I made up my mind I was going to find my way out of the garage and head towards home. As I made my way out of the garage, I kept hearing a voice telling me
Just Go. Late or not. You will not survive this disease. YOU WILL DIE.
I finally found the building and walked through the massive glass doors which proceeded with an empty lobby which was dimly lit. My thoughts echoed in the contemporary entryway. The floors so polished I could see my reflection which I got lost in for just a second not recognizing the girl looking back at me. There was a door to the right, who knew what was behind it. A hallway to the left with dozens of doors. I decided the hallway was the optimal choice since I could visually see doors. It seemed as though the more steps I took there were more hallways with doors. I was petrified and anxiety was kicking in and kicking my ass. I stopped walking. I stood still in the middle of the hallway as if in an intersection of nameless corridors and rooms. Everything was silent and I could hear my breath. I crumpled the directions which were moist from sweaty palms. I looked down the long hallways and they appeared to grow longer as the anxiety grew. Actually viewing my surroundings watching them physically change dimensional shape and form is very freighting to say the least. Anger started to fill my mind as I uttered a few foul words quietly. Damnit! WHERE is the room? Storming down the hallway directly in front of me determined to find this group. I counted the doors as they passed one after another, each one just as black and silent as the one before. It seems like slow motion as I approached the last door on the right with the light on. I slowly opened the door and took inventory of the entire room. Colors, faces, hair, gender and any open seats. The group smiled, kept talking and pointed out one more open seat. A very calm welcoming director gracefully pulled the chair out and said "welcome, please sit". I sat down and immediately pushed my chair back away from the long conference table and took out my notebook.
I began sketching the geometric shape of the table, labeling the members and their disorders as they spoke. They all talked with an exuberant amount of honesty and humility. As the two hours passed it came my turn to share. I just cried and told them how scared I am and the fact that they are here actually dealing with the very same thing was an amazing gift they had already given me. They were all reassuring me that the acceptance stage was the most difficult but that it would get easier. They were proof. They were comforting and reassuring. They seemed so experienced in the midst of their disease. The amazing thing is they all looked normal. With the awful stigma surrounding bipolar and general mental illness I figured "they" would be dirty, slurring, un-educated and non-productive. I was relieved to see
NORMAL. PRETTY. HANDSOME. REAL.
This single group has saved my life and I find myself looking forward to it every week!
Please reach out to a local group.
It's just a Google away.
