Posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 4, 2003, at 14:55:58
In reply to How much do your moods define you?, posted by Dinah on February 3, 2003, at 21:39:52
> I think I have trouble seeing myself consistently as the same person with different moods. I don't think "I am Dinah, and I'm not feeling terribly sociable today." or "I am Dinah, and I feel like chatting today." Instead I think "I am Dinah, a person who doesn't like to socialize." or "I am Dinah, who enjoys interaction." I don't know if this makes a whole lot of sense.
---------------------When you can't rely on your mind to be in the same state from day to day, it gets very hard to identify with any of the particular days, and mindsets. Similarly, if your face changed appearance(literally) from day to day, you wouldn't have any idea what you looked like. Without consistancy, there's nothing to identify with. It's horrible. I know that I can have a Monday where I feel apathetic and sad, then a Tuesday where I feel socialable and witty, and then a Wednesday where I feel nothing. Not being able to rely on some benchmark of mood makes it difficult to deal with people, as you've mentioned. People expect you to be roughly the same from day to day, while you know that the relatively chipper Dinah from last week's dinner party can't be summoned at will for next week's, so next week you have to pretend, which confuses things even more. Total disconnect.
I just try to identify truths and values that I know I can always stand by, and not worry about the details of my daily outlook. Given the unreliability of my own feelings, it helps to have supportive people around, because by their own daily expectations and appreciation for you, they can help you maintain a working identity.
poster:Eddie Sylvano
thread:2464
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030203/msgs/2489.html