Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Fog (a freewrite)

I sincerely considered hiding this post- it is very raw and I feel very vulnerable exposing it.----

Right now my thoughts and feelings have no verbal form. They are an thick fog creating a huge block in my mind- useless yet still opaque, interfering with productive thoughts or actions. I hope the process of writing will help me sort them out.

I am scheduled for my first achitecture tour on the 28th. I am considering quitting the museum altogether. I am so paralyzed by it, this intrusive grey fog, that I can't plan the tours. When I volunteered I thought I would recite scripts, but the position requires creativity, research and planning. The anxiety was so strong during training that one of the ladies who unofficially mentored me thought I would quit. Well I showed her by passing, but this strong anxiety is the same kind I have relating to school, if I can't break through that- readjust my perception, than I am fighting a losing battle.

Thats the big thing- I am seeing the museum the same way I see school. When I think of school I have immediate associations of failure and humiliation. The failure is my grades, I have always been smart and excited about learning, but never had been able to follow through on anything. It has always been the anxiety.

The humiliation is from the normal teasing that kids recieve when they are young, I was a target in elementary and Jr. High, but since I am so sensitive I made a point to change myself to blend in as much as possible, so even though the overt teasing had stopped I was always hyper-aware, always waiting for the joke at my expense, even creating slights that weren't even intended that way.

I stopped school in 2002, my willpower alone had pushed me to not give up, until I was so bruised and bloodied, from fighting my anxiety, that I fell to pieces. (Having success dangled in my face didn't help matters much) Its a good thing that I want to quit the museum right now, it means I am confronting reality, that this anxiety is going to beat the shit out of me with this position if I don't come up with an alternative, and based on my success with ativan, it is possible that the problem may be chemical.

I am so enraged right now. This pisses me off. I want success too. I want accomplisments too. I feel like it has been granted to others and not to me. I am pissed because if effort, will, and motivation were what was rewarded, I would have success beyond my wildest dreams, but its not the effort that counts, its the result, and I have not had results. DAMN DAMN DAMN!

I am so mad. SO MAD. I want a reward. I toughed out the classes. I finished. I got a mug for perfect attendance (even though I was tending to an "emergency" during one of the walk throughs, so I guess those didn't count towards attendance) I get no reward but to know that I finished the class and some cool books- but the reward I want is to be able to give a tour. The reward I want is to be able to walk into the museum and not feel like a fraud. The reward I want is to be able to walk in the building and not imagine everyone is looking at me and thinking "she's not one of us" I know its a chemical imbalance- fine FUCKING BALANCE IT! Im pissed.

If I were dumb this would be fine. I could be a flight attendant and be okay with it. But I have a brain. I have ideas, I have opinions. I feel like the character in "Johnny got his gun" and the Metallica "one" video. I have no arms, legs, face, nothing to communicate with. I have so much to say but I feel like I have no way to say it. I feel like I am living someone else's life, I feel like the universe wants me to contribute to the body of knowledge, but all I can do, no matter how hard I try, is be a flight attendant. I feel so trapped. I feel like the person I am is trapped and years of pushing myself and fighting and APPLYING MYSELF has only taught me that this anxiety is strong, stronger than I can beat on my own.

It doesn't help that I have done all of this fighting alone. My dad just sat and watched. In fact, not only was he not helping me get through this he wanted ME to help HIM through his mental problems. I was the kid- he was the grown up. All he did was pay the bills, I spent from the age of 12 to the present worried about HIS mental state. What the fuck do I matter? He's in pain. Who cares about my development? He's sad because his wife left him and ex-wife died. boo hoo. What did I matter. Who lets a kid get raised by someone so unstable? FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU! WHERE WERE YOU THEN CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES? WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU? FUCK YOU AMERICA FOR LETTING SOCIAL PROGRAMS BE CUT. MY DAD WAS THE ASSHOLE I WAS A FUCKING KID! I AM NOT THE ONLY SMART KID WHO HAD A CHANCE AT LIFE BUT IS FORGOTTON. FUCK YOU AMERICA. YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO ADEQUATELY FUND EDUCATION BUT YOU DONT. YOU LEAVE SO MANY CHILDREN BEHIND!

Whew!----

All of these emotions come up in relation to learning. Maybe education has strong links in my brain to abandonment. From the ages of 12 and on I was pretty much alone, the only one paying attention to my development on a daily basis. I imagine therapy can help me break these associations (I hope so) It makes sense to me that I would not do well in school if anytime I try to study all of these capital letters start pouring out of me (LOL)

I need a little break now I think

mood: paralyzed, very bitter

37 comments:

G3T Films said...

*Sits down next to Diane and puts his arm losely around her shoulder*

So, tell me about the architecture

Diana Crabtree said...

The new tower is made of, um, metal, uh what was it- oh yeah um mesh aluminum mesh- AAH! I can't do it!

Diana Crabtree said...

(BTW the stammering is a quote from me practicing with a friend today)

G3T Films said...

Look up, see that thing up there, what's that called?

Diana Crabtree said...

The sky- its going to fall!

Diana Crabtree said...

Thats a cantilever- its like a teeter totter

Diana Crabtree said...

At the end of the tour I will say "I was only able to get through all of this because Satan helped me"

G3T Films said...

Is it supporting a balcony or cornice?

G3T Films said...

The first play I was ever in (primary school), I played Henny Penny!

Damn teacher putting me in a girl's role - I still have issues with that one.

Diana Crabtree said...

A resturaunt- If anyone on the tour uses the word "Cornice" I am just walking away

G3T Films said...

I had to look up what the 'frig' a canteliver was : ). Apparently they're used to support a cornice or a balcony. Hehehehe, not common knowledge, I would think.

Diana Crabtree said...

Better not be. LOL

Aww Satan- you helped me again! I am serious.

Diana Crabtree said...

i think you are good at it because laughter is the best medicine :)

Diana Crabtree said...

And because of the insight you recieved playing female dramatic roles

G3T Films said...

I know, it's my pleasure, you're great and help me too. Maybe if someone uses the word 'cornice' you could do the rest of the tour as interpretive dance. Then blame it on a hypnotherapist who uses the word as part of your therapy.

G3T Films said...

Henny Penny is very dramatic - The sky is falling, the sky is falling.

At least the lines weren't hard to remember.

Diana Crabtree said...

I would just tell them "This is an 'art center' not just a museum" they should expect such behavior at a contemporary art center

G3T Films said...

I SO dare you!!!!!!

Diana Crabtree said...

If I get in trouble I can say "Satan dared me to do it"

G3T Films said...

Maybe that's when you should use the hypnotherapist line... Who else would use Cornice is a sentance?!

Diana Crabtree said...

I think it is Satanic tu use words like "Cornice"

Diana Crabtree said...

Satan- Your e-mail made me feel like a cantilever with a cornice ;)

G3T Films said...

Not as bad as Popsicle

G3T Films said...

Very clever!

Diana Crabtree said...

Your just being extra sugary sweet because I wrote a sad post today

Diana Crabtree said...

Satan, usually our comment/chats get me tons of new hits, but today I got bo-diddley-squat

G3T Films said...

No, not at all. Empathy and understanding are not being sugary sweet, well they can be but only by their own nature.

You don't think I throw things into my own path in an attempt to stop myself achieving the things I want?

G3T Films said...

Comment whore!

G3T Films said...

My stats have been really low for a couple of days now, it's almost time for a new post

Diana Crabtree said...

Have you tried blogexploion?

G3T Films said...

Nuh, how does blogexploion work (hehehe)

G3T Films said...

Wait... You live below a resturant??

Diana Crabtree said...

To learn about blogexploion, click on the link below the lady and her baby (they spell it wrong on there BTW)

If you click on the link I dont get anything at all- I have no ulterior motives

Diana Crabtree said...

I live below a resturaunt and my ceiling is made of aluminum mesh

G3T Films said...

Aluminium mesh, that sounds fairly unique, please, tell me a little more about the history of your building. Is it loud to live below a resturant?

Diana Crabtree said...

Thank you journey.

I really suggest trying it, mine helps me alot. Stop back and let me know when its up and running :)

That Girl said...

I too found a lot of you in me. I see many of the feelings and emotions that you have expressed in my day to day life. They are poignant and allowed me to delve that much deeper into my own reality. Thanks.