Carol H Tucker Passionate about knowledge management and organizational development, expert in loan servicing, virtual world denizen and community facilitator, and a DISNEY fan
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beladona Memorial Be warned:in this very rich environment where you can immerse yourself so completely, your emotions will become engaged -- and not everyone is cognizant of that. Among the many excellent features of SL, there is no auto-return on hearts, so be wary of where your's wanders...
Poor Joe -- nicest guy you would ever know but just plagued with bad luck that seemed to follow him around so persistently that it could be seen as a lingering small raincloud that perptually rained on him and only him. More than bad luck though, the constant gloom dampened Joe's spirits, making him glum and antisocial and pessimistic as he peered out from underneath at the world around him.
It is a powerful image and more than one person has used it to explain or illustrate depression, unhappiness, despair, sadness, downheartedness, misery, hopelessness, melancholy, dejection, gloominess, despondency, dolefulness, being down in the dumps, low spirits, the blues, the hump [if you are British]
The National Mental Health Information Center at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists numerous triggers -- apparently even for someone who has been formally diagnosed, there is no one cause. Here are five:
Interpersonal friction
Feeling overwhelmed or having too much to do
Being judged or criticized
Ending a relationship
Physical illness
It would appear that older people are increasingly dealing with the empty feelings that go along with depression The reasons are diverse, but include lonliness, medical problems, medication for those problems, and economic difficulties. I list those in particular because I think that they are the ones haunting me.
Well-being: I really don't mind living alone anymore -- I have gotten kinda used to the independence -- but it sure would be nice to be needed/necessary again. I am delighted that my daughter has a girlfriend that can go to craft shows with her and I miss the days when she would call her mother to hang out with her. I like and crave male company both in RL and SL, but dangnabit, I don't want to chase them -- I want them to chase me!
Health: I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I could deal with going bald, but the swelling in my ankles really upsets me. Not only does it look awful, but I cannot wear most of my shoes and it hurts to walk. I am struggling everyday to convince myself just to move much less exercise and losing weight seems all but impossible. And when I go to the doctor? He listens to me, tells me that I should wear support hose [a girdle for my legs] and orders blood work that I have to agree to pay $351 for.
Economic reality: I am lucky and I have a job that pays decently with a boss who actually tries to care for his workers. My basic needs are covered... As long as I keep working. There is no buffer; like so many others, i live from one pay to the next. I lose this job, or get sick, and I cannot keep paying my bills, The 401K never recovered from the stock debacle of 1999 much less this current one and now they are talking about eliminating Social Security. At 41 that all didn't worry me; at 61 one it is starting to be a concern. It would appear that like too many others, my retirement plan is to work until I die, win the lottery, or be a burden.
Three strikes...
But I am trying very hard not to be out. Crying, bitching at friends and having to apologize, not answering emails, trying not to have tough conversations right now, ignoring the unpacking, burying my nose in a book ... but not to give up.
CEOExpress
