My Recovery Series: The Party – An Internal Dialogue
++ Disclaimer: this is a post written before I got help for my depression. In an effort to be as transparent as possible with my story, I am posting these stories so that if you read them in chronological order you can see the progression of recovery. This is the second time I wrote about mental illness, even though I didn’t know it at the time.
smile.
situate yourself in the “middle-ish” part of the room.
but not too prominent, in case you do something strange and every one will notice.
Are others sitting, you sit too. No? Then stand by them.
But not too close, remember to respect their bubble.
smile.
respond to the person beside you in an appropriate way.
but not too enthusiastic, because that would seem fake.
talk to the kids and the babies, those are less threatening.
smile.
Don’t pick your nails.
THINK. What is going on with the person next to you, make a suitable and relatable comment to them.
Is everyone comfortable and at ease. Good.
smile.
Make eye contact with the person next to you.
make it seem natural.
What are they talking about? FOCUS!
stop chewing your lip,
smile.
No, really smile. Get your eyes and eyebrows into it. Really sell that smile. It’s what every one is looking for. Smile for their comfort.
Relax your shoulders
Chin up!
Are you slouching? Do you seem interested? Is your body language engaged?
Do your actions seem to cause concern with others around you?
smile! smile! you’re forgetting to smile!
Are you too much in the middle of the room?
Are people noticing you too much?
Are you talking too much?
Don’t wrinkle your forehead is will age your face prematurely.
Smile.
Make your face appear calm,
Is everyone happy?
They are looking at you.
Do you look like you are enjoying yourself?
Straighten up!
Smile!
What is wrong with you? Breathe. You aren’t breathing.
Take a deep breath.
straighten your back.
Stop looking at your shoes.
Stop wrinkling your brow.
Stop picking your nails.
And, for the LOVE OF GOD, could you just SMILE!!!