N.

[Dirty Hippy]

Unrelated to anything kinda.

- So after the hassle of getting the social security card from relative -- I then get on a couple of busses and go to a staffing office so they can scan the card and birth certificate like they had said --- on the way there is someone on the back of the bus aggressively rapping about gonorrhea bitches and guns -- and I just don't look up I have a book and I'm already in core collapse probably - some other loud guy on the bus is commenting on the aggressive rapper to everything she says ---

I think "is the world filled with narcissists?"  "Am I hyper sensitized?" --- I don't look at them I can hear them.

Then I get off bus at staffing office with my SS card. The person at the front desk acts like they don't know what to do with my ID documents they had asked for. They say "I don't have access to that system" -- I say "does someone else have access to it?" (the system for them to take a copy of the ID info they need???)  --- I didn't really understood their response. They tried to ask me some questions about my availability for work and what type of work but they won't even take the ID they asked for... and I answered vaguely and told them I have an appointment to go to and I left.

This is the quality of my life right now. I just feel it's dumb and pointless.

Anyhow I am already moved on and refuse to get frustrated.

Yes at least I have located the card it will be useful I hope.

[sKePTiKal]

I guess that behavior could be narcissism Meh. There seems to be an epidemic of people who feel entitled to force their inner dialogues and emotions and maladjusted behaviors on anyone around them. Inconsideration? Need for attention? I dunno. I call it "cheese sliding off their cracker" syndrome. I suggest carefully backing away quietly from all that! LOL. There is a reason I'm a hermit.

As for the reality of modern life in any agency or public-facing business... it's a wonder anything at all happens in a reasonable manner. Ham-handed, broad stroke AI phone bots that don't adjust to the often unique individual needs of a real human being (coz they ain't programmed to - just keep repeating representative or push zero to speak to a real human)... and people who don't know which end of a broom to use or how to sweep. It's an expectation for me at this point, that I'm going to encounter this kind of entropy or incompetence.

Maybe it will get better someday; but it doesn't give me warm fuzzies about the future of mankind.

[Dirty Hippy]

Yeah Skeptical

It's the places people hang out. Different places different types of behaviors.

I'm seeing more people obviously on drugs also. Flailing about like those wind-puppets in front of car dealers.

It's because I'm no longer in my safe bubble of my car and nice neighborhood. Oh well. I have to keep coping with it.

[Dirty Hippy]

I had another therapy appointment and I want to journal about it as I feel something in the background edges of my mind that I'm having a hard time sticking my finger into. Fleeting vague thoughts like shadows.

It's related to my decision making problems, plan problems, anticipatory anxiety stuff.

I'm really not doing enough to make my life more stable. I've been very stressed about even the idea of what city to live in.

I keep telling myself that I will get stuck at a job I hate and a rental I hate. But I need to work around this. I do think there is just partially related to it the thing of belongingness and being tired of feeling like I haven't carved out a life where I belong. Because I think the whole like existential fear of being alone is related to it.

And maybe it's somewhat fear of abandonment I don't even know anymore. I have to be careful not to analysis paralysis.
 

[Dirty Hippy]

I guess the fear of being alone to be more specific is the fear of being unsafe that something bad will happen.

It's not really the fear of being alone with oneself is it? No I don't have a problem with my own company.

[sKePTiKal]

Well, why not look at the fear that something bad will happen. Statistically, in general, I think a case could be made that it's just as possible something good will happen. I'd say it's almost 50-50 chance.

Why do you think you're singled out for just bad things? Bad things happen to ALL of us, at times. But it's usually not a life or death situation. It's usually just a problem that needs solved. You aren't helpless - we all know you're smart, have agency and can do.

If, in your pondering of this, you can pick out 3 things that inordinately make you afraid... how about thinking of a list of solutions or ways to protect yourself? Bet you can think of a lot of ways.

[Hopalong]

I felt frustrated at the person who couldn't or wouldn't help you resolve the ID issue. Were you able to ask her what exactly is needed? Did she understand that the place had told you, you must bring exactly document X or Y? And here they are?

Grrrrr. I hope next steps are clear and make more sense.

The filterless public behavior....sad to me. Nose in book sounds like a good way to handle it since you were stuck on a bus.

A new city? Very interesting. Got a Pros and Cons list going? Those have helped me make key choices in the past. Whether things work out perfectly or not, doing that process has made me feel something like....my rational mind is helping me with this. So whatever decision I'd make wound up making more sense and easier to live with. Another method is Must-Haves, Likes, Wishes, Dealbreakers -- those lists helped me sort my priorities.

hugs
Hops

[Dirty Hippy]

-- Don't worry about it Hops.

I will get the offices and ID stuff figured out soon. Was just frustrated that day but then I look at myself and realize I have to also let go of frustration and just move on. I already moved on.

[Dirty Hippy]

Well, why not look at the fear that something bad will happen. Statistically, in general, I think a case could be made that it's just as possible something good will happen. I'd say it's almost 50-50 chance.

Why do you think you're singled out for just bad things? Bad things happen to ALL of us, at times. But it's usually not a life or death situation. It's usually just a problem that needs solved. You aren't helpless - we all know you're smart, have agency and can do.

If, in your pondering of this, you can pick out 3 things that inordinately make you afraid... how about thinking of a list of solutions or ways to protect yourself? Bet you can think of a lot of ways.

50/50 chance is something ... so toss the coin I guess

[sKePTiKal]

Yeah, I've been noticing a lot of people around me just absolutely convinced that nothing good, kind, or easy would ever happen again to them. My 50-50 number is just my way of reminding people that both things are equally possible on any given day.

I would also caution anyone in a new environs to NEVER get so absorbed in the phone, a book, or anything that would distract you from basic situational awareness - things going on around you. That's a human skill that technology is degrading. It's a survival skill. For me, when the vibes in a place are "off" when I enter - I up my awarenes and hurry my business so I can leave.

[Hopalong]

I like the 50/50 reminder too.

My version of it is exhorting myself to always allow for "the possibility of good things happening." Or something close to it.

I've set down expecting or predicting (whew). In the past I've despaired enough to flatten out the REALITY that good things will happen, too. They can be as simple as rain, snow, sun and dogs. I don't let myself despair to that level any more because the simple, amazing things come every day. They never stopped, I had just stopped receiving them.

Easy for me to say in retirement, with shelter and food and friends.

hugs,
Hops

[Dirty Hippy]

Personality disordered people have a higher rate of psychosomatic illness.



Specific disorders like Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are associated with higher rates of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and gastrointestinal issues like IBS.

El-Gabalawy, R., Katz, L. Y., & Sareen, J. (2010). "Comorbidity and associated severity of borderline personality disorder and physical health conditions in a nationally representative sample." Psychosomatic Medicine, 72(7), 712–718. 

Finding: This study identified a unique association between BPD and numerous physical health conditions, specifically cardiovascular disease, hypertension/arteriosclerosis, and gastrointestinal disease. 

Quirk, S. E., et al. (2016). "Borderline Personality Pathology and Chronic Health Problems in Later Adulthood." Psychosomatic Medicine, 78(, 920–929. 

Finding: BPD features were significantly related to the reported presence of heart disease, arthritis, and obesity. 

Gastrointestinal & Syndrome-Like Citations
Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Hennen, J., & Silk, K. R. (2004). "The association between borderline personality disorder and chronic medical illnesses, poor health-related lifestyle choices, and costly forms of health care utilization." The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 65(12), 1660-5. 

Finding: Non-remitted BPD patients were significantly more likely to have a history of "syndrome-like" conditions, which include chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, as well as higher rates of osteoarthritis, diabetes, and hypertension. 

Frankenburg, F. R., & Zanarini, M. C. (2006). "The association between borderline personality disorder and obesity." Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 75(5), 315-322. 

Finding: Confirmed that BPD is related to an increased risk of obesity and its related medical comorbidities. 

Comprehensive Reviews
Gunderson, J. G., Herpertz, S. C., Skodol, A. E., Torgersen, S., & Zanarini, M. C. (2018). "Borderline personality disorder." Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 4, 18029. 

Finding: This comprehensive review notes that BPD patients have a higher prevalence of somatic comorbidities, including endocrine, metabolic, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases than those without the disorder.