We already live in your neighborhood

[phoenix64]

I had the disconcerting experience of watching a woman on the news say, “I don’t want those people in my neighborhood” and realizing that I was one of those people she was talking about.

The subject was housing for the mentally ill who had become homeless. I have thankfully never been homeless, but my chronic depression has meant that at times, even with treatment, it is difficult to care for myself. The luck of circumstance and the willingness and ability of my family to help at times may be the only things that have allowed me to say there but for the grace of God go I. One day I may run out of luck.

I realize that the invisibility of my condition means I don’t have to face anywhere near the hurdles so many other people do. I realize that I am privileged in many ways. But as I said, it was disconcerting.

(Also, I lived in that woman’s neighborhood for about ten years. I was a perfectly decent neighbor.)

Comments

[travels_in_time]

Seriously? Chronically depressed people would have to be great neighbors. They don't have the energy to have loud parties or do home-wrecking-type shenanigans.

Not that it's a good thing in any way; I'm just sayin'.

[phoenix64]

Tell me about it! Even during that period when I was drinking too much I did it alone, inside my home, quietly. I'd even use headphones to wallow in sad music while I was drinking, and I stopped singing along when I moved to places with shared walls. Except for that one time in the dorms during Thanksgiving break.