Regular readers might have noticed Life as a Lunatic is going through a bit of an identity crisis in both cadence and content. In an attempt to get back to monthly(ish) missives, the newsletter will maintain its spirit but in a shorter format (I’m very tired). I hope you like it!
I spent much of last night nursing my terminally ill cat. This morning, still bleary-eyed, I leaned down to pet her and accidentally slammed my head on my desk’s sharp corner. Hard. My eyes watered. I stumbled to the fridge to find some ice.
I decided to postpone work for an hour to restart my day with some gentle YouTube yoga. I was only moments into the practice when a memory surfaced. It was a scene from Only Murders in the Building. Hours before her murder, the cranky outgoing condo board president extends an olive branch—a bottle of champagne—to the protagonists. They accept her gift and close the door in her face. She lingers in the hallway, clearly hoping for an invitation to join them. I’m not sure what happened next because I stopped watching the series.
Tears dripped onto my yoga mat. Before I realized it, I was sobbing, drooling, and struggling to breathe. Of course, the scene was just a stand-in for my own emotions: loss, grief, loneliness, and feeling misunderstood.
It’s tempting to blame my strong feelings on my numerous diagnoses. But some days just suck. No amount of therapeutic skills can change that. And that’s okay. Some days are simply meant to be survived.
Meme of the Month
Mad Misinformation
Social media has a tendency to perpetuate pop psychology myths. One I see frequently? T-Rex arms.
According to TikTok, if you sleep with your arms tucked into your chest like a T-Rex, you’re neurodivergent. Or living with ADHD. Or you experienced childhood trauma.
I’ve read the DSM. I assure you that “T-Rex arms” is not a diagnostic feature of any illness or disorder. More likely, it’s just a comfortable sleeping position for some. If you’re worried you might live with a mental illness or disorder, consult a medical professional—not TikTok.
Thanks for reading. If you want to read more of my words, buy my book. Or check out this list of book recommendations I wrote for people living with BPD.