Grief is not a mental illness

In the news (sic) this week was a report that the DSM-V (diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) may include grief as a mental disorder. Currently grief is excluded from the DSM. Yes, after the loss of my husband, I was depressed, my cognitive functioning declined, and I was crazy with grief - but I was not mentally ill. It took many months for me to regain a sense of "well being" and move on with my life. Deep sorrow resulting from the loss of a loved one is a natural process. We weep, we become withdrawn, we act irrationally - but these are natural reactions to loss. I hate the thought that "scientist" are trying to turn this natural process into a clinical problem, to be treated with drugs. Drugs do not help you recover from grief; drugs inhibit you from feeling the sorrow. If you aren't able to feel the emotions of grief, you can not heal.

Class critique

Last week I brought my 5 pages of writing to the memoir class. I wanted to see if the structure for presenting my story works - description/backstory, scene, journal entry, exposition. The backstory was a description of Glen's health decline, the scene set in the doctor's office when the diagnosis of lung cancer was delivered, the journal entry was my reaction to the diagnosis, and the exposition from my POV about what lay ahead. My classmates were encouraging - liked the cool voice of description, the scene - filled with CSD (concrete sensory detail) worked well, the journal entry captured the emotional impact (some noted the poetic quality of this writing), only the exposition didn't seem to work. So I move forward with this structure, writing scenes and thinking about the exposition for each piece.

Writing Scenes...

Started my memoir writing class this past week. Two important things happened. First I realized (I know this should have been obvious, but alas it wasn't) that the POV character, is ME - this is my grieving journey. Second important realization was the importance of writing scenes. Scenes are the story. Scenes involve the reader in the story, drawing them in, helping them understand what my grief felt and looked like, and what grief did to MY life. I wrote a difficult scene this week - the scene in the doctor's office when I first heard the words "LUNG CANCER" that would forever change me, my life, and my whole world. I now move forward writing scenes, glimpses of my life, filled with confidence that what I write will connect with others.

writing with gusto

I'm rereading Ray Bradbury's "Zen in the Art of Writing" and was struck with his words about writing with gusto. Yes - passion in my writing is what I aim toward, putting down the words that capture my emotions, my spirit. I tuck these words inside my head - write with gusto - with joy, heartache, rage, and every emotion I've ever felt. If I'm not having fun writing, what's the point? So I let my emotions drive my writing - because I write to fulfill myself.

New post in Dubious Grief page.

New Year, New writing Projects

I've continued writing short scenes during the holiday season. As the new year begins, my goal is a first complete content edit for my proposed book, Dubious Grief. First draft was completed December 1, so after sitting on the draft for a month I feel ready to overhaul the content. I'm taking a memoir writing class this term in order to get feedback on the content, style, format, and of course my writing as I revise the draft. Now that I have several ongoing writing projects, I can continue writing fun stuff as I buckle down and edit Dubious Grief.