Joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself

(Ghandi)

Monday, April 20, 2009

Maybe If You Ate More Comfort Food You Wouldn't Have To Go Around Shooting People

I love that line (the title of this post), which Hurley says to Sayid in the first episode of this current season of Lost. Lost is one of my all-time favourite TV shows, and in the last few days (since the Great Sacking of 2009) I've re-watched the entire 4th season on DVD. As well as half of Buffy Season 3, and a few movies thrown in for good measure. When does distraction become avoidance? This is something Dr A will no doubt ask me this afternoon when I go in for my emergency session. The day after the Sacking I watched 14 hours of DVD/TV, because every time I switched the TV off my brain would start running scenarios, none of which made me feel pleasant. From re-living the actual "sacking-crying" scenario, to the wished-for (but never happened) "sacking-stabbing-arson" scenario. All of it sucked, all of it made me feel like crap, so I avoided going there. I'm all for learning Distress Tolerance, but I think the first few days after an "event" is too acute, and I needed to just block it all out as much as I could. When I slept, I had the kind of dreams which didn't relate exactly to recent events, but managed to tap into similar emotions just the same.

Getting back to Lost, I've decided the main reason I love it is that it manages to make sense of a seemingly nonsensical and rambling plot. I'm hoping for the same kind of scriptwriter in my own life. That in the end, the things that seemed to come out of left field, and the twists that seemed to signal the death of characters or the end of plot sequences, will all make sense. And will, in fact, be so pivotal to the eventual storyline that I can't imagine things having happened in a different way.

8 comments:

Wandering Coyote said...

I think you're bang on about the first few days after a traumatic event being to acute. We need time to process, THEN deal. But you are using good skill: the TV-watching has been a great distraction, right? Man, I watch TONS of TV when I need distraction. When you're ready, you'll come out of the cocoon of distraction and move on with whatever the next step will be.

Are you not getting season 5 of LOST yet?

Anonymous said...

You are nothing if not a survivor. (And maybe a little like the Energizer bunny in that you just keep going and going.) You are going to come out on top when all is said and done. I feel it in my old bones kiddo. You're a winner. It all may be bleak and pretty scary right now, but you'll make it.

Borderline Lil said...

@WC - Saw Dr A and he agrees with us that distraction is the best thing when pain is too acute to deal with. So yay for our new skills, right?! Just love Tv and DVDs. We are about three eps behind the USA (we just saw Ep 9, I think it is, of Series 5) but I watch them online cause I can't wait haha!! I just bought Season 4 on DVD, which is why I rewatched them. I find with Lost I can watch them many times, always pick up something new.

@Tricia - you always know the right thing to say to perk me up and make me think I can actually get somewhere with my recovery. Thank you xx

Laura said...

"I'm hoping for the same kind of scriptwriter in my own life. That in the end, the things that seemed to come out of left field, and the twists that seemed to signal the death of characters or the end of plot sequences, will all make sense. And will, in fact, be so pivotal to the eventual storyline that I can't imagine things having happened in a different way."

This is exactly what I feel like, Lil.

Unknown said...

Life is a school!!! no matter what we do (including watching our favorite tv shows) we will learn something wonderful about our own lives! Aint it dandy?

Polar Bear said...

Yes, great line from Hurley. Must be one of my favourites too. Lost is AMAZING! I'm a huge fan.

I use TV as a distraction/avoidance thing too. A lot, I'd say.

Just Be Real said...

TV and my own creating of a fantasy world can be a big distraction avenue for me also. Blessings dear one.

Unknown said...

Very dashing and attractive woody vases. Creativity is clearly showing. Nice work.

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