There's an amazing difference between depressed me and decent mood me. Depressed me agonized all weekend about my relationship with Purr, whether she was preparing to leave me (basically through Quiet acting as a cowboy), etc. Monday rolled around and I was basically in paroxysms of anxiety and insecurity. Then Purr texted me a little I'm thinking of you, sorry I've been so absent lately, I've been depressed kind of thing. And it was like this huge revelation.
Guys, my depression does not play well with other people's depression. It is known. It's the main reason I broke up with First Fiancé so long ago and got counseling.
I'd like to get away from this episode and back into the familiar land of mild-to-moderate dysthemia, where maybe everything isn't sunshine and roses but at least I know my brain and how to handle it (thanks, therapy!). Every now and then I have to remind myself that this is not my normal, that I lost two grandparents in less than 6 months, that it's understandable that I'm struggling right now, and that things won't always feel this way. Contrary to how my blog reads for the past year, I don't actually live my life in a constant state of crisis. Meanwhile, this is not the time to make major life decisions.
Anyway, at least this has been good for something. I've realized that it's hard to tell with Purr what is depression-withdrawing, which is best combatted with love and reassurances, and what is NRE "too busy for talking" withdrawing, which is best just soldiered through because the mutual can't get enough infatuation eventually fades. Best way to find out?
Ask.
If only the "but I can't ask because PANIC" depression-distortions would go away, I'd be golden.
Today, at least, I'm feeling glum but capable of being a rational human. Enough to realize that I was harboring a lot of resentment toward Purr/Quiet about the Steampunk event in two weekends. I really want to go. I had a lot of fun last time. I love costuming and games and there were a bunch of really cool people there. But when I asked Purr if she wanted to go, she vacillated. She might not be free etc, the usual stuff. So I said duh I know your schedule is variable, but if you're free would you like to go. She was all, well Quiet wants to go, could I take two dates? Me, sure I don't see why not, as long as he's okay with it. Would I be coming home with you? Her, well maybe you both could.
Let's see, reason that wouldn't work: it seems like a huge capability for for a situation leading to a lot of jealousy and insecurity. The inability to make a decision feels like very floppy hinge behavior to me, since the attempt to avoid disappointing one of us is going to lead to a huge problem if we both arrive at her house expecting an overnight.
No thank you. I'm not willing to do that.
So here I am, left without an answer to would I even have a date, and it's felt to me like all of my plans for that weekend are on hold waiting for Purr to make a decision. I really hate having plans in limbo. I'm the kind of person that needs to know where I'm going, how I'm getting there, when I'm leaving, how I'm getting home, etc, to be comfortable. This lack of plan has been seriously eating at me and a focus for much of my depressed thoughts for a while. I've wanted to yell, just make a decision already!!!
But now that I'm in slightly more rational land, I've realized that whether I attend the May steampunk event does not depend on Purr. If she isn't going to make a decision, and I am the one uncomfortable with limbo, then I need to make a decision. If I'm feeling like the backup, it's because I'm letting myself feel that way.
So I'm going to go and have a good time. I've invited Guitarist to go with me so I won't have to go by myself. I feel kind of bad about that, because it was a me-and-Purr thing, but I asked her first and she couldn't give me a straight answer of whether she would want to go with me if she's free. If she's disappointed, we'll deal with it, but it isn't entirely my fault.
And so that's where things are at right now. Balancing grief and depression and a girlfriend with depression and NRE. Emotional energy is definitely not at a high lately.