Skip to main content

Numbness or Screams


I recently saw a quote that resonated with me. Erin saw it today in my session and gave me a bit of the side eye.

I am well tangled in an insatiable chaos- always balancing between the numbness and the screams.”–S.A. Quinox.

My mind has been a battleground of contrasting sensations, alternating between numbing silence and haunting screams. There is a constant oscillation, as if I am momentarily anchored in one place before being propelled to the opposite extreme.

Next week I am meeting with a psychiatrist, as part of Erin’s recommendation. The plan is to discuss medicating me. At first, I was 100% against this, but then I realized I am on medication for cholesterol, for diabetes and for gout. This is no different. I have friends on Xanax and Adderall and they take them, not a prescribed but “as needed”. I want nothing nearly that strong, and will take it as prescribed, not “when things get bad”.

During my leave from work, I hike almost daily, exploring new trails and immersing myself in nature. Engaging in this is helping me unwind and mentally prepare for my return to work. Erin and I had a thorough conversation about setting boundaries at work, focusing particularly on prioritizing my needs.

From February 16th onwards, I have been exploring a mix of familiar and unknown trails, immersing myself in a variety of landscapes, and experiencing new sensations. While exploring alone, I stumbled upon hidden gems and later introduced my friends, including Mark, Amanda, and Amanda, to these newfound treasures.

As I went along, I captured every moment through my photographs. I have a clear and uncomplicated goal. Take a photo of anything that captures my gaze. With no other plans or obligations. Below is a link to those photographs. I will continue to add to them as I hike, so please bookmark the link.

As I sit here writing this, I can still feel the soreness in my legs from my invigorating 6-mile hike this morning. According to my watch, I have already taken 18,728 steps today, and there are still a few more hours until bedtime.

Amid the constant struggle between numbness and screams, I am finding solace in knowing that I am gradually regaining control. Dr. Erin’s guidance, the anticipation of the upcoming psychiatrist visit, and the unwavering support from my wife, cousin, and friends Mark, Amanda, and Amanda are all serving as pillars of strength, providing me with the support to find a more comfortable state. A place where the numbness tingles and the screams transform into hushed whispers.

Until next time,

Tim

https://500px.com/p/timbindner/galleries/temp-2

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mentor

  When my photography journey rekindled back in 2015 with a trip to Maine, I never knew how far I would come and how important pushing a button on a camera would be. I have come a long way, but still have so much more to learn. A mentor is described as an experienced and trusted adviser (noun) . Also, as someone who will advise or train (someone, especially a younger  colleague ) (verb). Wikipedia also states mentorship is the patronage, influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person.  Since I have gotten more serious about my photography, I have been looking for a mentor that fits these categories listed above. Seeking guidance, I reached out to a handful of “professional” photographers to inquire about mentorship. I received no response from one person, another person casually mentioned that they rarely mentor, and a third person kindly explained that they ...

Nobody's Listening

  I recently had conversations with two people I know that had experienced a sudden rash of acute anxiety. One was medication related, the other was situational. Both stated that they now had a better understanding of what I have been dealing with. With the recent changes to my medication, Although I still feel anxiety, it no longer takes control of my emotions like it did in the past. However, I know acutely that it still lurks on the fringes, patiently awaiting its chance to pounce on me. During my recent visit to Dr. Erin, she assigned me an exercise where I had to jot down three things each day that I felt I excelled at. This is proving to be difficult for me. The parameters are straightforward and easy to understand. “Anything I do well that day,” she said. As I continued with this exercise, I began thinking of a song by Linkin Par called Nobody’s Listening. I got a heart full of pain, head full of stress Handful of anger held in my chest And everything left’s a wast...

Tested

  Life is a series of tests, pushing us to our limits and forcing us to grow. All blessings originate from a God, yet they manifest through different circumstances, encounters, and individuals. Throughout the past six weeks, I have encountered a myriad of these tests. This is part of the reason I have not written in a while - the constant distractions that have consumed my time and focus. Balancing my mental state and warding off anxiety has consumed my attention, leaving no room to articulate my thoughts through writing. My journey began recently when, with the advice of a medical professional, I began taking Trintellix at its lowest dose of 5mg per day. Gradually I increased to 10mg a day and now am at 20mg a day. During this time, my anxiety has lessened quite a bit, but recent events have put this medication to the test. Our initial challenge was to carefully research vans, searching for ones that would be ideal for safely transporting our furry companions. The cramped spac...