by Andrea McKenna Brankin
"You are Not Alone, Really" - Coping with the Ups and Downs of Expat LifeTransformers was a cartoon and line of toys when some of us were younger. Today, it’s a franchise of blockbuster movies. But this month’s theme, and also Transformers' theme, of “More than meets the eye,” got me thinking that those of us living with mental illness also have the ability to shift from human to super robot in order to keep going and thrive in life.
Oftentimes, when I’m not feeling my best, I still have obligations to fill. Some of these things might be teaching a yoga class, coaching girls rugby or hosting an AWA event, where commanding some leadership in the space is important. I can’t do that if I don’t literally flip the on switch and shift gifts in full motion. I do it with a lot of practice but also a lot of satisfaction that it works for me and I can accomplish this with good results.
In the acting world, I’ve seen some good portrayals of amazing characters coping with mental illness. For example, Robert Downey Jr.’s performance in Iron Man 3 was essential in showing to audiences how severe PTSD and panic attacks can be.
At one point in the film, he is triggered by memories of the Battle of New York. He then cascades into a full-blown panic attack episode where his eyes get bigger, he can’t stand up but he wants to run and his speech and breathing accelerate. Meanwhile, it’s only minutes later that he’s back into his Iron Man-superhero persona, which is one of saving the world and working with a team of other heroes to battle evil. It’s just a movie, but it shows a true transformation from one mental state to another. On one hand, he tells his girlfriend he’s a “steaming hot mess,” not able to sleep and constantly neurotic and paranoid. One the other hand, he’s freakin’ Iron Man!
What we can remember is that, while dealing with mental health requires transforming from one state to another, people of all types have many facets of their personalities and experiences. There’s no reason to be afraid of that or judge anyone else because of it. People who live with mental illness, whether it’s a diagnosis or just temporary due to certain situations, just want what everyone else wants: To be happy and free from pain and strife.
Maybe when you see me next, you’ll think of Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots and one of the good guys. (Hopefully, not a Deceptocon, one of the bad guys, though we all have our bad days!) Or maybe you can see me as the female Iron Man, who has bad days and still can conquer the world. I know I want to feel this way. And I work on it. Daily.
Ultimately, referring back to the old adage, you know nothing about what people are struggling with inside. So, be kind, always. Transforming into kind humans is something we can all do to support people with mental illness.
 | A mental health advocate and author of the book Bipolar Phoenix, Andrea runs the AWA Listen Ladies Group, providing confidential support for members at regular meetings. You can reach her at listenladies@awasingapore.org |
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