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Title: Mapping Our Madness Author: Momo Date: 2015 Language: en Topics: anti-psychiatry, mutual aid, mental health, social justice, harm reduction Source: http://nycicarus.org/articles/mapping-our-madness/ Notes: This is a pure text version of the PDF “Mapping Our Madness” by “Momo” on The Icarus Project (fireweed collective). You can find the Crisis Toolkit on https://fireweedcollective.org/crisis-toolkit/. The original is beautiful but doesn’t work well if you have a disability or if you don’t like PDFs.
Hey there. This is a workbook zine I made for the purpose of helping
folks map, plan and navigate crisis, madness or just foul moods. The
idea basically is that this is a toolbox to keep near you, so in the
event that you’re in a crisis situation or experiencing some intense
emotions, you’ll have some of the tools that you (or the folks around
you) need to help you take care of yourself. I know for me in the
moment, when I’m experiencing intense emotional states it’s hard forme
to think about what I need, much less be able to communicate that to the
folks around me. The point of this workbook is to help you make a plan,
in case things get real; to help facilitate that communication of needs,
and also hopefully prevent those crisis situations from happening in the
first place.
I know this format doesn’t work for everyone and realize that maybe
notall of the pages in here are relevant to you. I encourage anyone who
uses this to alter it in any way that makes sense to them, or in the
very least, I hope it inspires them to make something else great for
themselves.
Some notes about the motivations for making this workbook: The ways we
experience our mental health, the ways we experience ourselves and our
realities, are inextricably entangled with the world around us. In other
words, it doesn’t make sense for us to divorce ourselves from what
surrounds us (the systems that connect us, or pit us against each other:
that tell us how to be, or coerce us into submission), to isolate the
ways we feel and then label ourselves as “sick.” It’s difficult to
understand the ways we experience our mental health without also
acknowledging the ways we are affected by the forces of systemic
oppression (racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, etc.) that are imposed
on us. Put simply, perhaps we are not so “crazy” for being affected by a
world that is so fucked up.
It’s important to challenge the idea that these differing experiences
are “wrong” and that we are “sick” or “broken” for having them. That we
are something that needs correcting and must undergo treatment in order
to be “fixed” Rather, these experiences can be seen as gifts. Like
superpowers to be held close to our hearts, to understand and to know
their limits so that we may use them as tools to liberate ourselves and
to build better worlds.
This is an effort in hopes of imagining a world where the different ways
our minds and bodies may function are recognized and supported as valid
experiences. Where we have the time and the space to look into ourselves
and uncover our identities without fear of being dismissed or denied for
what we come up with. This is an effort in hopes of supporting a radical
re-envisioning of mutual support within our communities.
This zine was made with love by one weirdo who sometimes feels too much,
Jor all the great minds she has (and hasn’t) met. For tinkerers and
poets, for brains with engines that are prone to over-heating, for those
who hear and see what others can’t, for dimly lit and sunken hearts, and
for those whose light can become so bright, it’s blinding. You are not
alone. This is for you; I made this for you.
You’re stronger than they can ever imagine, ❤️ Momo
You know yourself best, but I have few suggestions for filling this out.
You can take them or leave them:
I know that sometimes, when you’re feeling good, it’s hard to, think
about the possibility of crisis or feeling bad again an it’s easier to
just stay feeling good than it is to plan ahead in case you don’t feel
so good sometime in the future.
be constantly growing and learning more about yourself and finding more
tools that help you. I’ll leave some blank pages in the back too so you
can make your own pages.
maybe some of these things you haven’t thought much about before. Try
filling some of this out with a close friend. Put your brains together
to envision mutual support! This doesn’t mean that it’s a bad idea to
spend some time working on this alone.
(On some pages, there may be more speeific suggestions in parentheses
but those are just suggestions or prompts to get you thinking.)
On the original PDF, all those questions had blank lines to fill them
(one quesiton per page). I recommend you writing down those questions
and answer them one by one.
exercising daily, to tinctures, herbal supplements, vitamins, and
medications that you may want to take regularly)
like not eating or sleeping and becoming less social. It could also be
the total opposite. It could be things like feeling as if you’re feeling
way too much too handle, or it could be that you feel numb. You could
also include ways to recognize you may be triggered. Again, You know
yourself best)
re-living of past trauma. It could be anything from sights and smells,
to something someone says or how they act, to a place, ect. If you don’t
identify as a survivor of trauma, this could also double for a page of
things that may set off intense emotions or states.)
situation, extreme state, or when you’re feeling triggered? This could
be things like moving to a safer space, being away from people, sleep,
food, etc.)
state, or feeling triggered? (This could also be a prompt that you can
write up elsewhere and send to your friends. Make sure you have their
consent first! You could also include some of the recognizable signs of
oncoming crisis from page 6 or what you may look like when you’re
triggered or in an extreme state)
names and contact information. You may wan to check in with these people
before filling this out, as well as regularly, to make sure they are
able and willing to support you)
directions you think it will help you or friends get you to one of these
places)
comics, pictures, people, silly Internet videos, etc.)
favorite foods you’re more likely to’eat if you’re having a hard time
eating. It can also include dietary preferences, restrictions or
allergies)
deal with pain that you deem unhealthy, as well as people and places you
may not want to be around. These things could possibly look like:
substance abuse, harmful habits, self mutilation, foods that make you
feel gross, music that makes you sad, etc.)
painting, riding bikes, screaming, dancing making music, cooking,
cuddling, etc.)
feeling alright. It can be about how great you are, the things that you
care about and that care about you, or a reminder that you won’t be
feeling the way you are forever. Send yourself some love!)
Icarus Project is a radical mental health support network, online
community, and alternative media project by and for people struggling
with extreme emotional distress that often gets labeled as mental
illness.”
busy and loving yourself.
(the ability to stay strong, optimistic, and curious in the face of
difficult challenges) by harnessing the power of positive emotion and
social connection.
people in recovery themselves.
(information and forums) for folks who experience voice hearing,
visions, tactile sensations and other sensory experiences. HVN does not
approach these experiences from a medical or pathological framework.
resource and a community for those interested in rethinking psychiatric
care in the United States and abroad,” They have good resources for
those seeking alternative mental health practitioners or for information
and studies on psychopharmaceuticals.
On the final page of the zine there’s a rectangle with the following
text on it:
Envelope: Glue an envelope here to keep things that make you smile.
Letters from friends, pictures, comics, cds, ect.