Advice
LR Pearson, Arts 99 (lp9616@bristol.ac.uk)
Tue, 14 Dec 1999 17:42:36 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)
This is only slightly connected with Salinger, but I would really value
some advice.
I live in a big student house where rooms are sectioned off with very
thin plasterboard. As a result, it is difficult not to know about what
goes on in other people's lives. There is a girl on my corridor who is
clearly suffering some kind of emotional distress - I hear her crying
(really wailing) all night and then the next day she is really cheerful
seeming. Kind of manic depressive symptoms, I guess, although it is a
different kind of manic phase than my friend who I know is manic
depressive. She is on some kind of medication which I assume is for
this problem. My problem is, that I would feel much better if I could
speak to her about what is going on. It would mean that I didn't have
to creep around sort of pretending that nothing is happening, but I
wouldn't have to intrude when there is a problem (I have offered my
company before and it is not wanted / needed). But I don't quite know
if I have any right to know what is going on. Would it be insensitive /
selfish / patronising to ask. Should I just stay out of it. Should I
ask? If so, how do I ask?
Sorry to treat the list like a sort of collective agony aunt, but I am
aware that there are people on the list who have experienced mental
illness themselves or through others and so might have a better view on
what to do. I hope this post doesn't offend anyone - I haven't really
expressed myself very clearly. Sorry!
Thanks,
Lucy-Ruth
----------------------
LR Pearson, Arts 99
lp9616@bristol.ac.uk