The Drama Triangle

Some time ago, my wonderful visiting teacher introduced to me the Drama Triangle, which has since saved me a lot of grief. Once I recognized such a construct operating in a relationship important to me, I was able to step back and see it with much less heartache.

The idea of the Drama Triangle is that in relationships we may be inclined to take the roles of victims, persecutors, and rescuers, none of which are healthy. When a particular relationship I was in was at its most heated, I drew a triangle with the word victim written at one point, persecutor at a second, and rescuer at the third point of the triangle, with the warning to "stay out of the triangle" written alongside. I posted it on my refrigerator as a constant reminder. It helped.

Wickidedia has a good explanation here. If you have not known of the concept before, maybe it will be a help to you to understand about the Drama Triangle, too. I'd love to hear your stories. Please share if you feel so inclined.

A thank you to Heather for her inspired teaching and to bram_app for sharing the above photo on flickr.

NAMI Memebers Talk About Mental Illnesses

NAMI has posted a collection of videos of members speaking about their experiences with mental illnesses. I found them quite riveting; encouraging, too. Here is the link.

They Know You

"It is by faith that you can lay hold upon every good thing. I pray with all my heart that your faith will be increased that you are a [child] of a loving God. I testify to you that you have been one of the valiant ones to reach the point where you now are in this journey of life. Just as you are marked as a target by the enemy of righteousness, you have been protected and watched over by your Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They know you. They know all of the forces and individuals around you. They know what is ahead of you. And so They know which of the choices you make, which of the desires you decide to satisfy, and which of the circumstances around you will make the most difference in keeping you walking in the light. I testify that by the Spirit of Christ and by the Holy Ghost, you may walk confidently in whatever difficulties will come. Because you are so valuable, some of your trials may be severe. You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you exercise faith."--Elder Henry B. Eyring

A thank you to G a r r y for sharing the above photo on flickr.

Those Who Support

How blessed we are that the world has men such as these.


I am so very thankful for my husband, who is in so many ways like Bill.

Good Rain

I have long been aware of the scripture which teaches us that our "Father which is in Heaven . . . maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."--Matthew 5:45

For a long time, I read this scripture thinking that his sun represented good things and rain represented bad. Where I live sunlight is a precious commodity, while a nearly-constant threat of rain keeps things rather gloomy.

I have grown to realize that both sun and rain are, or course, blessings.

Since I know that it is my Father who is making the sun to rise on me, and is also sending the rain, I think I would be wise to welcome both, whether I bake or shiver, am drenched or parched.

There is something to be said for basking a bit in sunshine.

There is something to be said, too, for keeping one's umbrella turned bowl-side up.

A thank you to ovizo0n for sharing this photo on flickr.

Returning to the Temple

I was able to return to the temple this week. My husband and I went up Thursday morning. It was so good to be back.

I found the temple to be exactly as President Monson says in this video,

"a place of tranquility . . . a place of kindness, and love, and light."

How thankful I am to be able to go to the temple.

Joey Pantoliano Speaks Out Against Stigma

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Joe Pantoliano is the founder and president of "No Kidding, Me Too!"  For more information on the work being done there and a link to a trailer for an upcoming documentary, visit the website home page at NKM2.org.

I like to visit there and read and watch the videos to help me remember that I am part of a community, that there are others who understand what I feel and experience.

Nice Axe

Nice axe, originally uploaded by Lonnon Foster.

We are unemployed.

Driving on Overload

Here is a picture of how I'm feeling lately. Thank you for asking.

Manic again.   Lots going on inside this brain.

A thank you to maxw for sharing this photo in Creative Commons on Flickr.com.