Me and my Brain

#1
Introduction to Me....if you care

After browsing these journals for quite a bit of time now, I have noticed that many people use these forums to release tension, express their views, or for self-therpy. I guess I'm here to do the same type of thing........

With or without readers to this post.

Who am I: A 22 year old male living in (temporary) a little hick town in southwestern Ontario.

Problem:
I think I'm crazy.

Stay tuned..........
 
#2
Examination of Self

So, I guess to start off I should specify what type of crazy I am. First, to reassure all you readers out there (if any), I'm not hack, hack, slash, slash, kill, kill crazy........although I do have the occasional(ok, a little bit more then occasional) fantasy/daydream where I beat the shit out of some villian or asshole from the past.....

But I think that's just a part of my adolescence that is still lingering on.

I'm also not of the 'hearing voices' crazy, the 'I see dead people' crazy, the 'I'm going to cut myself' crazy, the 'Everything is covered in germs' crazy (although I DO wash my hands quite frequently), nor I am convinced the government is going to get me. (Yeah, 'cause you know, I'm TERRIFIED of the CANADIAN government).

In fact, if you didn't know better, you would think that I was a normal young man, albeit a rather quiet, shy and dull one. I have quite a few friends of both sexes, and get along with those that are younger or older then me. Even my parents and friends think that I'm normal. Well, normal enough anyway.

In fact, my insanity lies so deep within me that nobody would know unless I told them. And even then then probably wouldn't believe me.

You would have to be inside my head to understand.....you see, my brain has many different aspects, all screaming out at once. Some are louder then others, and are able to drown others out. To clarify, these are NOT voices..., nor are they different personalities trying to get out.......its just my brain with all its different opinions and viewpoints are all competing to be the overriding thought in my head. But, they always seem to get along.....it just leads to an aggravating life.

Without really thinking about it(no pun intended), I can note 7 different 'Brains' that are usually going at all times.

The Work Brain - I have an 4 year honours degree in Geography, and am currently in a VERY intensive post-graduate program. I wouldn't be here without my work brain. The very logical part of me that thrives on work and problems to solve. VERY logical....TOO logical really. Its very hard to approach any sort of relationship with the opposite sex with a logical approach....trust me, it doesn't work :) Probably the loudest part of my total brain.

The Angry Brain - Just to specific, the angry brain is rarely angry at anybody.....only me. This brain will scream at me for anything I do wrong....especially in social situations, and ESPECIALLY with those of the opposite sex. This part of my brain will pick apart my entire day to make sure I've made no social faux pas, and will let me know if I did. Proof of the effectiveness of this part of my brain is that it sometimes keeps me up due to things I've done wrong......OVER TEN YEARS AGO. :mad: Often works in tandem with the Pessimist/Self Downer brain, and has a significant presence in my total brain.

The Pessimist/Self Downer Brain - I hate this part of my brain.....never fails to tell me how much of a piece of shit I am, how I'm a loser, etc. etc. Will take examples from Angry brain to proof its point. Is suppressed most of the time, but when it comes out..........Moral that this brain broadcasts: It's ok not to try, because you would have failed anyway. This brain part has no sway over my academic/work life, but a great deal of clout in my social life.


The Sex/Relationship Brain - Like most people, I have a sex drive. Unfortunately the self doubt that both the Angry brain and the Self Downer Brain creates eliminates my chances with any girl. Still, Sex/Relationship brain does offer up some interesting comments now and then, although is never fulfilled. I guess the really funny thing about this (at least I find it funny) is that Angry brain and Self Downer Brain, by preventing Sex/Relationship Brain from getting what it wants, are perpetuating their own misery.
Oh well.

The Fun Brain - Rarely comes out.....but when he does, he's actually a blast at parties. A good drunk. Unfortunately, when Fun Brain is being reclusive, Work Brain tries to take over.......... which is stupid, because then I end up talking about school.

The Moderator - As best as I can describe it, the moderator is ME....it is the voice that I use within me to enhance/supress the brains within me. Sometimes he works out well, but he's been having some problems lately.

The Soundtrack - Wish your life had a soundtrack? Well, mine does. Most of the time its pretty cool, with a large variety of music, from classical to alternative (no country) playing all day. Unfortunately, sometimes I think someone starts to tinker with my internal playlist, and I end up with 'It's a small world after all' resonating within my head for hours at a time.

These 'Brains', as well as a few minor bit players are always around. Proof that I'm crazy: Self Downer brain is already calling me a loser for writing all this.

Not proof enough?

It's currently 10:00 pm on a Friday.....I'm at home alone writing this.....even though I had an offer to go out drinking tonight with a bunch of people......and even though I had a great time last time I went out.

<Sigh>

I'm completely fucking nuts.

Stay tuned for the next episode(all 0 of you) for.....
BRAINS IN ACTION!!!!!
 
#3
Brains in Action

Wow.....three posts in one evening. Maybe I should of gone out after all.

But I have a feeling I wouldn't have really been doing anything constructive anyway......

Well, time for BRAINS IN ACTION!! What I write here just happened a few days ago......

6:15 AM

<Alarm goes off>

Work Brain- Ok...time to get up. Gotta go to school. Better get up or we'll end up late like yesterday.....

Pessimistic- Why bother? It'll just be like yesterday? What's the poi-

Moderator- Ok....enough of that....WAY to early for this shit. Get up and get moving.

I sleeply have shower, eat, get dressed, pack my bag and start the long walk to school. Soundtrack pops on, starts off as Tool, but then suddenly and for no reason changes to 'Whistle Stop' from Disney's Robin Hood cartoon. Lasts the entire walk to school.

Classes progress, work brain is in full control, taking notes, doing work, and helping out classmates (I do that a lot.....makes me feel normal).

But, during one class, interesting thing occurs. A girl comes and talks with me, resulting in total Chaos in the brain realm, especially since there I'm attracted to this person, and I'm getting signals......or at least I think so.

Sex/Relationship brain- Hey, this is pretty cool....man...nice rack...

Angry Brain- Eyes up moron. Let's not RUIN this right away.

Sex/Relationship- She actually seems pretty interesting in me...uh....us. Uh oh....the topic has ended.....looks like she's waiting for us to talk about something. We have to introduce a topic? ....................................Uh, little help here?

Angry Brain- What? This is your department, not mine!

Work Brain- We could talk about school?

Sex/Relationship- We JUST talked about school....we need something else! Quickly! She's just kind of sitting there waiting!

Pessimistic Brain- ..........you're going to fail...........

Moderator- We've got to say something! Come on anything!

Sex/Relationship- What do I say?!

Soundtrack stops....

All brains at once- ANYTHING! LOOK SHE'S ABOUT TO LEAVE! JUST DON'T TALK ABOUT SCHOOL!

Sex/Relationship- Ok, Ok, Ok!!!

"So, how are doing in the __________ assignment?"

...............................................

Angry Brain- ..................Moron......

Work Brain- Even I knew that was wrong......

Pessimistic Brain- ..................I told you........loser......

Conversation ends soon after, but only school is being talked about. I berate myself constantly for my slip up, and hope to be more 'cool' next time.

This is just a short excerpt of what goes on in my head.....especially during crucial periods when I'm supposed to try to impress somebody, or make them interested in me. It never really changes much more then this. But I still have to find some humor in all this.

Otherwise I'll probably go nuts.
 
#4
I want to be Normal like everybody else

Going of the many different brain types of the last couple posts, I have to admit that I'm different.

And even admitting that fact makes me different.

It's not that I look different.....I actually blend in pretty well into a crowd.....you can actually miss me sometimes if you didn't look hard enough. I somehow have this affect of being invisible in plain sight sometimes, unless you were specifically looking for me.

And if you were, I would have to ask why.

But, I've noticed quite often in my life that I THINK different. Not just in what I think, but how I think. For example, take two problems....a simple one, and a complex one. I don't really have any examples at the moment, but they're not totally neccessary for this explaination. The complex problem, if it is within my intellectual grasp, I will usually be able to solve after awhile, with a relatively efficient solution. Sometimes it's a very efficient solution. But, for some reason, I'll tackle the simple problem in such a way that I make it needlessly complex. I'll take a simple two step problem and add 5 extra steps to it. Making me look like a total moron.

And since most problems that occur in day to day life are of the simple variety, I usually make my life much more complex then it need to be.

And speaking of complex.... I seem to have a hard time sometimes answering briefly. I sometimes feel the need to fully explain things.....even when they don't NEED to be explained, or background history on a particular history is not neccessary to get your story across. I can be a totally windbag......but on the other hand I can sometimes not talk enough.

But I think the major thing that makes me different, much different, from other people is that I do a lot of reflection on my strengths and weaknesses. I know myself pretty well, and I know what I can do, and what I cannot. Many people can easily talk about their strengths, but are reluctant to talk about their weaknesses, or even contemplate them.

I know that I can take on almost any academic or work related problem. I know that I can be self sufficient for long periods of time. But, I also know that I lack the social skills to function perfectly in society, and the inner workings of how a relationship work mystify me, although I have observed many of my married, and long-term-relationship friends.

So, I know my strengths, I know my weaknesses. But the big thing here is that I KNOW I'm different, even though I rather not be.

The funny thing that I can pull out of all of this is that while I see many people trying to be different by the way they dress or act, all in the attempt to differentiate from the mainstream. I seem to be the only one trying to blend INTO the mainstream.

I must have a screw loose somewhere.

Crazy Man's soundtrack at the moment: Ben Harper and Sarah Harmer.
 
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