When I'm not lucid, there is such a tie to feeling as though I've always been the same, as though I've always been sad or scared. And it feels shameful. It feels as though people prefer lucid, high functioning, somewhat normal brain chemistry me, and that the other version is a burden, an inconvenience to be around. Broken Fleaze has been the version around a lot lately, so a big part of me feels as though people have been waiting around for me to get back to normal. Rolling their eyes as I stumble and try to get my shit together.

Remind the people that you love that you love them no matter what they're feeling. Remind them that their feelings aren't wrong, or broken, or irritating. Just be there to listen and to try to enjoy the moments where they're the versions of themselves they wish they always were, and don't make them feel guilty when they can't be.

-Fleaze