Compartmentalisation

For the longest time, my default response to situations that I did not feel like I had the bandwidth for was to shove them in a box and forget about them. That worked out fine for me until the box got too full, the lid popped open, and I had to properly process everything I had shoved in there all at once.

Compartmentalisation is a very common coping mechanism where mental “drawers” are created in the mind to temporarily set aside overwhelming emotions, situations and responsibilities. The mistake I made was trying to lock things away forever and not process them.

The truth is, you don’t have to deal with everything as it happens, but that does not mean you should pretend like they don’t exist, because ignoring them won’t make them disappear. And when you least expect it, those things will confront you.

Compartmentalisation is a pause button, not a delete button. It’s okay to take a step back, just don’t forget to come back to it when you are ready. That way, you control the box, not the other way around.

All my love,

-Jhoye from MANI