Mental Illness

[la_la]

Originally Posted by NotAnAverageGuy

Talking about things seems to help alot of people, there are lots of us who will listen and talk, don't be afraid to say how you feel.

Thanks so much NotAnAverageGuy. It helps so much to know that there is someone listening and helping if they can.

Peace,
'iz

[NotAnAverageGuy]

Originally Posted by la_la

Thanks so much NotAnAverageGuy. It helps so much to know that there is someone listening and helping if they can.

Peace,
'iz

No problem hun

[Andrew, Jr.]

We are all here for each other. I just hope and pray for miracles every day for those who suffer, and for caregivers.

Nobody is an island. Nobody.

[Andrew, Jr.]

La_La,

I am sorry I missed your question to me yesterday. I never saw it.

My bio-father is mentally ill. One minute he can be like a lamb, and the next a vicious shark. His moods change at the drop of a hat. It is something all of my siblings and I had to deal with growing up. The only thing I can compare it with - it would be an alcoholic. Even being terminally ill, he still creates havoc. It just shows his nature. He loves to create chaos.

Does this help?

Andrew

[Soon]

Depression's Upside

[Apocalipstic]

I just wanted to bump the thread an see who is still around and how everone is feeling?

I am working on my boundaries and how to know when something is OK or not for me...I struggle with that. My therapist says if something does not seem right to me (for me) then it is not right for me.

It seems so simple.

Can it be?

[Andrew, Jr.]

For me, my boundaries are reasonable. I feel and believe certain truths. Some people I do believe, and trust in. Then there are some people who are outright liars seeking attention so they throw people under the bus to be a part of a click or group. This is both in real time and online. It is human nature. I was reminded of this by The Lady Snow and Sir Daywalker when I was talking about a Native American Indian movie I had just watched. It seems simple, but it isn't to have boundaries. It is hard. And I am sensitive, so it makes it even harder for me.

I struggle with new people who I have a new relationship with. I have no idea about their past. I am concerned with learning about them. However, if someone doesn't understand my limitations/disabilities they will not understand me.

I am more vocal online than in real time. I feel like the computer is easier for me to use. It is my voice. What is inside doesn't come out right. And some people are offended by what I say. It never is meant in a negative or nasty intention. Never.

However, lately, I feel like a misfit. I just don't belong. No matter what I say, it isn't the right words. Thank God we have Linus here. He has given us the smilies that do help me.

I have been in therapy for a number of years, but I had to stop. My therapists had exposed my sessions to my father. Now, this was long before HIPPA Rules/Laws were in effect, and other laws to protect the victims.

One of the biggest problems I have had held against me is gossip of me having multiple personalities. This was never undercovered in any of my therapy. I was just diagnosed with GID. I have my letters for srs, and hrt. That is it. It is rumors and gossip like this that piss me off. People just have too much time on their hands I think or are the ones intentionally seeking to hurt me. What they don't realize is that there are some folks here online who do have that disorder, and do seek comfort online here for that. Their unkind remarks really hurt those folks, not me. So in hurting one - me, you really hurt all of us, which is a Buddist principle, which I practice. I try to stress this but it seems to fall on deaf ears. I am not sure of why.

[Darth Denkay]

Depression's Upside??? Nope, not buying it.

I live with major depressive disorder. This means that regardless of how wonderful every single aspect of my life is, I have a chemical imbalance which, if not managed, will render me unable to survive. There is no upside to this. There is no upside to taking medication every day so that I don't slip into the deep abyss.

Throughout their life, most folks will experience sadness, perhaps even depression, in response to significant life stressors. Sadness/depression allow/help us to 1) know that something has happened that we need to deal with, 2)slow us down so that we can focus, and 3) helps us know when we are overcoming sadness (among many other roles that basic sadness serves). This is normal, and though not pleasant, it is healthy and helpful. Major Depressive Disorder - major depression that is not linked to an exterior event, is not healthy or helpful.

I like Darwin. I think he had a lot of really grand ideas and I do buy some of his theory. However, he was in a position where his own circumstance (apparently living with a clinical mental disorder) went against the very focus of his theory. Because depression is prevalent, then it must be useful, because if it isn't it goes against survival of the fittest and makes his grand plan moot.

We can't say for certain what Darwin's situation was. We can conjecture on what diagnosis/es he might have had, but we can't know. Finally, we can't look at his life as some sort of evidence that actually, depression can have a good side. Normal sadness - yes. Clinical depression - oh hell no.

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

Depression's Upside

[Darth Denkay]

Hello all, good to see Andrew and Apocalipstic around. I'd been meaning to bump this thread so check in - you guys beat me to it.

I'm doing okay, seem to be well-maintained. Drugs, therapy, coping mechanisms - that's what makes my life go round. Not much else to report here...