Mental Illness

[PoetPhilosopher]

I'll provide a real example. PopeADope made a thread of awesomeness in Journals. He didn't get real responses to said thread. He got "Have you gone off the deep end?". And though it's a valid point about the 7 threads it was told "You made 7 threads in one day and should slow it down" without anyone actually really contributing to the subject matter. I didn't know what to say, so I wasn't even going to respond, but then I kind of stood up for PopeADope. Saying "Maybe God should convert" is an interesting, creative idea by PopeADope that I hadn't heard before. He even talked about Japanese beliefs and culture, as far as I can tell. And though you may not have agreed with him, I think people can be a bit more awesome than bringing up his condition in every last thread.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Even so, I did understand it, and I think there is a possible solution to this issue, by taking both my views and some of the responders' views into account: we need to combine friendly, understanding, agape love, with this harsh, tough love stuff members are talking about. Whether it's the best solution on Earth is debatable, but I still think it's a much better solution than the way things are currently.

Tough love is sometimes needed, but Im very suspicious of claims that supporting someone would be enabling symptoms, in the general sense as an alternative perspective.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Tough love is sometimes needed, but Im very suspicious of claims that supporting someone would be enabling symptoms, in the general sense as an alternative sollution.

I see.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I see.

And, really, its another reason "seek professional help" is commonly seen. We simply don't and can't have enough information to know if what we say will be helpful or destructive. Lots of people also love to pretend they're experts, and say things that contradict accepted approaches in an evidence-based practice (I'm sure youve been around long enough now to see how non-real and real diagnosis get thrown around by people who can't even define a developmental disorder).

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

And, really, its another reason "seek professional help" is commonly seen. We simply don't and can't have enough information to know if what we say will be helpful or destructive. Lots of people also love to pretend they're experts, and say things that contradict accepted approaches in an evidence-based practice (I'm sure youve been around long enough now to see how non-real and real diagnosis get thrown around by people who can't even define a developmental disorder).

It makes sense. I'm just being an advocate for the mentally ill having a good sounding board here without being met with overwhelming responses that don't always relate to the subject matter at all.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It makes sense. I'm just being an advocate for the mentally ill having a good sounding board here without being met with overwhelming responses that don't always relate to the subject matter at all.

It would be nice. The moderators will at least remove certain posts, such as any posts that tells someone to quit taking their meds. But between stigma, hostility, dangerous people who think they are as good as an expert, destructive religious beliefs, I'm not sure if it will ever happen (Ive seen some studies that suggest those with a mental illness refrain from using social media, but thats running from symptoms of a larger societal illness).

 

[Eddi]

I'm schizophrenic too

On numerous occasions on these forums I have been told that I'm possessed by a demon!

How medieval is that!

What next, smashing a hole into my skull with a rock to release the evil spirits?

I actually went along with the notion for a bit, until I got some perspective and saw how ridiculous the idea is

It's not right telling ill people they are possessed. I'm worried that if someone told a person who is more vulnerable than me that they are possessed then they might go and do something awful to themselves

Otherwise when discussing my mental ill-health on these forums I've received some very helpful advice

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Otherwise when discussing my mental ill-health on these forums I've received some very helpful advice

That is good to hear.

 

[PureX]

Popeadope ASKED to be diagnosed; "Am I creepy?"

This is a forum designed to elicit people's opinions. And that's what you're getting.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Popeadope ASKED to be diagnosed; "Am I creepy?"

This is a forum designed to elicit people's opinions. And that's what you're getting.

That isn't a diagnosis, and its unethical and even illegal to diagnose people if they aren't your patient. As I've pointed out a few times now, people love, LOVE, to pretend and insist they are experts and they refuse to acknowledge and accept their irresponsible behaviors can have serious consequences for other people. Simply put, quit trying to diagnose people if you arent their doctor.

 

[HolyHolyHolyEvil]

I don't believe in skitters (as a genetic mutation, brain disease or chemical imbalance). I believe in neglect, trauma, abuse and, of course, spirit and soul.

What you're really discussing here is human behavior, you're just framing it within the structure of a belief system. It's all these belief systems that are in the way, to some degree.

Everybody learns this thing called "mental illness" and conditioning for how to respond to it starts early in life. People who are different, odd, distinct, unusual, distinguished, unique are practically sucked into the mental illness category like a gigantic vortex. The whole world cooperates with how it all plays out, whether good or bad or both.

I'm treated like a leper or something more evil than satan. I'm extraordinary, extremely unique (one of a kind), intelligent, heavily spiritually endowed (which makes for ISOLATION & ALIENATION). Few people appreciate unique individuality. Most people find comfort and ease in conformity and uniformity. When it comes to the skitters belief system, people are preconditioned how to think, feel and respond (GO AWAY is part of the skitters programming).

Skitters fray is what I call it. These are people who are fearful and singed by adverse experience (particularly adverse spiritual experiences). A lack of knowledge makes it all severely worse for everyone.

Greater spiritual knowledge = better understanding. Better understanding = improved quality of life to whatever degree.

 

[Dawnofhope]

I was diagnosed with Schizophrenia at age 21. At age 25, in the midst of it, I joined an internet forum and debated with people. I told people about my Schizophrenia and upon them seeing that I changed my opinions quite a bit at the time because I was often presented with better facts in debates, they urged me to talk to my Psychiatrist about it. So I did. He said I am getting better. I went back and told the forum. They told me to get a second opinion. So I did and the second person was actually curious enough to look over some of the threads, both my posts and the comments. He told me to stop going to the forum because such negativity may hold back my progress. So I did. Anyways:

I think this forum is harsh to people with mental illness, especially those with stronger forms of it. It's not funny at all. All I'm seeing in the threads of those with mental illness are narrow-minded responders who don't know the first thing about the specific condition, doing one of the following:

1. Telling them to see a Psychiatrist instead of posting on the forum

2. Attacking their posting habits

3. Asserting that they can't help them with personal advice because the person with mental illness has mental illness

4. Telling them they're insane because their posting habits don't fit the responder's narrow-minded views

Really not funny. At all.

Also seems like stealth breakage of rule 3, sections 1-3.

I'm not a big fan of complaining without offering proper solutions, so here is what I think the solution is:

Don't treat them like a special (guinea pig) case. You might have to be a little more sympathetic at times, yes, for sure, but they don't want their threads derailed just because they suffer from some condition. Save the personal diagnoses for when people are asking for them very specifically and won't take no for an answer (which never happens), or for cases where a person is suicidal and it's your God-given duty to tell them to get help even in cases where doing so means you are saying things that really aren't your place due to quick action being needed.

Going back to that personal story I told, the ironic thing was had I never told them I had Schizophrenia, I doubt I would have even been called out. People shouldn't be punished by responders for wearing their opinion on their sleeves.

Many of the participants on this forum have either experienced mental illness or have a close friend or relative who has. So between us all there is a great deal of experience with mental illness. As said by another, we are a diverse group from vastly different backgrounds yet choose to post and interact with others.

I personally try to take people as they come. In my early 20s I went through a period of severe depression. I found my way though by making use of professional counselling and applying the principles of my new found faith. Within a few years I went on to practice medicine and later psychiatry and then general practice. So although I have a lot of experience personally and professionally I would avoid offering anyone here medical advice. That should only be done after conducting a full psychiatric evaluation face to face.

Some of us are here to sort ourselves out, others to sort out others. Regardless, RF remains a space that provides opportunities to learn if we are open to it. I've seen a lot of people come and go over the time I've been here. I hope you find what you are looking for.

 

[dybmh]

Something to consider... if a mentally ill person gets 100% love and affection when they are symptomatic, the love and affection may be nurturing the symptoms.

I'm not trying to discourage you, I'm just trying to add a little different perspective to the situation. I hope you understand.

When you provide love and support you arent enabling bad habits and choices. Support isnt keeping someone down, its helping them back up. Thats a very odd perspective and it makes no sense to me.

100% love and affection.
In other words:
Only love and affection may be nurturing the symptoms.

Like I said in previous replies to this thread: it's tricky.

I agree with what you are saying. But it's a matter of degree. Too much love and support, can nurture the symptoms. I stand by what I said.

Tough love is sometimes needed, but Im very suspicious of claims that supporting someone would be enabling symptoms, in the general sense as an alternative perspective.

You've never seen this before? That is surprising to me. Parents do this all the time with their kids. I think when you use the word "support" you mean it in a healthy way. When I say "support" it includes unhealthy support that nurtures unhealthy behavior.

Even so, I did understand it, and I think there is a possible solution to this issue, by taking both my views and some of the responders' views into account: we need to combine friendly, understanding, agape love, with this harsh, tough love stuff members are talking about. Whether it's the best solution on Earth is debatable, but I still think it's a much better solution than the way things are currently.

I'm not supporting harsh tough love; I think honesty and being firm is good, tho.

At the most practical level, this is what I'm saying: it's generally best to have a blend of love, support, and honest correction ( when warranted ).

if the goal is to have some measure of balance between support and correction. ( Not perfect balance, but a blend of love, support, and honest correction ) then, if some members take up the role of honest correction, then there is no reason that you and I and others cannot take up the role of love and support.

However if no one else is replying, or if everyone who does reply is offering 100% love and support / 0% honest correction, then that isn't good either. I'm more in my element offering love and support. @The Reverend Bob is more in his element offering correction. If, The Reverend is doing his thing, then I can do mine. If both he and I are operating naturally, there is a blend of honest correction, love, and support.

If I'm on my own or no correction is offered when warranted; then ( if I think a blend is needed ), I would need to operate out of my element and provide honest correction, and I'm not good at that. I think it's best for people to operate in a manner that is natural for them and from a position of strength.

On this forum, in my opinion, there is usually a natural blend of honest correction, love, and support that happens organically. At least that was my impression of the situation with Eddi.

However, I have no idea what's going on in PopeADope's recent threads.

@PopeADope: Hey Man.

Hopefully you remember me, I was a fan of yours, but honestly, I thought your treatment of the Black Dude who liked Trump was unfair. I thought that guy tolerated you, answered your questions, and even if his answers were a little silly, they didn't merit your ridicule. Since then I haven't been reading your threads. It hasn't been that long ago, I was going to give your future threads a chance. But that stunt, making fun of the Black Guy, was not for me. It could have been a White Guy, and it still would have been a buzz-kill for me.

That's why I have, literally, no idea what's going on in your other threads. I was answering this thread strictly based on previous threads of other RF'ers.

 

[sooda]

I was diagnosed with Schizophrenia at age 21. At age 25, in the midst of it, I joined an internet forum and debated with people. I told people about my Schizophrenia and upon them seeing that I changed my opinions quite a bit at the time because I was often presented with better facts in debates, they urged me to talk to my Psychiatrist about it. So I did. He said I am getting better. I went back and told the forum. They told me to get a second opinion. So I did and the second person was actually curious enough to look over some of the threads, both my posts and the comments. He told me to stop going to the forum because such negativity may hold back my progress. So I did. Anyways:

I think this forum is harsh to people with mental illness, especially those with stronger forms of it. It's not funny at all. All I'm seeing in the threads of those with mental illness are narrow-minded responders who don't know the first thing about the specific condition, doing one of the following:

1. Telling them to see a Psychiatrist instead of posting on the forum

2. Attacking their posting habits

3. Asserting that they can't help them with personal advice because the person with mental illness has mental illness

4. Telling them they're insane because their posting habits don't fit the responder's narrow-minded views

Really not funny. At all.

Also seems like stealth breakage of rule 3, sections 1-3.

I'm not a big fan of complaining without offering proper solutions, so here is what I think the solution is:

Don't treat them like a special (guinea pig) case. You might have to be a little more sympathetic at times, yes, for sure, but they don't want their threads derailed just because they suffer from some condition. Save the personal diagnoses for when people are asking for them very specifically and won't take no for an answer (which never happens), or for cases where a person is suicidal and it's your God-given duty to tell them to get help even in cases where doing so means you are saying things that really aren't your place due to quick action being needed.

Going back to that personal story I told, the ironic thing was had I never told them I had Schizophrenia, I doubt I would have even been called out. People shouldn't be punished by responders for wearing their opinion on their sleeves.

I think that most Americans are not trained to help the mentally ill.. Aren't you expecting too much?

Why would you air such personal problems as Mental illness and gender reassignment on an internet forum?

 

[Spiderman]

100% love and affection.
In other words:
Only love and affection may be nurturing the symptoms.

Like I said in previous replies to this thread: it's tricky.

I agree with what you are saying. But it's a matter of degree. Too much love and support, can nurture the symptoms. I stand by what I said.



You've never seen this before? That is surprising to me. Parents do this all the time with their kids. I think when you use the word "support" you mean it in a healthy way. When I say "support" it includes unhealthy support that nurtures unhealthy behavior.



I'm not supporting harsh tough love; I think honesty and being firm is good, tho.

At the most practical level, this is what I'm saying: it's generally best to have a blend of love, support, and honest correction ( when warranted ).

if the goal is to have some measure of balance between support and correction. ( Not perfect balance, but a blend of love, support, and honest correction ) then, if some members take up the role of honest correction, then there is no reason that you and I and others cannot take up the role of love and support.

However if no one else is replying, or if everyone who does reply is offering 100% love and support / 0% honest correction, then that isn't good either. I'm more in my element offering love and support. @The Reverend Bob is more in his element offering correction. If, The Reverend is doing his thing, then I can do mine. If both he and I are operating naturally, there is a blend of honest correction, love, and support.

If I'm on my own or no correction is offered when warranted; then ( if I think a blend is needed ), I would need to operate out of my element and provide honest correction, and I'm not good at that. I think it's best for people to operate in a manner that is natural for them and from a position of strength.

On this forum, in my opinion, there is usually a natural blend of honest correction, love, and support that happens organically. At least that was my impression of the situation with Eddi.

However, I have no idea what's going on in PopeADope's recent threads.

@PopeADope: Hey Man.

Hopefully you remember me, I was a fan of yours, but honestly, I thought your treatment of the Black Dude who liked Trump was unfair. I thought that guy tolerated you, answered your questions, and even if his answers were a little silly, they didn't merit your ridicule. Since then I haven't been reading your threads. It hasn't been that long ago, I was going to give your future threads a chance. But that stunt, making fun of the Black Guy, was not for me. It could have been a White Guy, and it still would have been a buzz-kill for me.

That's why I have, literally, no idea what's going on in your other threads. I was answering this thread strictly based on previous threads of other RF'ers.

Thanks for the painful truth my brother. I did not intend to ridicule that man however.

 

[dybmh]

Thanks for the painful truth my brother. I did not intend to ridicule that man however.

That's good for me to know. If you remember, I wasn't the only one to view it that way.

And, you're welcome. I'm sorry if it was painful.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I think that most Americans are not trained to help the mentally ill.. Aren't you expecting too much?

Why would you air such personal problems as Mental illness and gender reassignment on an internet forum?

I think it's good to tell the forum what's on my mind provided it's not R rated because it gives a glimpse of myself, and I'm just a small part of a glimpse into the content of multiple members, which I feel this is what this forum is. Do I tackle the deep subjects other people aren't *a whole lot*, or do I spend my time making threads about what wine goes with cheddar cheese? I did mention awhile back that I was spending too much time discussing politics, etc. for my comfort. But when I hit my limit and need to take a break on the subject, I will know.

I come from the 80's/early 90's though. The Beastie Boys weren't shy. Nor do I want to fight my upbringing too much if I don't have to.

 

[sooda]

I think it's good to tell the forum what's on my mind provided it's not R rated because it gives a glimpse of myself, and I'm just a small part of a glimpse into the content of multiple members, which I feel this is what this forum is. Do I tackle the deep subjects other people aren't *a whole lot*, or do I spend my time making threads about what wine goes with cheddar cheese? I did mention awhile back that I was spending too much time discussing politics, etc. for my comfort. But when I hit my limit and need to take a break on the subject, I will know.

I come from the 80's/early 90's though. The Beastie Boys weren't shy. Nor do I want to fight my upbringing too much if I don't have to.

I wish you peace.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I wish you peace.

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

We all have our own paths to take and stealth beat reporting to do. My path on here is to educate people on my brand of law-abiding nonconformism because it may reveal more about me and the human nature and beliefs of some people in our society, not all. If your path is to educate people on the errors of the Bible, well I think that's something I can stand by also, and I think you do a pretty good, classy, quality job at the subject. Just saying and trying to provide an example.

 

[sooda]

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

We all have our own paths to take and stealth beat reporting to do. My path on here is to educate people on my brand of law-abiding nonconformism because it may reveal more about me and the human nature and beliefs of some people in our society, not all. If your path is to educate people on the errors of the Bible, well I think that's something I can stand by also, and I think you do a pretty good, classy, quality job at the subject. Just saying and trying to provide an example.

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

We all have our own paths to take and stealth beat reporting to do. My path on here is to educate people on my brand of law-abiding nonconformism because it may reveal more about me and the human nature and beliefs of some people in our society, not all. If your path is to educate people on the errors of the Bible, well I think that's something I can stand by also, and I think you do a pretty good, classy, quality job at the subject. Just saying and trying to provide an example.

A close friend of mine has schizophrenia and he was diagnosed at 25. Fabulous person.. Every now and then he hears stuff .. usually the voices of his children.. and checks into the hospital for a day or two.