Stella_Omega
No Gentleman
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2005
- Posts
- 39,700
Whoever starts a religion thread will be on my iggy list toot sweet, just saying.
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Dude, what kind of word salad are you tossing?deleted
Dude, what kind of word salad are you tossing?
Dude, what kind of word salad are you tossing?
What a good discussion. I agree with a lot that has already been said; especially the comments about over diagnosis and living a sedentary lifestyle. I also think that doctors are quick to prescribe medications without trying other alternatives first. Some mental illness is manageable without medication, but of course not all.
I've been coping with depression for as long as I can remember. As a kid my mother just said I was "moody and shy" but in my teens I was diagnosed with depression and promptly put on Prozac without trying any other approach to deal with the illness. This was okay for a while then I started to feel numb, apathetic and not myself. I wasn't sad, I wasn't happy, I just was. Throughout my teens and early 20s I was on and off whatever anti-depressant was popular at the time. I would take them for a few months and be over-the-top happy then I would start to flatline again, at that point I would discontinue the meds.
During my early 20s I started to get introspective, asking myself why I was making the decisions that I was making. Why are you so negative? Why so judgemental? Why so bitchy and unpleasant? And most importantly what is this doing for you? I was making myself miserable and compounding it day after day with the thoughts that I chose to embrace and the actions that I chose day in and day out. From that day forward (as I was walking across my college campus, observing what I perceived to be as happy people) I decided that for the most part I color my own world, and I wasnt going to let my depression bury me. I can claw my way out. It was about this time that I evaluated my diet and the chemical filled shit that I was putting into my body--I drank almost 2 liters of pop a day and most of the food I consumed was artificial fast food, single serving quick food with no real nutrition. You know what they say, you are what you eat...and I felt like shit, and acted like an asshole.
Long story short I gave my life an overhaul. From the physical to the mental.
...so cut to today, without monitoring what I eat, without yoga (this is my mental release), without weight lifting and checking in with myself on the regular I would be a completely different person--or I might not even be here. And also without my daily affirmations (yes...I sound like Stuart Smalley) I could easily let that negativity dictate my choices. I control what I can and try to make good decisions.
That being said I am not perfect, everyone has their bad days and you cannot control your thoughts; so yes, judgement creeps in. But instead of going along with it I ask myself what is the motivation for those thoughts/feelings, can I turn it around? I know if i'm starting toward a downward spiral and I evaluate what could potentially be taking me there (did you eat too much ice cream? did you miss a workout/yoga class? have you seen your friends/family recently?) and try to fix it. Of course there isnt always an answer, and sometimes it just is; and a good healthy cry can help, or talking it out with a loved one.
To answer the original question...how do I feel about mental illness? I think it is slowly being more and more recognized in today's society, and some stigma is lifted as it becomes more prevalent. However, because you can't outright measure it like a physical illness there will always be some skepticism from those that have no experience. I feel that when you get to know yourself you can begin to cope with what your dealing with. With meds or without.
How do I feel about those that refuse meds? I can relate. I would refuse to take mine at times because I would have rather felt sad/angry than feel nothing at all. But this is just from a mild depression standpoint. If you are a danger to yourself or others in society and you *know* this, but you decide not to take your medication---or seek other ways to deal with mental illness--then this is just irresponsible and unacceptable.
I owe you all an apology. I did not have the right to speak as i did. I am sorry.
I have a son who ... has some issues. He just turned 13 this May. We've been through about every available "therapy" and medication possible. I can tell you that insurance definitely tries to step in and have a say in the least cost-affect manner being the one they will "allow". Some recent testing turns out that we may be leading down the path of Aspergers which is an entire new show in its-self.
I think that today's lead on "mental illness" has a great deal to do with over-population. All these people in a relatively (in comparison) tiny planet ..
Anyways, I just wanted to say that having children with illnesses, being the one or having relatives with illnesses -- you all aren't alone. It's a very hard road to travel. And much easier to know you have company.
Hope you all are having splendid days.
-a
Mmmhmm, and while you're at it you can suck my hubby's dick, pissant. Do it inccorectly and you will be schooled in the fine art of pain. This female is armed and dangerous, fucktard. However, I do forgive you for being a villiage idiot. Be smart and stay away from me until your parents teach you proper etiquette.
All hear this: sdineen is innocent of e-rape. He, though, cannot help his current status as village idiot. Let the public record serve as evidence to his mental condition. As court jester and public defender, I move to suspend judgement until his mother and father teach him proper etiquette.
How many times have I already threatend an out loud rampage of epoch proportion? Right now I'm loving all of you, but I'm not fucking dead yet, fuckers! Think I'm bad when I lack sleep? Pah, child's play. *scratches head* Wait a minute, did I threaten a rampage? Oh wells, IT the white boobed menace ANTICHRIST Generation X spawn is ... somewhat sated. Mahahaha. I Am the eldest on both sides of my family, so don't fuck with me. I love to hurt things, you bunch of sillies! Anyone who would attempt to prey on my innocence will meet their doom vigilante style. Step on my sense of justice one too many times and I will dance upon the ashes of mine enemy, and not even the Gatekeeper will keep you safe if I feel you're guilty. And as an aside, I honestly cannot express in words the amount of love I have for everyone here, even if I don't yet like some of you. And truth be told, some people hate me for the fact that I have no hang-ups about who I am. At least they hate me for that rather than the color of my skin, country where I reside, economic status... 1% I AM coming for you, and I do it in my real life, too. Tell me that one woman's force cannot move society, pfft. I love you, Stella. Keep fighting! I respect you for that. *hugs*
*smiles triumphantly*
*skips off happily to hug her Furry momma*
Mommy, whenever anyone hears my giggle come out as mah hah hah ha ha or any variation of evil laughter my meanass is rising, but I promise that I will use incredible restraint before I let it out on society ... maybe. I will listen to your advice, and try to behave appropriately. *chuckles*
I'm trying to determine my own family and I see so many of them. I hope you do not mind being... smelled? I think from now on I will seek permission before I... sniff people.
*Hugs, hugs, hugs*
Take care of yourself.
This is a piece of my life, too. If you figure out how to disengage, let me know.
Or, as I told my sister, I will go to Hell with you, but I will not go for you.
You don't pull this bullshite with me, or with anyone who hasn't given you permission.*chuckle-hug*
Did Stephen Fry's gobsmackingly excellent serious documentary about bipolar ever make it across the Atlantic?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3EacQ4GfiU
(That is Part 1 - the other Parts are also on Youtube)
You don't pull this bullshite with me, or with anyone who hasn't given you permission.
Aside from being offensive, your outbursts are worrying.
You need to talk to your doctors about getting your meds balanced.
Did Stephen Fry's gobsmackingly excellent serious documentary about bipolar ever make it across the Atlantic?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3EacQ4GfiU
(That is Part 1 - the other Parts are also on Youtube)
Can you summarize? I like words, written words, not lectures or vids.
I always wondered why there seems to be such a shortage of good media on the subject, other than books, which there are a few. Any recommendations are welcome.
If anyone has seen the movie Limitless, I felt that was inspired by bipolar disorder.
He talks about his own bipolar (which he'd had all his life but which was only diagnosed when he was 37, after an extremely depressed episode where he disappeared and people thought he was dead). He talks to celebrities and others who are bipolar. He and others describe in detail the experience of being bipolar - the the mania, the depression - the pros of being bipolar and the cons.
The series was a huge thing in the UK - it vastly increased public understanding of the condition, and vastly destigmatised it. It was also fascinating and very well put together. And Stephen Fry is just so darned likeable and watchable.
Edited to add: Just found another link, with a short written summary -
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/stephen-fry-the-secret-life-of-the-manic-depressive/