Mental Wellness Support Group

[feral.cherub]

I truly wish we didn't have to label any of these illnesses or disorders. It makes me feel so stripped of my identity and emotions. Every experience I have is considered to be less valuable than another person's because of a label given.

I don't have feelings, I have "episodes".
I don't get pissed off, I have "breaks".
I don't get upset, I get "unstable".

Leads me to spend half of my life denying what I'm dealing with and the other half hiding it.

Yeah, like feeling as though you constantly have to defend your right to exist.

Personally, I think what the psychiatric community calls disorders is simply an unexpected and unprepared access to an additional sense.
We usually have access to five (six for some). But that doesn't necessarily mean those senses are the only ones that exist. Aside from the five, the rest are filtered to keep us from premature exposure to them.
Sometimes a trauma filled life and/or experiences with substances can blow those doors wide open. And some people manage it better than others once exposed. And like a car that isn't running on all eight cylinders, people can display erratic and unexpected behaviors or feel certain things that might not seem appropriate depending on the circumstances. So people who haven't been exposed feel like they need to name those behaviors because they don't experience them but they want a name for it to make them feel like reality isn't yanking the rug from under their feet.
And the people exposed to more senses prematurely or not in the right order feel like the rugs been yanked from under their feet too.
Then medication is sometimes introduced to try and stop up the holes in the dam.

And they usually only work temporarily. At least in my experience.
Some people hear voices or have hallucinations. I'm not sure I believe that seen and heard things aren't really there. If you saw it or heard it, it's there. Even if it does originate from the mind. The mind is a place too. And we know far less about the nature of the mind and consciousness than we do know.

And yes, what Nakita said about the meds. Nanny drugs. Social acceptability management.

@TrickyDickie I probably read your post, quoted it and forgot it didn't originate from my mind. I do that a lot. Sort of disturbing. Like early Alzheimer's or unconscious plagiarism. Ugh!

"My personal dx is that my head is like a wasps nest."

 

[Twilight Phoenix]

Sometimes I think all of the medications prescribed are not a good thing.

For many people, medication is the only thing helping them have a functional life and not kill themselves...

 

[TrickyDickie]

Yeah, like feeling as though you constantly have to defend your right to exist.

Personally, I think what the psychiatric community calls disorders is simply an unexpected and unprepared access to an additional sense.
We usually have access to five (six for some). But that doesn't necessarily mean those senses are the only ones that exist. Aside from the five, the rest are filtered to keep us from premature exposure to them.
Sometimes a trauma filled life and/or experiences with substances can blow those doors wide open. And some people manage it better than others once exposed. And like a car that isn't running on all eight cylinders, people can display erratic and unexpected behaviors or feel certain things that might not seem appropriate depending on the circumstances. So people who haven't been exposed feel like they need to name those behaviors because they don't experience them but they want a name for it to make them feel like reality isn't yanking the rug from under their feet.
And the people exposed to more senses prematurely or not in the right order feel like the rugs been yanked from under their feet too.
Then medication is sometimes introduced to try and stop up the holes in the dam.

And they usually only work temporarily. At least in my experience.
Some people hear voices or have hallucinations. I'm not sure I believe that seen and heard things aren't really there. If you saw it or heard it, it's there. Even if it does originate from the mind. The mind is a place too. And we know far less about the nature of the mind and consciousness than we do know.

And yes, what Nakita said about the meds. Nanny drugs. Social acceptability management.

@TrickyDickie I probably read your post, quoted it and forgot it didn't originate from my mind. I do that a lot. Sort of disturbing. Like early Alzheimer's or unconscious plagiarism. Ugh!

"My personal dx is that my head is like a wasps nest."

You mentioned that first, so I then quoted you and related my experience talking with my wife a couple of days ago. You are A-okay.

And everything you wrote in this post makes more sense and is more easily understood than anything I've ever heard from any 'professionals'.

 

[feral.cherub]

For many people, medication is the only thing helping them have a functional life and not kill themselves...

I hope I didn't say anything that made you feel criticized for taking meds (if you or someone you know does.
If meds work for you, that's great! I wish they did for me. They usually last 6-9 months and then stop working. Then trying to get off them can be a nightmare. (In my case Effexor [Affects her, lol!] and Cymbalta. I feel like someone who's been on drugs like heroin or meth. They don't give the same effect anymore but I can't handle coming off them. The psychiatric community calls it '''discontinuance syndrome." Right. Politically correct psychobabble for 'addiction'. Like people don't know the difference between chicken shit and chicken salad just because their brain works on another level.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

have you tried something herbal yet? I've trouble with anxiety fits and whenever I get one I take a few drops of valerian extract. It tastes truely awful but helps better than Fluoxetine and has no side effects (apart from making one popular with cats).
I've always loathed medication and take only what is absolutely necessary, particularly when it comes to substances that interfere with my self control. Fortunately, my docs all see eye to eye with me.
I've experienced abuse and torture and was fortunate enough to be able make a strength out of my past. I like to think that it made me a good deal tougher than the average and when it comes to anxiety and depression, my experiences give me a sort of benchmark compared to which most probs and fears are small.

Still, if a huge spider turns up unexpectedly,

I .. errr... ahem... find myself lacking a bit of emotional strength...

 

[Twilight Phoenix]

I've trouble with anxiety fits and whenever I get one I take a few drops of valerian extract. It tastes truely awful but helps better than Fluoxetine and has no side effects (apart from making one popular with cats).

Fluoxetine is an anti-depressant, so definitely not the best option for anxiety if you don't have underlying depression. Have you given alprazolam a try ? I find it quite efficient, especially when combined with valerian and passiflora.

That beind said, I totally know where you're coming from
I too have been throught emotional abuse, harassment, social isolation and bullying, among other things (the list is long)...I feel ya, buddy.

 

[TrickyDickie]

• Takes pleasure in few, if any, activities

• Does not desire or enjoy close relationships, including family

• Appears aloof and detached

• Avoids social activities that involve significant contact with other people

• Almost always chooses solitary activities

• Little or no interest in sexual experiences with another person

• Lacks close relationships other than with immediate relatives

• Indifferent to praise or criticism

• Shows emotional coldness, detachment or flattened affect

• Exhibits little observable change in mood

1) Depends on availability. I am not crushed if I can't do something. It just doesn't matter that much.

2) My wife and no one else. Family was obnoxious, with constant fighting and juvenile competition. Friendships have always gone badly. They always end up finding something they don't like about you. Tired of trying. The last couple....he turned out to be a huge Rump supporter and she a giant homophobe with her beep-beep-beep "gaydar" constantly going off. Miserable little punk....we both wanted to boot her right in the ass. People can start out to be really nice and turn out to be phony as hell. And downright nasty.

3) Most of the time.

4) Yes....see #2.

5) Yes, except for my wife.

6) Only my wife....zero interest in anyone else.

7) My only close relationship is with my wife. I want nothing to do with relatives, because of how they act.

8) If criticism is justified, I will take care of the problem, but without emotion attached to it. I don't set out with the intention of being an asshole, so I don't end up with a lot of stuff that needs fixing. If criticism is unjustified, and is really just expressed from malicious glee, I ignore it up to a point and then take care of it if it does not stop. Like Woodrow Call in 'Lonesome Dove', I don't tolerate rude behavior. Praise? Okay, thanks. My wife's opinion is the only one that really matters to me. And we have wonderful communication and interaction.

9) Emotional reserve and stoicism.

10) Most of the time.

With human beings, how much is in the category of genuine 'problems' and how much is simply an individual version of managed stability that others may not understand because theirs is different?

Just because I can turn emotion on and off to fit a situation does not mean that it is not genuine. I am a person of very deep feelings. Music, in particular, has deep emotional impact on me. When it comes to interactions with other people, I feel that when you reach a certain age you simply have things mentally in place to protect yourself from the chaos, if possible.

I am genuinely friendly with those who act in kind.

By tone of voice, inflection, body language, and other cues, I can usually tell when someone is offering meaningless platitudes that they don't feel, from a script. I would prefer no 'communication' at all rather than that saccharin.

 

[Gryffindorian]

^ Even if someone answered yes to some - or all - of them, that doesn't necessarily mean he/she has a SPD. That's up to a mental health professional to determine. I say everyone has personality quirks and flaws that make them unique. To echo what someone said in this thread, the real crazy ones are those who seek to do harm to others.

 

[TrickyDickie]

^ Even if someone answered yes to some - or all - of them, that doesn't necessarily mean he/she has a SPD. That's up to a mental health professional to determine. I say everyone has personality quirks and flaws that make them unique. To echo what someone said in this thread, the real crazy ones are those who seek to do harm to others.

One problem is that not all professionals agree with each other. Sometimes, even among a group of half a dozen there may be no consensus of opinion. That leaves patients frustrated and feeling isolated, at times, especially when they have been bounced around from one diagnosis to another and prescribed a bunch of different medications due to those conflicting opinions.

 

[Gryffindorian]

Too bad psychology isn't an exact science. Perhaps in the 24th century, as Counselor Troi once alluded, psychology is more objective than subjective.

ETA:

Unfortunately, I don't remember which episode of TNG referred to my statement above. Or maybe it was something I read in a Trek novel.

 

[feral.cherub]

have you tried something herbal yet? I've trouble with anxiety fits and whenever I get one I take a few drops of valerian extract. It tastes truely awful but helps better than Fluoxetine and has no side effects (apart from making one popular with cats).
I've always loathed medication and take only what is absolutely necessary, particularly when it comes to substances that interfere with my self control. Fortunately, my docs all see eye to eye with me.
I've experienced abuse and torture and was fortunate enough to be able make a strength out of my past. I like to think that it made me a good deal tougher than the average and when it comes to anxiety and depression, my experiences give me a sort of benchmark compared to which most probs and fears are small.

Still, if a huge spider turns up unexpectedly,

I .. errr... ahem... find myself lacking a bit of emotional strength...

Ugh! Valarian! That stuff really does taste awful doesn't it. I used to take the powder. Personally, I've tried various herbs, mostly because my ex scours the net for herbal remedies but none seem to work.
I'm currently on Depakote, Wellbutrin and Valium. I still wake feeling depressed and often suicidal, or like I'll sit upright and start screaming.

I'm sorry about your past. I can relate. Just about ever form of abuse, including SRA. (That actually occurred in my 20s and involved meth dependency and other details)
One of those person's once said, "Laughter is ill, pain and suffering build character."
Here's to less character, please and thank you. *Raises a toast*

 

[TrickyDickie]

I can relate. Just about ever form of abuse, including SRA. (That actually occurred in my 20s and involved meth dependency and other details)
One of those person's once said, "Laughter is ill, pain and suffering build character."
Here's to less character, please and thank you. *Raises a toast*

My wife and I can both relate. We lived similar lives of abuse before we ever met, from basically the beginning of our lives. She endured the SRA thing. She was drawn into what was supposedly a Wiccan coven, by her biological mother. It was not. Her mother's on-again off-again husband was a would-be LaVey type, if not worse. A lot of really bad stuff went down, and that's where I will have to leave it, because the details are not fit to get into on this board.

Less character, indeed.

 

[Qonundrum]

Yeah, like feeling as though you constantly have to defend your right to exist.

Personally, I think what the psychiatric community calls disorders is simply an unexpected and unprepared access to an additional sense.
We usually have access to five (six for some). But that doesn't necessarily mean those senses are the only ones that exist. Aside from the five, the rest are filtered to keep us from premature exposure to them.
Sometimes a trauma filled life and/or experiences with substances can blow those doors wide open. And some people manage it better than others once exposed. And like a car that isn't running on all eight cylinders, people can display erratic and unexpected behaviors or feel certain things that might not seem appropriate depending on the circumstances. So people who haven't been exposed feel like they need to name those behaviors because they don't experience them but they want a name for it to make them feel like reality isn't yanking the rug from under their feet.
And the people exposed to more senses prematurely or not in the right order feel like the rugs been yanked from under their feet too.
Then medication is sometimes introduced to try and stop up the holes in the dam.

Which they don't often do, or do well, never mind hideous side effects. And never mind misdiagnosis and how many patients won't speak up. Misunderstandings... etc...

And they usually only work temporarily. At least in my experience.

Darwin's real law at work again. Adaptation. Brain chemistry adapts the same way we now have drug-resistant bacteria, or what the media tries to educate toddlers with when saying "superbugs" as if the bacteria fly around in little red capes or something...

Some people hear voices or have hallucinations. I'm not sure I believe that seen and heard things aren't really there. If you saw it or heard it, it's there. Even if it does originate from the mind. The mind is a place too. And we know far less about the nature of the mind and consciousness than we do know.

And yes, what Nakita said about the meds. Nanny drugs. Social acceptability management.

@TrickyDickie I probably read your post, quoted it and forgot it didn't originate from my mind. I do that a lot. Sort of disturbing. Like early Alzheimer's or unconscious plagiarism. Ugh!

"My personal dx is that my head is like a wasps nest."

Aye... what's really fun is when the drugs cause massive weight gain then everyone looks and laughs, thus rendering depression and anxiety and so on and so forth all worse as a result. Makes for an awesome catch-22 how many doctors aren't paying attention? (Most do, the few that don't - I feel bad for the patients' plight...)

For many people, medication is the only thing helping them have a functional life and not kill themselves...

Just wait a few years. We've already seen in the 1990s the push for euthanasia of people. There may be a greater acceptance of it this time. The initial reasons are often sound and rational, but can potentially go into tangents that are more harmful than good. The tangents become complex and interesting and even ironic. While most doctors usually say pointless things like "don't throw the baby out with the bath water" or "curing the disease by killing the patient", we also appear to live in days that would make Orwell, Huxley, and others spin in their graves until they reached multi-orgasmic stage. But they wrote fiction and people often see what they wish to see anyway.

Until then, people should really check their diets regarding a sometimes-overlooked symptom or even cause of depression:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-food-that-helps-battle-depression-1522678367?mod=djmc_pkt_ff

The usual spiel about eating fish and legumes and lean meats and few carbohydrates (though complex like "whole grains" are said with the usual level of tokenism...)

 

[feral.cherub]

@Cutie McWhiskers
Yeah, I read an article about the euthanasia thing. They called it one's 'duty to die' depending on circumstances.
I would be all for physician assisted suicide like they have in Switzerland, but it's a choice. In America? We have a man in the White House who has zero background in politics. He's a business man. Corporate America literally runs the country. Not even hidden in plain site. It's just there, thumbing it's nose at the poor and disabled as they strip social programs and place unqualified people into places of power. They're laughing at the middle classic because they have them pointing a blaming finger at the poor instead of seeing that the Corporate run America is raping the rest of us. When they finally legalize euthanasia, they'll grab up all the Social Security money and roll in it till they come. Or toss it into the military budget so they have even more money to go rape other countries of their resources. Make war, institute infrastructure repair in exchange for mineral rights and resources.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Just a gentle, friendly reminder to be mindful of the thread's topic. A little diversion is generally fine, of course, but we probably don't want this thread to become too bogged down with politics. We have many other threads for political discussion here, if one was so inclined. Thank you.

 

[Joanna McCoy-Kirk]

I have been diagnosed with Major Depression with Psychotic Features and Dependent Personality Disorder, and I live in a supportive apartment complex for people with mental illnesses. I take various medications for my mental illness, and I know that if I did not have that medication, I would cry all the time. Reading this thread has been, well, "fascinating." For one thing, I had never heard of the term "neurodiversity." I wonder if any of you have been told to keep a journal of your thoughts, feelings, etc. I find that journalizing painful thoughts just makes the mental pain worse for me. I hope I can contribute in some small way to this thread in the future; I think it's a good thing to have.

 

[feral.cherub]

Just a gentle, friendly reminder to be mindful of the thread's topic. A little diversion is generally fine, of course, but we probably don't want this thread to become too bogged down with politics. We have many other threads for political discussion here, if one was so inclined. Thank you.

Mental challenges are strongly linked to ones environment. Including the political ones. It, and we, are all connected. Since I'm such a pain in the ass, I will make myself scarce if it's in everyone's else's best interests.
The rest of you can watch the world go to hell in a handbasket as euthansia against ones will is made legal which will target the diabled near the top of the list. I'll just read when I get the notion or you can ban me or shut down my account. I really just don't giving a flying rats ass anymore. At least I can call a spade a spade and bypass all the stupid politically correct bullshit that has us dancing around mulberry bushes. If I can't be myself here, I will go where I will be. And if that fails I'll just keep myself company.
If you think I'm being an asshole just say the words. I know you're probably thinking them. A thought is a word is a deed.
I might add that of every forum I've ever been a member of, there are far too may who get too butthurt over trivial matters here. (I'm not including this topic as one.) I'm talking about purists who shove their knowledge in your face over memories and knowledge of an imaginary show! Boy do people love a chance to show how superior they are in those areas others don't recall to the detail or agree with their every word. My first welcomes were ignored and then mocked.
Just fuck it. Go on taking it so seriously that it becomes a church with all it's dogma and proper behavior lined up like ducks in a row. There are over 7 billion people on this planet who can take me as I come and spell how they feel in rice and beans and skip the insincere sweetness. It's so transparent it's almost funny. At least I have the advantage of knowing I'm an ass and can admit it. Too many people here are just too far up in the rarified atmosphere for my tastes.
Don't trip. It's a long way down. And when you fall, don't forget to laugh all the way down.
P.S. I make an exception for the one or two people who like my posts and aren't afraid of a little honest conversation.

There! Fun is fun and done is done.

 

[feral.cherub]

@TrickyDickie

I relate to several of those, but this struck me the most: "Music, in particular, has deep emotional impact on me."

I metal out when I'm pissed. But I listen to a wide range depending on my mood. Sometimes music is the only honest friend available.

Thanks for all your likes and support.

 

[Avro Arrow]

@feral.cherub

You are not being a pain in the ass, and no one is asking you to leave. A number of longer threads do tend to end up eventually bringing in politics, so we try to encourage political discussions to take place in threads intended for that purpose. That's all. There are a number of different threads in which people are discussing politics, and even specifically American politics, so I would encourage you to look into those if you're interested.

That being said, your broad-based swipe against other posters was inappropriate. I'm sorry that your first experiences with the board were negative. But we do ask that members do not get personal towards other posters. It is fine to go after the content of the post, just not the posters themselves. I'm not going to take any action at this point, but please keep this in mind for the future.

I hope you choose to continue to take part in this thread.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

I wonder if any of you have been told to keep a journal of your thoughts, feelings, etc. I find that journalizing painful thoughts just makes the mental pain worse for me. I hope I can contribute in some small way to this thread in the future; I think it's a good thing to have.

Welcome to the thread And congratulations at being so curageous! After all, posting here is rather a bit of a coming out.
I've tried a few time sto keep a journal but I'm simply not the type for it. I much prefer to keep memories of the good things and forget about the bad ones.
Remember that "ridiculosus" charm in Harry Potter where a dangerous creature gets converted into something completely harmless and ridiculous? I find that this works pretty well with emotional problems. I always try to see the funny or at least the positive side of things. It enables me to make fun of myself and my situation*. And that helps a lot with all sorts of problems. Something that's funny is automatically less threatening.

* contrary to the common prejudice, we Germans do have a very well developed sense of humour, only we think that in order to be entitled to laugh at others you must first be able to laugh at yourself (the latter offering the advantage that you are never without an object to poke fun at )

(PS: sorry about the typos - I've mislayed my reading glasses. Duh! I'm old enough to start being muddle headed )