Would a Sane Man...

[virginiawang]

What you posted above was far from the truth. Your wild guess went too far.
I believe psychiatric drugs are the same throughout the world. Are they not?

I think virginia may see treatment through an authoritarianism that westerners are no longer subjected to, hence the disjunction,

As far as I know, people all over the world, once get labeled, can hardly get it removed. Can people in your country refuse medications after they are diagnosed with certain mental illnesses? Do laws in your country allow psychiatric patients to walk in and out of a ward as much as they like? NO. Impossible.

I think virginia may see treatment through an authoritarianism that westerners are no longer subjected to, hence the disjunction,

Listen carefully! Authoritarian treatments can only befall unfortunate people. My lover will not allow anyone who once treated me with disrespect to be safe. I feel love.

[Gladys]

Few threads I have engaged in have shown the level of tolerance, forbearance and empathy for the feelings and ideas of others as Would a Sane Man...!

In this light, I empathise with Virginiawang. She calls herself 'a devil'; suspects 'anyone wants to attack me'; says 'only power matters'; has 'taken sleeping pills for more than ten years'; has 'a high opinion about drugs'; believes other posters are 'lying'; has 'trouble making friends or getting along with people'; indeed, she 'had no friends at all, but that suited me better'; has learned 'to look at everyone from above'; and has a lover who "will not allow anyone who once treated me with disrespect to be safe."

[The Atheist]

Sanity.

Phew, you really started something here - I hadn't bothered with this thread as having nothing meaningful to add, but then I was referred to virginia's comments in another thread, so I've read it all.

Fascinating stuff.

Am I insane, or just unique?

All of us are unique; I think the insanity part's been well covered.

Sounds to me like you're making all the right moves in direction and attitude right now - keep it up!

It's important to draw a distinction between mere eccentricity and actual mental illness. I suspect that to be a dedicated intellectual requires a certain degree of eccentricity in view of its rather esoteric nature.

Spoken like a true Englishman!

______________________________


I think threads like this are important - I did a bit of online discussion in this and several other forums a couple of years back to help gauge what percentage of people who post online are mentally ill. The rate was quite high, because - and I think Nax's posts show this - it's easier to discuss things anonymously.

[Nightshade]

I know I am coming in late, but I dont see why depression should be insanity, infact I think most of the most common metal illnesses are just that illnesses diseases many of them incurable but somewhat manageable. But insanity its such a harsh term. On a tangent I would like to suggest an interesting book The madness of Adam and Eve how Schizophrenia shaped the world . Anyway back to main point and i know I am going to regret this in morning, in the last year I have been diagnosed with recurring depression. The doctor recommended SSRI but I am refusing on the grounds there are more than enough drugs floating around my system on a daily basis as it is. Nax like you I very rarly barring my ummm let us stick with the name Ive been giving them for the last 10 years hibernation stages appear to be anything but a bubbly happy person, to the point that when Ididn tell my own bother my diagnosis she burst out laughing her opinion remains "rubbish" ( hardly the supportive attitude one would wish to find but I get where she is coming from).

I have several other issues but we won't get into that. Let us just say one of the reasons I am here in EGypt is that I am facing some of my demons, and in many ways I think its helping.

Speaking as a keen couch psych, have you implemented recent, research-based, practical advice for dealing with depression. On a daily basis:

1. Expose bare skin to ultra-violet rays from the sun - much more so in winter.
   
   
2. Do thirty minutes of heart-thumping exercise.
   
   
3. Have a large meal of oily fish.
   
   
4. Get at least eight hours sleep (if possible).

On the psychological front, have you considered that almost everyone has experienced all of your symptoms at one time or other. But the sane seek ways of forcefully channelling their errant thoughts and perceptions in different, more useful directions.

I have to add something I have discovered in the last couple of months, stay away from chocolate and refined sugars, its never worth the crash, especially if like me you are particularly prone to sugar highs the blues that follow can be crippling. I have found that what I eat has a very big affect on my mood.
Daniel I know what you mean about your mind going in 100 million different places a ponce and how tiring and frustrating that can be. I find constatly occupying at least a third of my mind with something helps me to function, and concentrate.
And virginia its amusing at times but when you forced to bite you cheek until it bleeds to stop yourself from 'testing the theory of gravity' with a plate piled high with food in a crowded 5 star restaurant in front of people its important you impress, it excitingness soon fades.

[Niamh]

Spoken like a true Englishman!

Welshman... if i'm not mistaken

[soundofmusic]

I don't think any of us confuse depression with insanity; it's just that it is a non-confrontational place to begin a rapport. There are many forums set up with the concept of depression; but also offer separate threads for social anxiety, agoraphobia, suicidal feelings, and more severe illnesses with hallucinations or psychotic grandiosity.
Obviously, Nightshade, you and Nax are brilliant young people who have good senses of humor and occasionally need a bit of a helping hand or a strong shoulder (as we all do).With others on the forum, while much may appear to be a way of getting attention, could be an outcry for help that is far beyond our scope.

[Katy North]

I have to add something I have discovered in the last couple of months, stay away from chocolate and refined sugars, its never worth the crash, especially if like me you are particularly prone to sugar highs the blues that follow can be crippling. I have found that what I eat has a very big affect on my mood.

One other thing I feel I should add... the family member I mentioned earlier in the thread discovered a couple other things that effected her....

- She regularly drank alcohol, which effected her mood.

- she had an undiagnosed medical condition that, since it was untreated affected her mind.

It's a good idea to see a good old medical doctor for a thorough working over as well.

[Nax]

Ya I have heard that actually, when it comes to the more serious diagnosis they will test for medical conditions before settling on the final one.

Still waiting for my appointment with the clinic. I will try to report the process and procedures for those of you curious about the australian health system, or are thinking of seeking help yourselves. that way you can have an idea what its like and if its right for you.

Plus then I get to not be bored and will have something to type instead of just this filler

[The Atheist]

I will try to report the process and procedures for those of you curious about the australian health system, or are thinking of seeking help yourselves. that way you can have an idea what its like and if its right for you.

Plus then I get to not be bored and will have something to type instead of just this filler

Good god!

I hadn't even noticed you were from Adelaide.

Everyone there is nuts!

[soundofmusic]

Good god!

I hadn't even noticed you were from Adelaide.

Everyone there is nuts!

Well, if that's the case...and if Atheist said it, it must be...maybe it's a government test site. I'm pretty sure I saw some Adelaidean Gecos in insurance commercials with an extra eye and silver alien suits...

Nax, you probably don't need to go to the doctor...Just move in with Mr and Mrs Atheist, have a few of those heavy beef barbecues of his and you'll feel all better...

I'm moving to New Zealand also, I'm looking for mental health and a models body after 50...

[Jozanny]

Nax: I would not mind learning a little about the Australian intake system in comparison to the American one. Our intake system is in crisis for those that cannot afford to pay for quality mental health care, and has been for quite some time.

From what I can gather, there is an undercurrent towards more integration under our medical model. Mental health and dental have always been treated separately from medical care, and there is a growing movement to change that, in the sense that oral and physical and mental health are part of the same spectrum.

As far as I know, people all over the world, once get labeled, can hardly get it removed.

That depends on the label and what we choose to do with it. My very identity is wrapped up in my disability and my sense of failure due to the helplessness and the physical betrayal of my body, and when I use that anger to alienate others, then it may not be entirely the fault of able-bodied individuals to be leery of me. You go off in your posts in many different directions. People may not be able to respond to that as sympathetically as you might wish. Try to focus on one topic at a time.

[OrphanPip]

I grew up down the street from a psychiatric hospital, as did my mother, and I've been fascinated by the changes that the system has gone through.

Just 30 years ago people were routinely confined like prisoners at this hospital, but gradually over the years their has been an increasing shift towards out-patient treatment. My neighbourhood is now populated with public housing for the mentally disabled. Usually, with one person paid to be a sort of financial steward for a group of 5 to 6 individuals of the same sex to prevent exploitation. A friend of the family who worked her entire career as a nurse at the hospital says that this is largely a cost cutting venture, as the Canadian system is publicly funded. However, I can't help but feel this is better for the patients as well.

Well as I mentioned earlier in this thread, I had survived a suicide attempt (boohoo me ;p), and as a result spent a couple days in that psychiatric hospital. I wasn't allowed to leave until I could see a psychiatrist and be cleared as not being an immediate danger to myself or others, and then I was offered biweekly therapy covered by medicare. It wasn't the most comforting experience of my life. Being confined in a building with an armed guard at the door, and not being able to leave at will is not pleasant. I can't imagine how it can be for people who have to spend extended periods in institutions, not to mention a lifetime. I would say it's worse than prison, because nobody does anything to deserve to be locked away in an institution.

[The Atheist]

Nax: I would not mind learning a little about the Australian intake system in comparison to the American one. Our intake system is in crisis for those that cannot afford to pay for quality mental health care, and has been for quite some time.

Australia & NZ, along with UK, have public mental health services under the general public health system, so it doesn't compare.

[papayahed]

I grew up down the street from a psychiatric hospital, as did my mother, and I've been fascinated by the changes that the system has gone through.

Just 30 years ago people were routinely confined like prisoners at this hospital, but gradually over the years their has been an increasing shift towards out-patient treatment. My neighbourhood is now populated with public housing for the mentally disabled. Usually, with one person paid to be a sort of financial steward for a group of 5 to 6 individuals of the same sex to prevent exploitation. A friend of the family who worked her entire career as a nurse at the hospital says that this is largely a cost cutting venture, as the Canadian system is publicly funded. However, I can't help but feel this is better for the patients as well.

Well as I mentioned earlier in this thread, I had survived a suicide attempt (boohoo me ;p), and as a result spent a couple days in that psychiatric hospital. I wasn't allowed to leave until I could see a psychiatrist and be cleared as not being an immediate danger to myself or others, and then I was offered biweekly therapy covered by medicare. It wasn't the most comforting experience of my life. Being confined in a building with an armed guard at the door, and not being able to leave at will is not pleasant. I can't imagine how it can be for people who have to spend extended periods in institutions, not to mention a lifetime. I would say it's worse than prison, because nobody does anything to deserve to be locked away in an institution.

On the surface this isn't the same but kinda is. While in college I worked at a group home for mentally handicapped adults. There were six people living in a house and there were usually 2-3 "helpers" there at all times. One lady was brought to live in the house straight from an institution where she had lived for 30+ years. In the beginning she was like a wild woman, I don't think any of us hadn't been bitten or hit. Anyways just a year later the change was simply astounding. Instead of hiting and acting out she would articulate what was wrong. It was so fun to see because it just made life so much easier for her, once she could tell us what was wrong we could deal with it as opposed to sending her to her room because she hit somebody.

[Jozanny]

Australia & NZ, along with UK, have public mental health services under the general public health system, so it doesn't compare.

But I'd still like to learn how the intake works, if he could tell us a little without violating his privacy. I know how MH intake works here in certain instances. I do not know how it works there; it would be interesting to compare.