I used to struggle with Bipolar Spectrum disorder. After 9 years of medication, therapy, prayer, and a lot of ups and downs I've been declared free of the diagnosis by my psychiatrist.
I gained a lot of weight because of medications (normal weight is 210lbs, which is fine for my 6' 4" frame, but medication caused me to balloon up to over 444lbs). I have not been able to work at my peak for many years. I'm now almost 45, and I feel like I'm starting to get my life back. Now that I'm off the main drug that treated my disorder (risperidone) my weight is starting to drop.
I know people are scared of mental illness. I see it in their faces, or the way they treat me differently as time goes by. But that's okay, I have close friends who have accepted me for who I am without that fear.
My wife wishes I wouldn't tell people about my history. My health is no one's business but mine. However, I choose to tell people about it, because of the stigma. Because I'm neither ashamed or afraid for people to know. I _will_ lose friends, work, and opportunities because of my choice to be open about it, but I don't care because I want to fight the stigma.
Everyone has a friend or family member that struggles with some form of mental illness. Everyone. I have seen too many people suffer in silence, and some even take their own lives because the pain is too much.
I was suicidal years ago. I suffered horribly for many months on end, waking up in the morning and just focussing on getting through the next hour, until I finally reached the end of the day and could go back to sleep so I could have some relief.
There is no shame in mental illness. People used to be afraid of people who had heart disease, as if they might "catch something" from them. The brain is the most complex organ in our bodies, and it's prone to have problems just like any other organ.
My name is Miles Forrest. I have wrestled with mental illness for many years, and I'm happy to say I have overcome it with help from doctors, family, friends, and God (if you're offended by my attribution to God, please don't be. I respect a person's right to believe whatever they want, all I ask is they respect my right to believe whatever I want). I can't say I'm cured, because there's a possibility I might relapse at some point in the future. But I have acquired the skills, knowledge, and support network that I know, without a doubt, I would be able to beat it back down again. Mental illness doesn't define me, but learning to fight, persevere and lean on others when I need to has made me a better man.
You can mock or ridicule me if you want, but I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to the man or woman out there who is afraid there might be something wrong with their mind, and who feel alone and afraid. I know how scary it is. I know how you feel like you're the only person in the world who has felt the way you do. You're not, and you are not alone. If you are that person, email me at miles@coderpath.com, and I will walk with you as a friend and stranger to get you help.
Congratulations for standing up and confronting the HOURS. Until it is time to sleep and no more. That is really an achievement. I went through it some times and man, does it hurt!
Yes, I also put a lot of my regaining health to God. And to my family. Thank you for your openness.
My name is Pedro, I am just an ordinary guy who has gone through depression and OCD and now leads what I may call an "ordinary life" as a university lecturer and who -thank God- is reasonably happy with this life. I am also open for support, I am a mathematician who happens to love music, philosophy and computers, in case anyone feels like chatting. This kind of suffering can be alleviated. But seek help, you need it.
If you are ill, that is what matters: reality. If anyone gets annoyed for it or dislikes you for it, it is THEIR problem. Stigma is about fear: their fear.
I think one of the benefits of mental illness is it makes a person incredibly empathetic and in tune with other people's pain. Being in such a dark place and succeeding in getting into the light makes you want to save everyone from ever having to relate your experiences.
It is still hard to be this honest and open. To put your full name on something like this. I respect the hell out of you and we share a disorder, thank you for your post.
It depends on the illness. Psychopathy, antisocial personality disorder, and similar diagnoses, are marked in large part by the lack of empathy presented.
That is a really good point and something I hadn't really considered. I could also see a lot of my feelings of empathy being instead turned into anger if things had been different so I might have generalized a personal experience.
I'm well out of my pay grade, but with the various anti-social / psychopathic disorders, it's not an empathy/anger axis so much as just not caring about consequences for others. It's a total disregard. More troubling: there's very, very little by way of treatment for many of these disorders, whether you're looking at pharmaceuticals or talk therapy. The DSM can make for interesting late-night reading.
Seconded. And by the way, speaking as someone who's about as atheist as they come, anyone who would be offended by your religious beliefs is just a dick. Thanks for your outreach and I suspect you'll get more than a few emails.
It's great that you believe that you have succeeded in your approach. However, it's dangerous to hold your anecdote up as a recipe for success, more broadly. The 'tough it out' strategy is common, and it's forced upon us as a general solution. But, it's a terrible approach. If one doesn't 'tough it out', one is viewed as weak, and this often leads to self-medicating and other related illnesses.
But, let's try a simple experiment to determine rough odds of 'toughing it out'. Let's say that someone reads this who has been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, bipolar, or similar illnesses. That person should count the number of people in their extended family (these illnesses frequently have genetic components). Then, of that group, they should count the number who have had highly stable, productive, and predictable lives. Divide the latter by the former, and check: is the percentage low or high? If one has 12 people in their extended family, and 8 of the 12 haven't lived amazing lives, well the odds probably aren't great for them to 'tough it out'.
Some of us come from families who are quite intelligent but who just can't keep their shit together, otherwise. Luckily, we happen to live at a time when people can finally be treated for these diseases. So, what you're saying is almost like saying, 'if you have a genetic predisposition for heart disease, you should ignore any symptoms, and it will go away.' Yes, lifestyle changes can help, but at a certain point we have to agree that sometimes our genes are not meant for the type of world that we live in. And, Humans cope with genetic deficiencies, as Humans do best, with technology.
You missed the point. My story is not a recipe. It's simply an admission of what I've been through, and to offer inspiration and hope to others who are at the beginning of their struggle.
I'm also confused. How did you read my comment and come to the conclusion that I just "toughed it out"? Did you read the whole thing?
Also, you called my post an "anecdote". I do not think that word means what you think it means.
I got the point. But, you clearly tried to stress that someone can be cured of mental illness. When, this goes against the evidence.
Maybe there are a few people who can be 'cured'. But, many mental illnesses have factors that are based in the chemistry and structure of the brain. It's not that these brains are 'bad', it's just that the brains may not be suited to the types of worlds that we live within.
My post was meant primarily as a counter-point - that what you're saying is not true, generally. If someone believes that they may easily 'cure' their illnesses, they are able to really hurt themselves, badly. For most, a stable mixture of medications to balance out dopamine and serotonin is the best approach, until the neurosciences are able to learn more.
Also, I apologize for using the word 'anecdote' - I always had assumed that 'anecdote' was the root word for 'anecdotal'. But, I guess it's not. So, read what I had posted as me claiming that your story is 'anecdotal', rather than 'scientific'.
From the comment: "I can't say I'm cured, because there's a possibility I might relapse at some point in the future." Don't know how I could have stated that any clearer.
My particular diagnosis was treatable, but you're right in saying that many cannot be cured. I think your points are important to make, and I'm glad you made them.
In fact let me underscore a common problem. Many people who are treated for mental illness (especially Bipolar) often want to go off their medication without doctor supervision. Bad idea. If you need to find a better doctor, do that, but don't think you can tackle this stuff on your own.
I don't know if we are really disagreeing here. There is fantastic help for people with mental illness. Hopefully this discussion will continue, and as a society we can put an end to stuff like this: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/09/26/asdas-mental-pati...
I gained a lot of weight because of medications (normal weight is 210lbs, which is fine for my 6' 4" frame, but medication caused me to balloon up to over 444lbs). I have not been able to work at my peak for many years. I'm now almost 45, and I feel like I'm starting to get my life back. Now that I'm off the main drug that treated my disorder (risperidone) my weight is starting to drop.
I know people are scared of mental illness. I see it in their faces, or the way they treat me differently as time goes by. But that's okay, I have close friends who have accepted me for who I am without that fear.
My wife wishes I wouldn't tell people about my history. My health is no one's business but mine. However, I choose to tell people about it, because of the stigma. Because I'm neither ashamed or afraid for people to know. I _will_ lose friends, work, and opportunities because of my choice to be open about it, but I don't care because I want to fight the stigma.
Everyone has a friend or family member that struggles with some form of mental illness. Everyone. I have seen too many people suffer in silence, and some even take their own lives because the pain is too much.
I was suicidal years ago. I suffered horribly for many months on end, waking up in the morning and just focussing on getting through the next hour, until I finally reached the end of the day and could go back to sleep so I could have some relief.
There is no shame in mental illness. People used to be afraid of people who had heart disease, as if they might "catch something" from them. The brain is the most complex organ in our bodies, and it's prone to have problems just like any other organ.
My name is Miles Forrest. I have wrestled with mental illness for many years, and I'm happy to say I have overcome it with help from doctors, family, friends, and God (if you're offended by my attribution to God, please don't be. I respect a person's right to believe whatever they want, all I ask is they respect my right to believe whatever I want). I can't say I'm cured, because there's a possibility I might relapse at some point in the future. But I have acquired the skills, knowledge, and support network that I know, without a doubt, I would be able to beat it back down again. Mental illness doesn't define me, but learning to fight, persevere and lean on others when I need to has made me a better man.
You can mock or ridicule me if you want, but I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to the man or woman out there who is afraid there might be something wrong with their mind, and who feel alone and afraid. I know how scary it is. I know how you feel like you're the only person in the world who has felt the way you do. You're not, and you are not alone. If you are that person, email me at miles@coderpath.com, and I will walk with you as a friend and stranger to get you help.