NationStates Jolt Archive

First thing's first: Nobody ever replies to anything I say. Seriously, step up your game people. I get bored of searching for replies and finding none. If you're not careful, I might have to use Myspace.;)

Okay. So, what's your opinion on mental illness and disorders? Do you think psychiatry is a load of crap, or that it's a science in itself? Do you think insanity is a fair excuse, whether it be naughty kids having ADD, or murderers being schizophrenic?
I've been diagnosed with BPD (boderline personality disorder), bulimia, and "Pure O", which is similar to obsessive compulsive disorder but much less severe. I'm on Prozac, which is an anti-depressant, and it has also been suggested that I go on Ritalin (amphetamine-like medication for attention deficit disorder).
People say that I depend on medication, but my personal opinion is that, just like diabetics need insulin, I need SSRIs. So many people are prejudice against those with mental disorders, and I can't understand it. Am I crazy?

What's your opinion?

I think pyschology is a fine and worthy science, and has helped and will continue to help many people.
My only complaint is the over-prescribing of such drugs as you mentioned, particularly, SSRI's and ritalin.

I think that too often, these pills are thrown at minor issues that could be resolved without medication.

This is not to say that these drugs do not have a place, nor that some people arent better off with them.

i have dylsexia so i can say its shit to have it

i have dylsexia so i can say its shit to have it

I always thought dyslexia was an eye problem, or not exactly a disorder. I know a girl who wears blue glasses for her dyslexia. Do they cure the problem? Can you take medication to help?

A little advice: Learn how to escape from straitjackets, handcuffs and other restraining devices. Escape arts have served me well :)

I always thought dyslexia was an eye problem, or not exactly a disorder. I know a girl who wears blue glasses for her dyslexia. Do they cure the problem? Can you take medication to help?

i thank there more then one tip
my one make me shit at spelling ,grammy and maths

Drugs are eviiil. Have light therapy that was designed for gulf war veterans. It works with showing colors of setting sun to calm your mind. go listen to some waterfall. change your life etc. get a better thing to do than spending time on forums.

I always thought dyslexia was an eye problem, or not exactly a disorder. I know a girl who wears blue glasses for her dyslexia. Do they cure the problem? Can you take medication to help?

Dyslexia isnt an eye problem, its a learning disorder.

A quirk of the brain, so to speak, that can make writing, or reading, difficult for some people.

Drugs are eviiil. Have light therapy that was designed for gulf war veterans. It works with showing colors of setting sun to calm your mind. go listen to some waterfall. change your life etc. get a better thing to do than spending time on forums.

Uhh, considering I have a chemical imbalance in my brain, a waterfall isn't going to help.

Dyslexia isnt an eye problem, its a learning disorder.

A quirk of the brain, so to speak, that can make writing, or reading, difficult for some people.

Yup, cool. I just researched it.

Dyslexia isnt an eye problem, its a learning disorder.

A quirk of the brain, so to speak, that can make writing, or reading, difficult for some people.

and how hard du
now i cant finish that sa the word iam think i cant get out :headbang:

They never quiet found out whats wrong with me. I've been to see various doctors and stuff but no one has given me a decent diagnosis. It might be dyspraxia, dyslexia, mild autism or ADD, its very hard to explain.

Nothing wrong with drugs and psychiatry. People who say otherwise sound suspiciously like Scientologists.

Nothing wrong with drugs and psychiatry. People who say otherwise sound suspiciously like Scientologists.

Hahaha.

Mental illnesses and disorders are real problems that face many people, and trust me it can be absolutely devastating for the victim and the people they are close to.

I acknowlegde and condemn the use of psychiatric medications for inappropriate uses (i.e. "just to shut the kid up"), but it absolutely pisses me off when I hear people say that there is no such thing as mental illness, and that psychology has no purpose. Trust me, it helps anyone who wants it.

And I ask the critics and the Tom Cruises: What do you want? Would you prefer we just go back to discarding depression sufferers and electrocuting schizophrenics? Y'know, back in the good 'ol days?

Pretty bad if you have'em, even worse that society still considers therapy a taboo, though.

You break a bone, see the doctor, get a cast, and everyone wants to sign it.

You have a breakdown, see the doctor, get therapy, and many, many will shy away from you. I mean, seriously, WTF?

Mental illnesses and disorders are real problems that face many people, and trust me it can be absolutely devastating for the victim and the people they are close to.

I acknowlegde and condemn the use of psychiatric medications for inappropriate uses (i.e. "just to shut the kid up"), but it absolutely pisses me off when I hear people say that there is no such thing as mental illness, and that psychology has no purpose. Trust me, it helps anyone who wants it.

And I ask the critics and the Tom Cruises: What do you want? Would you prefer we just go back to discarding depression sufferers and electrocuting schizophrenics? Y'know, back in the good 'ol days?

like you a witch lets set fire to you

I enjoy every one of mine.

I enjoy every one of mine.

...Right.

I dont mind nutters, they're often fun and in my experiance, much saner than most...

I always thought dyslexia was an eye problem, or not exactly a disorder. I know a girl who wears blue glasses for her dyslexia. Do they cure the problem? Can you take medication to help?

Heh naaa Dyslexcia is a problem with processing infomation in the brain. The eye sees and the brain completely fucks up what it sees. Normaly though Dyslexcia is an umnbrealla term for 'Specific Learning Difficulties' not all of which would agree with the classic diagnosis for dyslexcia.

Okay. So, what's your opinion on mental illness and disorders? Do you think psychiatry is a load of crap, or that it's a science in itself? Do you think insanity is a fair excuse, whether it be naughty kids having ADD, or murderers being schizophrenic?
Psychiatry is a working science, but it is way too utilitarian. Being utilitarian here means that it repairs human mind the same way you would repair a ship in battle. Hole in the third left? Flood the third right. But she will be repaired in a dry dock, and your mind will stay this way.


I've been diagnosed with BPD (boderline personality disorder), bulimia, and "Pure O", which is similar to obsessive compulsive disorder but much less severe. I'm on Prozac, which is an anti-depressant, and it has also been suggested that I go on Ritalin (amphetamine-like medication for attention deficit disorder).
No good medic gives diagnosis or advice via phone, and I'm not even a medic. However, I would suggest you to avoid Prozac. If your doctor insists on it, ask advice from another independent one, and use drugs only if both strongly insist on that. Do not take it unless the other way you get really bad. Prozac, no matter how widely it is used, isn't a vitamin pill, but a strong antidepressant. It's worse than drinking, smoking and *smoking*, as effects of drugs tend to be more permanent. Try to give up drugs if possible, it does no good in the long run.
Ritalin is not that bad, but still it's better to avoid usage unless needed, and in any case restrict usage.

I know a few people who have add, maybe i have add aswell, cause I have an impossible time trying to focus and constantly gaze off and start thinking about something else.
If I would get diagnosed, I would never consider medication.
I think having a trouble concentrating is a problem, yes, but it makes other things easier, I constantly think about everything, and get ideas about everything, i think ritalin would make me.. more stupid.
Decides, I can't complain to much about the situation I live in at the moment. Don't think medication would make it any better.

It depends on the sickness though. Some people get more sick by medication..

I think psychiatry and psychology are entirely legitimate, and that mental disorders and illnesses are mostly real. It's hard to deny their existence when you have one.

in the arguement of who gets desciminated more between blacks, whites, muslims, jews, catholics and other groups.
mentally disable/disfunctal/crazy/wierdos have it worse. as well as physically disable.

Uhh, considering I have a chemical imbalance in my brain, a waterfall isn't going to help.

'Chemical imbalance'.

I hate that term. I'm not saying mental illnesses don't exist but it's made up as an explanation from drug companies. What chemicals are out of balance? How would they be in balance? How does the drug correct the inbalance? For A LOT of those medications they have only a loose idea what's going on and the psychiatrists who throw them at everyone almost never know how they work.
It's an incredibly flawed system, I really hope that scientific discovery will eventually make it more feasible and take it out of the dark ages. To me, psychiatry is where other medicine was in 1805, maybe even earlier.

One of my friend's mothers has schizophrenia. I hope she doesn't develop it, apparently it has a genetic componant.

One of my friend's mothers has schizophrenia. I hope she doesn't develop it, apparently it has a genetic componant.

Tell her not to do drugs. Apparently, marijuana can "unlock" schizophrenia.

I think mental illnesses are just like any other type of illness.

After suffering from depression, PPD, OCD, and seeing my mom suffer from Bipolar disorder, and my best friend from MPD, I know they are real, they aren't made up, and you can be treated.

First thing's first: Nobody ever replies to anything I say. Seriously, step up your game people. I get bored of searching for replies and finding none. If you're not careful, I might have to use Myspace.;)

Okay. So, what's your opinion on mental illness and disorders? Do you think psychiatry is a load of crap, or that it's a science in itself? Do you think insanity is a fair excuse, whether it be naughty kids having ADD, or murderers being schizophrenic?
I've been diagnosed with BPD (boderline personality disorder), bulimia, and "Pure O", which is similar to obsessive compulsive disorder but much less severe. I'm on Prozac, which is an anti-depressant, and it has also been suggested that I go on Ritalin (amphetamine-like medication for attention deficit disorder).
People say that I depend on medication, but my personal opinion is that, just like diabetics need insulin, I need SSRIs. So many people are prejudice against those with mental disorders, and I can't understand it. Am I crazy?

What's your opinion?

People with mental disorders have it tougher then people who do not have the same issues but it never is an excuse for their actions. Whenever I hear of a criminal trying to use insanity as a defense I find it for the most part completely ridiculous. Serial killers for instance may be mentally sick but they are not insane in the way that means they cannot control their own actions. Or that they don't know the difference between right and wrong. They do and they just don't care. For these individuals, they should be punished to the fullest extent. It must be proven absolutely that somone had no idea what they did was wrong. This is quite rare and the people who commit crimes and don't give a damn are unfortuantely more common.

For the lighter problems, as long as the person doesn't hurt anyone or damage anything...

*shrugs*

There are plenty of odd people out there who don't have the excuse of a mental disorder. So who cares?

'Chemical imbalance'.

I hate that term. I'm not saying mental illnesses don't exist but it's made up as an explanation from drug companies. What chemicals are out of balance? How would they be in balance? How does the drug correct the inbalance? For A LOT of those medications they have only a loose idea what's going on and the psychiatrists who throw them at everyone almost never know how they work.
It's an incredibly flawed system, I really hope that scientific discovery will eventually make it more feasible and take it out of the dark ages. To me, psychiatry is where other medicine was in 1805, maybe even earlier.


I understand what you are saying, and yes it is true some of our modern mental illness issues do seem just a cynical attempt by grug companies to make more money. However things like clinical depression, schitzaphrenia, and bi-polar are very real, and it has been proven that certian drugs do have benificeial effects on people who suffer under these menatl health issues. And suffer is exactly the correct word to use.

You mention that psychiatry is where other medicine practice was peerhaps 200 years ago, which may well be the case, but you fail to say that 200 years ago our mundane medical skills where pretty bad, yet we had to go through this process for these skills to develop, do you think this wouldn't be the case with mental health? As with every thing we can only act within the speher of our knowledge, if you have any insights into how we can better practice mental health medicine please enlighten us.

Crazy chicks are hot.

Psychiatry is a hard science, where there actually are observable physical and chemical problems. The medications bind with the chemical receptors in the brain and we can observe this.

Psychology on the other hand, is a "soft science." A good portion of it has no backing but psychologists.

Neuroscience is finally starting to get somewhere.

Unfortunately it's still somewhere around the 1800s equivilancy for the rest of the understanding of anatomy.

That being said, a lot of what's a disorder is subjective. To take a concrete example, homosexuality is certainly what I'd call "non-standard" or outside the norm. But is it a disorder? Is it an "illness"? Is it "treatable"? I'd say not.

KYR - years back I would have said "stress - it's all in the head" and laughed at people who claimed stress for them being ill.

BUT

When I was 20 lots of things happened at once which led to me throwing up every day on waking for a year before I finally cracked, I started having anxiety attacks, and then more and more until I reached the point where I was having them all day every day which left me housebound (I live on my own) for 4 months. At the time I saw no way out, I refused to take meds as I'm epileptic and taking other tablets can lessen the efficacy of my anticonvulsants. In the end my mum suggested hypnotherapy - I went in with an open mind (I'm usually v.skeptical about things like this) and after my first session I never had another panic attack - it's been over 7 years now :)

Because of everything I went through , coming out the other side made me feel stronger than I ever have before and much more confident in my abilities to control any given situation.

I'm wary of tablets as my aunt's been on prozac on-and-off for about 15 years now for the same reasons:(

I think it is more of an excuse to escape prosecution in criminal matters. People need to start taking more accountability for their actions.

Crazy chicks are hot.Including ones that foam at the mouth?

I think it's some of each. Some people DO have genuine problems that can be helped by drugs. And there are also plenty of quack doctors who prescribe that stuff like it's candy, and that's okay with the drug companies.

You can't just say that NOBODY needs those drugs (unless you're Tom Cruise), but neither should you blindly follow someone's advice to take them just because s/he wears a white coat.

I understand what you are saying, and yes it is true some of our modern mental illness issues do seem just a cynical attempt by grug companies to make more money. However things like clinical depression, schitzaphrenia, and bi-polar are very real, and it has been proven that certian drugs do have benificeial effects on people who suffer under these menatl health issues. And suffer is exactly the correct word to use.

You mention that psychiatry is where other medicine practice was peerhaps 200 years ago, which may well be the case, but you fail to say that 200 years ago our mundane medical skills where pretty bad, yet we had to go through this process for these skills to develop, do you think this wouldn't be the case with mental health? As with every thing we can only act within the speher of our knowledge, if you have any insights into how we can better practice mental health medicine please enlighten us.

My problem is that they throw medicine at everything. I have seen several medications that treat schizophrenia, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, and a myriad of other conditions with drastically different systems. Why do they treat it? Because a lot of them just deaden the natural thought processes.

I know I am prejudiced against psychiatric drugs because I see my friends become dependent on them, and because as a child they were FORCED upon me.
I was forced to take ritalin as a child because I wasn't right somehow. It was horrible and I didn't even know it. I no longer had any imagination. I no longer had any joy. All I could do was schoolwork and chores.
They basically drugged me up and made me into a happy little slave. Until I came down every day at about 4PM. Then I was miserably depressed, and constantly contemplated suicide.

Then when I was 11 I was about to take that awful pill and I just said no. No way mom, no way dad, I don't care what you say, I am not doing this. It was a big fight and I just refused to take the medicine or talk about it.
Eventually I was FINE again. I got out of special education by time I was in eigth grade, I became and eagle scout, I got an associate's degree and graduated with honors and now I'm working on my biology degree at another school.

They didn't even seem to know how ritalin worked when they gave it to me. It was just "ADD? Take this, don't worry about your kid thinking for himself anymore."

It's the most horrifying thing I can imagine. I have great sympathy for people who have mental disorders and I've seen some amazing research into the cause of schizophrenia recently. It's just stuff like that ritalin business that scares me. And when I have friends who have to take a drug, they get told if they go off it they will just go nuts and now they have to take it forever. They seem more miserable on it to me sometimes.
Psychiatry needs to clean up its act.

A little advice: Learn how to escape from straitjackets, handcuffs and other restraining devices. Escape arts have served me well :)
Yes, but you still can't find a way out of NSG...

As for medications, I think there are definitely cases in which they are vital and there are a lot of cases in which they are a poor solution and often wind up exacerbating the problem by trying to cover it up rather than right it.

No time to elaborate, it's lunchtime now!;)

My cousine has been recently diagnosed with Schizophrenia, possibly drug enduced.

Most people seem to think that people who are crazy are just born that way, but they arn't. My cousine was a perfectly fine guy who seemed to have nothing wrong with him in the slightest, he was never just a bit awkward or anything. Untill, that is, he began his decline into insanity (at about 16).

My cousine has been recently diagnosed with Schizophrenia, possibly drug enduced.

Most people seem to think that people who are crazy are just born that way, but they arn't. My cousine was a perfectly fine guy who seemed to have nothing wrong with him in the slightest, he was never just a bit awkward or anything. Untill, that is, he began his decline into insanity (at about 16).

Yeah, that's how that illness goes. Its onset is early, but not early enough that the person isn't on the way to a good career or relationship or something.

Yay Dysgraphia, eh?

*snip*...No good medic gives diagnosis or advice via phone, and I'm not even a medic. However, I would suggest you to avoid Prozac. If your doctor insists on it, ask advice from another independent one, and use drugs only if both strongly insist on that. Do not take it unless the other way you get really bad. Prozac, no matter how widely it is used, isn't a vitamin pill, but a strong antidepressant. It's worse than drinking, smoking and *smoking*, as effects of drugs tend to be more permanent. Try to give up drugs if possible, it does no good in the long run.
Ritalin is not that bad, but still it's better to avoid usage unless needed, and in any case restrict usage.

It wasn't a diagnosis via phone. I see my psychiatrist on a weekly basis, and my GP agrees with my 40mg Prozac prescription. It's actually not worse than drinking, smoking or smoking pot, considering that it boosts your brain's seratonin. All of the aformentioned do exactly the oppostie, and kill brain cells. Ritalin is the more dangerous of the two. It's an amphetamine, and is assosiated with heart problems, nervous twitches, insomnia, tics, weight loss, anxiety, depression, paranoia and sudden death. I suggest you research topics before you post.
--Knowyourright.

'Chemical imbalance'.

I hate that term. I'm not saying mental illnesses don't exist but it's made up as an explanation from drug companies. What chemicals are out of balance? How would they be in balance? How does the drug correct the inbalance? For A LOT of those medications they have only a loose idea what's going on and the psychiatrists who throw them at everyone almost never know how they work.
It's an incredibly flawed system, I really hope that scientific discovery will eventually make it more feasible and take it out of the dark ages. To me, psychiatry is where other medicine was in 1805, maybe even earlier.

Wow, yet another person who can't be bothered to research the topic. I have lower serotonin, which "plays an important role in the regulation of mood, sleep, emesis (vomiting), sexuality and appetite" [1]. This means that I need SSRIs to function like a "normal" person. SSRIs "allow the available neurotransmitter serotonin to be utilized more efficiently." [2]

1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin
2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_serotonin_reuptake_inhibitor
--Knowyourright.

Crazy chicks are hot.

I know, I'm engaged to Knowyourright.;)

KYR - years back I would have said "stress - it's all in the head" and laughed at people who claimed stress for them being ill.

BUT

When I was 20 lots of things happened at once which led to me throwing up every day on waking for a year before I finally cracked, I started having anxiety attacks, and then more and more until I reached the point where I was having them all day every day which left me housebound (I live on my own) for 4 months. At the time I saw no way out, I refused to take meds as I'm epileptic and taking other tablets can lessen the efficacy of my anticonvulsants. In the end my mum suggested hypnotherapy - I went in with an open mind (I'm usually v.skeptical about things like this) and after my first session I never had another panic attack - it's been over 7 years now :)

Because of everything I went through , coming out the other side made me feel stronger than I ever have before and much more confident in my abilities to control any given situation.

I'm wary of tablets as my aunt's been on prozac on-and-off for about 15 years now for the same reasons:(

It's fantastic that you've recovered. It's not often that people get to experience that fully.
--Knowyourright.

First thing's first: Nobody ever replies to anything I say. Seriously, step up your game people. I get bored of searching for replies and finding none. If you're not careful, I might have to use Myspace.;)

Okay. So, what's your opinion on mental illness and disorders? Do you think psychiatry is a load of crap, or that it's a science in itself? Do you think insanity is a fair excuse, whether it be naughty kids having ADD, or murderers being schizophrenic?
I've been diagnosed with BPD (boderline personality disorder), bulimia, and "Pure O", which is similar to obsessive compulsive disorder but much less severe. I'm on Prozac, which is an anti-depressant, and it has also been suggested that I go on Ritalin (amphetamine-like medication for attention deficit disorder).
People say that I depend on medication, but my personal opinion is that, just like diabetics need insulin, I need SSRIs. So many people are prejudice against those with mental disorders, and I can't understand it. Am I crazy?

What's your opinion?


I think mental illnesses are definitly there... my mom works in that field in a way