Welcome To The Asylum

“Various Psychological States”

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:58:56 -0500

“Various Psychological States”

Stop Blaming Newtown Tragedy On Mental Illness

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:54:13 -0500

Stop Blaming Newtown Tragedy On Mental Illness:

Despite the promise of a conversation about mental health, misinformation and ignorance became the norm in the aftermath of the Newtown tragedy.

I swear the next person says the words “schizophrenic,” “sociopath,” or - oh god - “autistic” in place of the name of the Newtown shooter I will fucking explode. Don’t assume you know this asshole’s diagnosis. (And certainly his Aspergers had NOTHING to do with his actions!)

As a rich white boy in a nice area, he had access to mental health care the likes of which most people will never get and yet no one else -even the most mentally ill- have never hurt children like this.

Look, I know it is comforting to put people and situations into boxes. Categorizing and dehumanizing monsters makes them something separate from ourselves. It makes us feel safe and gives us something to look out for. An “other” to keep locked up far away from us. We feel like we can understand and prevent this by simply labeling everyone as either “safe” or “unsafe.” But, like it or not, that is not how life works. This was committed by a human being that no one knew would ever do something like this. No matter how smart you think you are, you probably would’ve missed it too.

Please, don’t drag entire groups of people - who have done nothing wrong, who are already ostracized and stigmatized, who are at a greater risk than most for being preyed on by evil people, and who need your understanding - under the bus just so you feel a bit better.

Yes, this man was an absolute monster but not because he had a mental illness or autism. Not because he was rich or white. Not because he had access to guns. Not because his parents divorced. Not because whatever excuse you want to add.

He just was.

The mentally ill are not monsters but there are monsters out there that we all have to figure out how to deal with.

cabezona: When people respond to your self-harm/depression/eating disorder/mental illness by saying...

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:29:50 -0500

cabezona: When people respond to your self-harm/depression/eating disorder/mental illness by saying...:

fuckyeahfeminists:

goldenphoenixgirl:

“You’re better than this!”

“You’re smarter than this!”

“You’re stronger than this!”

What they’ve basically just said is that if you can’t get over your mental illness on their schedule, then you must just be weak, stupid and bad. Respect…

Photo

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:28:38 -0400

restless all night: beentoseabefore replied to your post: battery dying but brief post...

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:27:42 -0400

restless all night: beentoseabefore replied to your post: battery dying but brief post...:

gerutha:

beentoseabefore replied to your post: battery dying but brief post about how hey some…

def isn’t all your own mental health, that theme in self-help stuff usually lacks a whole lot of nuance and makes me uncomfortable, however well intentioned

Yes! Thank you! Part of it is the…

"If you cry before the curtain even opens at a play, that means you feel art deeply. If you feel..."

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:38:58 -0400

“If you cry before the curtain even opens at a play, that means you feel art deeply. If you feel guilty because you almost crushed an ant and you imagine its little destitute ant family, you have incandescent powers of empathy. If someone gives you a compliment and you smile so hard you cry, you are able to feel joy and sorrow and torrid emotions on a level it’s hard to touch. How could that be a bad thing? Existing is hard and it doesn’t last very long, and I think feeling deeply is a way to live fully. And I think all the Emotionally Volatile Bears out there are living in the brightest way.”

- therapsida (via fuckyeahemotionallyvolatilebear)

Just in case.

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 18:18:19 -0400

prettywithbrainzzz:

Depression Hotline: 1-630-482-9696

Suicide Hotline: 1-800-784-8433

LifeLine: 1-800-273-8255

Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Sexuality Support: 1-800-246-7743

Eating Disorders Hotline: 1-847-831-3438

Rape and Sexual Assault: 1-800-656-4673

Grief Support: 1-650-321-5272

Runaway: 1-800-843-5200, 1-800-843-5678, 1-800-621-4000

Exhale: After Abortion Hotline/Pro-Voice: 1-866-439–4253

Reblogging because you know, someone out there could use one of these.

Because I love you all.

"^_^Just because you feel something, doesn’t make it true. If you feel stupid, it doesn’t follow that..."

Thu, 05 May 2011 01:38:11 -0400

“^_^Just because you feel something, doesn’t make it true. If you feel stupid, it doesn’t follow that you are stupid. If you feel guilty, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are. Feelings come from thoughts and if your thoughts are inaccurate or misguided your feelings may be too.”

- Healthy Thinking Skills (via benotdeceived)

while I know this to be true, it’s quit difficult to remember when your emotions are so intense and rapidly cycling.

(via borderlinepersonalitysupport)

Invisible Disabilities: Dealing with Unsolicited Advice

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:38:00 -0400

Invisible Disabilities: Dealing with Unsolicited Advice:

disabilityderp:

Pinky: If you are a person who is for the most part healthy or able bodied, it would help to read this to understand it from the point of view from people who are sick and/or disabled.

NO WONDER WHY PEOPLE HIDE SELF INJURY AND SUICIDAL URGES

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:28:11 -0400

tearsrolldownlikerazorblades:

you cut - you are emo

you post that your cutting - you are an attention whore

you post that you want to die - you are an attention whore/you are lying

you dont tell anyone, someone finds out - you are a freak

you die from suicide - your selfish

BiPolar 2: Me 2: Bipolar 2: How it Feels

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:21:50 -0400

BiPolar 2: Me 2: Bipolar 2: How it Feels:

bipolar2me2:

First things first. I need to clarify that MY personal struggles in no way represent all people with Bipolar 2 disorder. We are each unique, and our experiences are unique. So, just keep that in mind.

With all the recent news coverage of Catherine Zeta-Jones lately, I have been infuriated with…

It’s extremely scary to come out and talk about a piece of yourself that no one understands.

Photo

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:19:09 -0400

Mental Health of College Freshmen at All-Time Low

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:11:00 -0400

(source)

The risk for major psychiatric disorders peaks during late adolescence and early adulthood, especially during the transition from home to a life of partial independence, the investigators say. Being away from one’s family and friends coupled with the stress of new social and academic pressures can exacerbate depression and anxiety and, in some, could become the proverbial final straw that triggers suicidal behavior, the researchers say.

Somewhat to their surprise, the researchers say, they found that students who reported thinking repeatedly about suicide were no more likely to attempt it than those who did so only once. The finding suggests that mental health professionals cannot assume that those who think about suicide more often are at a higher risk, nor are those who have a single suicidal thought necessarily safer than those who ponder suicide repeatedly.

Ideally, all incoming freshmen should be screened for risk factors with a brief questionnaire during their first semester of college and during any subsequent visits to the university health center.

“College campuses are ideal for suicide prevention because the students are a captive audience, so universities should take advantage of this by creating easy access to mental health services during this critical period of young adult development,” said senior investigator Amelia Arria, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the University of Maryland Center on Young Adult Health and Development.

Active Minds

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:49:02 -0400

Active Minds:

One of my favorite awareness groups that I got to be a apart of, please consider a donation.

99 Worst Things To Say To a Depressed Person

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:43:00 -0400

Some people trivialize depression (often unintentionally) by dropping a platitude on a depressed person as if that is the one thing they needed to hear. While some of these thoughts have been helpful to some people (for example, some find that praying is very helpful), the context in which they are often said mitigates any intended benefit to the hearer. Platitudes don’t cure depression.

Here is the list from contributors to asd:
0. “What’s your problem?”
1. “Will you stop that constant whining? What makes you think that anyone cares?”
2. “Have you gotten tired yet of all this me-me-me stuff?”
3. “You just need to give yourself a kick in the rear.”
4. “But it’s all in your mind.”
5. “I thought you were stronger than that.”
6. “No one ever said life was fair.”
7. “As you get stronger you won’t have to wallow in it as much.”
8. “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”
9. “Do you feel better now?” (Usually said following a five minute conversation in which the speaker has asked me “what’s wrong?” and “would you like to talk about it?” with the best of intentions, but absolutely no understanding of depression as anything but an irrational sadness.)
10. “Why don’t you just grow up?”
11. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”
12. “There are a lot of people worse off than you.”
13. “You have it so good, why aren’t you happy?”
14. “It’s a beautiful day!”
15. “You have so many things to be thankful for, why are you depressed?”
16. “What do you have to be depressed about.”
17. “Happiness is a choice.”
18. “You think you’ve got problems…”
19. “Well at least it’s not that bad.”
20. “Maybe you should take vitamins for your stress.”
21. “There is always somebody worse off than you are.”
22. “Lighten up!”
23. “You should get off all those pills.”
24. “You are what you think.”
25. “Cheer up!”
26. “You’re always feeling sorry for yourself.”
27. “Why can’t you just be normal?”
28. “Things aren’t *that* bad, are they?”
29. “Have you been praying/reading the Bible?”
30. “You need to get out more.”
31. “We have to get together some time.” [Yeah, right!]
32. “Get a grip!”
33. “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
34. “Take a hot bath. That’s what I always do when I’m upset.”
35. “Well, everyone gets depressed sometimes!
36. “Get a job!”
37. “Smile and the world smiles with you, cry and you cry alone.”
38. “You don’t look depressed!”
39. “You’re so selfish!”
40. “You never think of anyone but yourself.”
41. “You’re just looking for attention.”
42. “Have you got PMS?”
43. “You’ll be a better person because of it!
44. “Everybody has a bad day now and then.”
45. “You should buy nicer clothes to wear.”
46. “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”
47. “Why don’t you smile more?”
48. “A person your age should be having the time of your life.”
49. “The only one you’re hurting is yourself.”
50. “You can do anything you want if you just set your mind to it.”
51. “This is a place of business, not a hospital.” (after confiding to supervisor about my depression)
52. “Depression is a symptom of your sin against God.”
53. “You brought it on yourself”
54. “You can make the choice for depression and its effects, or against depression, it’s all in your hands.”
55. “Get off your rear and do something.” -or- “Just do it!”
56. “Why should I care?”
57. “Snap out of it, will you?”
58. “You want to feel this way.”
59. “You have no reason to feel this way.”
60. “Its your own fault.”
61. “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
62. “You’re always worried about *your* problems.”
63. “Your problems aren’t that big.”
64. “What are you worried about? You should be fine.”
65. “Just don’t think about it.”
66. “Go Away.”
67. “You don’t have the ability to do it.”
68. “Just wait a few weeks, it’ll be over soon.”
69. “Go out and have some fun!”
70. “You’re making me depressed as well…
71. “I just want to help you.”
72. “The world out there is not that bad…”
73. “Just try a little harder!”
74. “Believe me, I know how you feel. I was depressed once for several days.”
75. “You need a boy/girl-friend.”
76. “You need a hobby.”
77. “Just pull yourself together”
78. “You’d feel better if you went to church”
79. “I think your depression is a way of punishing us.” &emdash;My mother
80. “Sh_t or get off the pot.”
81. “So, you’re depressed. Aren’t you always?”
82. “What you need is some real tragedy in your life to give you perspective.”
83. “You’re a writer, aren’t you? Just think of all the good material you’re getting out of this.”
84. This one is best executed with an evangelical-style handshake, i.e., one of my hands is imprisoned by two belonging to a beefy person who thinks he has a lot more charisma than I do: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.” This has actually happened to me. Bitten-back response: “Who are ‘our’? And don’t do me any favors, schmuck.”
85. “Have you tried chamomile tea?”
86. “So, you’re depressed. Aren’t you always?”
87. “You will be ok, just hang in there, it will pass.” “This too shall pass.” –Ann Landers
88. “Oh, perk up!”
89. “Try not being so depressed.”
90. “Quit whining. Go out and help people and you won’t have time to brood…”
91. “Go out and get some fresh air… that always makes me feel better.”
92. “You have to take up your bed and carry on.”
93. “Why don’t you give up going to these quacks (i.e., doctors) and throw out those pills, then you’ll feel better.”
94. “Well, we all have our cross to bear.”
95. “You should join band or chorus or something. That way you won’t be thinking about yourself so much.”
96. “You change your mind.”
97. “You’re useless.”
98. “Nobody is responsible for your depression.”
99. “You don’t like feeling that way? So, change it.”

(source)

jayparkinsonmd: Patrick was doing some research about mental...

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:21:00 -0400

jayparkinsonmd:

Patrick was doing some research about mental health and he came across a list of mental disorders. He chose a few, starting with OCD, and set the challenge of defining each in a minimal style. (via Graphic Patrick)

"The worst thing about depression—the thing that makes people phobic about it—is that it’s a..."

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:29:00 -0400

“The worst thing about depression—the thing that makes people phobic about it—is that it’s a foretaste of death. It’s a trip to the country of nothingness. Reality loses its substance and becomes ghostly, transparent, unbelievable. This perception of what’s outside infects the perception of the self, which explains why depressed people feel they aren’t “there.””

Top Ten Myths About Mental Illness

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:02:00 -0400

Myth #1: Psychiatric disorders are not true medical illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. People who have a mental illness are just “crazy.”
Fact: Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate medical illnesses. Research shows there are genetic and biological causes for psychiatric disorders, and they can be treated effectively.

Myth #2: People with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are usually dangerous and violent.
Fact: Statistics show that the incidence of violence in people who have a brain disorder is not much higher than it is in the general population. Those suffering from a psychosis such as schizophrenia are more often frightened, confused and despairing than violent.

Myth #3: Mental illness is the result of bad parenting.
Fact: Most experts agree that a genetic susceptibility, combined with other risk factors, leads to a psychiatric disorder. In other words, mental illnesses have a physical cause.

Myth #4: Depression results from a personality weakness or character flaw, and people who are depressed could just snap out of it if they tried hard enough.
Fact: Depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak. It results from changes in brain chemistry or brain function, and medication and/or psychotherapy often help people to recover.

Myth #5: Schizophrenia means split personality, and there is no way to control it.
Fact: Schizophrenia is often confused with multiple personality disorder. Actually, schizophrenia is a brain disorder that robs people of their ability to think clearly and logically. The estimated 2.5 million Americans with schizophrenia have symptoms ranging from social withdrawal to hallucinations and delusions. Medication has helped many of these individuals to lead fulfilling, productive lives.

Myth #6: Depression is a normal part of the aging process.
Fact: It is not normal for older adults to be depressed. Signs of depression in older people include a loss of interest in activities, sleep disturbances and lethargy. Depression in the elderly is often undiagnosed, and it is important for seniors and their family members to recognize the problem and seek professional help.

Myth #7: Depression and other illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, do not affect children or adolescents. Any problems they have are just a part of growing up.
Fact: Children and adolescents can develop severe mental illnesses. In the United States, one in ten children and adolescents has a mental disorder severe enough to cause impairment. However, only about 20 percent of these children receive needed treatment. Left untreated, these problems can get worse. Anyone talking about suicide should be taken very seriously.

Myth #8: If you have a mental illness, you can will it away. Being treated for a psychiatric disorder means an individual has in some way “failed” or is weak.
Fact: A serious mental illness cannot be willed away. Ignoring the problem does not make it go away, either. It takes courage to seek professional help.

Myth #9: Addiction is a lifestyle choice and shows a lack of willpower. People with a substance abuse problem are morally weak or “bad”.
Fact: Addiction is a disease that generally results from changes in brain chemistry. It has nothing to do with being a “bad” person.

Myth #10: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as “shock treatment,” is painful and barbaric.
Fact: ECT has given a new lease on life to many people who suffer from severe and debilitating depression. It is used when other treatments such as psychotherapy or medication fail or cannot be used. Patients who receive ECT are asleep and under anesthesia, so they do not feel anything.

“These misconceptions can do irreparable harm to people with legitimate illnesses who should and can be treated,” said Herbert Pardes, M.D., President of NARSAD’s Scientific Council.

(source)