How many of you are mentally ill?

[wizkid007]

Two facts:

A. All mental illness is physiological at its core.

Yes, that is correct, however our physiological state is no doubt a mirror image of both our genes, (genes are instructions to build proteins) and our thoughts. (which influence hormone/chemical levels in general) So technically at its core, the physiological state is subject to pre-conceived hormonal states, how we perceive experience, and environmental stimuli (which is related to experience)

B. You cannot self-diagnose mental illness, no matter how much you may think you may fit one disorder or another.

I agree to some extent, most are not licensed and not officially able to give diagnoses. But that still doesn't change the likelihood of someone being able to accurately identify it. Especially if the evidence is overwhelmingly large.

Wishing won't make them go away,

Wishing won't be able to make it go away, but taking into account how you got there in the first place means that you might be able to do something about it if the time frame is right, and if you are still young enough to allow the brain to make the changes to its physiological state. That's of course pending that there is a huge change in your environmental and the person is able to become fully aware of what needs to be done, and what type of mental illness they are dealing with.

nor will it make them spring into existence.

I'm not really sure why somebody would want to bring about such an ailment, but I do think that people can and do indirectly bring about some of smaller ones, like depression, anxiety and such. And if the current thought pattern doesn’t change, it can alter their physiological state over time and bring about a few of the more serious disorders. This of course hinders on the time frame in which it happens as well. In general, the younger the person is, the more susceptible they are to such a scenario and this mainly has to do with the lack of experience associated with youth; with the secondary factor being the lack of neural pruning making their thoughts more chaotic and responsive to their environment.

 

[Deuce]

So technically at its core, the physiological state is subject to pre-conceived hormonal states, how we perceive experience, and environmental stimuli (which is related to experience)

All of that boils down to how our brain biochemically processes the whole thing. So again, it is physiological in nature.

I agree to some extent, most are not licensed and not officially able to give diagnoses. But that still doesn't change the likelihood of someone being able to accurately identify it. Especially if the evidence is overwhelmingly large.

The point is, unless one has been diagnosed by a qualified physician, you cannot credibly claim to be have any given mental condition, no matter how much evidence you may have at your disposal. The crux of the issue is that we are inherently biased when it comes to ourselves. We see the description of certain conditions and we identify with them, and we project ourselves into them, or vice versa. It's a moderately less panicked form of conversion disorder.

Unless you've been legally diagnosed, then you're only guessing.

 

[LWK]

Im a compulsive clicker.

I click things for the texture and feel of it. Everything from my toes to the snapping sounds of popcans.

I also find myself streaming near scalding hot water over my spine in the shower for long periods of time.

That would make me slightly OCD.

That doesn't mean its OCD. You will know its OCD when you feel anxiety by not doing said things. If the anxiety is coupled with it, then its OCD. There is no such thing as 'positive' OCD, or those que's wouldn't exist, because the fear by repeating rituals due to worry is the main re-enforcer here. Its a brain disorder that has to do with fear>reaction.

All of that boils down to how our brain biochemically processes the whole thing. So again, it is physiological in nature.

This is true, its exactly true with my situation, because it makes nonsense feel real when its not, due to a differing process. This may be the hardest part of the situation. Either accepting something isn't right due to a chemical issue, or saying 'oh everyone has quirks'. The most annoying thing is trying to project yourself in a mentally well state when you're having a BAD day.

You'll occasionally meet people who say they have OCD or this or that, when its clear they are exaggerating something they don't have.

 

[SPINMASTER X]

Oh gee what do ya know, wizkid shows up in a mentally ill thread......

 

[norton9478]

Im a compulsive clicker.

I click things for the texture and feel of it. Everything from my toes to the snapping sounds of popcans.

That would make me slightly OCD.

Actually, that sounds more like autism.

 

[evil wasabi]

Actually, that sounds more like autism.

I thought wizzy had aspergers.

 

[Deuce]

I thought wizzy had aspergers.

Asperger's is a mild form of autism, but I'm betting wizzy's is self-diagnosed... which is to say, non-existent.

 

[aria]

Congrats members, you've been successfully trolled.

That line never works. Its the online version of trying to back out with a "just kidding" after you just made an ass of yourself without anyone buying it. Just accept that and move on.

 

[aria]

I thought wizzy had aspergers.

I'm betting on payment_due, but I wouldn't be surprised if the percent of online message board users is higher than normal.

 

[HeartlessNinny]

The point is, unless one has been diagnosed by a qualified physician, you cannot credibly claim to be have any given mental condition, no matter how much evidence you may have at your disposal. The crux of the issue is that we are inherently biased when it comes to ourselves. We see the description of certain conditions and we identify with them, and we project ourselves into them, or vice versa. It's a moderately less panicked form of conversion disorder.

Unless you've been legally diagnosed, then you're only guessing.

This is true. I suppose you might well be on to something when you hypothesize you might have some sort of mental illness or another, but it's pretty hard to be objective when you're talking about your own state of mind.

I always find it surprising when people go, "I wonder if I'm a little OCD" or what have you. I never argue the point though, it seems rude to me. And as for myself... Well, it's all very formal for me. I've seen psychiatrists and the like. My diagnoses are official.

I wouldn't be surprised if the percent of online message board users is higher than normal.

This thread alone would seem to be a good case for your point. To me it's no surprise, though, that people with some sort of problem or another would flock to this sort of interaction, since it isn't really all that real when you get right down to it. As much as I have a lot of fondness for many of the members here, it'd be foolish to think I actually knew anyone beyond a few broad personality points. There's nothing wrong with that, mind you, as long as you know what you're dealing with (I used to play WoW with people who considered other players to be real friends, which, to my mind, is not really the case).

 

[Deuce]

This is true. I suppose you might well be on to something when you hypothesize you might have some sort of mental illness or another, but it's pretty hard to be objective when you're talking about your own state of mind.

Well, I know precisely what I have, as I have been diagnosed and I've been through the wringer medicinally while trying to find the right way to best tackle it. I suspect there may be more that's undiagnosed, but I may never know.

As much as I have a lot of fondness for many of the members here, it'd be foolish to think I actually knew anyone beyond a few broad personality points.

Don't be silly. Of course you can glean everything there is to know about someone from a few keystrokes.

 

[BigTinz]

That line never works. Its the online version of trying to back out with a "just kidding" after you just made an ass of yourself without anyone buying it. Just accept that and move on.

Coming from a double poster.....

I was "joking" but after hearing a few reactions I'm totally serious now.

 

[norton9478]

I'm betting on payment_due, but I wouldn't be surprised if the percent of online message board users is higher than normal.

Yeah, I'm usually good at picking up on some people...

But hell, when I was a kid, I had symptoms of autism. I used to arrange my toys in different patterns rather than playing with them. I used to feel various "Stims" when doing certain arrangements with shapes. I was a nut for anything symmetrical. Everything around me had to be symmetrical.

I had and still have an unnerving focus.

But I always hit 10/10 on the social scales.

 

[Marek]

The point is, unless one has been diagnosed by a qualified physician, you cannot credibly claim to be have any given mental condition, no matter how much evidence you may have at your disposal. The crux of the issue is that we are inherently biased when it comes to ourselves. We see the description of certain conditions and we identify with them, and we project ourselves into them, or vice versa. It's a moderately less panicked form of conversion disorder.

Unless you've been legally diagnosed, then you're only guessing.

I don't know how anyone who has ever read the DSM can say that with a straight face.

I will agree with you for some of the personality disorders and dissociative issues, but to say someone can't recognize that they have OCD and other relatively minor diagnoses is totally ridiculous.

Actually, that sounds more like autism.

This only proves Deuce's point, but I still stand by my words.

 

[LWK]

You don't really need a diagnosis for stuff like OCD and schizophrenia because they follow a really obvious pattern that anyone with it can recognize. It does help a lot though. If you are schizophrenic, you need medication just to have a somewhat normal life, and even then its a bitch. OCD is supposedly best treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, but I disagree with this method because its a treatment based on a weak foundation of understand this brain disorder, and more so serves as a coping tool for terrible cases. The fact is, if you have this, its a bad place to be because its very hard to treat due to it being under studied and unknown still.

Getting diagnosed is important for the long term.

Yeah, I'm usually good at picking up on some people...

But hell, when I was a kid, I had symptoms of autism. I used to arrange my toys in different patterns rather than playing with them. I used to feel various "Stims" when doing certain arrangements with shapes. I was a nut for anything symmetrical. Everything around me had to be symmetrical.

I had and still have an unnerving focus.

But I always hit 10/10 on the social scales.

This if anything is OCD, its not autism. It depends on the reaction and feelings. If you feel great and our doing it, its not OCD. If you hate doing this, its OCD. The fact you just said things had to be symmetrical is a classic example of OCD.

 

[Deuce]

You don't really need a diagnosis for stuff like OCD and schizophrenia because they follow a really obvious pattern that anyone with it can recognize.

And follow, subconsciously or otherwise. It's not a disorder unless the behavior is genuine and not mimicked.

 

[LWK]

And follow, subconsciously or otherwise. It's not a disorder unless the behavior is genuine and not mimicked.

Well of course. If someone is mimicking it to begin with, they'd never go a step further to declare it, unless they want to be interesting or trendy douche bags.

There are cases you see that are ridiculous though, and if you get all this anxiety, flight or fight reactions inside you, its real. People who like arranging closets or games or etc are not ocd, because the behavior is from want, not from a internal force that makes you feel like you have no choice or shit will go really wrong. That is the problem I see with the public view of disorders, they liken them to eccentric living, and that's completely different.

If you do overly ridiculous shit you realize is crazy, but can't stop due to this internal doubt and gut feeling anxiety, you have OCD. If that process isn't there, its not OCD. In every example exhibiting these things, without exception, its always OCD. These doctors who know this stuff are painfully unskilled on it also, because its a relative unstudied disorder that has resulted in 'stab in the dark' treatments. I really feel that you have to be living it to even treat it due to its unique problems. Its not intentionally behavioral, but due to internal factors beyond a persons control. The drama queens who don't have it and go to doctors with behavior they can intentionally halt are making it harder for people like myself and others to get that study rolling correctly.

 

[Deuce]

If you do overly ridiculous shit you realize is crazy, but can't stop due to this internal doubt and gut feeling anxiety, you have OCD.

Well, I was referring more specifically to the way the brain can trick itself into displaying symptoms of disorders with suggestions. That's what conversion disorder does. The mimicry is not necessarily a conscious act, though it can be triggered by a conscious desire to have an explanation for whatever issue or quirk is bothering someone. Q: "Why does this bother me so much?" A: "Oh, I read about <disorder X> and I do things that sound just like that, so I must have that." Voila, niche filled, tongue in groove, box checked, all without the person needing to ever consult with a medical professional, in many cases.

 

[galfordo]

oh nice, i see the wizdonger is here to tear shit up

between him and deuce this thread will produce faggotry the likes of which even ng.com has never seen

 

[OrochiEddie]

There is a huge difference between personal quirks and OCD.

and Autism has a large scale. Autism is a disorder on its own, but most people are simply on the "Autistic scale"

Its not my field of interest (Enjoy Social Psych research), but please god people leave the Dr. Phil and Freudian whore shit alone.

 

[SpamYouToDeath]

I enjoy watching wizkid try to back up his crazy conspiracy theories.

 

[SPINMASTER X]

oh nice, i see the wizdonger is here to tear shit up

between him and deuce this thread will produce faggotry the likes of which even ng.com has never seen

when I saw those 2 names in the same thread I was like "this is gonna be good".

 

[GregN]

I heard praying makes this stuff go away.

 

[Deuce]

I heard praying makes this stuff go away.

Mental illness or internet forums?

 

[GregN]

Mental illness or internet forums?

Both