mental illness

[todd65]

Hello.I am a 44 year old bi-polar man hoping to pick your brain a little.I have read some of the other views and don't see much on mental illness being a positive thing.I believe my illness has caused me to see things differently.Perhaps that is why i enjoy your site and keep an open mind about most things spiritual. One thing i have considered is the Law Of Attraction and being bi-polar.My negative thinking when i was quite young and how things started going south for me.Appreciate your input!

[The Unconquered]

Lots of us on the forums have had mental illness diagnoses. Some of us have recovered and are off medications; some of us have not. One of us is a self-admitted psychopath. A bipolar diagnosis is not uncommon here.

I consider myself recovered from my illness (different variations of depression and anxiety) and have weaned myself off medications under a doctor's supervision. I have decided to pursue a counseling degree to help college students (because that's the age when the **** hit the fan for me).

So, I think mental illness can result in very good changes in our lives if we view it as an impetus for change.

[roxyruby]

Social Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Avoidant Personality Disorder, and Trichotillomania FTW!!!!!

[nutella2]

It's definitely possible to (re)frame mental illness experiences in an empowering way. Everything that applies to living well in general applies to living well through (and hopefully beyond) mental illness. Recovery can happen (as a process of moving towards growth and never giving up), and getting stonger and more powerful than before can happen, too. Focusing on what you can control, and controlling it for all it's worth, with relish and enjoying the feelings of accomplishment, whether big or small, works wonders

[noitcefrep]

Yes, I most definitely agree that a supposed "mental illness" does not have to be a negative. It may very well enlighten you to a truth that others without the "illness" have not witnessed. I am also aware that while this may be true, the opposite may also be true, in that due to your illness, you have not seen things from the other side of the fence, and therefore may view your perspective as holding truth, but in reality you don't see what has always been missing.

It is true for my mental illness. I am the self-professed psychopath (love you The Unconquered) and I truly think that my perspective is the one without any intruding filter that hinders vision of the truth. I also admit that what I do not see may hold an even clearer vision of truth, however I highly doubt it.

Perhaps as one who suffers from bipolar disorder, you have a certain appreciation for the good moments in life that those without the disorder has never experienced. And perhaps your moments of manic give you an elated vision that would otherwise be impossible to attain, or at least more difficult.

PS - is it time for the servers to be upgraded? I got a message that the servers were busy when trying to reply.

[blossom]

I think experiencing these states helps us to emerge into more understanding, compassionate individuals. Only when you experience things on the other side of the fence can you really understand that persons point of view.

I'm a natural counsellor, and have recently been guided to pursue this as a career as it is aligned with my strengths in this world. Something good can come out of every tragedy...though, at the time it is hard to see.

I am happy to say I am recovered from clinical depression, PTSD, and apparently ADD (though I don't believe I ever had it)... and am in the process now of weaning off medication, no longer under my psychs observation, she let me go with confidence.

[rei]

i think, like almost anything i can think of (well, really, anything i can think of but there may be exceptions too), mental illness is one of those gift/curse things. depending on how we look at it, it can be positive or negative.

for me, i still have a diagnosis of ADHD, and i used to have symptoms of bipolar but i don't anymore. i always took the meds, at least until a point where i was shedding the symptoms. for me, it was overall a positive thing, because self-healing was part of a process that enabled me to do some of the energetic things i am doing on this planet.

when i stopped the meds, i didn't realize i had done so until i'd been off them for a few days with zero detox or side effects (which is probably unusual, i would recommend working with a professional to do that). when i saw my physician, he believed that i didn't stop on purpose, and also could tell i was being truthful in saying i felt totally fine (i.e. i wasn't just saying that due to mania). he did not believe it is something you can be healed of, but he didn't prescribe more meds - he said he just hoped this phase would last a really long time ^_^

truly, my previous symptoms may have better been given the label of shamanic crisis. that would probably explain how i stopped having symptoms. but they fit the way bipolar manifests and the cocktail i took actually helped as long as i kept my environment relatively stable/quiet (appealed to my sensitivity to sensory input).

i agree with you, such things can lead to open-mindedness, compassion, understanding, and keen sensitivity that can serve us well in a variety of settings (even if it can lead to overwhelm also).

i think we can view this sort of thing as positive or negative, depending on the attitude we choose. folks who feel limited are more likely to view it as a negative thing. folks who see the ways it has served them through life are more likely to see the upside.

[todd65]

Thankyou to everyone who has replied so far.There have been some very positive responses!

[The Unconquered]

Originally Posted by noitcefrep

I am the self-professed psychopath (love you The Unconquered)

Back at ya!

[ar81]

I had a bipolar relative at home when I was a kid.
That relative is now healed. It was the way to see life.

When you are depressed or sad or upset you think that's real.
But when you discover that emotional states makes your emotions and thoughts and perception of reality unreliable and unreal, like a bad dream, you can feel inside the crisis and still gain some peace as you know that all that is not so real as it seems, and you know there is a happy reality out there..

[ar81]

Originally Posted by roxyruby

Social Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Avoidant Personality Disorder, and Trichotillomania FTW!!!!!

What's Trichotillomania ?

[The Unconquered]

Originally Posted by ar81

What's Trichotillomania ?

Pulling out hair. Can be hair anywhere on the body. Head, face, etc. Often used as an attempt at stress relief. It has been linked to OCD.

[stephenpconnell]

Hi,
The love of my life(28 years strong) has Bipolar and has experienced it
since she was a teenager but is meeting it head on with meds AND with
support in programs arts etc built around metal health. I have seen many times what the downside can be like BUT I have witnessed the incredible
upside she exhibits with tremendous love,compassion and zest for life and her
family! I would not be married to anyone else as she is a mother,warrior and winner all wrapped up in a dazzling package,

My point?

keep in the game of life,find geat personal and career supports and charge
on,yoiu can do it because i belive you can have a great life!

love from my family to you!

stephen