When your body is hurting, people send flowers. When your mind is hurting, people throw rocks.
Okay..I'll grant anyone that of all the sciences, psychology is right up there on the continuum teetering dangerously close to being a "pseudo-science." Experiements involving human beings need to be constructed using strict ethical guidelines, creating a lack of true scientific integrity when testing hypotheses. I have much more faith in neuroscience and theory's that have been proven over time through repeated and varied experimental methods than anecdotal evidence. Most, if not all, of the information I'm about to share is from the latter.
That said, in any science, you have the more far out thoughts, ideas, and quacks. Anyone who says that someone GIVES themselves bipolar disorder should lose their license. I don't know enough, obviously, about the situation that someone spoke of in an earlier post, but I can tell you that under no circumstances should someone state such a thing to the family of someone receiving treatment for mental illness.
The symptoms of mental illness occur for multiple reasons. Biological or chemical causes (now twisted into the pop term "chemical imbalance"), or what are known as adjustment disorders.
The first, the biological causes, are caused by the same reasons some people get asthma, diabetes, or arthritis. It's a biological change brought about by environment, heredity, or a combination of the two. For example, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) can be caused by repeated exposure to domestic violence over a lengthy period of time during one's childhood. There's a Harvard research study (I'd look it up to site it, and will if necessary) that found that children exposed to chronic and intense violence in the home between the ages of birth to 5 actually had altered brain chemistry. In this case, it's actually the environment that worked to alter biology, creating said condition.
The other scenario involves simply the biological composition of the brain. Brain scans have revealed that there are differences in the way people with mental illness function, the amounts of certain neurotransmitters (excesses or deficiencies), the size and activity levels in certain lobes, etc. Occasionally these disorders are hereditary.proven through in depth family histories and twin studies. Other times? Who knows...it's similar to any birth defect or disability one may develop or be born with. The onset of symptoms varies with age and the specific illness, so it IS possible for someone who seems "normal" to develop symptoms at any point in time.
The third scenario involving biological reasons, is a combination of the two. Someone may be biologicall predisposed to developing schizophrenia. They experience a very traumatic life event and BAM - onset of symptoms. It may be true that they would have developed the disorder regardless, however think in terms of other illnesses, such as asthma. You may be predisposed to developing the condition, however because of a healthy lifestyle and limited exposure to environmental pollutants, you never develop the disease. On the other hand, if you grow up in a house full of 30 chain-smokers the same person, being susceptable, may develop the disease.
Adjustment disorders are cause by traumatic life events. These are things that are typically categorized as "non-normative" life events. There is a typical life cycle, or pattern, most of us accept as normal. You're parents die before you, you die before your parents, you have children after you're married, etc. When something happens outside that frame of reference, it can be near debilitating without the right support system and coping mechanisms.
Cubs, your ex-friend sounds like they fit in the toughest, most difficult to treat category, the category of people that are almost impossible to treat. Assuming therapy is effective, the group that suffer from "personality disorders" have a 99% recidivism rate. There is a lot of new, and I think exciting, research that points to the idea that more of our personality are inborn than previously thought. This makes these disorders particularly difficult to treat. Cubs experience scream "borderline personality disorder." Superficial attempts to suicide, constant calls for help, a seeming unwillingness to break out of self-destructive behavior...this is my least favorite of all of the personality disorders. These clients are demanding, difficult, and needy. I can only imagine what it's like forming a relationship with someone with those symptoms and, in fact, regardless of what he did or said, this person wouldn't change. Distancing yourself from someone like that is self-preservation, not heartlessness.
However, cutting (not suicide attempts) is a different matter. I don't joke about self-mutilation simply because a far-reaching majority of the time, it's a response to extreme abuse, typically sexual. As much as I'd like to agree with the "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" philosophy, I can't. I've heard too many stories too horrific to imagine and admire some people for their ability to survive. There are times that, while selfish, immoral, and for most of us, inconceivable, suicide seems like the only way out of a situation. Utter hopelessness and self-hatred leave people feeling like there is no other option.l
Now, if someone has a support system of friends and qualified professionals they can, obviously, learn to manage their illness, even appear cured. Some mental illnesses to have remission periods that far outlast the "active" times of their symptoms. Much like cancer patients, however, they are always considered in remission, and not "cured."
Once a person receives effective treatment, which research says is a combination of traditional talk therapy (pick your flavor, it really doesn't matter) and psychotropic medication in addition to having some healthy supports around them, they have a much higher chance of working through things. But remember, some mentall illnesses are biological and perceptions of reality can be morbidly altered. In most cases, however, once someone with a mental illness is shown a pathway to health, it really is in their court. The same is with a diabetic, who needs to consistently montior their blood sugar, food intake, etc..someone with mental illness needs to learn to self-monitor their moods, thoughts and behaviors using the tools provided by their mental health team and support system.
I always had a theory that when I worked with people, once they truly understood the nature of their illness, the interaction between their behaviors and thoughts, and the ways their illness impacts them - they were out of excuses for staying sick.
It is true that part of depression is a cyclic behavioral response known as "learned helplessness." The cycle is perpetuated by a series of behaviors like procrastination, attention-seeking, withdrawal, reinfocement, etc. And without quality treatment (which is actually fairly expensive and difficult to find, depending on geography) most of a depressed persons friends and family will unwittingly enable the cycle to continue, even worsen.
No one exists in this world that doesn't have issues, quirks, or battles with mood, even occasionally. We're all so quick to judge others..because we get uncomfortable..or because we've worked hard to get through our own shit, to have what we have, and it's frustrating to see people take an "easy way out." However, most people don't actively chose to be sick. Few of us would make the decision to develop an illness...and yet we lack compassion so often for those that are unfortunate enough to, for whatever reason, develop full-blown major depression, anxiety, etc.
This game...may or may not be some sort of microcosm of society. In it, we all share a common interest - that being - duh - this game. We all enjoy interaction, or power, or camaradarie...whatever aspect. But we all chose to play a game, to read and chat on forums, that do involve some degree of giving and getting feedback - even simple conversation - with others. Whatever need we're all having met by being here, as with anything that involves live beings - we have little choice regarding the others that troll these spots.
We're all going to argue, to disagree...we all bring life experiences and baggage along with us. There will always be someone better off, and someone worse off than you...here...or in real life. Venting is real. Pep has as much a right to vent as Cubs does to attack the post with his business-like attitude and dry wit. I may hate half the shit he says..I may call him out on that...but that's the reality here people - the flameboard is not moderated..you post here at your own risk. We won't all get along...but what fun would it be if we did?
Okay, this is waayyy to long as it is, but I think I've said everything I need to.
<Deep breath>
That is all.
