EDIT: we are going way off topic here, i hope no one minds our discussion about empathy and mental illness. If so, i apologize. If its more proper to get rid of this thread and transfer it to PM´s...
EDIT: we are going way off topic here, i hope no one minds our discussion about empathy and mental illness. If so, i apologize. If its more proper to get rid of this thread and transfer it to PM´s i totally understand.
It´s the only way of connecting with people in these terrible situations in my oppinion. Treat them with kindness, and as any other decent human being. And you will find out that most of them are. People do terrible things to survive.
Yeah... relating to people and refraining to judge looks easy, but that's a rare talent. Louis Theroux made an entire career on top of that (he has many other talents, but they're all supported by...
Yeah... relating to people and refraining to judge looks easy, but that's a rare talent. Louis Theroux made an entire career on top of that (he has many other talents, but they're all supported by this core ability). This Youtuber can go places if he plays his cards right.
It´s always something that has come naturally to me. My own suffering, not only from BD, but mainly, has made me very empathetic. I like to think i have my parents to blame for that, but i am sure...
It´s always something that has come naturally to me. My own suffering, not only from BD, but mainly, has made me very empathetic. I like to think i have my parents to blame for that, but i am sure that BD has strengthen my ability to help others greatly. I have always had people in need gravitate towards me, and my healthcare professionals have more then once told me that i should work in their field because of it. Helping others gives me so much positive energy.
On the other hand.
I have often put thought into this, my weakness is that i take on others suffering to much, and i end up feeling bad myself. If i learn to avoid that, then maybe i can find a way to use this ability professionally, not just use them to help people around me, like family and friends.
That's cool. I feel like I'm talking with a lot of BD people today, both here and on Reddit. We really are of a special strain... lol. I also have a way to talk with people in suffering. When you...
That's cool. I feel like I'm talking with a lot of BD people today, both here and on Reddit. We really are of a special strain... lol. I also have a way to talk with people in suffering. When you go to the extremes of the mind you get some kind of insight from it. It's hard to hate people when you need their help so much. And, when you have a troubled life, it's easy to understand that behind every "asshole" there might be an entire life of straining conditions. Everyone has a backstory that makes sense for them.
I have said this so many times. How can you hate someone if you have hated yourself? This statement might sound weird, but i have a feeling you understand what i mean by that. What subreddits do...
When you go to the extremes of the mind you get some kind of insight from it.
I have said this so many times.
It's hard to hate people
How can you hate someone if you have hated yourself? This statement might sound weird, but i have a feeling you understand what i mean by that.
What subreddits do you hang out in related to BD? r/bipolar was my internet support group many many years ago. But it has turned into a memefest, r/BipolarReddit is my go to place now.
I don't actively seek other people with BD nowadays. But this came up a lot in the last 24 hours because of the 13 Reasons Why suicide research (thread). Bipolar subs depress me and I'm not always...
I don't actively seek other people with BD nowadays. But this came up a lot in the last 24 hours because of the 13 Reasons Why suicide research (thread).
Bipolar subs depress me and I'm not always in condition to give assistance. But I think the main reason that I'm talking more about this is that I decided to "come clean" on the subject on all my semi-anonymous online personas. I wouldn't do the same on Facebook, but I think talking about it on Reddit, and specially Tildes, is both helpful and reasonably safe.
There has been quite a bit of conversation considering mental health here on tildes a couple of days, as you said. It makes me feel welcomed and understood, and a proud member of the community...
There has been quite a bit of conversation considering mental health here on tildes a couple of days, as you said. It makes me feel welcomed and understood, and a proud member of the community considering my position.
Bipolar subs depress me and I'm not always in a state to give assistance.
I get that, fully reasonable. I bet every single person in that sub has felt the same at one point or another.
Perhaps "coming clean" will help you to do it IRL as well. I feel strong by not be ashamed of myself and something i have no control over. I am 100% sure that it will help you.
When i got diagnosed i felt obligated to break the stigma, not just for my own personal reasons, probably similar reasons as yourself currently. But also to take some responsibility for all us.
I see it similar to the gay pride movement. We should parade and be proud of ourselves and not be slaves to the stigma. I think we are the only ones who can do it.
All the people that must know about it already know, and by that I mean family and friends. But I do not divulge that information in professional and academic environments. Sadly, few people can...
All the people that must know about it already know, and by that I mean family and friends. But I do not divulge that information in professional and academic environments. Sadly, few people can deal with that kind of information. I've been burned in the past. I would probably not be that open about it on Tildes and Reddit if they were more popular in Brazil.
EDIT: while writing I was 100% sure the above comment had nothing bad to imply about gay people. I just wanted to make things more precise. Even though I agree with spirit of your reasoning, I...
EDIT: while writing I was 100% sure the above comment had nothing bad to imply about gay people. I just wanted to make things more precise.
Even though I agree with spirit of your reasoning, I must notice that being gay is not an illness and there's nothing inherently harmful that comes with it. Bipolar Disorder, on the other hand, is a medical condition. I would gladly undergo a treatment to get rid of BD, but most gays would very much oppose a treatment to make them straight.
This is probably one of the reasons that we don't think of ourselves as BD individuals, but as individuals that carry BD. Which makes it a bit harder to engage in identity politics.
Oh, i really did not mean it that way, probably because i dont relate it that way. I wanted to make the comparison that a community/group of people and so forth, has to be proud of them selves and...
Oh, i really did not mean it that way, probably because i dont relate it that way. I wanted to make the comparison that a community/group of people and so forth, has to be proud of them selves and not be ashamed to break stigma. I meant it in a positive way, and a applaud anyone standing up for themselves. Sorry if i offended anyone =/.
Oh, I was 100% sure you didn't mean it that way... I just wanted to make things precise. I'm kind of a prick when it comes to logic. Sorry about that :P
Oh, I was 100% sure you didn't mean it that way... I just wanted to make things precise. I'm kind of a prick when it comes to logic. Sorry about that :P
Yeah... but I could have been softer in my choice of words. This happens a lot and is one of the reasons my psychologist suspect I might be on the spectrum. If I don't make a conscious effort, I...
Yeah... but I could have been softer in my choice of words. This happens a lot and is one of the reasons my psychologist suspect I might be on the spectrum. If I don't make a conscious effort, I talk like a mathematician. Not that I'm good at math :P
I really liked the tone of the interviewer, he has a judgment-free way to connect with random people that reminds me of Louis Theroux.
EDIT: we are going way off topic here, i hope no one minds our discussion about empathy and mental illness. If so, i apologize. If its more proper to get rid of this thread and transfer it to PM´s i totally understand.
It´s the only way of connecting with people in these terrible situations in my oppinion. Treat them with kindness, and as any other decent human being. And you will find out that most of them are. People do terrible things to survive.
Yeah... relating to people and refraining to judge looks easy, but that's a rare talent. Louis Theroux made an entire career on top of that (he has many other talents, but they're all supported by this core ability). This Youtuber can go places if he plays his cards right.
It´s always something that has come naturally to me. My own suffering, not only from BD, but mainly, has made me very empathetic. I like to think i have my parents to blame for that, but i am sure that BD has strengthen my ability to help others greatly. I have always had people in need gravitate towards me, and my healthcare professionals have more then once told me that i should work in their field because of it. Helping others gives me so much positive energy.
On the other hand.
I have often put thought into this, my weakness is that i take on others suffering to much, and i end up feeling bad myself. If i learn to avoid that, then maybe i can find a way to use this ability professionally, not just use them to help people around me, like family and friends.
That's cool. I feel like I'm talking with a lot of BD people today, both here and on Reddit. We really are of a special strain... lol. I also have a way to talk with people in suffering. When you go to the extremes of the mind you get some kind of insight from it. It's hard to hate people when you need their help so much. And, when you have a troubled life, it's easy to understand that behind every "asshole" there might be an entire life of straining conditions. Everyone has a backstory that makes sense for them.
I have said this so many times.
How can you hate someone if you have hated yourself? This statement might sound weird, but i have a feeling you understand what i mean by that.
What subreddits do you hang out in related to BD? r/bipolar was my internet support group many many years ago. But it has turned into a memefest, r/BipolarReddit is my go to place now.
I don't actively seek other people with BD nowadays. But this came up a lot in the last 24 hours because of the 13 Reasons Why suicide research (thread).
Bipolar subs depress me and I'm not always in condition to give assistance. But I think the main reason that I'm talking more about this is that I decided to "come clean" on the subject on all my semi-anonymous online personas. I wouldn't do the same on Facebook, but I think talking about it on Reddit, and specially Tildes, is both helpful and reasonably safe.
There has been quite a bit of conversation considering mental health here on tildes a couple of days, as you said. It makes me feel welcomed and understood, and a proud member of the community considering my position.
I get that, fully reasonable. I bet every single person in that sub has felt the same at one point or another.
Perhaps "coming clean" will help you to do it IRL as well. I feel strong by not be ashamed of myself and something i have no control over. I am 100% sure that it will help you.
When i got diagnosed i felt obligated to break the stigma, not just for my own personal reasons, probably similar reasons as yourself currently. But also to take some responsibility for all us.
I see it similar to the gay pride movement. We should parade and be proud of ourselves and not be slaves to the stigma. I think we are the only ones who can do it.
All the people that must know about it already know, and by that I mean family and friends. But I do not divulge that information in professional and academic environments. Sadly, few people can deal with that kind of information. I've been burned in the past. I would probably not be that open about it on Tildes and Reddit if they were more popular in Brazil.
EDIT: while writing I was 100% sure the above comment had nothing bad to imply about gay people. I just wanted to make things more precise.
Even though I agree with spirit of your reasoning, I must notice that being gay is not an illness and there's nothing inherently harmful that comes with it. Bipolar Disorder, on the other hand, is a medical condition. I would gladly undergo a treatment to get rid of BD, but most gays would very much oppose a treatment to make them straight.
This is probably one of the reasons that we don't think of ourselves as BD individuals, but as individuals that carry BD. Which makes it a bit harder to engage in identity politics.
Oh, i really did not mean it that way, probably because i dont relate it that way. I wanted to make the comparison that a community/group of people and so forth, has to be proud of them selves and not be ashamed to break stigma. I meant it in a positive way, and a applaud anyone standing up for themselves. Sorry if i offended anyone =/.
Oh, I was 100% sure you didn't mean it that way... I just wanted to make things precise. I'm kind of a prick when it comes to logic. Sorry about that :P
No no, not at all. It was good that you pointed it out and let me make it clear what my intentions where so i wont get misunderstood.
Yeah... but I could have been softer in my choice of words. This happens a lot and is one of the reasons my psychologist suspect I might be on the spectrum. If I don't make a conscious effort, I talk like a mathematician. Not that I'm good at math :P