Mental Health Support Thread (NOT for giving medical advice, or debating)

If you ever decide to see a therapist let me know maybe we can take notes on our unsuspecting victims while making side bets on which one lasts the longest
-- I think there is a story in there somewhere, should it be shock horror or comedy?

you should try playing the game me and my daughter go thru at times "name an event from your life followed up with the question "Is this my life or a scene from ______ fill in the blank with the name of a movie."

My daughter decided to get some therapy over this last year thru her school. The way she explained it was there were numerous occasions the therapist was like time-out can you back up and repeat that? What I picture is someone in a white lab coat and notes being furiously taken down while repeating variations of the word unbelievable over and over again.

 

That sounds like an excellent idea. I will let you know. I can compete - I'm sure of it!
I agree, though I think mine would be a combination of shock horror and comedy, with a heaping helping of 'this must be fantasy - this can't be real - right?'

That sounds like a really fun game! I'd have to step up my movie knowledge though, because at this point my references would be Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, Fast and Furious, The Neverending Story, The Godfather, Ghostbusters, Gone in 60 Seconds, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (just for fun).

That's exactly what I picture when I consider it. They'll either think I'm legally insane and never let me out again or back away veerrryyyy slowly.

 

that's a good list of movies, we can add in:
Misery, The Game, Fatal Attraction, Mystic River, Falling Down, The Manchurian Candidate, Sunset Blvd, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Good Son, Pulp fiction, Full Metal Jacket, The Big Lebowski, Groundhog Day, The Breakfast Club

here's one my daughter loves telling her friends -- I like it too: it fits right into that "this must be fantasy - this can't be real - right?' category.

We went to Sicily, a few years ago, and one night while on a stroll to the town square my dad bumps into a rather tipsy gentleman who asks my dad "chi sei' ? My dad provides his name, but the man did not readily recognize him, so my dad said 'sono figlio de pepe' and used a variation of our last name. The man drops to his knees and starts kissing my dad's hands insisting on buying him a coffee. As they sit there enjoying the coffee this strange man proceeds to start revealing the dark hidden secret in my dad's family. "There is something you need to know ... I need to tell you ... You know your mamma was a gorgeous woman when your father came back to Sicily." Right then two of my uncles appear out of nowhere and ask this man "Ma che fai" while gently tapping the side of his face and then escorted him away. I don't think we saw him again for the rest of the trip, and we never got to find out the secret.

Now is this my life or a scene from the godfather

I still insist he never got down on his knees...

 

I haven't seen all of these so now I'm at a disadvantage - though Misery, The Breakfast Club, and Groundhog Day should definitely be added to mine along with a little Fatal Attraction.

Sounds like a fascinating life, and I'm a little jealous since I have never been to Sicily.

Here's one :

A homeless girl teams up with her equally disadvantaged friend in a pool tournament culminating in going up against two cocky college kids. When the homeless kids win, the cocky college kids push to go double or nothing. The homeless kids agree - and win again. A fight ensues, they're all kicked out, and one of college boys shoots homeless girl's friend in the chest and they take off. Homeless girl's friend dies in her arms with crowds of people standing around - doing nothing to help - and mumbling that he got what he deserved, he's a throwaway.

Scene from my life or The Hustler?

 

That's a harsh one to take in.

I have a feeling this would be one hell of a thread if we ever pursued this, and pretty sure other members would be throwing in a handful of doozies too.

Talk about having an idea thread for writers to go thru ... it could probably be turned into best-selling book for writers ...

 

Yes, certainly a wealth of ideas would be presented, and then we could direct all of the 'I want to write a story, but I don't have good enough ideas' people to it.

 

I'll think about for a few weeks unless you beat me to it. I agree on pointing members with writer's block to something like that. It would have a certain therapeutic quality to it too, though it would need a huge disclaimer: posting intimate details of your life here may result in those details being used in someone else's best selling book.

Along with a request of; If you use something from this thread, please if possible provide a courtesy thank you in your book.

 

Sounds good, though I'm also not sure if the mods would go for it? I have no problems with posting, and agree on the possible therapeutic aspect. Much of my life was dark and depressing and I find it quite difficult to write it out myself.

 

Managing a thread like that feels... frightening, tbh. Trolls have spectacular olfactory senses and can smell opportunities to take hits on others from counties away.

 

Yeah, I figured that might be the case.

 

triple post ???

 

triple post

 

Now you're down to no posts @TheNineMagi - unless you just wanted to comment triple post

 

how strange perhaps the forum was saving me from myself --- I was tempting Wreybies with proceeds from a yearly best-selling book series

but I respect his decision and will step back

 

I was going to offer to moderate it, but then I see his point about trolls having ammo to attack members with so... I don't know.

 

Yes, all of that. I shall not add to the overwhelming weight of his responsibilities.

 

Aye me lord, troll fishing season is upon us, if I may be of service, I make excellent bait.

on the serious side, point well taken.

 

I'm feeling the pressure of being the 'breadwinner' of my family. I'm from a really poor background and am the only high earner.

I moved my mum in with me a few years after I left home because she's unable to work (illness) and was struggling to survive on her benefits. I paid my brother-in-law's medical expenses when he was in a motorbike accident. I paid my own brother's rent for a few months when he was made redundant just before Christmas.

They're not taking advantage of me - I know my mum has constant guilt that her daughter is supporting her rather than the other way around, and I know it hurts my brother's pride to rely on his younger sister. And I do have the money so it's not like I'm sacrificing anything by helping out.

But I feel the pressure. I feel the pressure of their guilt and humiliation more than the pressure of having to provide. It doesn't make much sense but it's real and it sucks :/

 

I think I understand what you're saying. It changes the dynamic of the relationship when you can feel that. It's a little like survivors guilt.

 

Yes, exactly. There's something terribly sad about the power dynamic of a parent-child relationship shifting in this way - which has also given me some insight into why some elderly people would rather suffer than 'burden' their children by asking for help.

It sucks.

 

Yes. I went through the same thing when I moved my dad in with me. He was unable to care for himself anymore and there wasn't anyone else who could help him. It made him more depressed, having to accept the help, and there wasn't any way to make that better. It didn't bother me having to do it, but it drove him crazy.

 

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder a few years ago. Some days it really kicks my butt. Like today, when I've got a lot to do, and I can't. I just can't get up, can't be bothered to do anything for longer than a few minutes. Knowing what the beast is doesn't mean you don't get eaten by it. I really wish I could do anything but sit here, but every movement feels like I'm under an impressive weight.

The horrible part is knowing that I could wake up tomorrow, full of dreams and inspiration and life, but making plans for my life then seems empty, because I'll always drop again.

Sigh. I'm not suicidal, just to be clear. I just don't want to do anything because it feels empty.

 

Hey it's someone else with fun depression.

Sometimes I find it hard to communicate with people with regular depression. Because I know that my head cycles and the bad will not last forever. And that's the thing to focus on. Which is not to say the manic half is better as such, but the bad will not last forever. You will get out from under it. And when you do you will wonder why exactly you were so upset.

It will not last forever. This shit is temporary. You are passing through. And it's fucking awful. Because the up make the down feel so much worse. But you will come out of it. That is just the nature of it.

If the down feels too much then my advice is just to go and be with people. Don't be by yourself. Call someone, talk to someone, someone who can make you laugh. Because I've always found that it doesn't feel so deep with company. You don't need to talk about it. You just need to remember that it's not just you.

 

Good advice. I've actually gotten a handle on the mental part of it, as far as not getting mentally down. It's the physical aspects that get to me.

I used to feel it all in my head: "Life is horrible, everything sucks, etc."

Now it's: "I'm mentally okay, but why does it seem like my arm weighs a hundred pounds? Why does it feel like breathing is a chore? My head feels like I'm fighting to keep it up, but I'm not tired."

But it does get better, you're right. Up, down, up, down. Welcome to the roller coaster from Hell.