The Stigma against Mental Illness Needs To Stop

rauza

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So I was diagnosed as ADHD a little while ago which honestly didn't shock me because I knew I was always different in my thought patterns than others.

I was more passionate with things that clicked with me and had stranger angles and perspectives on ideas that would always leave others perplexed. This allowed me to be creative as well as a go-getter for humanitarian aid. It wasn't the worst thing but it made paying bills and other trivial day-to-day things annoying and almost unbearable to do. I also had issues regulating my emotions and hyperfocusing too much on non-productive tasks just as much as productive tasks. I was barely ever able to focus on things that I had no interest in while excelling in the things that I did. I also feel that's why I do much better with Internet Marketing than when I was going to university for classes I could care less about. I am able to give it 150% compared to the mere 25% I can give to tasks that bore me.

I think the reason people stay away from this topic is that people still think ADHD or some disorder they may have is an excuse and not real. I almost always never mention it when doing business in real life because I feel as if others will think I use it as an excuse. So I always just suck it up and do my best to make everybody happy.

Anyways, it wasn't until I acknowledged what I had and understanding how my brain worked that I was able to almost 5x my lifestyle, income and happiness. For the areas I kept failing, I understood why I kept failing. I allowed the environment around me to adjust to the way my brain worked. It's been good, and it's also good having friend groups and a family that understand me and don't ridicule me for it. But not everybody has this.

I've seen cases of people with ADHD and other disorders who killed themselves because people would press down on them the idea that they were just lazy and just had to try harder. It was sad because having a differently wired brain means that even trying your hardest won't give nearly the same outcome as somebody who is neurotypical. This would eventually feed in to depression and would become a perpetuating cycle of hell for most people that could lead to self-harm.

The reason I feel people think this way is because so many symptoms of any sort of mental illness or disorder can have overlapping symptoms of people that are neurotypical. So you could get insensitive comments from people who don't understand that it is not a one-trick pony yet a consistent, and persistent storm of symptoms that are inevitable on the biological level.

Anyways, I just wanted to make this thread so if you have a mental illness you feel that you need to conceal or hide, that I'm always here to talk to and that you're not alone. You may also potentially be un-diagnosed but suspect you may have something.

You don't have to reply in the thread because some people may feel ashamed about it but my PMs are open if you ever want to talk - ADHD or not if you feel like you're struggling.

And just to end it off, some people may find the idea of calling what they have as Mental "illness" is offensive which I agree. ADHD is me and is part of who I am and my personality, I don't consider it an illness. It is who I am. Same as anybody who may have bipolar, autism, etc. I am just using the term that most people would use to identify the people who deviate from neurotypical norms.
 
Your second paragraph pretty much explained me word for word, lol.
Maybe I should get checked.
 
I don't think the majority of the world considers ADHD a mental illness but more of a difference in how one thinks and acts.

I could name a number of "ticks" from multiple people, including myself, and none are considered mental illness in any of the circles I travel in.

In fact one can use ADHD to their advantage and really build out a variety of things on and off line and be super successful.
 
I was more passionate with things that clicked with me and had stranger angles and perspectives on ideas that would always leave others perplexed. This allowed me to be creative as well as a go-getter for humanitarian aid. It wasn't the worst thing but it made paying bills and other trivial day-to-day things annoying and almost unbearable to do. I also had issues regulating my emotions and hyperfocusing too much on non-productive tasks just as much as productive tasks. I was barely ever able to focus on things that I had no interest in while excelling in the things that I did. I also feel that's why I do much better with Internet Marketing than when I was going to university for classes I could care less about. I am able to give it 150% compared to the mere 25% I can give to tasks that bore me.

Same here, as you I found my group and live happily
 
I don't think the majority of the world considers ADHD a mental illness but more of a difference in how one thinks and acts.

I could name a number of "ticks" from multiple people, including myself, and none are considered mental illness in any of the circles I travel in.

In fact one can use ADHD to their advantage and really build out a variety of things on and off line and be super successful.
You have a point to an extent but many people don't understand the egregious symptoms of ADHD fully that make it almost unbearable some days.

The idea of having inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity can have their benefits along with their negatives and the negatives can sometimes far outweigh the positives depending on the situations. Having emotional hyperarousal and rejection sensitivity where your nervous system is interest-based can bring its downfall in relationships and for the people around you that you love. And believe me, it has taken a toll on many of my relationships. It wasn't until I knew what I was dealing with, that I am now doing better.

But yes, you are correct - ADHD can bring its benefits and be used as a tool. It is not an unknown fact that many popular celebrities, activists and CEO's have ADHD and are functioning well. But it is also important not to discount or acknowledge that it is there.

((also I'd greatly appreciate it if you could talk to me in PM about a concern I have when you aren't busy - I know you're probably flooded with PMs from every tom, dick and jerry so no rush ))
 
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((also I'd greatly appreciate it if you could talk to me in PM about a concern I have when you aren't busy - I know you're probably flooded with PMs from every tom, dick and jerry ))

You can send me a PM - not an issue at all but ADHD guy it is Tom, Dick and Harry.

Jerry is a cartoon character who is an adversary of Tom the cat I believe or a very popular comedian with the last name Seinfield.

Of course there is Jerry Joyce who coaches tennis at St Rose in Belmar NJ who is a pretty decent guy as well.
 
You can send me a PM - not an issue at all but ADHD guy it is Tom, Dick and Harry.

Jerry is a cartoon character who is an adversary of Tom the cat I believe or a very popular comedian with the last name Seinfield.

Of course there is Jerry Joyce who coaches tennis at St Rose in Belmar NJ who is a pretty decent guy as well.
See, and that's the kind of wit and eccentric talk that makes you, you BTB lol.

I sent you a PM a while ago but I believe you're just going through a bunch of Tom, Dick and Harries so it may have passed the filter or something.
 
See, and that's the kind of wit and eccentric talk that makes you, you BTB lol.

I sent you a PM a while ago but I believe you're just going through a bunch of Tom, Dick and Harries so it may have passed the filter or something.

Please resend it.

I've got over 500 PMs in there; many are administrative things so I do get lost in there at times.
 
It's a very broad issue but it all comes back to being considerate in your behaviour towards others as you never know what they're going through. Hopefully you and anyone else in a similar situation haven't felt stigmatised in this community.
 
Please resend it.

I've got over 500 PMs in there; many are administrative things so I do get lost in there at times.
Yup, thanks!

It's a very broad issue but it all comes back to being considerate in your behaviour towards others as you never know what they're going through. Hopefully you and anyone else in a similar situation haven't felt stigmatised in this community.
Yeah. I think the biggest thing is not using it as an excuse when doing something really stupid to hurt somebody else and just having it there as an explanation for how you can control yourself to be better for next time. In my opinion, being used as an explanation is better than being used a blown out excuse. After all, holding yourself accountable is how you grow from each experience.

I for one do not want to be treated differently because of it.
 
ive suffered with anger issues all my life, medicated
i dont go looking for trouble, but if you step in my direction
with an attitude, you will get your head torn right off.

other than that im a pretty nice guy, just always on edge
and i have a low tolerance for bs and trigger quickly lols
still - i feel , its better than being a pussy, never had anyone
walk over me, ill take there legs if they try.

i call that a bonus attribute. but it can rub people the wrong
way when you always come across as blunt. still on the upside
people no where they stand b4 they start.
 
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