Anxiety/Depression/Mental Illness Support

[C Rod]

Everything is a contradiction, its all i see and how i reason. Is this a problem?

[Jackalope]

I get mostly pissed off when I mention having schizophrenia and the first reaction people have is to take a step back. Or to make some allusion to MPD. A: My schizophrenia doesn't affect anyone else, and most people with schizophrenia can claim the exact same thing. B: Schizophrenia is not MPD. And I'm getting really sick of people generalizing anyone who seems unhinged as schizophrenic, regardless of whether or not they genuinely have the condition.

I can sympathize with that. I have type 1 bipolar disorder, and I've heard every fucked up misconception about BP that exists I think. The insensitivity and ignorance is astounding. The thing is, I've become so good at hiding my illness that you wouldn't even know I have it - and so people don't censor themselves around me.

I just want to be cured. The lengths I would go to being cured of all the mental diseases I've been saddled with are far, indeed. I willingly ingested a targeted neurotoxin to stop the effects of MPD on me. What does that tell you?

I hear you, brother. I was considering and ultimately decided against electroconvulsive therapy. I've come to accept that managing the symptoms is probably the best I can hope for. I've been mostly symptom free (and med free, under supervision) for six months. I know I'll eventually have to go back on the need but I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

I really hope you find something that works for you.

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Everything is a contradiction, its all i see and how i reason. Is this a problem?

Only if it causes you distress. I was actually talking with my therapist about something similar this afternoon, and that's the conclusion we reached.

[Annik]

Cthulhu: One of my best friends is bipolar. I've heard many misconceptions in our long friendship as well, even from people who really should know better. : (


Last night, I almost had a panic attack. I am up much, much earlier (only a few hours later than I usually go to sleep) than usual for work. A good friend of mine smoked me out just a little while previously, so I was tired enough to sleep. The problem was... I couldn't stop thinking about how horrible my day would be if I couldn't get enough sleep. It was maddening because all I really needed was to relax to drift off, but every time I tried, my brain went, "Wouldn't it be just terrible if you couldn't get to sleep?" My whole chest would tighten up. I tried to remind myself I was in the most comfortable place I could be. I cut off the panic, go some sleep and I feel pretty good right now (in terms of sleep).

[Angrboda]

Speaking of which, I stayed up all night this last night with no desire to sleep. Is this a bounce from the irritable and frustrated depression? Only the gods might know, and they ain't talking.

*sigh* *woozles*

[Shell B]

Difficulty sleeping is common with anxiety and depression. The night used to be my worst time for anxiety. I was a very bad insomniac and I also have delayed sleep, so I was sleeping at very odd times. Now, the morning seems to be the worst because my mind instantly jumps to negative thoughts when I wake up.

Anik, I always have the hardest time sleeping when I have something to do the next day that I want to be refreshed for. I have never figured out how to make that not happen, so I have no advice for you.

[frankiej]

I have difficulty sleeping, but that is all caused by myself. I just draw and watch anime all night...

[Reforged]

Agoraphobia, depression, mild OCD, regular bouts of insomnia, one hell of a troubled past and some other shit I wouldn't care to mention.
Safe to say I've had my fair share of troubles but then who hasn't?
I got a councillor and I carried on. You lay down and die or you deal with the hand you've been dealt. Theres no inbetween and theres no compromise.

[Shell B]

Well, as for the who hasn't part, some people get the opportunity to deal with that shit without having a disorder. I would take that and love it.

[Whateverist]

Last night, I almost had a panic attack. I am up much, much earlier (only a few hours later than I usually go to sleep) than usual for work. A good friend of mine smoked me out just a little while previously, so I was tired enough to sleep. The problem was... I couldn't stop thinking about how horrible my day would be if I couldn't get enough sleep. It was maddening because all I really needed was to relax to drift off, but every time I tried, my brain went, "Wouldn't it be just terrible if you couldn't get to sleep?" My whole chest would tighten up. I tried to remind myself I was in the most comfortable place I could be. I cut off the panic, go some sleep and I feel pretty good right now (in terms of sleep).

Just coming in at the end of a very long thread so probably anything I say has been said before. I discovered many years ago that I have sleep apnea. I was napping all through the day and still fell asleep at night and apparently got up at the usual time. But a sleep study showed that I was getting no deep sleep and no dream state. Using a CPAP machine has been a 'godsend'.

Then, several years ago, I went through a lot of personal stress in my work and would go days without sleeping. Aside from working out the issues with work I also came to a solution to worrying about sleep.

I'm convinced that I can drop one night of sleep anytime and pretty much get through my day. What was killing me was stacking up several consecutive sleepless nights. So now my policy is to take an Ambien for sleep the night after a shitty night of little sleep. I never think about whether or not to take medication the first night. That takes the agonizing what to do out of it. Works for me.

[Reforged]

Well, as for the who hasn't part, some people get the opportunity to deal with that shit without having a disorder. I would take that and love it.

Everyone has a disorder to some degree or another, its just a matter of being able to locate and see through the cracks in the barriers they put up to protect themselves.