General Discussion

uppityperson

(115,677 posts) Fri Mar 27, 2015, 01:14 PM Mar 2015

167

Please do not over react or react badly to so many of us [View all]

Last edited Fri Mar 27, 2015, 01:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Like after 9/11, the common desire after a human caused (or not) tragedy is to look for a precipitating reason to prevent it from happening again.

Unfortunately too often there is an over reaction causing pain and trouble for many other people. Like after 9/11. And I fear now.

By definition, people who kill others without cause, without needing to to save their own life, are mentally ill. Some have been treated for mental illness. Many have not. But most people with mental health issues are no danger to anyone.

Please. Please. Please.

Use this as an opportunity to open your minds, to learn about what mental health is and isn't. To recognize that we walk among you every day. That there are a huge number of people with mental health issues and only a teeny tiny fraction of us will EVER cause you or anyone trouble.

There are different types of mental health issues as well as different degrees. There are medications that help, and medications that cause problems.

We are here. And over there. We are all over.

Why do we not talk about our mental health? Why do you not know that we have sought help? Because we get that look. We get told we should not work in our professions. We get told to "suck it up, everyone has it hard". Or "you have such a good life, what do you have to be sad about"? Because it is better to be seen as quirky, or happy all the time, than depressed because if we acknowledge to others that we are depressed, too often we get passed over at work because how can you depend on someone who is depressed. Or how can you trust them? We get told anti-depressants are the devil and only always cause problems and anyone who takes them is denying that.

We are here. Please do not try and marginalize us, me, because a murderous asshole killed a plane load of people and happened to have mental health issues. The vast majority of us are just regular people. Like me.

Thank you.

67 replies

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Highlight:

Please do not over react or react badly to so many of us [View all] uppityperson Mar 2015 OP

Well said, my dear uppityperson... CaliforniaPeggy Mar 2015 #1

Recommend! inanna Mar 2015 #2

I often feel like those that are WELL-adjusted to the ridiculous society we live in... stillwaiting Mar 2015 #3

Well said. n/t inanna Mar 2015 #5

I think you have an excellent point. niyad Mar 2015 #7

I LOVE Erich Fromm's thinking on the matter. stillwaiting Mar 2015 #13

Plus sixty-million! Dont call me Shirley Mar 2015 #22

Aldous Huxley: Bluenorthwest Mar 2015 #23

Aldous Huxley was amazing. Enthusiast Mar 2015 #39

Depression in the gifted azmom Mar 2015 #25

hear, hear! mountain grammy Mar 2015 #48

Just thinking about that tonight! How some that have never known want or need Rex Mar 2015 #49

+1 Pooka Fey Mar 2015 #64

Thank you gwheezie Mar 2015 #4

Very, very good point. Joe Chi Minh Mar 2015 #35

and me. KMOD Mar 2015 #6

hugs from bro steve2470 Mar 2015 #29

k and r for this excellent OP niyad Mar 2015 #8

What a beautiful statement... Tom_Foolery Mar 2015 #9

Excellent OP. riqster Mar 2015 #10

Problem with the name Roy Rolling Mar 2015 #11

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ uppityperson Mar 2015 #12

i also hate that it's call mental illness fizzgig Mar 2015 #14

Well, that makes three of us Roy Rolling Mar 2015 #16

THanks, Roy.... bvar22 Mar 2015 #43

Thanks bvar Roy Rolling Mar 2015 #63

I stand educated. Thank you. byronius Mar 2015 #18

thank you. you beat me to it. mopinko Mar 2015 #20

I'm with you Fairgo Mar 2015 #40

I can only speak for myself. My intent in posting a couple of threads Surya Gayatri Mar 2015 #15

The desire is understandable. kcr Mar 2015 #50

The over-riding focus of both countries' investigations Surya Gayatri Mar 2015 #53

"going mental" Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #54

It may have originated back then, but it's in current use in Britain... Surya Gayatri Mar 2015 #55

It's offensive here in the states... Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #56

OK, how about 'blow a fuse' as they say here in France... Surya Gayatri Mar 2015 #57

How about something less disparaging to those w/ Mental Illness? Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #58

See original post. Surya Gayatri Mar 2015 #59

Thanks! Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #60

such as? treestar Mar 2015 #62

"had a breakdown" works much better than "went mental". Thanks for asking. uppityperson Mar 2015 #66

Excellent post get the red out Mar 2015 #17

My immediate family has various issues ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #19

Thanks Roy Rolling Mar 2015 #65

uppityperson... Dont call me Shirley Mar 2015 #21

It sucks that you feel the need to even say it. Daemonaquila Mar 2015 #24

Here I thought that you were referring to general postings that get misinterpeted. hedgehog Mar 2015 #26

So true MissDeeds Mar 2015 #27

"look for a precipitating reason to prevent it from happening again." Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2015 #28

I think reactions are mixed but there's certainly scapegoating ... Fumesucker Mar 2015 #45

+ a billion and... steve2470 Mar 2015 #30

Truth is, the "mentally ill" are no more prone to violence truebluegreen Mar 2015 #31

Thank you. F4lconF16 Mar 2015 #32

My heart goes out to the killer of all those people, too, danclinger1000 Mar 2015 #33

Seriously?? sunnystarr Mar 2015 #42

Thank you for proving my point. You make a lot of assumptions based on very little fact uppityperson Mar 2015 #47

8 minutes dolphinsandtuna Mar 2015 #61

The code can be used right away sunnystarr Mar 2015 #67

K&R! Tarheel_Dem Mar 2015 #34

An excellent OP worthy of a thousand recs. Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #36

HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!! WillyT Mar 2015 #37

Thank you for saying it! ColesCountyDem Mar 2015 #38

thank you. I cannot thank you enough. Raine1967 Mar 2015 #41

Beautifully stated, uppityperson. raven mad Mar 2015 #44

kick Liberal_in_LA Mar 2015 #46

Mental health issues are overlooked and pushed to the back. Thinkingabout Mar 2015 #51

Amazing post. Thank you. LeftOfWest Mar 2015 #52