Comments on: Mental Illness: Writing Our Own Scripts

By: Maree WRAGG

Maree WRAGG — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:06:32 +0000

I have a brain injury that has physically, not psychologically, disabled me. Other people can SEE that I am disabled, their attitude to me in response to the fact that I cannot use my right hand with any sort of strength or dexterity DOES define me, as it is not possible to change their attitude to me, no matter what I do. The only thing that might change it is a complete cure, which is so unlikely, and even if that happened, I imagine they would still retain their current attitude to me since that is how they have learned to identify and interact with me. How I think of myself (as a victim or not) is NOT going to change the opinion of society, since my being upbeat about my disabilities merely labels me as simple or retarded, and not mature enough to see the real picture. The attitude of society, as a whole, needs to be either changed, or controlled to allow people like me a chance to really LIVE.

By: broke

broke — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:26:11 +0000

This is really fascinating - thank you for writing about it. When mental illness is at its worst it does consume most of what I am, however you are right that there is so much to me/us than that. I find what you say helpful, yet I have always known it. Strange.
I’ve just found your site and it looks very interesting - I’ll be back.
Take care,
B

By: John Grohol

John Grohol — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:03:15 +0000

Congratulations, you won a Thinking Blogger Award

The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,

2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,

Please, remember to tag blogs with real merits, i.e. relative content, and above all - blogs that really get you thinking!

This all started at:
http://www.thethinkingblog.com/2007/02/thinking-blogger-awards_11.html

The post in which I tagged you can be found at:

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/09/21/thinking-blogger-award-and-our-top-five-thinking-blogs/

By: Marti

Marti — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:41:06 +0000

This post really spoke to me. I think we can all use the “experienced symptoms associated with…” model for all kinds of off days, mood swings, hormonal challenges, in our daily lives. Prevents those off days, etc. from defining us.

Marti in Mexico

By: mental health without labels » change therapy - isabella mori

mental health without labels » change therapy - isabella mori — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:48:56 +0000

[...] more here. addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moritherapy.org%2Farticle%2Fmental-health-without-labels%2F’; [...]

By: moritherapy

moritherapy — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:03:56 +0000

thanks, lyman, and i think it goes even further. by saing “experienced symptoms associated with …” he also leaves open the whole question of usefulness of diagnoses. this is particularly significant with schizophrenia which, some say, is not nearly as homogeneous an illness as it is often portrayed; it may be better seen as a cluster of symptoms.

By: Lyman Reed

Lyman Reed — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:47:09 +0000

I love that - “I’ve experienced symptoms of…” An awesome way to stay out of the denial, but not, as you said, define yourself by your illness.

Thank you for the uplifting article.