Welcome.

[him]

Hey. I just signed up.

 

It took some doing because the security questions in the signup process were beweildering.

 

One was "What is Crazy Boards to discuss?" and I tried "schizo" and "mental illness" and it was both incorrect.

 

Tried again later, and got "Do you use Tumblr?" and I have a blog, so I put "yes" and that was incorrect, so I put "no" and it finally let me sign up.

 

This leads me to believe, there is some sort of inner-prejudice against Tumblr?

 

My diagnosis has been from bipolar to schizoaffective, to undifferentiated schizo and some kind schizo apex something paranoid type. I don't know all the Greek words.

 

I'm overwhelmed and don't know where to start with this forum. Are all those labels under the sub-forums like the most recent post, or the manic ramblings of an underpaid hypersexual tour guide?

Edited March 18, 2013 by him

[olga]

Welcome, him, and I hope your confusion abates.

 

This is a big place, and since mental illness is such a complex issue----well, this is a complex place.  We have a board for each of the types of MI, and we have a board for each "family" of medications, and we have boards for people to discuss more general issues like families and getting on disability.

 

Just cruise around and read some of the topics that you find interesting or appropriate.  If it all feels overwhelming, take a break and come back later.

 

I can't comment on the process of signing up because I did it so long ago that I don't remember it.  I hope you read the User Agreement when you did it because that gives you an idea of how we operate.

 

The labels under the titles of the subforums were written by our Fearless Leader, Velvet Elvis.  You will have to ask him what he was thinking when he wrote them! heh  Anyway, welcome to CB and I hope you enjoy being a part of this group.  I am not sure why you were asked about Tumblr----you'll have to ask VE that question. 

 

olga

[Phoenix_Rising]

Hello him and Welcome to CB!

 

olga did a great job explaining the forums.  There is also a button in the upper right hand corner titled, "View New Content"  that will bring up all the latest topics posted to the forums.

 

I hope you find the information and support you're looking for.

[him]

I did not get such this warm reception in the chatroom.

[olga]

him, it depends on who is in the chat room.  Some people are so intent on their own conversations that they don't welcome new people.  But if there is a mod in the room, generally he or she will say hi to you.

 

We have a rule in chat that if someone comes into the room who is suicidal or has an serious issue to discuss, the casual conversations are supposed to end and the person in trouble is supposed to be helped.  However, we are all volunteers, and sometimes there isn't a mod on duty, and the ball gets dropped.

 

I'm sorry if you didn't feel welcomed there and I hope you will try again at another time.

 

olga

[him]

It was going swimmingly until I introduced my exception to neuroleptics.

Your pro-med policy illuminates why it's called crazy boards. You really have to be crazy to say that gaining 90 lbs on Zyprexa and losing a foot to diabetes, is any kind of "good for health", mental health or physical health.

[Phoenix_Rising]

No, you have to be crazy to not take meds that could save your life.  Suicide is a real possibility for a lot of people that suffer from MIs.

[bluechick]

We are definitely pro-med here.  We feel it is an integral part in our mental health.  However, there is no reason you should ever tolerate weight gain from meds.  Have you talked to your pdoc about switching to something more weight neutral.

 

Also, you sound a little defensive.  You would do well to drop your guard a little.  We are all here to help.  You're among safe people.  I'm sorry that your experience in chat was not that great.  I can tell you from personal experience that the forums and blogs are just flat-out great.  Many people give sympathy and just as many give you a hard look at reality. 

 

Stick around and keep an open mind.  I'm sure you will see the same benefit from it that I did.

[him]

No, you have to be crazy to not take meds that could save your life.  Suicide is a real possibility for a lot of people that suffer from MIs.

(have to be crazy to not read about what you are putting in you) If you read the package insert (which nobody ever seems to do) of antipsychotics and antidepressants alike, they have a side effect warning of increase risk of suicide. My mom was on Citalopram Celexa for depression, when she decided it was time for God to take her. I know this is something my own mother never would have done if she weren't on mind altering psychotropics.

That suicidal side effect warning is usually worded in big Greek words in really small print. I think the warning should be 172pt bold.

Besides, Zyprexa is not an antidepressant so you miss the mark a little, but I see what you are saying. Some antipsychotics like Abilify are getting in on the depression market, but this just proves more how these psychotropics are becoming cure-alls. Psychiatry dumbs down an entire web of all possible mood/thought/emotion/behavior to 1 or 2 catch-all imbalances.

I really hope you aren't writing this all off. When I mention that package insert fact, I really hope you check your own inserts for the suicide warnings, if you haven't thrown them away already.

[olga]

him:

We encourage people to read the package inserts, the patient information that's on line, the drug information that we have here in the drug sub-forums, and any other information about what we are putting into our bodies.

 

We also encourage people to eat good food, practice good sleep hygiene, get regular exercise, and minimize their alcohol intake.

 

Nonetheless, doing all of that does NOT eliminate the need for medicines.  I RAISE a large part of my own food---my own chickens, my own vegetable, etc.  I bake all of my own bread and pizzas and rolls.  I make homemade stocks, which I use to make homemade soups.  I go to the gym 3-4 times a week.  I take an aerobic walk every day for 30-50 minutes.  I'm doing this shit, dude---and I still take an antidepressant.

 

Please don't come here and presume to tell people how to treat their mental illnesses, when some of the people here have been dealing with their MI issues since before you were born.

 

Step back and read a little bit more in this place before you post, okay?

 

olga

[him]

Wow the responses are coming in fast. I must try to keep up. I think I might like this forum.

We are definitely pro-med here.  We feel it is an integral part in our mental health.  However, there is no reason you should ever tolerate weight gain from meds.  Have you talked to your pdoc about switching to something more weight neutral.

 

Also, you sound a little defensive.  You would do well to drop your guard a little.  We are all here to help.  You're among safe people.  I'm sorry that your experience in chat was not that great.  I can tell you from personal experience that the forums and blogs are just flat-out great.  Many people give sympathy and just as many give you a hard look at reality. 

 

Stick around and keep an open mind.  I'm sure you will see the same benefit from it that I did.

Albeit the studies are new and controversial, that a minority of doctors are now claiming better living is more effective than neuroleptics, I can see how my belief seems a little nutty like a conspiracy without any external evidence other than my own experience, so I will tone it down a little.

However, I think it would be a good debate (not in this thread), and I would be interested to hear from both sides and their own evidence, rather than to exile the one side.

Like I notice that people with mental illness are sentient enough to recognize their symptoms as symptoms, and are helping to diagnose themselves. If they are thinking clear enough to seek treatment, maybe they would be sentient enough to see the external influences on their mental health. They see "take for schizophrenia" on the label so they "take for schizophrenia". I think physical health reflects mental health, and it's no wonder to me that my country has a 70% obese population along with one of the highest populations of mental illness, and social security disability.

him:

We encourage people to read the package inserts, the patient information that's on line, the drug information that we have here in the drug sub-forums, and any other information about what we are putting into our bodies.

 

We also encourage people to eat good food, practice good sleep hygiene, get regular exercise, and minimize their alcohol intake.

 

Nonetheless, doing all of that does NOT eliminate the need for medicines.  I RAISE a large part of my own food---my own chickens, my own vegetable, etc.  I bake all of my own bread and pizzas and rolls.  I make homemade stocks, which I use to make homemade soups.  I go to the gym 3-4 times a week.  I take an aerobic walk every day for 30-50 minutes.  I'm doing this shit, dude---and I still take an antidepressant.

 

Please don't come here and presume to tell people how to treat their mental illnesses, when some of the people here have been dealing with their MI issues since before you were born.

 

Step back and read a little bit more in this place before you post, okay?

 

olga

You could increase your walk to 4 hours bike/hike trail, with some motivating music (whatever your favorite) and I think you might see better results. Though depression is not one of my symptoms (unless the doctor starts calling my neuroleptic anhedonia/depression/lack-of-motivation the negative symptoms), I would walk all day all around town with music and I was as happy as I could ever be.

[Guest Vapourware]

I read the PI sheets of all my meds. I have a general idea of how SSRIs and AAPs work. I think it's amusing you think we know nothing about our meds. You are wrong.

Suicide isn't just over depression. Psychosis can push people over the edge for instance, without them feeling depressed.

Anyway, I found out long ago that Jedi mind tricks don't work when it comes to mental health. I wish it did.

One last thing. All medication have adverse side effects. Most meds can kill you in some way. So, your point is?

PS if you don't have depression, then don't start dispensing advice for it unless you can back it up with peer reviewed studies.

[Phoenix_Rising]

No, you have to be crazy to not take meds that could save your life.  Suicide is a real possibility for a lot of people that suffer from MIs.

(have to be crazy to not read about what you are putting in you) If you read the package insert (which nobody ever seems to do) of antipsychotics and antidepressants alike, they have a side effect warning of increase risk of suicide. My mom was on Citalopram Celexa for depression, when she decided it was time for God to take her. I know this is something my own mother never would have done if she weren't on mind altering psychotropics.

That suicidal side effect warning is usually worded in big Greek words in really small print. I think the warning should be 172pt bold.

Besides, Zyprexa is not an antidepressant so you miss the mark a little, but I see what you are saying. Some antipsychotics like Abilify are getting in on the depression market, but this just proves more how these psychotropics are becoming cure-alls. Psychiatry dumbs down an entire web of all possible mood/thought/emotion/behavior to 1 or 2 catch-all imbalances.

I really hope you aren't writing this all off. When I mention that package insert fact, I really hope you check your own inserts for the suicide warnings, if you haven't thrown them away already.

So now you're presuming I'm an uneducated patient who doesn't read the PI sheets.  Nice.  I've been MI for 30 years, I think I know my illness and I certainly research the meds that I take.  I keep all my PI sheets and meet with a pdoc every two weeks to discuss side effects, med warnings and my mental health.

 

And telling olga to take a 4 hour walk is incredibly presumptive and pompous, IMHO.

 

You seem to think you're an expert on all of our conditions and research habits, so what do you hope to gain for this site?  People here are usually very supportive with those that stay within the loose guidelines of the site.  We don't ask for a lot.

[Indigo 'n dye]

Wow the responses are coming in fast. I must try to keep up. I think I might like this forum.

 

You could increase your walk to 4 hours bike/hike trail, with some motivating music (whatever your favorite) and I think you might see better results. Though depression is not one of my symptoms (unless the doctor starts calling my neuroleptic anhedonia/depression/lack-of-motivation the negative symptoms), I would walk all day all around town with music and I was as happy as I could ever be.

 

I would truly enjoy seeing you and your self-righteous attitude keep you with olga over the course of a week.

 

Walk around town listening to music? Olga digs organic compost into gardens, she shovels and hauls that compost via a wheelbarrow, she plants, weeks, harvests, cans and preserves. I am willing to bet US currency that in three days you would be done in. You think you would see results? You bet your shiny ass you would. But not by walking around town listening to music.

 

Frankly, I wish it was easy to kick you out of the forums as others did in chat. You are annoying and need to be swatted like a gnat at a picnic.

[bluechick]

 

Wow the responses are coming in fast. I must try to keep up. I think I might like this forum.

 

You could increase your walk to 4 hours bike/hike trail, with some motivating music (whatever your favorite) and I think you might see better results. Though depression is not one of my symptoms (unless the doctor starts calling my neuroleptic anhedonia/depression/lack-of-motivation the negative symptoms), I would walk all day all around town with music and I was as happy as I could ever be.

 

I would truly enjoy seeing you and your self-righteous attitude keep you with olga over the course of a week.

 

Walk around town listening to music? Olga digs organic compost into gardens, she shovels and hauls that compost via a wheelbarrow, she plants, weeks, harvests, cans and preserves. I am willing to bet US currency that in three days you would be done in. You think you would see results? You bet your shiny ass you would. But not by walking around town listening to music.

 

Frankly, I wish it was easy to kick you out of the forums as others did in chat. You are annoying and need to be swatted like a gnat at a picnic.

Indigo, what the hell is going?  I seem to keep agreeing with you more and more. 

 

At first I was sympathetic to the plight of the OP and tried to give some gentle opinions on how to get the most out of this site.  Now I'm just annoyed.  I agree, it's no wonder s/he hated chat.  Sounds like people may have challenged his/her beliefs a little too much. 

 

Bottom line is that psych medication saves lives.  It saved mine.  Without them I would have lost everything near and dear to my heart.  I lost a lot when I was self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.  And even after I got sober, I was still a rotten mess who couldn't stop fucking up her life.  I will never cease being grateful to the wonderful treatment team(s) that have made me healthy again.  Was it hard at times?  Hell yes!  But it would certainly be foolish to give up on your mental health just because you flipped out over a PI sheet.  For fuck's sakes, WATER can kill you under certain circumstances.  If it came with a PI sheet it would advise you that taking too much could lead to your death.  But do we stop drinking water?

 

Damn it, now I'm all pissed off.

[bluechick]

--deleted.  I answered my own question.

Edited March 18, 2013 by bluechick

[him]

I must apologize for my stance on the meds. I'm gonna hold my opinions so I don't dig myself in deeper.

To get this back on topic of some sort of welcoming committee thread, I just want to explain my position.

I've been diagnosed for 10 years. For the first 3 or so years I basically requested the meds. For the remaining 7 or so years, I have been trying to get off of them, but my diagnosis has taken on an ugly life of it's own. It's no longer about helping me for any symptoms I report, but it's about treating me for my behavior. I haven't reported a symptom in over 5 years at least, but the doctors damn me for my behavior, as if they see me as hiding symptoms. If science were advanced to perfect behavior, we would already be in a utopia.

My stance might stem from the fact that I've been misdiagnosed from telling own lies of symptoms while manic, or I could have an undiagnosed schizo personality disorder that is mental and not chemical, hence I don't respond well to the meds.

As for calling me cocky or pompous, all I can recommend is reading me as monotone as I actually say it, and don't add your own character or mental infliction to my words. Mac Speech is a useful tool for this. I read everyone's posts with it. It also helps me catch bad grammar and spelling. In Macs, you can make a keyboard shortcut, all you have to do is highlight text in the window.

[confused]

It's hard for me to read tone in posts.  I often miss sarcasm.  But, it isn't because of my character or mental affliction It just can be hard to discern.  If you've been manic, what do you presume your dx is?

 

I think I welcomed you in chat, but welcome.

[WinterRosie]

Maybe they see you as hiding behaviours since you haven't been reporting anything for five years?

Now, I'm not there, obviously, but from a care provider's perspective having someone come in saying "I'm fine" when they have a lifelong illness must mean non-compliance, or hiding information, right?

Personally I try to be honest with my care providers. I tried hiding for over a decade and all it did was hurt me and those around me and nearly get me killed a few times. So now I'm trying a different approach. It's hard, yes, but I'm not hurting myself, others, or getting myself nearly killed. So, to me, those are signs that what I'm doing now is working and I don't mean the 2 hours daily bicycling.

[bluechick]

out of curiosity, what behavior are they using as justification for forcing meds on you? I seem to be missing something.

[dreamcatcher14]

It is presumptuous to give someone unsolicited advice, monotone or not. (Incorrectly) implying someone is on psych meds because of their lifestyle choice is invalidating their illness and insensitive at best.

I met you in chat but I missed the part where you got kicked out.

I hope to see you around, you're an interesting character.

[him]

out of curiosity, what behavior are they using as justification for forcing meds on you? I seem to be missing something.

Dumb things, that have been blamed on mental illness, rather than just stupid behavior for someone not diagnosed. I've been hospitalized for so-called suicide attempt. Also another time burning an old mattress I didn't like. It's a long story that. It was out in the country where trash pickup is only once a month and they don't take large things like furniture. My parents would always burn old busted couches and things, I was just on a sick roll of cleaning up after my dad who left the house in a mess after my mom died, and it was kinda of a slip in my idea of feng shui to replace it with my posturepedic twin that was collecting cob webs in the basement, getting rid of this massive eye sore bed that left no walking room in the tiny room, and my dad called the cops. My most recent time was sleep walking/talking unrelated to mental illness, but I guess I got pretty scary, my family was all home and assumed I was off meds. It was only till this year, that they told me I should only go in if they find me dangerous, but I've always just never said a thing and never protest, went with the cops every time because I wanted to get away for a while.