Pep Talk

[Use_Imagination_here]

What is a "chode"? It sounds familiar...

A chode is a penis that's wider than it is longer. At least that's the definition I've been given.

One shudders to imagine the circumstances under which this word was invented.

 

[Gabanuka]

My inner child tells me to burn things.

Also he is WAAAAAAAAY to prominent for a 16 year old to have

 

[jezcentral]

I'm note sure what this has to do with her mum's illness. Erin is suffering from brain damage from a traffic accident. It'll either go away on it's own as her brain heals, or it won't.

 

[Iron Lightning]

So, you're defying the Holywood cliché of mental illness being something that can be overcome by willpower by way of using the Holywood cliché of mental being something that can be overcome by willpower. Makes sense.

 

[Ghonzor]

Only a complete shitrag would tell a blind person to "suck it up and learn to see," yet telling someone with clinical depression to "get over it" isn't considered grounds for a punch in the tits, which is infuriating.

You are my favorite person in the world for this.

 

[saintdane05]

I said it once and I'll say it again: Little Erin is Toph.

 

[uncanny474]

I have struggled with clinical depression for a long time and it turns out I have actually got something seriously physically wrong with me too (that can worsen mental symptoms) that I have had from when I was teen. So people who told me I was faker and lazy and to get over it feel a bit stupid now I'll bet...

As a fellow sufferer, I can tell you that they definitely do NOT feel stupid. They feel that the doctors who told you that are stupid, because people hate to admit they're wrong. They will accuse every other person of being wrong before they will admit that they themselves are wrong. It doesn't matter how many doctors agree, they will keep thinking that you are a lazy faker because that's what's true in their head.

And the more this happens, the more you'll hate humanity for not recognizing that there is something wrong with you beyond your control, and the more you hate humanity, the more depressed you'll get, until you hit rock-bottom and just ignore everyone who talks to you. It's actually a bit like being emotionally bullied--eventually you build up a resistance and your burning hate cools into a little hate-neutron-star that becomes bitter until you realize that nobody is worth the effort of being a good person.

Or maybe that's just me.

One thing I have learned (from My Little Pony, as a matter of fact) is that if you force yourself to be happy, it won't get RID of depression, but it can help it be less crippling. So, the advice they give you doesn't WORK, but it does HELP. Somewhat. It'll still suck, though.

And here I've gone and written three paragraphs without an on-topic section. Better write one before I get flagged.

OT: Thanks for the disclaimer, but I was pretty sure that the advice here was related to Mr. Evil Feminist, not her mental illness. If you make her HALLUCINATIONS go away with her childhood self telling her to man up, I'll be put out, but if she just socks this guy in the jaw... that's not overcoming mental illness through willpower, that's putting a douchebag in his place. And yeah, at this point, I'm pretty sure he's doing this to manipulate her, whether HE knows it or not.

 

[Towels]

And yeah, at this point, I'm pretty sure he's doing this to manipulate her, whether HE knows it or not.

Interesting, but for what purpose?

 

[spaceinvaderj]

So we've had Meanwhile 1 and Meanwhile 2.
The next one will be Meanwhile: Brotherhood, followed by Meanwhile: Revelations, right?

Genius.
The DLC for each will be half-decent, with M:R being not so good...

 

[Rainforce]

One thing I have learned (from My Little Pony, as a matter of fact) is that if you force yourself to be happy, it won't get RID of depression, but it can help it be less crippling. So, the advice they give you doesn't WORK, but it does HELP. Somewhat. It'll still suck, though.

Have a few problems in that regard as well, but since I actually started trying to get a bit of happiness running, I'm doing much better. Also I started blaming those of the vocal minority that don't try, but whine every day about it (I hate it when people come at me whining/complaining with "I can't do that, depression, [etc. something about needing more respect]". I'd rather see them being sorry for their "disability", if anything. I mean, it's not the fault of others that we get held up by personal problems.) >_>
So I guess it's hard to start on that part, because your memories are just FULL of negative thoughts, and you're so used to it that you're also likely to continue, even without the real source of the problem. It's also hard because most people in that situation lack the support needed. Then again, being alone might help you see the fact that you actually CAN change yourself a bit clearer. After all, life sure DOES suck, but it's still all up to you what you do with it, no matter what's in your way.

On topic: didn't see that coming, but good that she's trying to get her crap together

 

[Kevashim]

Y'know the most satisfying end to this arc I can think of is that the author just gives it up immediately and starts writing on a different topic/writing comedic strips again.

 

[uncanny474]

And yeah, at this point, I'm pretty sure he's doing this to manipulate her, whether HE knows it or not.

Interesting, but for what purpose?

In this case, he wants a long-term relationship. If he CAN manipulate Erin, then he can control her. And, from what I've seen, he is the worst example of the Dominant personality archaetype--one who dominates you so insidiously that you don't even realize it until someone else points it out, one who can wrap even someone as independant as Erin around his finger, and one who wants a spouse not for a partnership, but as a footstool.

But now we're getting into relationship theory, and I don't really want to go there.

 

[uncanny474]

Have a few problems in that regard as well, but since I actually started trying to get a bit of happiness running, I'm doing much better. Also I started blaming those of the vocal minority that don't try, but whine every day about it (I hate it when people come at me whining/complaining with "I can't do that, depression, [etc. something about needing more respect]". I'd rather see them being sorry for their "disability", if anything. I mean, it's not the fault of others that we get held up by personal problems.) >_>
So I guess it's hard to start on that part, because your memories are just FULL of negative thoughts, and you're so used to it that you're also likely to continue, even without the real source of the problem. It's also hard because most people in that situation lack the support needed. Then again, being alone might help you see the fact that you actually CAN change yourself a bit clearer. After all, life sure DOES suck, but it's still all up to you what you do with it, no matter what's in your way.

On topic: didn't see that coming, but good that she's trying to get her crap together

Ok, this is exactly the OPPOSITE of what I meant. Would you yell at a paraplegic for not being able to climb stairs? Yes? Well, there's nothing I can say that would make this conversation any better.

But if the answer is no, then you're basically doing that by not understanding that depression IS a disability. If you don't have it, you can't possibly understand it. If you do have it,

Here's how I try to explain it. Everyone has days where they just don't do anything. They wake up, and they feel emotionally wrecked, so they say "I'm not doing anything today!" And they don't. And the next day, they feel better and get back to their lives.

Depression is like that, but every day. You wake up feeling TERRIBLE, and you feel that way ALL THE TIME. It makes it nearly impossible to do anything, because whatever motivation you might have is buried under how absolutely terrible everything is forever. You feel that every single person is scum, including yourself, and you just DON'T CARE whether you live or die, because there's no point. Essentially, it's a person who physically lacks the brain chemistry necessary to get motivated. About ANYTHING.

And if you think you HAVE depression, and you DON'T feel like this, then you're probably wrong/misdiagnosed.

I am not, nor was I EVER saying that people with depression should just get over it. That doesn't work. It just doesn't. If you think it does, you're wrong. I can get medical professionals to PROVE that you're wrong.

But ATTEMPTING to get over it CAN decrease some of the symptoms to make it merely a serious problem instead of a crippling one.

 

[RJ 17]

xD she called him a "chode"....THERE'S a word I haven't heard in a long time.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

And yeah, at this point, I'm pretty sure he's doing this to manipulate her, whether HE knows it or not.

Interesting, but for what purpose?

In this case, he wants a long-term relationship. If he CAN manipulate Erin, then he can control her. And, from what I've seen, he is the worst example of the Dominant personality archaetype--one who dominates you so insidiously that you don't even realize it until someone else points it out, one who can wrap even someone as independant as Erin around his finger, and one who wants a spouse not for a partnership, but as a footstool.

But now we're getting into relationship theory, and I don't really want to go there.

Can we dial down the crazy train a little bit?

To be entirely fair, Erin's gone off the deep end. She's proven to be a threat to the safety of herself and others. She's taking advice from a hallucination again; this time she's taking guidance from a sociopathic child version of herself. When has asking a kid for advice ever led to good results?

She's thrown herself at this guy (whose name I can't be bothered to remember) and he didn't seem interested. That doesn't mean he is or isn't interested in a romantic relationship. Whether or not his intervention will be effective, we've seen no evidence that the dude has any ulterior motives. If he tries to put the moves on her when she's in a vulnerable state, then I'd be concerned.

 

[Harold Hansen]

ok i am confused now, are you telling me that guy is the bad guy now? you were making him out as a really nice guy who didn't rape people when they were drunk and now hes bad?

He did push here out the window and then forced her to agree to his help before pulling her in, if he's not a bad guy he is at the very least an idiot.

When one woman's insanity is threatened by the cure...
The only person Erin can trust...
Is Erin

A Beautiful Mind 2: They're Real, Dammit!

Captcha: if it fits