Poll: Mental disorders and you: Would you get rid of it if you could?

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DonMartin

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Apr 2, 2010
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...First of all, let's not make this a thread full of people whining about their disorders. There's enough of that on the forums as it is. Let's have a calm, if possible objective discussion. (I mean no offense by this, so please dont get upset! I hate to hurt people, and if that is you reaction, I apologize sincerely.

I was watching this, and a bit into the video Fry asks, what I thought was, a very interesting question.. (the whole thing is very worthwhile your time, by all means, watch the whole thing!)


The question is, WOULD YOU PRESS A BUTTON TO GET RID OF YOUR MENTAL DISORDER?

To anyone not affected and having a hard time understanding why the hell people like me wouldnt, here are some examples:


1) LOSING THE "GOOD" PART OF IT: People with bipolar disorder or cyclothymia, like myself, suffer greatly from the depressive periods the disorder brings. As anyone bipolar can tell you, this pain is absolutely terrifying. However, the manic period are sometimes, as Fry says, something to be treasured. To a creative, "artisty" type of person, these periods are a godsend. Atleast I think so, and I treasure each and every moment of my "ups". Also, I am aware of it when I am depressed, and it helps to keep me going.

2) LOSING THE FAMILIAR: A lot of people who are recovering alcoholics suddenly start drinking like they used to, when they have almost "recovered". This is because of the fear of the unfamiliar, "sober" life. This same phenomenon applies to some people with depression that Ive spoken to. When asked this question, they would say no, because they are conciously aware of the fact that the "other" life is unimaginable to them, and is thus terrifying.

3) THESE ARE THE CARDS I'VE BEEN DEALT: "Alright, I have Bipolar Disorder. That's the way it is, and Im going to deal with it." This pretty much sums this argument up. People like this (I, for an example, am to some extent of this opinion) stand by the fact that this is the way their life is, and they're not going to change it. They "deal with it", no matter what it means.

4) MY DISORDER IS A PART OF ME: This is, to a certain extent, the same reason some people dont use beauty products. They are going to show themselves the way they are, and be proud of it. If they could be something else, it would feel like they were living a lie. (This is, for an example, the reason I stopped taking medication. It felt silly, somehow.)



So what are the Escapists thoughts on the matter? Would you press the button?

(If you personally have no experience with (major) mental disorders, dont hesitate to give your point of view.)

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EDIT: This was a very interesting read, thank you for all your answers as of now. But I do agree with a point some people have made, more specifically about people diagnosing themselves with Aspbergers. Dont just go about saying it. Now sure, some people here might actually have aspbergers, but it really seems highly unlikely that so many have, considering how rare a disorder it is. If youre shy, youre shy. Shyness does not equal Aspbergers.

I feel like an idiot and an asshole for saying this, but I really mean it. Same goes for other disorders. And if you really have been diagnosed with something, this is not aimed at you. But to anyone else who is self-diagnosed: Think twice. (I mean not to offend anyone with this.)

It is good to remember that anyone fits into pretty much any description of a mental disorder. Personally I could techically have Schizoid, Paranoid, and Split Personality Disorder. But I DONT. We all fit into most of them. People might look up the symptoms for schizophrenia and say "Hey, Im like that!", but youre not alone! Pretty much all of us recognize ourselves in the symptoms of different disorders. But it is a very thin line between being and not being. For an example, it does seem highly unlikely to me that someone with schizophrenia finds out by looking up different illnesses on the internet. Most of the people with actual disorders hide it, or are unaware of it: They know of nothing else. Again, I mean not to offend anyone with this.


Another interesting point that came up was that "ill" people do not want to get rid of their illnesses, simply because they are ill. This is a theory I have thought a lot about, and has brought me great pain. (During my depressive periods) Who is to say who is sane? And seeing how truth is such a vague concept, who can say that I am incorrect to fear a life without cyclothymia? This viewpoint pains me, because I can never be sure that I am sane in my thoughts, seeing as how the idea of "illness" and insanity have been printed into my mind for all my life, just as it has been with everyone else.

The uncertainty is one of the worst parts about my illness. But I think it also is a sign that I am not sick beyond all hope, since I am aware of it.

But who knows, right?
 

LawlessSquirrel

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Jun 9, 2010
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No, I treasure parts of it. Sure, I would be happier, but there's a lot to lose as well, and there's some parts of yourself that you hate but are still important to who you are. Mentioning absolutely no specifics of course.
 

KingofallCosmos

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Nov 15, 2010
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I have Asperger syndrome along with anxiety and sleeping disorders.
I used to think of it as part of my personality, but I think most of that was fear of the unknown; at the time I had just got diagnosed and trying to get a grip on it.

In my case (as with many other mental problems) there's no specific treatment. Spending the last 10 years trying to find my way has amended my opinion on this matter. If I can someday finally think straight it would be awesome.

PS. Any originality in view or creativity (Talking about benefits..) has not a lot to do with disorders but with the person's character imo; in my case people tell me I'm creative all the time. That's great, but I don't really do anything.
 

Shuswah_Noir

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Nov 20, 2009
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I suffer from a form of depression that behaves like bi polar disorder, in that I get the ups and downs, but I never get true mania. That combined with anxiety issues and suspected A.D.D creates one hell of a mix, and I suffer greatly because of it, on occasion.
But this is who I am.
If I didn't have this, I wouldn't be able to understand my friends who do have bi polar disorder (or any other mental illnesses). And there are a great many, medicated and un-medicated.
As much as life would be easier without it, I believe I would lose my friends when I started to forget what it truly feels like to be so down. I might be able to focus to be productive, but it wouldn't be artistic and beautiful in the same way.
I believe I would lose more than I would gain if I were to truly be cured.
 

Roxor

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Nov 4, 2010
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No. Without Asperger's Syndrome, I'd be a completely different person with completely different thought processes.
 

Illesdan

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No. Then I'd be a boring normal person.

As shitty a movie as it was, I'd have to quote Captain Kirk from Star Trek V: 'Damn it, Bones, you're a doctor. You know that pain and guilt can't be taken away with a wave of a magic wand. They're the things we carry with us, the things that make us who we are. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don't want my pain taken away! I need my pain!'
 

VaudevillianVeteran

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Sep 19, 2009
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Well...yes and no. There are major parts of my disorder that I would give anything to lose, but a lot of it is just part of my personality now. Not to mention that it's bettered me as a person and made me learn to never be ashamed of myself for being me.
 

BeanDelphiki

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Feb 1, 2011
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I selected the first answer.

I have ADHD; our brains work very differently from the brains of non-ADHD people. It would be impossible to remove it from me without completely altering who I am.

If that were NOT the case, I'd ditch it instantly.
 

Vault101

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Sep 26, 2010
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hmmm well I dont know, its not really a big thing as it is and Im quie happy
 

Rylot

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My depression would be nice to get rid of; but if I lost my mild OCD tendencies I'd be one step closer to an 'average' person. That's just boring.
 

godfist88

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Dec 17, 2010
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growing up as a kid with Aspergers syndrome, I've always had a lot of trouble socializing with other people. that being said I've come a long way since then and i'm fully capable of interacting with normal people.

as for curing it, i'm split down the middle, on one hand i could finally be able to think straight just like everyone else, but on the other hand I might become a totally different person. i just don't know what to think.
 

bleepbloop

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Mar 18, 2011
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Suffering from an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa) has been one of the greatest struggles I have ever endured. Each day is a challenge, each day is a chance to break free. Recovery is harder than just resigning to be anorexic and not eat and be a slave to the 'voice'. But it's my choice.

If had to pick whether to live without it, I would say no. A strange answer, yes? I don't think I'd be who I am today if it weren't for anorexia pervading my life. I can become healthy mentally, someday, but how I have grown as a person is something I'd never take back.

If I had to go through all of it again, I would. I would endure it to feel this bubble of happiness that seemed so distant, so long ago.
 

boradis

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Nov 18, 2009
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I've got ADD, and if I could repair that broken part of my brain then YES I would do it in less than a heartbeat. It has caused me so much misery and ... wait, this isn't supposed to be that kind of thread. But by way of explanation: It's like being blind to time, if time were one of those hedge mazes and it had needle-sharp thorns on the branches. Whenever I overshoot a deadline or forget to do something I run into the "wall" of the maze, simultaneously injuring myself and looking like a fool.

People like me are often blessed with a constant stream of new ideas, but it's impossible to identify which of these I would have if I didn't have ADD. And since the inability to organize or follow through on them is so incredibly disheartening ...

Yeah, I would trade that flood of ideas I never act on for things like:

* Stable friendships and romantic relationships
* Career stability
* A clean house
* An increased ability to take care of myself
* A high school diploma and a college degree (I've never graduated from ANYTHING)
* An end to the need for therapy and medications just to be closer to the norm
* An end to the embarrassment and guilt that comes with forgetting things
* An end to disappointing and failing those I care about

But it really comes down to this: I'm reasonably bright but I'm greatly hindered by my condition. With medication and the right kind of structure to a day I come close to being who I would be without ADD.

When I'm in that zone I know I never want to go back.
 

Ray De Ation

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Jun 5, 2009
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An interesting rebuttal to that Stephen Fry programme pointed out that, of all the people he asked, it was the middle-class or generally "well-off" sufferers of bipolar depression that said they treasured their illness too much to value losing it. It just presents an interesting possible correolation between ease of life in other areas and attitude towards mental illness.