Quote:
Originally Posted by emptynightmare
Does anyone have a cover story as for how their life turned out the way it did? For me, the answer is mental illness. I am relatively young and of course I know how to be professional when needed and steer things towards "positive" things, but today I was questioned about life choices and all I could say was "I have a history of mental health and was going to stop existing by nineteen, so how can I say, for example, that I chose my college wisely, and now that I have plans for the future, how can I say anything else than "I'm still at this college, which doesn't have the strongest program for my field because I am just starting to heal and I didn't have enough energy (and good grades) to transfer (in fact I almost dropped out) and now it's too late?"
Pretty much my whole (short and so far inconsequential) life has been determined by my mental health issues and what led to them.
I wasn't prepared for the questions and in this situation I had to answer so I pretty much told the truth and let's face it, the truth is triggering.
How do you deal with these questions? Do you tell the truth?
Sorry I hope this question isn't insensitive. I can be pretty stupid sometimes.
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I dont use my mental illnesses as reasons why my life turned out good or bad. short version where I live we have American Disability Act laws. this is where people cant discriminate or consider mental illness in things ....unless... the mentally ill are asking for accommodations for living, work and such that will enable them to be able to function and live just like a normal person.
I have on the other hand told the truth... this or that didnt turn out the way I wanted it to because I made the wrong choices. yes having mental illness sometimes made it hard for me to make the right choices in my life but I do not use my mental illness's for an excuse for things like my behaviors, what choices I make and all that.
even the justice system does not just allow someone to explain away the crimes through saying not my fault it was my mental illness. there is a mental illness defense but even that comes with rules and proving the person was guilty except for mental illness and then the person is remanded over to a long term treatment facility until the treatment providers report to the court that the person is well enough to stand trial or is no longer a danger to their self and others.
my point if the justice system and laws do not allow a person who does wrong just blame it on their mental illness and get away scott free there is no reason why I should use my mental illness or a cover story to explain why my life didnt turn out like someone elses. I accept responsibility for my actions basically. I have dissociative disorders, bipolar disorder MS but that doesnt excuse the fact that I have to follow the same standards/ rule and such as even normal non mental disordered people do.