[clydeblack]

Hey guys, so my co-worker said some pretty ignorant things about people with mental illnesses. He also mentioned that no one in his family has one and they got "lucky" (to be fair, that's pretty lucky).

What is it like to not have a mental illness? How do you feel when you wake up?

I'm genuinely curious. I just wonder what it's like to wake up and maybe be groggy, but not disappointed that you're still alive.

Or, when you go through a period of depression and then get out of it, and it just becomes a part of your past. Also, how do you feel during most of the day? Do you just get sad, angry and happy?

Every day I make a conscious effort to choose to live. Quitting is always in the back of my mind. Even when I have fun or laugh, it's still there, just hanging out in the corner. Also, I wonder how people manage to live without being self-destructive. A few of my friends are fully functional, but I still don't get it.

It's been a long time since I was happy. I wish I could feel that again.

[Hanzo55]

I don't suffer from a mental illness (I'm on the boards due to my SO).

When I wake up, I might dread the day due to meetings I have on my calendar, or a sore neck due to the fact that I slept wrong.

My motivation is different, day-to-day. Some days I'm gung-ho focused on my job, other days, my mind wanders (usually an indication its time for a break).

I'm depressed/get sad when I see the news, or when a famous person I liked passes away, or when I hear about animals or children (or anybody, really) being abused/neglected.

I've had anger management issues for my entire life, but now that I'm in a professional management role, I've had to straighten up -- it's absolutely inappropriate in the workplace (and is not my management style). There are times I get angry at the office:

Me: "I need you to do this thing. How long will it take." or "What happened with XYZ breaking?"

Them: "I don't know."

Me: ......

It's your job to know. So hit the books and come back to me when you have an answer! But I don't yell or scream because a) what good would it do and b) I've come to understand a lot of folks aren't fantastic with communication skills. They're not bad people...they just don't know how to say:

"You know what? I'm not sure about that, but let me look into it and I'll have you an answer by the end of the day."

Comedy makes me happy. I love listening to stand-up, jokes are great. I'll trade them back and forth with some friends online. My kids make me happy. I love to hear about their daily adventures. My SO makes me happy...when they are well.

Music makes me happy. I have a pretty large collection of music and its a big part of my life.

I cope by compartmentalizing and keeping busy:
- Write. I write a lot. I wrote a blog for four years; now blog as a part of my business (see below)
- Work on learning new things all the time. Last project was to learn how to play the guitar. Next project is learn how to run a small business.
- Love reading books about the mind and about how we fool ourselves. My two favorites are "You Are Not So Smart" and "You Are Now Less Dumb" -- all about cognitive biases, logical fallacies, etc. Really interesting stuff.
- Playing video games helps me cope as well -- it's probably my equivalent to drinking or smoking.

[vernl77]

clydeblack
I am sorry to hear you are feeling this way right now. I say right now because it can change for the better.
I also have bipolar disorder but on a pretty good regiment of medications and have a good support system and I can wake up every day feeling normal and ready for the day. I have been depressed and know how you feel. Sometimes it sneaks in and I get a bad thought or something but for the most part the feeling is contentment. not necessarily "happy" but just content with life. It is a nice feeling and way better than I have been in the past. But I do get other emotions, muted. I do get happy but never excited happy . I do get sad but just hope it doesn't turn into anything dark. I think that's the medicines. But its better than swinging back and forth in extremes.
So I have a job, a family and my limitations. I know what gets me off track and basically avoid them. If I can't I get help to deal with them.
I hope for you to get help as well. it is possible to be fully functional. you get some setbacks, but can spring back.
Wishing you well.

[clydeblack]

Originally Posted by Hanzo55

I don't suffer from a mental illness (I'm on the boards due to my SO).

When I wake up, I might dread the day due to meetings I have on my calendar, or a sore neck due to the fact that I slept wrong.

My motivation is different, day-to-day. Some days I'm gung-ho focused on my job, other days, my mind wanders (usually an indication its time for a break).

I'm depressed/get sad when I see the news, or when a famous person I liked passes away, or when I hear about animals or children (or anybody, really) being abused/neglected.

I've had anger management issues for my entire life, but now that I'm in a professional management role, I've had to straighten up -- it's absolutely inappropriate in the workplace (and is not my management style). There are times I get angry at the office:

Me: "I need you to do this thing. How long will it take." or "What happened with XYZ breaking?"

Them: "I don't know."

Me: ......

It's your job to know. So hit the books and come back to me when you have an answer! But I don't yell or scream because a) what good would it do and b) I've come to understand a lot of folks aren't fantastic with communication skills. They're not bad people...they just don't know how to say:

"You know what? I'm not sure about that, but let me look into it and I'll have you an answer by the end of the day."

Comedy makes me happy. I love listening to stand-up, jokes are great. I'll trade them back and forth with some friends online. My kids make me happy. I love to hear about their daily adventures. My SO makes me happy...when they are well.

Music makes me happy. I have a pretty large collection of music and its a big part of my life.

I cope by compartmentalizing and keeping busy:
- Write. I write a lot. I wrote a blog for four years; now blog as a part of my business (see below)
- Work on learning new things all the time. Last project was to learn how to play the guitar. Next project is learn how to run a small business.
- Love reading books about the mind and about how we fool ourselves. My two favorites are "You Are Not So Smart" and "You Are Now Less Dumb" -- all about cognitive biases, logical fallacies, etc. Really interesting stuff.
- Playing video games helps me cope as well -- it's probably my equivalent to drinking or smoking.

I like that playing videos helps you more than smoking/drinking. That's pretty neat.

It's good that you have passions. I make comics, and it's one of the only things keeping me here honestly.

Thank you for sharing your daily life.

[clydeblack]

Originally Posted by vernl77

clydeblack
I am sorry to hear you are feeling this way right now. I say right now because it can change for the better.
I also have bipolar disorder but on a pretty good regiment of medications and have a good support system and I can wake up every day feeling normal and ready for the day. I have been depressed and know how you feel. Sometimes it sneaks in and I get a bad thought or something but for the most part the feeling is contentment. not necessarily "happy" but just content with life. It is a nice feeling and way better than I have been in the past. But I do get other emotions, muted. I do get happy but never excited happy . I do get sad but just hope it doesn't turn into anything dark. I think that's the medicines. But its better than swinging back and forth in extremes.
So I have a job, a family and my limitations. I know what gets me off track and basically avoid them. If I can't I get help to deal with them.
I hope for you to get help as well. it is possible to be fully functional. you get some setbacks, but can spring back.
Wishing you well.

Thanks dude. Really appreciate the encouragement.

It's great that you are doing well. Finding the right therapy and if applicable, med combo, is a huge step which takes a lot of courage.

I've been in treatment for about seven years now. My mania doesn't really show anymore, which is good. My depression gets worse with age though. Unfortunately, I can see the pattern.

I imagine like bipolar, their are some highs and lows (I wouldn't know, my meds arn't working for me.)

all I can say is that I'm the only person in my family with mental illness, and from what I've seen of other family members, they have a lot to deal with on a daily bases... stress, anxiety, deadlines, drama, I bet you it's not what it's all cracked up to be- all sunshine and rainbows

life's difficult, MI or not- I do imagine their are advantages (no therapy, no meds, less visits to the ER, probably longer lasting friendships), probably others, but yeah. I don't think it's what it's cracked up to be

[BipolaRNurse]

I wouldn't know what it's like not to have a mental illness, but I would imagine it's a lot like my current state of stability. Right now I have NO bipolar symptoms and am able to take life as it comes. No racing or intrusive thoughts, no hyperactivity, no depression, just...well...normal. Or what passes for normal.

[clydeblack]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

I imagine like bipolar, their are some highs and lows (I wouldn't know, my meds arn't working for me.)

all I can say is that I'm the only person in my family with mental illness, and from what I've seen of other family members, they have a lot to deal with on a daily bases... stress, anxiety, deadlines, drama, I bet you it's not what it's all cracked up to be- all sunshine and rainbows

life's difficult, MI or not- I do imagine their are advantages (no therapy, no meds, less visits to the ER, probably longer lasting friendships), probably others, but yeah. I don't think it's what it's cracked up to be

For sure. I grew up surrounded by struggle, but I think a lot of people go undiagnosed... especially in my family.

[pirilin]

Exactly like you would, if you stop thinking about your condition for a while and start doing instead.

[clydeblack]

Originally Posted by pirilin

Exactly like you would, if you stop thinking about your condition for a while and start doing instead.

Of course, it's not on my mind as a condition, it's part of life. Hope my question didn't come off as offensive.

[pirilin]

Originally Posted by clydeblack

Of course, it's not on my mind as a condition, it's part of life. Hope my question didn't come off as offensive.

Of course is not offensive.
My reply may have sounded harsh, but to me it's a condition.
One like my emphysema.
If I think I'll die afixiated all the time, my quality of life would be very limited.

Cheers.