[venusss]

WHen it comes to your mental health/emotional troubles/whatever...

how do you view it? As illness or as more or less emotional baggage? Or being influenced by your past?

I see my problems and issues as a combination of who I really am (the basic personality I was born with) and how I was influenced by things that happened as I was growing up. As far as I know, I don't have any actual chemical imbalances or physical defects that are at cause. Also, I've never been diagnosed with a major mental illness such as schizophrenia or DID. The only psychotropic drugs I've ever taken have been for anxiety, like Ativan or Xanax.

So I basically feel like I got screwed up along the way, and it's possible for me to untangle the mess and get straightened out. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

[Anika.]

Yikes, I dunno how to vote Venus. I do think I have some physical problems that contribute to my mental "stuff", but is it a problem originating from my body, or the environment? I have troubles because of my past and upbringing, but I have worked on most of that, maybe there is a little scar tissue I still contend with.

But I also feel like maybe some of the troubles are not so much with me, but with the world we live in. I think I am pretty sane for the most part, somehow the world disagrees. Speaking very generally here.

Chemical imbalances.. .. I dunno.. I need more proof. Somehow I am far more likely to believe that things like celiac ( since it's well know that these type of autoimmune disorders cause cognitive and mood problems) and other issues I am dealing with combined with my past, and learned dysfunction have all contributed to a Bipolar 1 dx for myself.

I view it as how I am, how I have been, and how I want to be. Either way I am not content with continually repeating what I have done, thought, etc and continually getting the same results. I am not ok with accepting that things do not change, or that things will not improve. To me that is like a death sentence. I am not willing to accept the limitations that mental illness or disease suggest. I am willing to accept that I can change things.

[missbelle]

I think mine is strictly a chemical imbalance

[Hellion]

I voted for the first three since I think all of those more or less apply.

[Contrast]

Excellent topic Venus.

I believe it's genetic predisposition and environmental upbringing experience that shapes someone who they are.. the child is a mirror to your adulthood and how it's shaped will be the shape you have.

This may sound simplistic but I believe it is true most of the time.
The personality is nothing but a mirror.

[Odee]

I feel that I am ill. I know "mental illness" isn't a friendly term, but I feel sick, and troubled by the fact that I am sick.

From having schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder say, to experiencing common depression due to finances for example...

There's a pretty broad spectrum in there...

The difference between troubled and ill is pretty defined isn't it?

A bloke can see someone is troubled....takes a professional to diagnose an illness.

Anyway troubled/ill, these are just words... I'm ill. Am I troubled? Well, yes.

Uhhh...wot's the question???

[ariesmars]

i have some issues, BUT 90% are due to people and stupidity, ignorance, disrespect, ect...

[Lauru]

I feel that part of my illnesses are chemical etc, such as the bipolar I and the OCD. However, the PTSD and the diasassociation has more to do with what happened as I grew up, namely sexual abuse and verbal abuse by father from 4yo-11yo. I think this topic is way too complicated for a simple poll. I think in general, life is way too complicated for any common or easy answers. Still, I find the results fascinating.

I see it as a combination of something medical/chemical/organic (whatever you want to call it) going on AND issues from my past. The combination of the two has been what has been so difficult over the years.

I do believe there is something "physical" going on with me in regards to the bipolar disorder aspect of my issues. I suspect one day researchers will find the gene or chemical aspect (or whatever) that leads to the unexplicable slides into depression, etc. that can't really be pinpointed to something going on currently in my life nor even in my history. It FEELS physical/organic when it is that way, as opposed to times when it is clear that something in my history or current life is situationally setting things off.

But I also have a pretty extensive abuse history that clearly intermingles with the bipolar disorder and the combination of the two has been pretty devastating at times. Therapy has helped immensly with this side of my issues, but the bipolar symptoms hang in there despite all the therapy in the world and it is the bipolar symptoms that have required medication in the past (and probably will again in my future) and it is the bipolar symptoms that have landed me in the hospital for the only thing that could put them in check -- medical treatment.

[Tsuki632]

For me it's screwed up brain chemistry. I have nothing in my past or upbringing that explains my depression. And there's a strong family history.

But, I know that's not the case for everyone.

[LostMom3]

There are differences in all diagnoses. I belive that I am ill and that it is genetic. Most of my mothers family has some form of MI, and my middle son has MI. It is part of who I am, unchangeable, but can be lived with.