Since when did cleaning become a disorder?!?!?

I don't think she is putting down specific people...she is generalizing. If this is truly a place to heal then why don't you guys help her see it. Maybe she needs to see it at a different angle. Maybe it will take showing her 10 ways instead of one. She obviously wants help or she would not have came here. And if she is just discovering this after years don't you think she is just really having a hard time with it?

i think we're trying.....

I think that sloppyjo is right. Forest made a generalization about her conception of mental illness. Now she is having to challenge her conceptions as she is faced with the possibility that she is one of us. I am positive that she means no offense to anyone, and we need to be gentle with her as she learns that there is not such a gap between "normal" and having a mental disorder as some people would like to believe. We have an opportunity here to teach, and I know that we are capable of rising to the task of being sensitive to everyone's feelings. Forest is now aware of how it feels to us to be classified as marginal people, and I am confident that she will also be cautious with her comments and the impact that they may have. She meant no harm.

Rap

These people can't help their mental illness anymore than you I can. It's just tougher than hell to deal with them because of their inflated sense of self.

Let's not forget that this person has definetely displayed the unpleasant traits of her personality disorder. Don't we all have them? Let's not take this so personally!

Since I've learned that I have my own power, I don't give it away and let someone else MAKE me feel one way or the other.

To Forest: "Never compare yourself to ANYONE. You'll always find someone worse or someone better than yourself and THAT will control your life, not you." The sooner you can accept the fact that you are not perfect, the sooner you can seek help.

I can tell that you've been living in a fantasy world by comparing the emotional pain that you are in to the pain of a broken bone. TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT KINDS OF PAIN... like comparing apples and oranges.

I wish you all the best... because you don't have an easy road ahead of you. At the end, though, you'll realize you are just as human as those of us here. Those that endure emotional and mental pain have seen life as it really is and are the better for it.

Exactly right SeptMorn.....

Thank you for opening my eyes a little more on the situation....well said

You are right on, too, Des!

I doubt your "whacked" from wanting to have a clean house. I can't stand a dirty house and to say the least, my house also is spotless.. But then I am a little "whacked" but for other reasons than having a clean house...............

I have also learned when I am under stress, over tired, or just not feeling well, I tend to worry if I turned off the stove or iron and have many times returned home just to check. And I also wait till the garage door closes before I leave. And I have checked to see if i locked the door l0 times if not more. But when life is "good" and am not stressed, I tend to be less compulsive........

Oh, a few friends of mine have made "snide" remarks about they had a spot of ketchup on their refrig door and laughed. Took me a few days to figure it out they were mocking me about my tidiness, but then again I am a blonde.. What can I say...

If it doesn't bother you what folks say about your "spotless" house, I woudn't worry about it...... But then you might be able to get some coooool meds so that you can fly through your house cleaning with a goofy look on yer face.. grins....I was never lucky enough to get the "happy" pills.... but oh well, I still keep a clean house...........

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SeptemberMorn said:
It's just tougher than hell to deal with them because of their inflated sense of self.

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WHAT?!?!?!?

I tried to ignore this sentence, then I tried to understand it, then it pissed me off.

Because I considered myself "normal" I have an inflated sense of self?

I don't think I'm better than everyone else.
I don't think I'm smarter than everyone else.

Because I've never considered suicide, because I've never intentionally cut myself, because I don't sit in a dark corner in the fetal position, because I've never felt abandoned, because I don't cry myself to sleep......I HAVE AN INFLATED SENSE OF SELF?

hi forest, and welcome.

I would like to remind everyone that all posts should be supportive.

Forest, I think what others are trying to help you to understand that mental illness doesn't always involve what you have pointed out in some of your posts. Mental illnesses/disorders can manifest in many ways.

Further, I think you have enough cause to see a professional and inquire if the things about self that you've just become aware of are, in fact, indicative of a disorder. You've received some very good information here as to what is considered a disorder in a person's life.

Let's everyone step back and think before hitting that submit button and ask, "Is this response supporting what I can support?" If not, we might want to wait a bit.

Be safe,

KD

Sweety, you think you are perfect. No one is!

Like someone else said, there's quite a bit of Narcissism in your posts. That IS a personality disorder. The OCD doesn't hold a candle to that.

The traits that you pointed out are good, yes, but that doesn't put you above the rest of us. Your symptoms are different from those that have Depression or are Bipolar or other types of mental illness.

When I've been told something that seems negative about myself and it pisses me off, then I know it's time for me to take a long, hard look at myself. There is often some truth in those statements. You can see by the reactions of some people to your statements about being better off that most of us. It didn't go over very well, did it?? That's what I meant by "an inflated sense of self." We each have our own problems and issues but it doesn't make us any better or any worse than the next person.

Take care...

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Sweety, you think you are perfect. No one is!


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Since when did having self confidence become a bad thing. What she is saying is she always thought she was a good person, now realizing she has a disorder it is making her ill. She no longer sees her self in the same light and it bothers her.

Just like if you always thought you were a good friend, parent, or lover and you found out you weren't you would be upset.

You guys are reading the words but not hearing them.

Welcome to you as well, sloppyjo.

I think that anybody who feels they might have a disorder should possibly seek the advice of a professional before a becoming sick over it. When doing that, IF there is an actual disorder, the professional can ALSO point out what can be done...offering hope and a sense of empowerment that which might feel lost.

KD

You must be a personal friend of hers.

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Just like if you always thought you were a good friend, parent, or lover and you found out you weren't you would be upset.

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Yeah... I've been there and still am in some ways.

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SeptemberMorn said:
You must be a personal friend of hers.

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Just like if you always thought you were a good friend, parent, or lover and you found out you weren't you would be upset.

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Yeah... I've been there and still am in some ways.



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You assume I know forest, on what??? Because I'm listening to her cries and not just reading the words? You guys are taking offense to how she is comparing herself. I know people that talk about themselves being over weight, just cause I'm over weight should I take offense when ppl smaller then me think they need to diet? NO, it is their issue not mine. She is comparing her own ideas of "normal" to what she has discovered about herself and you are comparing them to you. Big difference you just can't see it, or won't allow yourself to see it.

Quote:I don't think I'm better than everyone else.
I don't think I'm smarter than everyone else.

Because I've never considered suicide, because I've never intentionally cut myself, because I don't sit in a dark corner in the fetal position, because I've never felt abandoned, because I don't cry myself to sleep......I HAVE AN INFLATED SENSE OF SELF?

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Forest, Look at what you posted. Honestly, does this really seem rational and "normal" to you? Is this part of the "moral base" you are giving your son? You said that you try so hard to do the right thing. I see no evidence of that here. Thise are derogatory remarks and have no place here. You said yourself you came here to see people worse off than yourself. How does that fit with your claim to not see yourself as better.? Youre are talking out of both sides of your mouth and to top it all off youre excrutiatingly rude.

I am sorry to have to do this, but it is time for this discussion to come to an end. Both sides have explained how they feel, and it looks like we are at an impasse, as I don't think that Forest means to offend, yet people who are living with mental illness are often marginalized and thought of as being less than others, and we feel strongly our need to defend ourselves on this issue. We all need to recognize that nobody is perfect, and everyone has struggles in life. That seems to be what life is all about, it's just that one person's struggles might not look like another's.

Forest, I hope that you still feel welcome on the site.

Take care, everybody.

Rapunzel