The Couch 150: Ceci n'est pas un couch

My youngest accidently put her iphone in the washing machine. it was on the bed when she picked up her washing. She is really upset as she knows the lenghs I went to buy it for her. I couldnt go crook at her as it was an accident and she was really upset.

Good luck with your exams Demunie. May the spirit of my ever optimistic Swiss workmate be with you.

I've had periods where I didn't wash my hair for days and days and days too.

Woo!!

I'm so envious of my sister -.-

In my first job, I worked 60 hour weeks for $1.5k a month.

As a lawyer, she worked the same amount for $5k.

Of course she's right that the responsibility levels are worlds apart and much higher on her end, but I still feel the envy especially because she's quit working and is living comfortably on her lawyer husband's salary.

She's intelligent, unlike me. She's got a degree with honours which my parents paid for and her law degree was paid for my her husband. I flunked out of university after taking a loan from my parents to go.

Good morning quietmind... Envy only serves one purpose: to bring you down. Be proud of your own accomplishments and work ethic.

I know envy isn't healthy. I still am so envious though. She's done well in life, she's intelligent, works hard, capable... I've mental illness and aren't good at my job... sigh

Just because we have a mental "illness" does not make us unwell. We can also be hard working and capable to our own degree. The choice is ours. Don't judge yourself based upon the accomplishments of others. The challenges set to you in this life are uniquely yours.

It's an illness I take medication for to control symptoms. The medication allows me to function in my job. Not saying I'm extremely unwell, I'm lucky to not be so unwell.

I'm not American and we don't have an overdiagnosis problem, but the opposite - people don't seek help until it's really dire.

Having said that, I DO agree with you that I shouldn't define myself by my mental illnesses.

It can be difficult, when many I know get rejected from jobs they apply to because of their diagnoses, and when a good percentage of the population in my country thinks we should be in lunatic asylums or that depression and anxiety aren't "real" illness.

I had one manager who used say "Sorry you are feeling a bit sad" when I used call in sick. This was in the healthcare industry it just goes to show prejudice even in those who care for others.

Wow, that's terrible. In the states, it's more: just don't say anything; keep it to yourself. I hope I didn't offend you. Anything I say is intended with love and support. But I can be a bit offensive :-)

Why do people have to disclose a medical diagnosis to get a job? That doesn't seem right at all.

I know you meant things with support and love and I'm grateful for that.

So, may I ask what your diagnosis is?

Here it's a routine question which if you lie about, can cost you your job. Everyone asks it. Some, of course, don't disclose and then seek private treatment outside of work hours, but I personally had to disclose when I got diagnosed while working.

And as I recently learned, sigh, insurance requires you to disclose too. Good thing my nation's public healthcare system is really good.

You would think that all people in the healthcare industry would care about your health. Hence, health-care...smh

Haha, sure. It's generalised anxiety and social anxiety. Pretty "mild" stigma-wise. My doctor deliberately underdiagnoses schizophrenia as psychosis, personality disorders as something milder where possible because of the stigma.

Here that's called discrimination and it's illegal. Sadly, our health system is fubarred and needs a complete overhaul.

Think you might enjoy this quora thread - https://www.quora.com/How-much-does-...merican-system

Our system is equal to the one in the quora post. It has its flaws, but it's by far the best version I've seen so far.

So what was the cause of your anxiety? Mine was an attack at a young age. From there, a screwed up attraction to the wrong type of man that lead to being emotionally, physically and, at certain times in my life, sexually abused. And go figure, mild anxiety to full blown panic attacks are triggered by men on a daily basis. Yeah me *sigh* oh, and my mind is anything but quiet so if I'm botherinh you, just lmk

I like the sound of that. I'm all for it. I've heard amazing things about the Netherlands over a very broad spectrum if topics. We're paying around $120/week for a family of 5 and the coverage is excellent by comparison. However, with those percentages we would be paying less per week and everybody is covered. That's a no brainer to me. I'd like to see our companies, factories etc take care of the people who make them their money.

Where are you? I'm in Michigan btw

I'm pretty sure mine is due to physical punishment with a flexible switch starting from a young age. I've two nephews and they are about three and they get spanked.

Unfortunately my family hits for really small reasons, according to stories my older sister (7 years older) has told me.

Traditional Asian parents after all.

Spanking isn't necessarily a bad thing. I spank my own but for me, it's a situational discipline not regular. I was spanked too with a paddle my dad fashioned out of a 2×4. Shaped the handle and put all three of our kids' names on it. Backwoods country upbringing, I guess :-/