Do You Have a Mental Disorder and How Much Does it Affect You?

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

I was diagnosed as depressed with major anxiety issues. Thankfully, I've gotten passed it now for the most part. Whatever's left is mainly just residual, and causes no real problems. If anyone has anxiety or depression I strongly advise seeking a counselor, as it really does help to talk to someone like that.
I would avoid Psychologists and Psychiatrists though, they're more likely to pump you full of drugs than actually do anything helpful.

EDIT: Also, stop listening to Emo/Goth/Dark songs. They're just gonna drive you even further down. And for god's sake, don't listen to "Getting Away with Murder" while depressed.

 

[Mossberg Shotty]

I had bulimia, which obviously dominated my every thought, for several years so...

Regardless of how much time you spent pondering it, that doesn't change the fact that it's an eating disorder, not a mental disability.

OT: Not sure if this counts as a mental disorder either, but it's the closest thing I have. I'm diagnosed with chronic depression and I've been on antidepressants for the last year or so, though I just started ordering my stuff from Canada to save money. It seems a lot of people I bump into seem to have some form of 'mental disorder' but I hesitate to take any of them seriously without seeing a doctor's note. I know some people genuinely do have obstacles to overcome, but the vast majority I encounter just seem to crave the attention that comes along with a mental disability.

I'll give you an example. I went to highschool with this girl (we even briefly dated) and I knew her from the beginning of my sophomore year to the end of Junior year. She was attractive, popular among pretty much everyone, and was always very collected. She never displayed any abnormal behavior, never seem challenged academically (in fact she always had high grades) but after knowing her for two years she suddenly came out as being autistic.

I know I'm generalizing a bit, but that's certainly how it seems sometimes. But then again I hear autism and similar disorders are more common than ever, so what do I know?

 

[lostlambda]

For me dyslexia I still cant read right and its really messed up my ability to spell (might not be related) but I still to this day at 27 will mix letters from words up or mix the words in the sentence up. I was able to read to my self with out as much trouble but still I could never get a book report right. The biggest issue for me is as an adult I sometimes come off to others as an illiterate. I still try to and love to read everything from Lovecraft to Shakespeare fighting to not let the disability get the best of me.

 

[lostlambda]

If it's not too personal a question, do you mind if I ask what your symptoms are and how confident you are in your diagnosis?

I've had a front row seat to the mental health system in my country, and a mis-diagnosis of bi-polar when someone has depressive or anxiety disorders is disturbingly commonplace. It seems to be par for the course to medicate first and take a closer look later.

Very confident. Bipolar disorder is actually massively under-diagnosed here - I was stuck with a diagnosis of unipolar depression for years, despite it being painfully obvious (to me and everyone in close contact with me) that something more was going on. Even when I finally got referred to a psychiatrist, he wasn't confident making the call (his speciality was eating disorders), so I was referred on to a world-leading specialist in bipolar disorders, who finally confirmed what I pretty much already knew by that point.

Because it's such a life-changing, permanent diagnosis, medical professionals in the UK are reluctant to diagnose it, especially in young people. I guess it's understandable, but it would have been really helpful if I'd been diagnosed earlier.

As for my symptoms, I get really long descents into crippling depression which last several months. When I'm severely depressed, even simple things like taking a shower feel like massive achievements. It's common for me not to leave one room for days or weeks at a time. I don't even play games or read in those periods, so it's not like normal procrastination or anything like that, I simply don't have the energy or motivation to do anything.

Then I get manic/hypomanic phases, where I constantly feel like I've drunk three or four pots of coffee (complete with physical symptoms - shakiness, heart racing, etc). My thoughts race, and I become irritable and frustrated with other people because they can't keep up and don't make the same weird mental connections I do. Sometimes these phases are useful - I've produced First class essays in a single night (complete with all the reading), written poems my teachers mistook for Shelley and Wordsworth, and finished 2 hour exams in 20 minutes. But often they're really unhelpful, when my thoughts move so fast I'm unable to read or write a single sentence, when I decide to run out into traffic because it's fun, or when I spend a fortnight's budget in an afternoon because hey, why not?

Worst of all are the mixed states, when I'm both depressed and manic at the same time. I have literally gone from dancing around my room in the most incredible, gymnastic way to weeping because I'll never be a superhero in the time it takes to play the average three minute song. In this state I'll often hallucinate - anything from seeing the same cat repeatedly emerging from a flower bed I'm looking at, to some creepy guy standing right behind me, to hearing random choral music when I'm walking around town.

In all of these states I have suicidal thoughts and urges. In fact, I've long been convinced that, regardless of my actual wishes, my life will eventually end in suicide - whether it be through the despair of depression, the recklessness of mania or the desperation of a mixed state. I hope I'm wrong and that medication and other treatments will eventually bring everything under control, but I've come so close on so many occasions, and every time I come closer. I'm honestly not trying to sound dramatic or anything, this is just how it is.

This doesn't even begin to cover all the symptoms I've had, but I hope it goes some way to explaining the reality of bipolar disorder. It's not something to be taken lightly, or a diagnosis to be handed out willy nilly, and it's definitely not the romantic, "touched by fire" thing some people like to make it out to be.

EDIT: If anyone's interested, I wrote a very open and honest article about living with bipolar a while ago: http://blog.mindyourheadoxford.org/post/73219232329/emma-moyse-speaking-candidly-about-bipolar-disorder I'm not trying to promote myself or anything (it's not my blog), I just hope it might be useful to people trying to understand the condition for whatever reason.

Eamar for what its worth you have my respect for being able to live with it so long and I feel for you big time

 

[lacktheknack]

Tourette's Syndrome.

It's not too bad, really. It means that I work more slowly than others (unless I'm really concentrating) and I occasionally scare and confuse people with random spasms and gestures, but it's not NEARLY as bad as it was when I was a kid.

 

[DanielBrown]

ADHD tendencies, I reckon. My concentration skills are so bad even focusing long enough to write a post on a forum is hard work. Often I have to do it in sessions, which usually leads me to say "Fuck it" and close the tab. I reckon only 1/3 of what I write actually gets posted. Doesn't bother me that much, but it did make studying a total *****. Fortunetly I was one of those students that never had to study to get good grades. Well, except for math - which I failed horribly.

Apart from that I developed social phobia/anxiety after getting assaulted by a junkie as a 16 year old. That event spiralled into destroying my entire life, but that's a story I'd rather not get into.
How to explain it... Basically, imagine you're extremely afraid of spiders(I know it's hard, but try ;D). Now everyone in the world is a spider. Go out and try to ignore the spiders. Also they all want to eat you.

That's pretty much how it felt. It's not as bad these days. I'm still extremely self-conscious when I'm outside, however it doesn't cripple me as much. Situations like job interviews are difficult as fuck to get through though.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

dyslexia

Dysgraphia, dyslexia, auditory processing disorder... a bunch of a fun, happy learning disabilities.

Learning disabilities aren't mental disorders.

 

[cerealnmuffin]

I struggle with lifelong severe depression. My first attempt to die was drowning at age 7 with a couple other attempts in later years (even survived a hanging...barely). Some days, it is a struggle to get much done. While I did go to college, worked as an esl teacher, published a book, I can't help thinking how I'm a failure and depression has ruined so much in my life from burning friendship bridges to self sabotage. Honestly, with my birthday nearing, I'm considering heading out to a certain bridge before net is built (I track the news on it daily) so I'd say depression affects me a lot. Also it is very isolating as I have never met anyone else who dealt with daily suicidal thoughts for close to three decades now.

I used to have severe social anxiety that kept me from asking for directions and leading me to being lost. Luckily, I have overcome that.

 

[Blow_Pop]

I have ADD, mild claustrophobia, panic attacks, and Anxiety issues. And I suspect(though this one hasn't been diagnosed yet) some variation of depression.

The ADD I have been off medication for for 15 years now. I still occasionally get slightly distracted. But for the most part, I've learned to control myself and my attention span.

The mild claustrophobia is mostly in crowds. Put too many people around me and it feels like there is no ecape and that the metaphorical walls are closing in on me(funny enough, I'm fine with small, cramped spaces).

The panic attacks tend to go with the mild claustrophobia as it will send me into a panic attack. My asthma can also be triggered from them.

The anxiety attacks/issues make it hard for me to be a productive member of society. I just got a new doctor who is actively trying to help so I haven't really been taking the medication long enough to say if it's fully working or not but I have been able to actually do things I need to do without forcing myself for the past week and a half or so that I've been on it. If I recall correctly (I'm not at home so I can't look at my prescription) he has me on Buproprin or something like that(I know it starts with a "B") and I have to take it twice a day. Sometimes the anxiety actually affects my asthma by dropping a metaphorical weight on my chest and making it hard for me to breathe causing me to be sent into asthma attacks easier.

The depression is mostly mood based. And has (very recently in fact) sunk me so low that I've contemplated suicide. Luckily (I guess?) I was also in the middle of a serious anxiety attack so in addition to general laziness I really couldn't move much so it didn't send me into actually attempting it but it was like that for me for 2 days in a row(which hasn't happened for 16 or so years).

Soon as I can get the money and a referral from my doctor though, I'm going to go and talk to a psychiatrist and see what they say. But I know I tend to exhibit a lot of the signs of it (which really means nothing other than I exhibit signs of it as it could be related to something else or could be something else). Though my doctor suspects I may be bipolar if I actually do have depression since apparently anxiety and depression are two different sides of the bipolar spectrum. So we'll see on that last point. Everything else though (minus the depression) is actually diagnosed and technically falls under mental health/disorders.

dyslexia

Dysgraphia, dyslexia, auditory processing disorder... a bunch of a fun, happy learning disabilities.

Learning disabilities aren't mental disorders.

By that logic, Tourette's isn't either.

 

[Eamar]

I had bulimia, which obviously dominated my every thought, for several years so...

Regardless of how much time you spent pondering it, that doesn't change the fact that it's an eating disorder, not a mental disability.

Eating disorders are mental illnesses. The OP asked about "mental disorders", which people seem to be taking as a catch-all term for mental illnesses and neurological disorders. If depression, bipolar and anxiety fit the bill, eating disorders do too.

 

[Cartographer]

I had bulimia, which obviously dominated my every thought, for several years so...

Regardless of how much time you spent pondering it, that doesn't change the fact that it's an eating disorder, not a mental disability.

Eating disorders are mental illnesses. The OP asked about "mental disorders", which people seem to be taking as a catch-all term for mental illnesses and neurological disorders. If depression, bipolar and anxiety fit the bill, eating disorders do too.

It's amazing how quickly we got to:
"your problems don't fit the ephemerally ill-defined category stated in the OP so don't count as real problems (unlike mine)"
Isn't it?

OT, depression twice, never taken medication just counselling so I guess it really hasn't affected me that much. I've had the odd week where getting out of bed, showering and even eating have been really difficult and I've had a couple of panic attacks at work.

 

[Eamar]

I would avoid Psychologists and Psychiatrists though, they're more likely to pump you full of drugs than actually do anything helpful.

Psychologists aren't physicians, so the majority don't have prescribing privileges (and the ones who do don't have full access to all medications for all conditions). I'd also point out that for some (though certainly not all) patients, medication actually turns out to be the most helpful treatment, so I'm wary of warning people off psychiatric help myself.

It's amazing how quickly we got to:
"your problems don't fit the ephemerally ill-defined category stated in the OP so don't count as real problems (unlike mine)"
Isn't it?

I must still have more faith in the internet than I thought, because I was genuinely surprised to see that sort of thing popping up in this thread. Which obviously I really shouldn't have been -.-

 

[Beffudled Sheep_v1legacy]

Diagnosed Bi-polar here. It has had a large impact on my life. I've lost a couple of girlfriends, a few friends, have been in many fights, and have attempted suicide a couple times because of it.

According to some friends (including a girl whos ex-boyfriend was a diagnosed sufferer) and one psychologist I might also have Intermittent explosive disorder. I certainly appear to have symptoms but I'll wait until I can start seeing a professional long term before jumping to any conclusions.
If I do have it though then it has also impacted my life. I've hurt a lot of people and broken a lot of things in sudden bouts of nigh uncontrollable rage.

I also have some pretty bad insomnia. Sometimes I get so damn sleep deprived that I start to hallucinate, and its always bad hallucinations never any damn good ones. Insomnia has impacted my school and work performance, my memory has suffered, and the irritability from lack of sleep strains my remaining relationships sometimes but it hasn't really hit me too hard.

And this is totally coming from me and not a professional but I think I have some sort of social anxiety disorder. whenever I'm around people or in social situations I feel panicky. Kind of like a cornered rat. I have trouble focusing on anything that isn't the people around me and every damn muscle in my body seems to get really tense.
I actually dropped out of college because I couldn't handle being in classrooms or on a crowded campus anymore. I wasn't able to focus in my crowded classes at all and I greeted every morning of classes with dread. And now the only time I feel comfortable leaving my own house is in the dead of night when most people are home.
I'm also just generally uncomfortable in large open spaces but thats probably something else.

All of this also seems to run in my family xD
I feel so bad for any future kids I might have. Hopefully meds are cheaper in the future or its off to the funny farm with them
(I like to make light of not so great situations using humor, its a defense mechanism)

 

[RoonMian]

A severe recurring depressive disorder and a combined personality disorder.

It fucks up my life, it gets triggered like PTSD sometimes and it's very persistent.

 

[shootthebandit]

snip

I clicked on your link and I didnt realise you studied at oxford. Thats genuinely impressive. I find it strange (sorry if im a little ignorant) that someone as intelligent and successful (yes oxford is successful) as yourself could have such thoughts. I also dont mean to sound creepy here but you are a good looking girl too. You clearly have a lot of positives in your life yet you still suffer from serious depression. I know you probably cant control it and its not related to your environment but I would expect this type of illness to affect people who doesnt have much going for them (again I apologise if I seem ignorant)

Im lucky im not affected by anything like this and I cant even imagine what its like but my sympathies are with you

 

[Lieju]

Well, I have been diagnosed with Aspergers and OCD, and I guess I have those, but I don't generally think they have been a huge problem or anything. But I also have Prosopagnosia, which is a problem.

I can't tell people's faces apart. Also I'm not sure how much of this is because of Aspergers or prosopagnosia (also called facial blindness) but I have trouble telling people's emotions too. Although recognising voices is easier for me.

As a kid I was convinced I wasn't human. And that everyone could read my mind and know what I was thinking, while I didn't even know who I was talking to. All humans just blended into this mass and I'd get really anxious in public places my mum would disappear or be replaced and I'd never be able to tell.

I have gotten better at it over the years, although it's probably the same for me as it would be for most people to learn to differentiate between different gorillas or something.

I try to remember for example, that this person has this kind of chin, and this type of eyes etc.

But it would be much easier if everyone always wore the same kinds of clothes or hats. I always wear the same kinds of clothes. Why can't everyone?

Also I much prefer cartoons and scifi/fantasy series where characters actually look different...

Also I have depression, and general anxiety. Especially in public places and crowds.
At times it has been better, but lately stuff that I won't get into happened and I have had to deal with a troublesome person which has caused my condition to crash, and for the last 4 months I have been unable to do much.

Aspergers, and OCD and even prosopagnosia are something I consider part of me, though. The same way I consider being gay just a part of me. I have always had them, so they are a part of my identity. I have had problems because of all of those things, but I wouldn't want to get rid of them. Well, maybe face blindness.

Depression and anxiety feel like an illness.

 

[Artina89]

As far as I can see I don't have any mental disorders. I have the occasional day where I feel a tad depressed and fed up but that is common in everyone, I am very fortunate in that regard.

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

I would avoid Psychologists and Psychiatrists though, they're more likely to pump you full of drugs than actually do anything helpful.

Psychologists aren't physicians, so the majority don't have prescribing privileges (and the ones who do don't have full access to all medications for all conditions). I'd also point out that for some (though certainly not all) patients, medication actually turns out to be the most helpful treatment, so I'm wary of warning people off psychiatric help myself.

I understand where you're coming from. The only problem I have with medication is that it doesn't really solve the problem. Well, I mean, it can assist with dealing with the issues, but unless you actually start fighting through it, preferably with someone's help, it's only going to mask it. In any case, what I'm trying to say is that medication alone isn't going to do shit, personal help of some kind is almost always necessary.

 

[Lieju]

I understand where you're coming from. The only problem I have with medication is that it doesn't really solve the problem. Well, I mean, it can assist with dealing with the issues, but unless you actually start fighting through it, preferably with someone's help, it's only going to mask it. In any case, what I'm trying to say is that medication alone isn't going to do shit, personal help of some kind is almost always necessary.

Really depends on what you have. And if a doctor can find a medication that fits you.

Still, other kind of help is probably necessary, and it's a crutch.

It feels like medication hasn't helped my depression much (I tend to have very strong side-effects to the medication, though, so the dozes are REALLY small) but with panic attacks, it did.

I tried to deal with panic attacks without medication, but then I got one that was so bad it didn't go away for days.
Then doctor gave me a pill, and 'poof' it went away.

I still don't like to take it too often, but when it gets bad, medication helps.

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

snip

A crutch! That's the word I was looking for.

I used to take 2 of something every 6-8 hours, made drowsy. Eventually though, I think I built up an immunity to it and it stopped affecting me, both the positive, and negative effects.