'Gifted' or just crazy?

You know - sometimes when I find myself listening and having conversation (no, not out loud LOL) --- I wonder if it is all imagination. You know, like a dellusional mental illness. If it weren't for so many things that are forwarnings or things that are correct ect I think I'd wonder more.
I meen honestly, if anyone who can do anything considered 'paranormal' or 'gited' actualy told a mental health doctor all those things, or even a portion -- wouldn't he just assume you to be delussional?

Just a thought. Wondering if others had thoughts like this as well.

you know for awhile people thought that acne outbreaks was the work of the devil and that the child was evil. People bleed themselves to cure themselves. Its possible that some people considered mentally ill are maybe more sane then us. We only have what, 10% of our mind used, with 90% of the brain unused. What if real psychics have 10.2% of their brain used? Just because some guy that goes to some crappy college for several years and gets a nice coat and set of pens says someones insane or crazy doesnt really mean squat. Granted some people are mentally ill or insane, but not everybody is. The human race has a limited and very narrow mindset. They wont have a paradigm shift about something unless they have something happen to them to see somethings real.

I think a mental health doctor would want to see the person engaging in the paranormal or "gifted" behavior. Is the behavior causing harm to the person or others around them? Was it the reason for referral? If not, what difference does it make if I'm delusional? The freedom of speech even encompasses the mentally ill, so heck with it!

Just don't threaten anyone and you'll be fine.

Don't threaten yourself or anyone else and you'll be fine.
I'm no professional, but from what I've seen at my local mental health office...
You start talking about hearing God, hearing voices, or being convinced there's some greater conspiracy out there, you get labeled a schizophrenic.
I think 90% of the posters on ATS would be branded as such.
I'm a regular there because I'm depressed, and anything outside that realm stays out of the doctor's office because I don't want to be stuck with a label that isn't fitting. They don't need to know about any bits of paranoia or any voices I hear, or the fact that I can hold conversations with my cats.
I ain't that crazy, and as long as you've got a grip on reality, neither are you, Angela.

-B.

I think maybe constantly wondering whether things you are doing are dillusional would probably make you dillusional.

(just to clarify - I don't actualy think I'm dellussional) LOL...I just think at times about those who really are. I guess actually working with and around them often brings me closer to it...and there is quite a difference in the person with a gift of sorts than a illness that has gone unchecked and plunged the person into delussions, mania or depression. There is alot of other things other than dellussions of course, that go with and are pretty apparent to the illnesses.
But thinking about those who never have the benefit or honor or getting to have more out of this life with the help of others....
Like someone replied above, about someone who has never seen, heard or experianced any of this - I know I personaly doubt I would believe ALOT of things without the experiances I've had personaly.....what would they think - that's my ponder.
And the using only 10% of our brain thing. I believe we use alot more of it than they know - they just can't chart or graph it with MRI and scans. And I do also beleive that this gift or extra sences (I'm absolutely possative everyone has them) - I think they are just uncalled for nowdays and unused/untapped. Just like the pancris - what do we use that for? We don't even need the thing any more...I don't believe in the theory of evolution, but I do believe that we all evolve. I think we evolved right out of a very centeral part of us with all the technology and hatered.

Wouldn't praying to God be considered by some as being 'delusional' ?
One can pray out loud while walking (softly out loud)and be considered a 'nut' but that does not mean one is a 'nut' case!

I must admit there are people that do believe that they hear voices and converse with them but that does not make them 'insane' or 'sane'!

Speaking to voices that are in your head can arise from a number of things.....if you have dealt with the 'occult' or any of the supernatural then the cause could be considered to be a form of Possession........I know many here would not put a label as such, but in many cases it is true......
Many people that have dealt with the 'occult' have had some sort of 'paranormal' experience.......depending on the experience one has had.
Yes, there are cases of true mental patients but I dont think that a doctor even though experienced in the field would accurately be able to diagnose it as such....especially if he/she has not an open mind to other causes.......eg...''possession'' which would seem ridiculous to the doctor because he/she is not able to accept such an idea of the paranormal..
Many cases like this happen all the time, and because many doctors do not accept such a thing, many people are locked away in mental homes and made into complete true delusional patients....
Sorry is this part of the post?
helen...

How do we know that we're not all crazy? Just varying degrees of it?

Yep...you're right...if you rocked up to the Psych and said "Doc, I hear voices, and they tell me things that are about to happen", you'd be medicated or 'sectioned' and seeing the inside of a Ward before the day is out.

Thing is, Docs can only really go by their nifty little DSM-IV classification manuals...and I'd bet ya a chocolate fish ANYONE could be diagnosed with a Mental Illness with the DSM-IV, its that inclusive of anything and everything.

Bottom line though: Is the event interferring with your life to any extent you can't cope with?? If so...seek some help with it. If not...sweet then, keep rocking.

Not all is easily categorised...theres a butt-load more to this world than can be diagnosed or scientifically proven. Having worked in Mental Health for some 6 odd years, and having dealt with some people whose affliction was spiritual, rather than mental, I'd say all bets are off for any definite "Yes your bonkers" or "Nope, ya sane as me"

...that "Nope, ya sane as me" doesn't hold much weight if compared to me...so maybe compare it to someone else...


Peace,
ALIEN

You know, a "Friend" of mine had one of those books I am beginning to wonder if he was making a case study against this groiup of friends

I like your attitude.

Competent docs realize that the DSM-IV is just that--- the IV.... it is a work in progress. There will be dramatic changes in the classification system when DSM-V is released. It is an attempt to classify mental disorders that, by definition, are causing problems in the person's life. It is not a bible and it is definitely not "psychological fact".

Its important to realize that there are extremely ill people in this world who want help for their problems, and it is impossible to effectively treat these problems if they are not classified. We can't do treatment outcome research on the broad category of "depression", because there are many different expressions of depression.

Some people have it all their lives, some people have only had it for 2 weeks. The empirically-supported treatment protocols are different for each variant, and in the end the goal is that the patient's symptoms are relieved and (more importantly) they are able to enjoy their life again.