a reply to:
projectbane
We are indeed on the internet and I absolutely welcome dissenting opinions. The fact is (which you also won't believe) is that I don't make a habit
out of looking at my past threads. I added more than filler btw. I added my personal story and my proposed solutions later in the thread.
I'm sorry you don't trust my motivation for doing so but I am not here to placate you nor are you for me. Yes in April I did make a rather similar
post and I apologize for repetition.
In my first post in April, I did not mention my suggested solutions. In this thread I have. In my first thread I never mentioned my own personal
story. In this thread I have
Now whether you think I am a star hog or not makes no difference to me. I promise you have no upset me or raised any hairs on my neck
I chose to write this for two reasons. Neither of which you will believe and that is fine
1. I wanted to make an apology for my actions in the past. Both here and in other venues I was a staunch and arrogant poster. I posted things I did
not have personal or professional knowledge of but pretended to make a grand stand. I considered myself a debunker but frankly I was not and am not.
I, like you, have my own battles to fight inside and needed to make a stand. Yes it was public but I wanted to talk to ATS. I wanted to know and feel
what they knew and felt
2. I wanted to share my personal story and not just be some cocky guy who said "I am a therapist I know all!." In fact I thought it was pretty
obvious by now that I am making it crystal clear that 'professionals' are no infallible.
Consider your point. Don't let the someone suffering mental illness be a counselor, or therapist, or doctor. Well my friend you best get started
firing a humongous chunk of the therapists in the world then. If I may, I feel your post is trying to tell me I am broken, the very thing sufferers of
mental illness are trying to combat. In fact, people with mental illness are all around you doing all sorts of jobs. I find your dislike for my
position dubious and frankly I have to wonder about your own motivations
But like I said I am not here to be pawed at and admired. I wanted to give out my opinions and here those of others. I understand you question my
motivation for writing this but consider the following
Even if I was disingenuous and start collecting, look at all these people who've come out of their shell and spoken out. But regardless, and not
believable by you, no I was not looking for admiration here.
Now as far as your other charge. People with mental illness deserve to be treated fairly. It has little to do with quotas as you stated.
Pretending a moment I am not a therapist, merely a person who suffers bipolar disorder. I come in to see a therapist, and while yes the potential to
set someone off exists, I am quite pleased to know that the person across from me is aware of the same pains I go through. In fact some of the most
successful therapists have been mentally ill.
Marsha Linehan and Kay Jamison are both mentally ill. Kay has a level of bipolar much worse than mine and she opened clinics and helped treat mood
disorders with remarkable quality. In fact, during graduate school we talk openly about our own dealings and we discuss whether or not a sufferer can
be good at their trade. It's overwhelmingly a yes.
Look outside your own thoughts please. People with mental illness can do pretty much anything you can do with maybe a few rare exceptions
But again, I am sure all these words will mean little to nothing to you
I say good luck to you and I will continue to read your posts
to summarize...
this wasn't for stars, I added more than filler to my last post (personal recollection and my own solutions), and yes as a bipolar client I can do
great work with others despite what you may believe
I will say that I don't 100% disagree with what you said about medications. As I pointed out they are overdone
enjoy your day
Aedaeum - Well as you can see from the responses above you and from public scenes all over, people with mental illness are still seen as inadequate.
Sorry projectbane but you display this greatly despite your 'kind wishes' for me in my future.
People who experience mental illness, again with some admitted exceptions, are just as capable as functioning in a high quality manner as anyone else.
CEO's doctors, therapists, teachers...all of these representative populations have their fair share of employees and employers who suffer as well
And this part is NOT directed at projectbane...just so we get that clear before I get demonized
People have this crappy little stigma and believe I should be locked away, or heavily medicated, or not allowed to function in society when the
reality is, most people who suffer are just like anyone else and usually cannot be picked out of a crowd