The question of Appropriateness

[AnthroHeart]

I can only speak for myself, but at any early age (teenage years), when I was exposed to the supposed Biblical story of some guy sacrificing his son because God demanded it, I thought that was f'ed up and I would never blindly follow anyone, not even God. But I've always been a rebellious type.

That being said, I'm sure I could have definitely been fooled into doing something I regret, but it would have to be through another distortion rather than obedience to a superior being.

I wish I had the same tenacity as you. I totally gave my free will over to God because he "demanded" it. Or he asked for it, or I got the intuitive feeling about handing it over. So I felt once like I was acting without any free will. It made me distrust God, and I've still not gotten back to completely trusting God.

[zenmaster]

Almost every type of condition does have genetic predisposition and certain environmental factor that shapes the condition and so 1) entity may have chosen that type if lesson by choosing situation where it may be likely to experience mental illness and 2) entity may be in environment that supports learning if certain behaviors & encounter stressors that trigger OCD behaviors or psychosis . To say, no choice is supporting the bs notion that people are helpless and victims of their condition.

You can choose to prevent illness and negative symptoms.

I agree with this, but you stated earlier that a person can't even diagnose their own psychological condition. If they do not hold enough awareness to acknowledge a condition, how can they possibly recognize or acknowledge it, let alone prevent it?

Also, if the distortions which resulted in some DSM psychological condition were balanced, can it really be said that an illness or negative symptoms was prevented since the possibility for it no longer exists.

[Melissa]

Personal 3D-OCD note;

I've been diagnosed and supposedly 'cured' from OCD in 2006 after a full year of therapy bootcamp; doing everything in a group setting (there were 6 groups in total), sessions, eat, sleep, walks etc. 5 days a week, 24 hours a day. We weren't allowed to be alone so core issues would inevitably arise, for those who enjoy avoiding stuff lol. I choose to be there but after six months or so I began my own semi-secret private practice in the back of our shared livingroom, man that was fun, because most of the therapists were also convinced that everybody was capable of making that choice, so that's how we were treated, with the expectation that we were considered capable. Which worked for some, but for the majority it only made us feel worse then we already did. If you don't feel capable there's nothing in the world that can convince you that you're able to choose, so most of us ended up creating stepping into someone who lived up to the expectations, including me. Because we had to leave and survive the 'real world' aka; jobs, unhappy relationships etc. Though I was very convincing, hence the removal of said diagnoses.

At the time I absolutely didn't know it was just another mask, and I also didn't realize my whole life was just a fabrication of percieved normalities, but looking back it most definitely was. That's why everything fell away, eventually. 8 therapy-less years and a lot more studying/experiences/insights later, I finally, truly feel and therefore believe I have a choice. Now I have all the time I need -to do what I love, so my inherently curious nature finally has room to breathe, at times a little too much but hey, at least I'm aware of it now and I don't condemn myself for it.

However, should I have been in a similar therapeutic situation now, the diagnoses wouldn't have been removed because of the DSM-V. Which I consider to be the most ridiculous version of diagnostic manual ever. I firmly believe most of all percieved mental illnesses are due to people having to compromise who they are on a daily basis. Doing stuff you don't like doing, without even realizing you don't like it, because you don't know who you are and you're not able to discern what you do/don't like -is a tad bit exhausting. Lacking sufficient support in direct environment, no place to go, combined with fundamental responsibilities makes it almost impossible to ever figure out who you are and what you truly love doing. If you have kids you can't just take a year off to figure things out. Perhaps a week, to take a breather and then it's back to busyness.

If people would have a place where nothing is ever expected from them, where they can unlearn and transform all those detrimental beliefs, rest, heal, connect with nature and do whatever they -feel- like doing, figuring out what they love doing so they don't have to conform to a job anymore. With proper support, instead of our current therapeutic environment, we wouldn't need any diagnostic manual anymore.


People, I don't know how you write your long posts, this isn't even that long and it took me for-ever. Sheez, I'm tired now. lol, bye.

[xise]

This thread direction toward discussing mental health issues is timely.

Although I'm basically over my struggle with BDD, I still have one occasional bad day every few months (go back two years, and we were talking weekly).

I've talked about how I believe it involved self-acceptance, and self-power, but I've never felt immediate energy feedback in an energy center when contemplating bdd thoughts. At least not noticeably. I never really pondered why, but it was curious when other thoughts such as "I'm a failure" "I'm irresponsible" "I'm stupid" immediately created pain and discomfort in the sacral area. The BDD thought of "I'm ugly" did not. I had the thought, but maybe I didn't believe it at some level - I know my logical mind did not due to what my friends said, dating success, etc, etc.

Today, as I was pondering last week's "bad" day (the first in months), I realized that it came at a time when I was facing severe issues of self-acceptance in other areas. Namely, not potentially getting into a business school that I desired.

I now believe that my BDD is a secondary distortion or manifestation of other issues rather than being a primary distortion. The primary distortion in this case being my general lack of self-acceptance that manifests in this OCD spectrum disorder in my particular case.

I believe it's similar to how when Ra talks about when spiritual catalyst it is not accepted it manifests as mental and bodily catalyst. An example that Ra talks about is red ray imbalances of anger which can manifest as cancer. Cancer being related to anger doesn't seem directly related at first impression to someone not familiar with the concept, but the connection makes sense. I believe my BDD is related to my general issues with self-acceptance in the same way. I believe that I have also received tentative guidance that this may be the case. More thought and exploration is needed. Crazy stuff.

[reeay]

I agree with this, but you stated earlier that a person can't even diagnose their own psychological condition. If they do not hold enough awareness to acknowledge a condition, how can they possibly recognize or acknowledge it, let alone prevent it?

Diagnosis is a clinical responsibility. It's easy to go thru a symptoms check-list or ascribe labels to people but it's hard to see very subtle things that goes into diagnoses (quality diagnoses). Not saying you can't it's more like red-flag to go around saying, I fit the criteria for a personality disorder bc I agree with the symptoms and characteristics described. That's not how diagnoses works. But there are plenty idiots out there using checklists and whatnot who are supposedly trained to diagnose.

Also, if the distortions which resulted in some DSM psychological condition were balanced, can it really be said that an illness or negative symptoms was prevented since the possibility for it no longer exists.

I'm not particularly referring to those who have reached some understanding and balance. There are so many factors that goes into prevention for example, having a tight support system or mentors who help to manage stressful situations, adhering to treatment prescribed, actively working to manage stress (like taking up meditation or yoga), etc.,.

This lady got a handle on how to deal with voices that told her to harm herself and others. She is medication free and doing great, even becoming a therapist herself helping those who hear voices. Tell me, isn't this prevention? She still hears them but she knows how to interpret voices. She has a choice of what to do when she hears the voice telling her - go cut your wrist or go dump a glass of water on your professor's head.
http://www.ted.com/talks/eleanor_longden...in_my_head

People who are going thru distress and disability & their family or support network can choose to set up ways to prevent certain conditions from becoming worse - like having psychotic episodes or depressive episodes or whatnot. But yeah, they would have to acknowledge that they are 'sick' for the healing or changes to begin.

Isis - will respond later to your post

[isis]

Isis - will respond later to your post

what post? it's gone

[Unbound]

I love you all, it is fascinating the way we give labels to our thought patterns and behaviours in ways that are connotating their "correct" function or dysfunction. I have always found diagnosis to be kind of strange even though I understand the purpose of the application.

[Melissa]

People who are going thru distress and disability & their family or support network can choose to set up ways to prevent certain conditions from becoming worse - like having psychotic episodes or depressive episodes or whatnot. But yeah, they would have to acknowledge that they are 'sick' for the healing or changes to begin.

I've rarely met anyone with a sufficient support system, direct family/friends tend to shy away (especially if it takes longer than a few months) from people who openly struggle with life, they usually don't want to be confronted with their own pain. At least, that's what I've seen/experienced on countless occasions.[/quote]

[AnthroHeart]

My mom seems to be handling my disorder pretty well. Though I don't act out much. I think she supports me, even if it's calling 911 when I get into trouble.