Tag: mental disorders

  • A few random thoughts

    The ‘anything goes’ mentality is far more extremist than those that stand by moderation. It requires an extremist to allow anything to pass as acceptable without restraint, whereas it requires conscious thought, conviction, and balance to apply one’s mind to moderation. Yet the duplicity of society would incline you to believe that those that seek moderation are extremists, whilst the liberals are the free thinkers. Free thinking is often a phrase brandished about by those that seek affirmation and acceptance rather than those that are willing to stand for what they believe in without fear of ridicule or earning the ire of those they admire. 

    What’s worse is when this same thinking of supposed extremism is passed down to each following generation, resulting in ever more wayward teenagers with misguided passions. At some point, a generation dropped the baton. What should have been passed down as ageless wisdom was abandoned in the name of liberalism and social freedom, and none of the subsequent generations have been willing to stop the rot. For this reason, we find ourselves amongst teenage sages and pubescent gurus, neither of which have had sufficient life experiences to become the authorities they pretend to be on life, love, and philosophy. Such misguidance cannot be blamed on the students, but rather on the absence of teachers. 

    In the absence of role models and leaders, the youth are left to fend for themselves under the delusion of guidance from adults who are often too self-absorbed to realise that they are failing in their duty to raise adults, not children. Adults are often so insecure about their own worth, that they’re more focused on earning the social acceptance of their children by trying to be ‘cool’ parents, while the kids are distracted by their ‘cool-ness’ only to realise that they are ill prepared for life. 

    The inevitable result is the proliferation of labels that abdicate responsibility for our state of mind, and result in people living out the expectations of society based on the label attached to the specific permutation of their insecurity, rather than just realising that it is nothing more than an insecurity due to lack of knowledge or guidance that leaves us with so many troubled souls. Before we try to label the mindset of others that act out their insecurities in cryptic ways, we should make a simple but sincere effort to understand the source of insecurity that pretends to be bipolar, borderline, or any other contemporary term used to appease the conscience of absent parents. 

  • Top 10 Myths About ‘Introverts’

    Top 10 Myths about Introverts

    Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk. This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

    Myth #2 – Introverts are shy. Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

    Myth #3 – Introverts are rude. Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

    Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people. On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

    Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public. Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

    Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone. Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

    Myth #7 – Introverts are weird. Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

    Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds. Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

    Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun. Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

    Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts. Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

    Finally someone that understands me! This is me to the last detail! I’m not weird. I can be defined. There’s hope yet.Seriously, this is so damn accurate. Can’t disagree with a single point. In the original article the first comment is by someone that suggests that this guy (original writer) may have aspergers or autism. All I can say is, ‘Crap!’. Being an introvert is a natural disposition of someone that has less time for pointless banter and is more interested in understanding why things are the way they are and why people do the things they do. Seeking social acceptance is not the objective of the life of an introvert. As it states above, they’re more about substance than they are about image.

  • I am not a liberal

    I am not a liberal. I think liberals are people who have a desperate need to be liked by everyone, that’s why they’ll never have the back bone to stand up for anything that would offend the opinions of others, except those that are already marginalised. The popular opinion is all that matters to liberals. 

    One can argue that they have conviction in their beliefs, but that doesn’t excuse their naivety in life. Extremism results from excessive liberalism. Moderation is not practised by liberals, because they tend to be liberal in the extreme, which makes it ironic that they would be able to point a finger at anyone that chooses to oppose their views and establish boundaries. Liberalism will only ever work if we lived in isolation and had no influence on anyone else. Then, by all means, do as you please.

    Liberals are so focused on individual rights that they lose sight of the rights of society. The more ‘free’ we become, the more social ills manifest in our liberated communities. Countries with the greatest social ‘freedoms’ also have pervasive mental ‘disorders’ and high suicide rates. But of course, according to the liberal, it’s your life, so you can do with it as you please, including throwing yourself off a building or taking an overdose, because the rights and responsibilities you have to those around you doesn’t count for anything, because your rights over your self come first.

    It’s again ironical to note that it’s this same self-centred philosophy that creates fertile ground for the mental ‘disorders’ that are ravaging our ‘first world’ societies because in every single case that I have been exposed to, such mental ‘disorders’ always have a very strong, if not predominant theme of betrayal by others. That betrayal takes the form of many things from infidelity in relationships (the most common cause) to a lack of acceptance in society (bullying, etc.). But it’s more convenient to suggest that a chemical imbalance makes us feel like we’re tainted or damaged or not good enough, rather than to acknowledge that we have a moral deficit in our progressive communities. 

    Progressive? I think not. 

    When will the liberals figure this out?

  • I understand your viewpoint more clearly now, thanks to your detailed explanation. Thank you for being calm about the matter. I do agree with a lot of what you had said, and that yes smiling can make a difference in I would assume less serious cases. I would never condone the abuse of any medication with other illicit drugs or alcohol as well, but I do wonder what you would think about somebody taking medication because of a genetic illness? I myself do not wish to rely on medicine all my life.

    Sorry that it’s taken me so long to respond to this. Genetic illnesses (specifically within the context of mental states) is a complex one. I’ve been thinking of the best way to present my views on this so that it makes sense, but I’m not quite getting there, so here goes nothing. 🙂

    I believe that we have hereditary traits that we’re born with. Some are physically manifested whilst others are more subtle and only become fully evident later in life. From personal experiences, environment doesn’t always influence these, so I’m inclined to believe that it is in fact passed down through genes and not just something adopted because of being exposed to the ways of the adults that conceived us. In this context, my point about environment is relevant where the child is not necessarily raised in the same home by its biological parents, but still grows up to exhibit some common traits with its biological parents despite never having spent time with them.

    However, I believe that all things being equal, we all progress to a point in our lives where we are able to make conscious decisions about whether or not we choose to maintain or nurture specific habits and traits that we have. Those who succumb to their state usually never even attempt to break bad habits that may have been inherited because they are so accepting of it. If this works for them, then so be it. But it doesn’t necessarily prove that we’re unable to change the cycle that our genetics may have started.

    I’m obviously a big believer in the power of thought, but not in the corny cliched way that most like to generalise about everything being mind over matter. But more substantially in that through a concerted effort, we are able to resist bad habits to the point where it becomes second nature for us not to have those habits at all. The same, I believe, is true about mental states.

    If we inherit a genetic make-up that comprises a chemical imbalance (within the context of mental illnesses), and we are raised in an environment provided and maintained by the very same adults that we inherited it from, we would be in a perfect situation to ensure the preservation of such a mental state because it’s in fact a vicious cycle. What I mean is, given my assertion that our thoughts and emotions define our physical state, then by the same logic, the chemical make-up that the adults spawn that is passed on to the unborn child is actually a result of the circumstances that the adults were in. When the child is born, it is raised in the very same environment that gave rise to the state of the adults’ mind-set and therefore nurtures the very same traits in the child.

    Given that most of our behaviours are learned through observation rather than instruction, the impact of this learning process is easily under estimated. But to me, the saving grace for the child is when they reach an age of being self-aware, and they develop the faculties to observe, question and act independently, they become capable of choosing to change the pattern, or to nurture it. It is when this important decision is made at every point of pain or struggle that these changes are triggered within us. When we’re successful at breaking that cycle through conscious effort, our deeply ingrained defence mechanisms as well as memories of our previous state and what helped us to cope with stress can cause us to relapse. But it’s important to remember that such relapses are most probably from habit rather than an independently formed chemical imbalance.

    This post is getting too long and probably tedious, so I’ll leave it at that. I’m not even sure if I managed to convey my thoughts in a lucid manner. Happy to hear alternate views or comments on this. So long as it’s presented rationally and not scornfully.

  • I am curious to know if you understand the importance of medicinal compliance with a mental disorder? I mean, your previous post would make sense if you were against pills and chemical changing drugs prescribed to those who have imbalances but otherwise, I find it's very insensitive.

    I not only understand it, but I’ve lived it as well. I have been on anti-depressants before, I’ve flirted with suicide recklessly, and I’ve been exposed to the harsh realities of living with an extremely traumatised woman that was diagnosed with almost every mental disorder I’ve heard of. So this is not a subject I take lightly or treat flippantly.

    But I disagree that medication should be used as anything more than an intervention strategy, and I fully believe that understanding the life experiences that gave rise to the anxiety or traumatised state must be unraveled in order to reverse the psychological damage that was caused by it. If left unresolved, these same experiences will continue to spiral out of control with the focus always being on the symptoms due to being distracted from the root cause. 

    This may seem like an over simplification of this serious and sensitive issue, but it’s not intended that way at all. I’ve had significant life experiences, and witnessed many others, that support my views about the chemical imbalances being a symptom of the emotional state, and not the emotional state being a symptom of the chemical imbalances. 

    Smiling is a simple act that is proven to release hormones that make us happy. If the current mainstream approach to mental health is to be believed, then it would imply that (for example) someone who does not have any level of those happy hormones in their body would be physically unable to smile. This is absurd.

    I have personally experienced, and observed in others, that such troubled mental states are always present in individuals that have a history of either being betrayed, ill treated, bullied, molested, abused, or subjected to other unspeakable traumas earlier in life. In some cases, it’s a matter of someone growing up in a sheltered environment and are therefore unable to cope with the harsh realities of life and failure when faced with these in the absence of the support structures and comfort zones that they’ve grown accustomed to.

    The mainstream approach to dealing with the emotional turmoil that results from these when they manifest themselves in our teenage or adult phases of our lives is to teach the patient (i.e. victim) coping mechanisms to deal with the current state, assisted with medication, thereby negating any need for the individual to understand, unravel and resolve the underlying life experience/s that gave rise to the demons in the first place. 

    To answer your question more directly, having been on anti-depressants, I can assure you that I do not condone the reckless use/abuse of such medication, and that the compliance regimen must be maintained fully without ever attempting to suddenly disrupt the intake of such medication because of the disastrous effects that that has, which is why weaning oneself off the medication when needed is of critical importance. 

    But this also means that those that knowingly take drugs and alcohol and other intoxicants to be blatantly but consciously reckless are simply seeking attention because it wins them the sympathy and affection they crave because the reality of dealing with the thoughts that they actively suppress is far too daunting. In choosing to deal with our demons, we sometimes consciously, and other times sub-consciously know that it implies that we are opening ourselves up for the potential of being exposed to such betrayal or hurt again. This, I believe, is the biggest driver behind people ‘needing’ the medication to justify their mental state, rather than facing their fears and dealing with the heartlessness of others.