[EDW74]

EDITED BY EDW74 FOR SPELLING
If this thread exists then I apologize for serving left overs.

I'm on this forum all the time and in many, many posts I see someone reccomend that someone with a problem go to see a psychiatrist. There is a reason for this.

The average person meets with a friend for lunch, the friend confides in them that they've been seeing things move around the house, and hearing voices. The average person now believes that their friend has lost their mind and that there's something wrong.

How do we avoid this situation?

Simple,

First of all, I think that anyone who believes that they're hearing voices, seeing things move on their own, seeing ghosts, feels that someone is touching them, or believes their bodies are being invaded by other forces should see a doctor. Many times a medical condition exists and if treated early the person has a better chance of recovery, or of controling it. It also gives the afflicted person someone to confide in about what may be going on.
Some people will say "What if they lock you up in the nuthatch?" If you believe that they'll lock you up, then you may not be convinced enough that what you believe is happening to you is really happening to you. Additionally, if you go to a Dr. and they find nothing wrong with you, then you get small piece of mind. Often when you believe that something supernatural is going on, you will wonder if you're going crazy, is this all real, or did I imagine it all? It also helps if they find nothing wrong with you, then there is documentation, you're not crazy, somethng is going on and your case can be documented. There is substantiated evidence that something is going on and less likelyhood for the people who you need to take you serious to call you crazy.
If someone comes to me and says "Ed you know about this kind of thing, but there's this foul smell, the room goes cold, things are flying off of shelves and I'm hearing voices as I fall asleep at night, can you help me?" The first thing I do is suggest or ask if they've been to a doctor, it doens't have to be a shrink, though that's helpful. But it can be a M.D., a G.P., a PHD of Psychology, or even a priest. Most Priests have a background in psychology BTW. The last thing I or anyone who is going to help someone afflicted by the supernatural wants to do is find out three weeks into helping someone is that they've been committed to a mental facility. It wastes my time as well as any paranormal investigators time. It also may take away from someone who does have a real problem.
Though there are techniques to weed out the disturbed from the sincere people, if you've already been to see a Dr. it makes me more likely to believe what you're tellin me, or any investigator for that fact.

If I have missed anything, left out anything, or didn't clearly explain something, please feel free to fill in the blanks, and or ask me about it.

-Ed

This post has been edited by EDW74: 06 January 2006 - 03:50 AM

[Bebi]

Well said.

Although I'd just like to make a quick point here; just because you're diagnosed with a "mental disorder" doesn't mean all experiences you have are all in your head. I have had experiences both before being put on medication, and afterwards, that have been independantly confirmed by others.

[EDW74]

Quote

Well said.

Although I'd just like to make a quick point here; just because you're diagnosed with a "mental disorder" doesn't mean all experiences you have are all in your head. I have had experiences both before being put on medication, and afterwards, that have been independantly confirmed by others.

So in short, you're crazy like the rest of us

[Bebi]

Quote

So in short, you're crazy like the rest of us

LOL isn't everyone crazy to some extent?

I've come to terms with my illness; I understand what are symptoms, I take my medication because I understand it suppresses the unwelcome symptoms, and helps me to lead a normal life. When I was first diagnosed I was in shock for a while; I assumed people with schizophrenia are all raving looneys who need to be locked up, I never dreamed that a person suffering this could lead a relatively normal life before medication. I've re-educated myself regarding this illness, and understand it a lot better now. My friends and family didn't see me as having an illness; I'd kept all my symptoms to myself, too scared to tell anyone for years. It was a severe stalking incident at my place of work that triggered a minor breakdown and caused all my problems to surface. My husband, family and friends have been so supportive of me, I really don't know why I suffered in silence all this time.

I'd just like to say to everyone out there that seeing your doctor regarding something like this is a frightening thought; you automatically assume if they diagnose you "with something nasty" you'll be a social pariah, you'll get "locked up in a funny farm", but this is not the case. The medical profession are extremely sympathetic to these disorders, and nine times out of ten they can be treated very well with the right medication. If you are in a bad enough state to be admitted to hospital for your own safety, the chances are that this would happen through recommendation from family and friends who are concerned for your safety, not from a voluntary visit to a doctor.

If you take that first step and find the medication doesn't agree with you, don't give up and assume there "is no cure", everyone is different. It took me six months just to get to see a psychiatrist and get a course of medication that suited my needs (I was originally diagnosed with OCD), and a further six months to find the right level of medication that suited me.

I hope this gives some form of hope to some people out there that "mental illness" isn't the end of the world

[EDW74]

Quote

LOL isn't everyone crazy to some extent?

I've come to terms with my illness; I understand what are symptoms, I take my medication because I understand it suppresses the unwelcome symptoms, and helps me to lead a normal life. When I was first diagnosed I was in shock for a while; I assumed people with schizophrenia are all raving looneys who need to be locked up, I never dreamed that a person suffering this could lead a relatively normal life before medication. I've re-educated myself regarding this illness, and understand it a lot better now. My friends and family didn't see me as having an illness; I'd kept all my symptoms to myself, too scared to tell anyone for years. It was a severe stalking incident at my place of work that triggered a minor breakdown and caused all my problems to surface. My husband, family and friends have been so supportive of me, I really don't know why I suffered in silence all this time.

I'd just like to say to everyone out there that seeing your doctor regarding something like this is a frightening thought; you automatically assume if they diagnose you "with something nasty" you'll be a social pariah, you'll get "locked up in a funny farm", but this is not the case. The medical profession are extremely sympathetic to these disorders, and nine times out of ten they can be treated very well with the right medication. If you are in a bad enough state to be admitted to hospital for your own safety, the chances are that this would happen through recommendation from family and friends who are concerned for your safety, not from a voluntary visit to a doctor.

If you take that first step and find the medication doesn't agree with you, don't give up and assume there "is no cure", everyone is different. It took me six months just to get to see a psychiatrist and get a course of medication that suited my needs (I was originally diagnosed with OCD), and a further six months to find the right level of medication that suited me.

I hope this gives some form of hope to some people out there that "mental illness" isn't the end of the world

Hey, if it helps, I have PTSD.

[NME_locus]

Quote

Hey, if it helps, I have PTSD.

Good post!

I'm OCD. I even group my M&Ms by color before I eat them. I can't sleep if something is out of place. I am restless until I have something I want. I am a impulse shopper. Everything has to be in a specific place for me to be at peace. I freak out with my cell phone on me.

So everyone is a little crazy, or I would like to say, have there "glitches" but it doesn't mean we belong in a nut house. So guys, don't make it a personal thing, and don't get defensive when someone is giving you that "you need to go see a doctor" advice. Trust me, everyone has to go for something, even grumpy people for the root of their grumpiness.

This post has been edited by NME_locus: 04 January 2006 - 02:08 PM

[Azalin]

Doctors are very important part of our society, and we do need them, however I do have a small quirk with them.

I find that doctors hate to admit they are wrong or that they clearly do not know what the illness could be. In some cases many of them will just give you medication on an illness they *think* you may have, which could cause damage mentally, and physically. Im not saying all doctors do this, but I have heard many horror stories from some of the people around me. Also, Im not expressing the intention to NOT see a doctor, if you believe you may have a mental illness. However, if a doctor does say you have a mental illness, or diagnosis you a specific sickness, before taking his expert opinoin I would suggest doing some re-search on that illness yourself, and see if it sounds feasable.

[Bebi]

Quote

Doctors are very important part of our society, and we do need them, however I do have a small quirk with them.

I find that doctors hate to admit they are wrong or that they clearly do not know what the illness could be. In some cases many of them will just give you medication on an illness they *think* you may have, which could cause damage mentally, and physically. Im not saying all doctors do this, but I have heard many horror stories from some of the people around me. Also, Im not expressing the intention to NOT see a doctor, if you believe you may have a mental illness. However, if a doctor does say you have a mental illness, or diagnosis you a specific sickness, before taking his expert opinoin I would suggest doing some re-search on that illness yourself, and see if it sounds feasable.

Well said Azalin. Nobody can expect doctors to be infalliable; they are human just like the rest of us.

I'd just like to say that medication can be changed, I had a few problems finding the correct medication and dosage to suit me. The main thing to remember is if you have any concerns about your medication - side effects etc - to keep your doctor informed so they can make the necessary adjustments.

Just to clarify your post, I, too, wouldn't recommend anyone taking medication to just stop without discussing it with their doctor first. Some long term medications need combining with other drugs and/or careful monitoring to be able to come off them safely, due to side effects of stopping being so dangerous.

[Paranormalcy]

Excellent post and responses. I personally think it ought to be stickied in every paranormal forum and category on the internet. This is truly a profound, helpful, interesting, educational and helpful thread, probably the most helpful in these forums.

I have dysthymia, which is low-grade but chronic clinical depression and anxiety and am on Prozac, and am about to get my dosage upped on my next visit. Unfortunately, depression doesn't usually have the interesting symptoms the rest of you have (I'm kidding here, I know no mental snafu is a cakewalk), so I guess, par for my course, if a UFO landed in front of me, I'd probably just go "Hum. That was my car underneath there." =)

[jagerthorn]

Quote

Although I'd just like to make a quick point here; just because you're diagnosed with a "mental disorder" doesn't mean all experiences you have are all in your head. I have had experiences both before being put on medication, and afterwards, that have been independantly confirmed by others.

Glad to see someone agrees with me .

This post has been edited by TheThirdAngel: 04 January 2006 - 11:43 PM

[distortedpandy]

good post, I was almost expecting a doctor bashing session

but as stated before, doctors are only human

[EDW74]

Quote

Excellent post and responses. I personally think it ought to be stickied in every paranormal forum and category on the internet. This is truly a profound, helpful, interesting, educational and helpful thread, probably the most helpful in these forums.

I have dysthymia, which is low-grade but chronic clinical depression and anxiety and am on Prozac, and am about to get my dosage upped on my next visit. Unfortunately, depression doesn't usually have the interesting symptoms the rest of you have (I'm kidding here, I know no mental snafu is a cakewalk), so I guess, par for my course, if a UFO landed in front of me, I'd probably just go "Hum. That was my car underneath there." =)

I agree, I think this advice should be stickied too, but the powers that be have not decided to do so, maybe in the future they will.

Everyone has something wrong with them these days, it's those so called "normal" people who scare me the most.

[EDW74]

Quote

good post, I was almost expecting a doctor bashing session

but as stated before, doctors are only human

I work in a hospital with some pretty good doctors, I wouldn't bash them (doc's) because yes they are only human.

[QueryAnalyzer]

Quote

First of all, I think that anyone who believes that they're hearing voices, seeing things move on their own, seeing ghosts, feels that someone is touching them, or believes their bodies are being invaded by other forces should see a doctor. Many times a medical condition exists and if treated early the peron has a better chance of recovery, or of controling it. It also gives the afflicted person someone to confide in about what may be going on.

Yes I agree. But what happens if a friend of mine happens to hear his guardian angel speak to him? If he goes to an atheist-skeptic doctor, then he will be diagnosed with schizophrenia or something like that. But if he goes to a priest with a major in phsycology, then it would be an act of God. So what should we do in this case?

[EDW74]

Quote

Yes I agree. But what happens if a friend of mine happens to hear his guardian angel speak to him? If he goes to an atheist-skeptic doctor, then he will be diagnosed with schizophrenia or something like that. But if he goes to a priest with a major in phsycology, then it would be an act of God. So what should we do in this case?

Ok if he's hearing voices, they're going to do a CT (CAT scan) to see if there's something wrong with his brain, if that comes back negative, they will consider alternatives. If he goes to a priest good for him. And I mention, just coincidentally, that hearing voices alone is not enough to diagnose schitzophrenia.

Food for thought, so maybe I won't get more of these "What if" questions;

"If, ifs and buts were candies and nuts, then every day could be christmas"