sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name

[erika]

There have been many circling memes on DW, but perhaps none quite like this.

This is a circling meme for the mentally ill.

For the purposes of this circling meme, "mentally ill" means you have a diagnosed mental illness, which includes but is not limited to: bipolar disorder, any personality disorder, depression, any anxiety disorder including panic disorder, disassociative identity disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia, or various combinations of the above.

(If you see a therapist, a psychiatrist, or another medical professional for mental health symptoms, even if you don't know your diagnosis, you're also welcome. If your mental illness is in remission/in good management, you are still welcome.)

Basically, if one of the topics on your journal is your own mental illness, I want you! Comment away, with whatever information you feel is appropriate, but here's a template:

Your identity: not necessarily A/S/L (though you can feel free to put that in) but relevant information that might tell people why they should read you or would want to get to know you. Feel free to link to a sticky post.
Your diagnosis: only if you're comfortable sharing this information on a public entry. Be as specific as you like, but generalities are fine.
How many entries you typically write a week: Within a given range is fine.
Other topics you discuss on your journal: college, your children, your pets, fandom(s), boy/girl trouble, etc.
Interests / hobbies you have: knitting, making icons, programming, etc. (This may overlap with the "topics" question, that's okay!)

Feel free to skip these next few, but I find the answers interesting:
Finish this sentence: I think mentally ill people are . . .
Finish this sentence: The use of the word 'crazy' by a non-mentally ill person. . .
Anything else you'd like to share!

<em>My identity or relevant information for new readers:</em> <em>My diagnos[is/es]:</em> <em>I typically write around this many entries a week:</em> <em>Other topics I discuss on my journal: </em> <em>Interests / hobbies you have:</em> <em>I think mentally ill people are . . .</em> <em>The use of the word crazy by a non-mentally ill person . . . </em> <em>Anything else to share?:</em>

(Please note that if you want
to discuss this entry with me
for any reason
PM is the best place to do that,
not on this entry.)

Comments

[miss_invisible]

My identity or relevant information for new readers: I'm Nyx, in my twenties, bisexual cisgendered female. I'm politically liberal, secular, a geek, and something of a loner in RL. I'm from the US but am happiest in Europe and planning to move back when life permits it. My profile has more basics.

My diagnos[is/es]: Major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. I've also got some OCD-spectrum tics going on, mostly in the form of dermatillomania, but that's mostly a footnote.

I typically write around this many entries a week: Totally depends on how I'm feeling/if I have anything to babble about. I'm not a very prolific poster, though I occasionally ramble.

Other topics I discuss on my journal: Political/social justice things that are pissing me off, occasionally, though following it too regularly is bad for my blood pressure. Mostly, though, my posts are focused on my experience of mental illness through the filter of my own daily life.

Interests / hobbies you have: Writing, singing, sewing, metalwork, forming passionate addictions to tv shows, travel, photography, languages, dance, baking, eating, figure skating, marine biology. All of which makes me sound like a much more active person than I am lately.

I think mentally ill people are . . . uh, people. Too complex to generalize in a sentence.

The use of the word crazy by a non-mentally ill person . . . mostly doesn't bother me the way it does some people. I came to an awareness of its charged nature only after becoming somewhat involved in the community, so I'm currently kind of still in the process of deciding how and when I think my own use of it is appropriate. Generally I've been trying to limit my use of it to discussing myself, since it's become a shorthand for a lot of my MI-related identity.

Anything else to share?: I don't lock my posts, but they're often very personal. As long as you respect that, we'll be cool. Here, have a cute gif:

[silverhare]

Heeheehee, that gif is cute. :D

[lilmoka]

That gif is hypnotic. What animal is that? *stares*

[miss_invisible]

I believe it's some type of shrew, though I'm not 100% certain.

[lilmoka]

Great, thank you! <3

[delight]

I thought you were awesome enough to add before the gif; now I definitely am.

[miss_invisible]

You see cool too, so I'm adding back. :)

[royalfireworks]

Oh, I am so adding you. We seem to have a lot in common--not just veeery similar diagnoses, but also random biographical stuff and interests. (E.g., I'm such a closet marine-biology geek.) Also, I relate to this:

I'm from the US but am happiest in Europe and planning to move back when life permits it.

because I'm at a sort of similar place in my life, though about a US city rather than Europe. ;)

[miss_invisible]

Adding back :)

[elialshadowpine]

I follow a lot of SJ related things too. It can get infuriating and I have to stop following every so often for my hypertension. It seems like we have several things in common... friends? :)

[miss_invisible]

Sure!