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

[smw]

My identity or relevant information for new readers: I go by S or SMW. I'm a college student, a fiction writer, a tea drinker, and an occasional hermit. I'm not visibly fannish though I enjoy fannish enthusiasm and productions.

My diagnos[is/es]: New and tender, yet, which is why there is little discussion of mental illness on my journal; that will come later, I'm sure, because it's quite a large portion of my life. Bipolar and OCD are the most visible. Also, Aspergers.

I typically write around this many entries a week: I've been keeping up a good clip of at least four a week the past month, but my habits before that were spotty. All the same I hope to keep up this new pace – it's certainly much more fun!

Other topics I discuss on my journal: Writing, prose, writing, tea, food, informal book reviews, writing. Occasional informal life stuff. But mostly writing. By the by, a good portion of my characters are mentally ill in one way or another, and that's something I would like to open up a dialogue about in my journal.

Interests / hobbies you have: Writ— *hit with a brick* I exercise quite devotedly and have a keen interest in human and animal rights. I have more folklore books than anything else. I swear I'll be a professor of English or Literature or related someday.

I think mentally ill people are . . . my people.

The use of the word crazy by a non-mentally ill person . . . evokes no particular emotional reaction unless used in an explicitly derogatory manner.

Anything else to share?: ... also writing. I mean, uh, I'm friendliest when contacted via AIM at smwwrites, because live time doesn't give my shyness room to kick in.

[elialshadowpine]

Oooh, tea. Tea tea tea. Mmm. >_>

I think mental illness is one subject I haven't really tackled in writing. It's in my list, but I'm still dealing with my own mental illness -- my diagnoses have been fairly recent. I would LOVE to see works that don't treat mentally ill people as automatically violent or dangerous, which is an all-too-common and harmful portrayal.

Also, my IM contact info is on my profile if you like to chat :)

[smw]

Well now I know why I saw your post and thought "must subscribe!": tea lovers always know each other. *g*

My diagnoses are recent, as well, but it's something I've always kind of known about myself, and I've also always had friends with mental health concerns, so. Depicting mentally ill people as people is a huge thing for me – maybe a secret agenda, of sorts, since I so rarely center a story on it, but it's always there in the corners, being visible and common and lived.

I will certainly take you up on the offer of chat some time!

[panda]

I also want to be an English professor! I think this means we should be friends :)

[smw]

Absolutely it does! Here, have some access. *g*

[panda]

yay!

[erika]

Your description made me laugh. Subscribed & granted access, feel free to reciprocate if you feel like.

[smw]

I do indeed feel like. It's nice to meet you!

[matilda36]

The treatment of mentally ill people in writing, especially fandom writing, is one of my pet peeves. It's rarely considered something people do live with. More likely something that people are victim of or conquer, being magically healed (often by The Power Of Love)

I'll be happy to hear your opinions and also of sharing tips for living with bipolar.

[smw]

Speculative fiction has a shameful history of "fixing" all sorts of chronic illness – mental and otherwise – and then acting as if the narrative is still about those of us with those disorders. To which I call bullshit. There's a place for the recovery story, the one that says "I survived", but the essential core of my experience isn't that, it's "I'm surviving": a constant triumph and a constant threat of failure. It's even worse when ~*love*~ fixes it, to my mind, because those stories often strip agency from the ill person and put it in the hands of their loved one, which... no, thanks. Way to propagate the vile idea that individuals are helpless in the face of their illness and must rely on their loved ones to save them.

But you probably didn't comment to receive a rant, eh?

So, tips for living with bipolar. Um. So far my method has been "pathetic and futile denial", with "memory suppression" acting as second in command. I'd be really curious to hear any tips you have, to be honest, now that I'm girding myself for the metaphorical frontal assault. I have some "oh brain, you do such strange things" stories to share, though, if you're interested in a little camaraderie?

[matilda36]

Don't worry, I like nice rants :)

My attitude to my bipolar is one of caution. I treat myself like a bomb that can explode at any minute. I made some pretty bad choices while in a manic phase and even if now my meds regime and years of therapy have given me balance, I live in fear. So... I hide myself a lot.

Friended you for more nice chats.

[smw]

Oh, good, they're reflexive, but I wouldn't want to scare you off!

That lack of trust in oneself is familiar enough to make me flinch from your description. I'm sorry it's this way for you. Though luck and situation have kept me from doing serious injury to myself, the knowledge that I might not always be able to say that terrifies me.

Consider yourself a friend. *g* I look forward to getting to know you better.

[whatawaytoburn]

Tea! And writing! And tea! And folklore! And tea!

....Shush, I am quite fond of tea.

The writing normally gets the spot that tea took in this comment as I am insanely fond of collecting writers to9 follow (I am one myself and find it absolutely delightful to meet other people who work with words on a regular basis) but I'm in the middle of a very good cup of tea myself and you mentioned it and just...I was doomed.

[smw]

Here's a tea icon for you, then. It always makes me crave oolong.

"Insanely", eh? Should I take that as diagnostic or hyperbole? ;)

[silverhare]

I like writers. :) Added.

[smw]

How kind, I'm sure writers like you. *g* Added right back (to be perfectly honest, paging back through your entries I spotted your tattoo, and I thought, "I need this person on my readlist").

[silverhare]

How kind, I'm sure writers like you. *g*

Hee.