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

[eriktrips]

Anyone who has actually read Ulysses has to be invited to be in my circle. I'll admit to not having finished it yet, but my obsessions have led me through such bricks as The Unnamable and Gertrude Stein's The Making of Americans, so I am well-versed in the blank stare one gets when one answers the question "So what're ya readin' these days?" :)

If you don't mind, I'm going to grant you access, as they say here. Sometimes I think "to friend" was not such a bad verb really, but in any case feel free to circle me if you are still looking for people to circle. I am trying to expand my horizons here because facebook is not satisfying but most of my old friends have abandoned LJ. Time for new friends!

[panda]

I have to confess I've only read about 80% of it. I read it for a class, so sections were skipped as it neared the end of the semester and my work load ramped up. I do plan to go back this summer and read the whole thing all the way through.

Sure! I've friended you back.

[eriktrips]

Yay! Are you studying literature in English or English literature? In other words, are you reading American writers as well, or only British?

(I have been stuck on page 686 of The Making of Americans for over five years. There is no shame in it.)

[panda]

Literature in English. Calling it "English" is confusing and I've had some people assume that I'm studying British literature. But "English" is what the department is called, so ...

That being said British authors are my primary area of interest right now, specifically Joyce. But I have to study American authors as well, as part of my major requirements.

[eriktrips]

Yeah that's the thing about studying in an English department; it isn't immediately clear whose English you might be interested in! :)

I did a field in something like modern and postmodern American poetics, of which the Stein fixation is a symptom. But I did get to sneak Beckett in under French literature and I threw Joyce in for fun. Haven't looked at many other Brits, though.

I'm a bit of a nerd. Nice to meet you!