Re: Mental illness : Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:11 am  

My concern is with the cat, having to survive in a house full of loons.

Re: Mental illness : Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:55 am  

WIZEB wrote:

My concern is with the cat, having to survive in a house full of loons.

If it was a dog I'd be concerned because dogs really do feel themselves to be a part of the team.

Because its a cat I'm not so conrcerned though, the cat will just sit on top of the fridge and watch all of this with complete detachment and then one day, when one of them forgets to feed him/her, will jump to the floor, walk out of the door and go find somewhere else to live, cats don't give a fook.

Re: Mental illness : Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:33 am  

bren2k wrote: That might be the case in general wellbeing terms i.e feeling 'happy,' 'satisfied' or 'stressed' for example, but having worked in and around mental health for a number of years, your second point is an important one; it certainly isn't the case when you're dealing with some of the serious mental health problems, which can occur without warning and be absolutely devastating to individuals and the people around them. The opening post is uncomfortably revelatory - that aside, if it was a genuine question, there's some useful information here. I think (although I could well be wrong) that we're having a classic message board miss communication in that the second half of your opening paragraph is pretty much what I meant by my second point.

bren2k wrote: That might be the case in general wellbeing terms i.e feeling 'happy,' 'satisfied' or 'stressed' for example, but having worked in and around mental health for a number of years, your second point is an important one; it certainly isn't the case when you're dealing with some of the serious mental health problems, which can occur without warning and be absolutely devastating to individuals and the people around them. The opening post is uncomfortably revelatory - that aside, if it was a genuine question, there's some useful information here. I think (although I could well be wrong) that we're having a classic message board miss communication in that the second half of your opening paragraph is pretty much what I meant by my second point.

Re: Mental illness : Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:18 pm  

Sandra The Terrorist wrote:

I think (although I could well be wrong) that we're having a classic message board miss communication in that the second half of your opening paragraph is pretty much what I meant by my second point.

I think I was probably just agreeing with your first statement in part, whilst reiterating your second point.

We are furiously agreeing with one another!

Re: Mental illness : Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:41 pm  

Rooster Booster wrote:

Good point.

yeah, it could be very well the fact that there is less stigma and more people talk about which looks like mental illness has increased. I, personally suspect and can only talk from my own viewpoint through my readings and education as a counsellor thay it is more prevalent. I also feel there is far more stress in the world and technology has played a small part in that. Technology has made things quick, so there is an expectation that things SHOULD be done quicker. This is a large factor in the increase in stress, in my opinion.


Very true however the former can develop into the more serious conditions.

Lots of interesting points here (and on the thread in general). I think stress is a factor – and while I do think we were not 'designed' at all but have evolved, I don't think that living in very densely populated areas is what we have (yet?) evolved to be able to comfortably and easily do.

I'd also pick up on what Jerry said: I remember meeting a very elderly man once, who had been in the war. He couldn't get over the culture of counselling and stress etc, and effectively said that people should have some 'stiff upper lip' – he was a bit more East End working class about it, though.

On the other hand, someone I knew tells the tale of their father, who went to war (just after my friend was born) and came back apparently okay, but had turned into someone who abused both his wife and son, and drank himself into an early grave. He had, apparently, been standing next to a friend when that friend's head was blown off.

If we look back at WWI, we know there were many, many cases of, in effect, stress – or shell shock as it was called, and many were often 'diagnosed' with execution, with the sufferer condemned as a coward.

I do think there are plenty of things we know more about and understand more these days, and can therefore diagnose better. Whether there are also conditions (if that's an acceptable term), such as ADD and so on that are caused or triggered or exacerbated by some very recent factors (additives in processed food, for instance) is another question. But it may be that there are many more factors involved.

Re: Mental illness : Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:42 pm  

JerryChicken wrote:

If it was a dog I'd be concerned because dogs really do feel themselves to be a part of the team.

Because its a cat I'm not so conrcerned though, the cat will just sit on top of the fridge and watch all of this with complete detachment and then one day, when one of them forgets to feed him/her, will jump to the floor, walk out of the door and go find somewhere else to live, cats don't give a fook.

There's probably a cat internet somewhere, where LoLZDally has become a big hit.

Re: Mental illness : Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:28 pm  

Mintball wrote:

There's probably a cat internet somewhere, where LoLZDally has become a big hit.

Probably?

There will DEFINITELY be a cats internet, cats will have invented the internet but not told us about it in the same arrogant way that they just walk into houses and mew loudly "I'm living here now, you must feed me at the same time every night, you must provide me with a tray to crap in, you must clean that tray frequently, and I'll lay on whatever furnishings I damn well like, now move out of my way and fetch me some nibbles".

"Oh and by the way - that dog, he'll have to go"

Re: Mental illness : Sun Jan 27, 2013 6:22 pm  

JerryChicken wrote:

Probably?

There will DEFINITELY be a cats internet, cats will have invented the internet but not told us about it in the same arrogant way that they just walk into houses and mew loudly "I'm living here now, you must feed me at the same time every night, you must provide me with a tray to crap in, you must clean that tray frequently, and I'll lay on whatever furnishings I damn well like, now move out of my way and fetch me some nibbles".

"Oh and by the way - that dog, he'll have to go"

Re: Mental illness : Mon Jan 28, 2013 3:09 am  

Mintball wrote:

Lots of interesting points here (and on the thread in general). I think stress is a factor – and while I do think we were not 'designed' at all but have evolved, I don't think that living in very densely populated areas is what we have (yet?) evolved to be able to comfortably and easily do.

I'd also pick up on what Jerry said: I remember meeting a very elderly man once, who had been in the war. He couldn't get over the culture of counselling and stress etc, and effectively said that people should have some 'stiff upper lip' – he was a bit more East End working class about it, though.

On the other hand, someone I knew tells the tale of their father, who went to war (just after my friend was born) and came back apparently okay, but had turned into someone who abused both his wife and son, and drank himself into an early grave. He had, apparently, been standing next to a friend when that friend's head was blown off.

If we look back at WWI, we know there were many, many cases of, in effect, stress – or shell shock as it was called, and many were often 'diagnosed' with execution, with the sufferer condemned as a coward.

I do think there are plenty of things we know more about and understand more these days, and can therefore diagnose better. Whether there are also conditions (if that's an acceptable term), such as ADD and so on that are caused or triggered or exacerbated by some very recent factors (additives in processed food, for instance) is another question. But it may be that there are many more factors involved.

PTSD can be crippling. I lived here with vietnam vets who you can't have anything bar compasssion and empathy for. Not because of any political agenda or bias for war, just they state these boys came home in. And where then treated poorly by their own people.

I was personally very pleased when Professor Simon Charles Wessely got awarded in the Honours List for services to Military Healthcare and to Psychological Medicine. Amongst all the posh lovers with their business contacts and the twisted ear mob and the bunch that used to play sticky biscuit at Eton.

Re: Mental illness : Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:22 pm  

Rooster Booster wrote:

PTSD can be crippling. I lived here with vietnam vets who you can't have anything bar compasssion and empathy for. Not because of any political agenda or bias for war, just they state these boys came home in. And where then treated poorly by their own people.

I was personally very pleased when Professor Simon Charles Wessely got awarded in the Honours List for services to Military Healthcare and to Psychological Medicine. Amongst all the posh lovers with their business contacts and the twisted ear mob and the bunch that used to play sticky biscuit at Eton.

To me, it's irrelevant what 'side', for want of a better phrase, veterans come from, or whether their government was justified in sending them to war – the politicians are ultimately responsible, not the 'cannon fodder'. And I use that phrase with sympathy for those so used.

Cliché alert – but when the cannon fodder come from the sons and daughters of the politicians, then maybe wars will be reduced.