Posted by med_empowered on February 26, 2007, at 2:31:49
In reply to Re: replace symptoms with what?, posted by xbunny2007 on February 26, 2007, at 1:32:34
don't despair. Maybe the trick is to formulate a long-term plan for yourself and then re-interpret your problems (like apathy or voices or...whatever) as "bumps in the road," to be overcome, instead of as "illness" or "symptoms". See what I'm saying? This isn't really about blame. If you can re-conceptualize your problems as just that--problems, not diseases--maybe then you'll be able to overcome them.
I dont think it matter if you are somehow doing this to yourself or if its a brain issue or what--the point may just be to work on your life itself and see how your issues resolve. Personally, I've had psychiatric "issues" in the past and I'm doing better off meds than I was on. For me, a breakthrough came when I was bitching about stuff and my friend said "well, you spend all your time being bipolar"
Then it hit me: my time was occupied by my problems. I had gotten into the situation where my issues dominated all of my existence and, outside of being a "mental patient," I really wasn't doing anything. So I had to start thinking about life outside my problems, a process which is still ongoing.
Think of it like this: in sociology, they talk a lot about the "sick role". In the "sick role," one is relieved of obligations, but an extended "sick role" situation also takes away your status as a normal, functioning person in society. A psychiatric patient who is medicated often assumes the "sick role" for a long time, possibly a lifetime. I think you were in the "sick role," and possibly still are; I know I was. Now, you have to think beyond your old role and into a future where you are out of the "sick role"--basically, where you get to stop being a psychiatric patient, and start living a more or less normal life. Its a tremendous opportunity, but also a rough transition (I'm still working on it myself).So..that's what I have. Also, I think sometimes the key to dealing with problems isn't to delve into them, label them, and then "treat" them--rather, sometimes the best approach may be to notice them, accept them, and keep on going.
Good luck.
poster:med_empowered
thread:736166
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070224/msgs/736337.html