Posted by g_g_g_unit on November 6, 2010, at 6:38:29
I was curious about the extent to which mental illness has affected peoples' abilities to pursue relationships, particularly with respect to the *kind* of people they were able to date, how tolerant they've found others to be etc.?
As someone with ADD, I've always passively craved the attention of others. I'm shy, but have a strange sense of humour which I love inflicting on people.
Unfortunately, I kinda grew into a habit of relying on my wit as a source of self-confidence. Once I became depressed and 'slowed down', I started self-isolating, because I saw no reason people could possibly want me around. Meds also sap my self-confidence, because they make me a lot more introverted.
My track record with women is disastrous . . I'm shy and tend to attract domineering man-eaters.
What I hate is the way psychologists adopt this really impractical, idealized view of the world . . I'm constantly being told I should try internet dating, etc. And while I'm good-looking, I'm also a little . . well, odd - as in shy, weird body language, soft talker, etc. I think women are turned off by these things?
Admittedly, I love to obsessively browse dating websites, but I wonder if I'm kidding myself. I'm not sure normal people could even begin to understand what I've been through. It'd be like me trying to relate to an asylum seeker (for example). Is it best we (pardon the term) stick to our "own kind"?
poster:g_g_g_unit
thread:968750
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20101029/msgs/968750.html