It’s ok not to be ok

[nobby the sheep]

I have OCD as well. Washed my hands bloody as a child. Vicious loops in the brain force feeding me strange and horrifying thoughts. It's under control now, but like being an alcoholic, you've always got it. Even posting about it makes me nervous, so I salute you.

Panic attacks too (fortunately not that often these days). You feel it coming on like those demons in Ghost dragging your soul to hell. It's probably hard for people who haven't been through it to understand just how terrifying it can be.

Thank god for my wife,

and Chompsky,

and cycling

and every beautiful thing in the world.

And thanks OP for starting the thread.

No worries,I’m glad it’s helping people. Here’s a view from my front door ,the hills are so calming

 

[905]

Fabulous! We’re fortunate in that respect too.

Cool thoughts for hot days

It plays a big part in maintaining equilibrium.

 

[Imlach]

Interesting that, my son, sister in law and couple of other clients are highly intelligent, analytical minds are gripped by anxiety???

I'm the opposite having probably tried to achieve what I wasn't capable of, hence the depression...

Well, the irony is that it's likely our overanalytical capabilities that led to the mess in the first place, especially in a modern setting. One of my great interests has always been pre-agrarian cultures and how they dealt with things. The interesting thing is, when you study them, you find that they were far less susceptible to mental illness. A large part of it is that their lifestyle didn't really afford a lot of time to symbolically and conceptually think about 'the great everything'. Through a more direct/hands on connection to the land around them, they were occupied but also constrained to the limitation of nature, hence social pressure and stresses that we know didn't exist. Of course there would have been other forms of existential dread, but the kind of vicious cycles that we know of today, are very much a product of modern society. It always interested me that as soon as indigenous people were brought into a modern setting, it would be the onset of generational depression and struggles. Of course an element to that would have been that they were forced out of their livelihoods and villages, schooled into modern thought, but regardlessly it stands - that even with the modern conveniences, they are not happier. My point is that perhaps a large part of our problem is that the societal responsibilities and pressures furthers our mental decline. It's also interesting how the people that guilt mentally ill people the most are employers and jobcenters in many instances. And many mentally ill people feel useless because they can't hold down an office job. Imagine.

Very clear and interesting, relatable stuff, Imlach. SOmewhat surprising to hear this as well, a sharp contrast with your usual effervescence on RB. Another aspect I think that makes life hard for us, usually problems remain hidden behind a "normal" appearance. I have found this anyway. I agree with you, taking your time is important as these things can entangle your mind.

It is absurd that intelligent beings fall short when it comes to understanding mental issues. When you read the history of dealing with this it becomes a wild and exorbitant failing, where people were mass-interred and at the mercy of large scale medical cruelty.

I have heard from others, dealing with loss or grave illness, that it is hard to find comprehension with their closest family and friends. It maybe a more common thing.

As we drifted far from RB stuff a picture of a bike I would like to own:

View attachment 645159

Jack of all trades - even mental decay! I agree with your points.

I have OCD as well. Washed my hands bloody as a child. Vicious loops in the brain force feeding me strange and horrifying thoughts. It's under control now, but like being an alcoholic, you've always got it. Even posting about it makes me nervous, so I salute you.

Panic attacks too (fortunately not that often these days). You feel it coming on like those demons in Ghost dragging your soul to hell. It's probably hard for people who haven't been through it to understand just how terrifying it can be.

Thank god for my wife,

and Chompsky,

and cycling

and every beautiful thing in the world.

And thanks OP for starting the thread.

Ah yes, bloodied crackly hands are never fun. My rituals went from very physical to instead manifesting as repetitive thought, which is draining in a completely different way. Having to get everything 'just right' in the head before doing anything, constant chants and having to neutralise stuff by associating it with something I don't care about. I'm better now - but as you said, it's always there.

 

[grantoury]

No worries,I’m glad it’s helping people. Here’s a view from my front door ,the hills are so calming

Amazing view!

 

[Jamesbike]

Well, the irony is that it's likely our overanalytical capabilities that led to the mess in the first place, especially in a modern setting. One of my great interests has always been pre-agrarian cultures and how they dealt with things. The interesting thing is, when you study them, you find that they were far less susceptible to mental illness. A large part of it is that their lifestyle didn't really afford a lot of time to symbolically and conceptually think about 'the great everything'. Through a more direct/hands on connection to the land around them, they were occupied but also constrained to the limitation of nature, hence social pressure and stresses that we know didn't exist. Of course there would have been other forms of existential dread, but the kind of vicious cycles that we know of today, are very much a product of modern society. It always interested me that as soon as indigenous people were brought into a modern setting, it would be the onset of generational depression and struggles. Of course an element to that would have been that they were forced out of their livelihoods and villages, schooled into modern thought, but regardlessly it stands - that even with the modern conveniences, they are not happier. My point is that perhaps a large part of our problem is that the societal responsibilities and pressures furthers our mental decline. It's also interesting how the people that guilt mentally ill people the most are employers and jobcenters in many instances. And many mentally ill people feel useless because they can't hold down an office job. Imagine.

Jack of all trades - even mental decay! I agree with your points.

Ah yes, bloodied crackly hands are never fun. My rituals went from very physical to instead manifesting as repetitive thought, which is draining in a completely different way. Having to get everything 'just right' in the head before doing anything, constant chants and having to neutralise stuff by associating it with something I don't care about. I'm better now - but as you said, it's always there.

Interesting views...

My view is that young people have too many options and that leads to paralysis and indecision. Along with unbridled aspiration which leads to disappointment.

Generations pat would follow in thier father's profession via an apprenticeship. Not that I think choice dosent have a place just too much is as much a hinderance.

 

[grantoury]

A phrase from Mike Tyson that I like: "Everybody has a plan, til they get hit." He was probably boasting how his opponents didn't stand a chance, but I like it for another reason: getting hit with illness, be it OCD, depression or, in my case, hearing voices, is like getting hit with violence and it is all too easy to judge someone for struggling with it. I thought I'd share it as I find myself coming back to that phrase and really finding strength in it.

Another one that is similar is Marcus Aurelius' question whether we are meant to live, or be lived? His answer is that we are meant to be lived, by people around us and life's circumstances. I found it really freeing to stop reaching for a live I would like to live and just endure what there is.

 

[Jamesbike]

My view ATM....

No work phone, no wife, no stressy teenagers!!

 

[nobby the sheep]

Sw coast of Scotland getting my fresh air therapy with family

 

[grantoury]