I'm not so sure this is a disorder

[homer_thompson]

howdy everyone,

i've been lurking around these boards for a couple of months now and i think it's done me some good. It's great to have an outlet for the type of thinking that we depressionados are so prone to, this site is a positive and valuable resource for me and i imagine for many of you other posters. i tend to read here far more than i contribute, i'm so interested in all your personal stories and the characters here. i commend you all for the tenacity to persist through difficult periods of life and for the bravery and selfless generosity you invest in sharing yourselves and building this online community.. kudos to you all *one man standing ovation*

here, as in RL, i'm disinclined to discuss my life or particular situation in chronology or detailed specifics as seems to be the accepted convention around BB, although i'll always answer a direct question honestly if asked, so feel free to if you are curious. What i'm most interested in at the moment is your feelings on your diagnoses..

i've been diagnosed with a couple of acronyms over the years, as have many of you. i should point out that i have the utmost repect for the medical profession (although slightly less for the medical industry) and hold the medical professionals that I have dealt with in high esteem. What puzzles me a bit is the "D" at the end of all of these acronyms; disorder.

In months of reading the stories here, and in my own life I've noticed that, by and large, people's emotional responses are entirely logical and completely justified. I recognise from your posts that many of us feel depressed or anxious or angry. But in the hundreds of posts I have read, there is not one of us, not a single one  whose sadness / anger/ confusion is not 100% completely justified. These feelings are the natural, uncontrollable response to the types of extraordinary stress from difficult life events that so many of you describe. So I'm curious, why is a normal, predictable and natural human emotional response to stress so often labelled as a "disorder" in the modern medical paradigm?

In addition, a 2007 ABS study showed that 45% of Australian adults self reported having battled with depression or other mental x"illness" in their lives. The number of people who actually have is likely to be much, much larger as negative stigmatisation prevents many from considering the reality. The rates have also grown rapidly since 07. So in a world where more than half of all adults have actually experienced these issues, it would appear that mental illness is now the new order and stoic, emotionless coping all the time is the new disorder. Sounds about right to me.

I'm really interested to hear all your thoughts on this issue. . Discuss. (lol, sorry, no it's not an exam question)

Wishing everyone a peaceful Easter.

[geoff]

dear Homer thompson, can I ask you a question before I begin, why have you used Homer thompson as your username, and not your first name, like I do and many others do, but what I do understand is that there are people on this most valuable site that have shown to use their own username to cover their identity from other people who maybe looking at this site as well.

It is well understood that this site has increased in size everyday, which means that 'mental illness is now the new order and stoic' as you have suggested, and there are possible reasons for this, and firstly because Beyond Blue has now undertaken the task to advertise more on TV, other media outlets, display boards and pamphlets in doctors clinics, facebook, their bus trip around Australia and word and mouth, all of which are trying to educate people that it's OK to now talk about depression, and trying to eliminate the stigma of it being a taboo topic.

You also say ' I'm disinclined to discuss my life or particular situation in chronology or detailed specifics as seems to be the accepted convention', well unfortunately that's something on which you have decided upon, but how are we to know that this illness has affected you unless you post a comment.

I also understand that there are many other people who maybe too frightened to post a comment, but the more they read other people's problems then this may find that their situation is no different, so they will be able to join us, and again that's why they use their version as a username, we don't really care about this, although some have too long a name, so we then abbreviate it with capital letters.

This site was formed by Jeff Kennett as he had the foresight to realise that this illness was lacking in real support, and that the word 'depression' should not be a taboo topic to discuss, and that there were many people who wanted to talk about their individual illness with other people, who maybe suffering the same as they are, or that there was a desperate need for so many people who wanted to talk about the 'word D'.

I have to mention that this site bears no criticism, nor any hardship to anyone who decides to posts, and in the case that this may happen it would not pass the Moderators who would decline to have it posted.

So it's a site in which we open our arms out to anybody who wants to place a comment, it's members as I will call them, only offer support, advice and suggestions as all of us have been to hell and back more times than you can count, I have to, but I am fortunate enough to have overcome this illness, in which so many other people are struggling to get where I am, but I understand their journey is a rocky one, one day feeling OK then the next falling back into the trap of depression.

OK I am very interested why you have been reading so many posts, which would indicate that you have also fallen into the grasp of depression.

That's so much for typing your letter as it's a very interesting one, and look forward to hearing back from you.

It's a long reply so sorry about this. Geoff.

[Mares73]

Dear Homer, what I understood from your post was that many people on this site who suffer from depression have also lived through some difficult & traumatic life experiences. I would agree with that & it's an interesting issue you raise. Many people who have experienced traumatic events do develop depression. But on their other hand there are just as many who dont. Some may say it's genetic or a chemical in balance or due to other unknown triggers.Then there are others with complex mental illness and no known "cause" as in nothing significant has happened in their life to explain them tragic illness that overtakes their lives. Again -others with schizophrenia, bipolar, borderline personality disorders & so on suffer with illnesses for which there is no known cause. If there was always a cause such as a trigger then they mental health professionals would be much more informed as to their cause & appropriate treatment for mental illness. I know of many people who have been devastated by then sudden onset of depression which can strike people out of nowhere ie no triggers, no traumas, just sudden onset of depression. I don't believe we can generalize as everyone's experience is unique. Also depression doesn't just affect their traumatised-we only have to read them stories of top athletes, popstars, social superstars to see that depression does not discriminate-regardless of status, age, gender, social & economic position & so on-its clear nobody is immune from depression. It's a tragic illness & for those who have also experienced trauma or hardship it's a double hit. But such people do not all suffer depression and along their same lines-people with seemingly perfect lives are not immune from depression. It crosses all boundaries & tragically hits people out of nowhere. Just my experience. Mares

[Neil_1]

Hi Homer

Must say that this is an interesting thread - with two previous responses pitting some good insights and possibly two different takes on what you were asking.  So now I'm here to produce a 3rd thought on your thread.

But before I do that, I will ask you (as you said that if you were asked a question, you wouldn't baulk or shy away from it, which is a very quality to have) as I feel like a cat although I don't want to be killed.  Get it, curiosity killed the cat - but I do have to ask, as yes, I am curious.  🙂

May I ask how long you've suffered from your mental illness and do you have triggers which commenced it - and on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is absolutely brilliantly sunny and cheery and 1 is deep dark, depths of despair, at present where do you feel you rate on that scale?

Sorry Homer, but I had to ask.

Now I believe your post was wishing to find out thoughts about why the term "disorder" is used to describe mental health issues, when for all intents and purposes, the use of the word 'disorder' is actually a more popular thing than how it's termed to be.  Now did that makes sense?  Cause I know in my head what I'm trying to say here - but without any immediate feedback, I can't guarantee that dear readers understand what I'm saying.  So I'll try again.

The word disorder I guess used to be aimed towards a smaller minority group of people who suffer from various assortments of mental health issues - or disorders.  But now, in our current day and age, where the numbers of mental health issues are climbing every day/every week, etc, that term disorder perhaps should not be used to describe üs".   Ok, so that's my shot at version two of what I thought you were asking.

NOW for my take on it - I do hope that the term 'disorder' continues to apply to üs" who suffer from this awful illness/disease.  I say this very strongly too, because I think if it was to be removed then that would only increase the fight that we have with the general population about our illness and the stigma with it will never go away.

Ok, I've had my little thought on this - but Homer, excellent thread you've started and I really look forward to what others have to say - and also look forward to hearing back from you for (a) your responses to earlier replies, (b) your response to this reply and (c) your response to my earlier asked questions.

Cheers

Neil