It's been a while since I have used this venue. Since there may be some new readers, I thought I'd mix things up with a few fun questions. They may seem a little strange at first but, I think you'll catch on. Ready for the first one? Who's more pregnant-a petite woman at eight and a half months or a large-framed woman at three months?
On one hand, the petite woman may seem like her experience has had the bigger impact. But, the large-framed woman will probably say her life is forever changed as well. Even though one woman's condition may not be as easily identified, pregnant is pregnant. The time makes it more obvious to others. But, the degree of the impact on the pregnant woman can't be quantified by strangers.
Mental illness can be a lot like two pregnant women. Even though two people may have the same diagnosis, their experiences may be completely dissimilar. There are people who are schizophrenic who are able to maintain jobs and homes of their own with little or no help from anyone else. There are others with the same condition that depend heavily on others to provide for their care. Likewise, conditions like autism, bipolar disorder, and Tourette Syndrome occur along a spectrum. People with these conditions may have very different lives than another person with the same diagnosis. In fact, the symptoms of a person's may be so insignificant, or so well controlled by their drug therapy, that one might question their diagnosis.
It's impossible to judge one person's mental health by comparing them to other people you know. It can also be dangerous to discount a doctor 's diagnosis because you're not as 'bad off' as someone else you know with the same diagnosis. Every brain is unique. Expect every person with a mental illness or brain disorder to experience their life in their own unique way.
Ready for the next question? Of the approximately eight billion people in the world today, whose favorite color is the right one? This one is easy! It's purple. Right? But which purple? With how much blue and how much red? And combined with which colors? Okay. You've got me. There is no right favorite color. Favorite anythings are specific to the person you ask and their mood at the time.
Treatments for brain disorders are like favorite colors-specific to the individual. If your doctor prescribes a medicine that causes side effects that are more unpleasant than your illness, don't quit cold turkey and give up. Go back to your doctor with specific information he/she can use to find a better therapy for you. If your medicine makes you too tired, you may just need a lower dose. If you have a dual diagnosis, psychotherapy plus a 12-step program might be a better plan for you. If you have reached a point in therapy where you're ready to tackle some of your behaviors, maybe you can continue your drug therapy and try attending Emotions Anonymous meetings. If you struggle socially or live far from local meetings, you can attend some 12-step meetings online. The point is: work with your doctor to find the best treatment plan for you and your lifestyle.
Here's another question. If you could choose a superpower, knowing that every power has its own 'Kryptonite,' would you still choose to be super?
This is a question I can't answer for you. There is one hint I can give you 'though. The way you answer this question can mean the difference between joy and pain.
See, this is a trick question because you already are super. You may not be able to leap tall buildings. But every person has talent and is important to someone else. And, yes, that statement includes people who are mentally Ill. Even those who are profoundly impaired are loved and special in their own way. The difference is that a doctor has informed us of our potential weaknesses and is trying to treat us so we can go on to be super. That information can make you better or bitter. The choice is yours. The way I see it, my doctor is Professor Xavier. My Emotions Anonymous group is Xavier's Academy for Gifted Youngsters.
I didn't write the last riddle. I think that it's the most important of all. What's greater than God and more evil than the devil? Some think that the poor have it. Some think the rich need it. If you eat it, you'll die.
While you ponder my last question, I want to encourage you. As I have had a greater need for encouragement, I have become more certain of my faith as God has met my needs. I have found tools to manage my emotions in the twelve steps of Emotions Anonymous. But, I believe that all of my success and comfort come from the Lord. While I am powerless over my emotion, I can behave appropriately when I surrender to His sovereignty. When I allow my emotions to control my actions, my sins are forgiven since Jesus took my punishment on the cross. Also, the Holy Spirit, the God of all truth, reveals my sin to me so I can repent and make amends to others when I hurt them. If you don't believe you need a higher power or have chosen one other the God of the Bible I want to caution you. There will come a time when you are so depressed, amped, afraid, or angry that you will feel compelled to do something dangerous to you or someone else. When that time comes, I urge you to cry out to the God of Heaven. He has not designed you to carry any burden alone. He has, however, given for you a Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. He has promised to keep you in perfect peace as your mind stays on Him and trusts in Him. He has even promised to give you the faith to trust Him when you ask. I beg you not to ever be too proud, angry, or depressed to reach out to Him. I promise you with everything in me that He will never ever let you down.
I didn't forget about that last riddle. Did you figure it out? It's nothing. If you eat nothing, you'll die. People think poor people have nothing and rich people need nothing. But, I know for a fact that if poor people know the Lord, they have everything. And if rich people don't know the Lord, they have nothing. There is nothing more evil than the devil, except perhaps a human heart under his control. And there is nothing, absolutely nothing that is greater than God.
Mental illness can be a lot like two pregnant women. Even though two people may have the same diagnosis, their experiences may be completely dissimilar. There are people who are schizophrenic who are able to maintain jobs and homes of their own with little or no help from anyone else. There are others with the same condition that depend heavily on others to provide for their care. Likewise, conditions like autism, bipolar disorder, and Tourette Syndrome occur along a spectrum. People with these conditions may have very different lives than another person with the same diagnosis. In fact, the symptoms of a person's may be so insignificant, or so well controlled by their drug therapy, that one might question their diagnosis.
It's impossible to judge one person's mental health by comparing them to other people you know. It can also be dangerous to discount a doctor 's diagnosis because you're not as 'bad off' as someone else you know with the same diagnosis. Every brain is unique. Expect every person with a mental illness or brain disorder to experience their life in their own unique way.
Ready for the next question? Of the approximately eight billion people in the world today, whose favorite color is the right one? This one is easy! It's purple. Right? But which purple? With how much blue and how much red? And combined with which colors? Okay. You've got me. There is no right favorite color. Favorite anythings are specific to the person you ask and their mood at the time.
Treatments for brain disorders are like favorite colors-specific to the individual. If your doctor prescribes a medicine that causes side effects that are more unpleasant than your illness, don't quit cold turkey and give up. Go back to your doctor with specific information he/she can use to find a better therapy for you. If your medicine makes you too tired, you may just need a lower dose. If you have a dual diagnosis, psychotherapy plus a 12-step program might be a better plan for you. If you have reached a point in therapy where you're ready to tackle some of your behaviors, maybe you can continue your drug therapy and try attending Emotions Anonymous meetings. If you struggle socially or live far from local meetings, you can attend some 12-step meetings online. The point is: work with your doctor to find the best treatment plan for you and your lifestyle.
Here's another question. If you could choose a superpower, knowing that every power has its own 'Kryptonite,' would you still choose to be super?
This is a question I can't answer for you. There is one hint I can give you 'though. The way you answer this question can mean the difference between joy and pain.
See, this is a trick question because you already are super. You may not be able to leap tall buildings. But every person has talent and is important to someone else. And, yes, that statement includes people who are mentally Ill. Even those who are profoundly impaired are loved and special in their own way. The difference is that a doctor has informed us of our potential weaknesses and is trying to treat us so we can go on to be super. That information can make you better or bitter. The choice is yours. The way I see it, my doctor is Professor Xavier. My Emotions Anonymous group is Xavier's Academy for Gifted Youngsters.
I didn't write the last riddle. I think that it's the most important of all. What's greater than God and more evil than the devil? Some think that the poor have it. Some think the rich need it. If you eat it, you'll die.
While you ponder my last question, I want to encourage you. As I have had a greater need for encouragement, I have become more certain of my faith as God has met my needs. I have found tools to manage my emotions in the twelve steps of Emotions Anonymous. But, I believe that all of my success and comfort come from the Lord. While I am powerless over my emotion, I can behave appropriately when I surrender to His sovereignty. When I allow my emotions to control my actions, my sins are forgiven since Jesus took my punishment on the cross. Also, the Holy Spirit, the God of all truth, reveals my sin to me so I can repent and make amends to others when I hurt them. If you don't believe you need a higher power or have chosen one other the God of the Bible I want to caution you. There will come a time when you are so depressed, amped, afraid, or angry that you will feel compelled to do something dangerous to you or someone else. When that time comes, I urge you to cry out to the God of Heaven. He has not designed you to carry any burden alone. He has, however, given for you a Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. He has promised to keep you in perfect peace as your mind stays on Him and trusts in Him. He has even promised to give you the faith to trust Him when you ask. I beg you not to ever be too proud, angry, or depressed to reach out to Him. I promise you with everything in me that He will never ever let you down.
I didn't forget about that last riddle. Did you figure it out? It's nothing. If you eat nothing, you'll die. People think poor people have nothing and rich people need nothing. But, I know for a fact that if poor people know the Lord, they have everything. And if rich people don't know the Lord, they have nothing. There is nothing more evil than the devil, except perhaps a human heart under his control. And there is nothing, absolutely nothing that is greater than God.
