How has mental illness affected your life?

There's a social aspect to self-harming. Fact..

Think of it like this - If, since before you were born, people were dealing with depression by going for a mile long jog instead. Imagine this was the norm, and noone knew of, or had ever 'self harmed' either physically, or mentally. Imagine that every time someone was going to self-harm in any way whatsoever - said self-harming was replaced with a mile long jog. Ever since before you were born. So now, when you feel depressed, would you self harm? No, because it'd never been done before and you had never heard of it and so would never even consider it. By that, we can deduce that self harming is in fact, a societal influence. For example, if you were aware that a family member had been 'hearing voices', you'd want to 'help' that person, by seeking medical attention, and in turn hope that these voices would soon stop. But in a completely different cultural setting, such as one in an African tribe (no racism intended - just an example), hearing voices would be seen as a positive thing. The person hearing the voices would be seen to have some kind of 'gift' and would looked up to, rather than looked down upon by his/her society.

That's what I mean by 'social', which I'm sure you already knew, but just wanted to be immature about it. But if you really did think that 'social' just means doing thing in groups, then I'd say depression is the least of your problems (in the society in which I assume you live - a western and first world one).

Yes, I knew that is what you meant by 'social'. Would it surprise you that I never heard about self harm when I started?

P.s are you a self harmer? If not, stop commenting because you see how it is from the outside and you cannot possibly understand.

If you knew what I meant by social, then why did you say some other random ****? Just being childish I guess...

Firstly, I believe that you were fully aware of what self-harming was before you started. Obviously you're going to lie to try and prove your point. And even if you weren't consciously aware of it, your subconscious will have, beyond any doubt whatsoever, been aware of it.

No, I haven't, which I think puts me in the perfect position to bring an unbiased view to the situation. Also, the fact that I study psychology and will become a psychologist also gives me a little bit more to provide to the argument. Furthermore I have two parents in clinical psychology (dealing directly with people like you on a daily basis, and have been doing so for about as long as you've been alive), a sister studying a doctorate in psychology,and various other members of my family in other departments in psychology. If anyone is least in the position to explain the things they do, it's the person with the mental illness. Fact.

I find it almost humorous that people try to come out with the 'You've never had it and so don't know anything about it' approach. I actually urge you to study psychology in depth.

Fact of the matter is that if noone had ever self-harmed or had any knowledge of it, and the coping mechanism that was widely
used instead was jogging for a mile (I know it is random -it's just an example), then that's exactly what you would have done - jogged for a mile. We are shaped by society. Self-harm is by no means a natural coping mechanism.

I cut myself twice today.

If anyone is least in the position to explain the things they do, it's the person with the mental illness. Fact.

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Well, I wasn't although you won't believe me but it was about 4 years ago when I started and I had never heard of it in the news, none of my friends were self harmers etc.

So you're going with the "I've read a book so I know all about it"? (yes, I know it's not just a book...)

I never said it was a natural coping mechanism but it was how I coped with my parents' divorce and the death of my grandfather. When those things happened, I didn't think jogging for a mile would help me, I wasn't thinking about anything. I just remember self harming and not feeling anything else and so I repeated it because I got the desired feeling that I wanted, to not feel the emotional pain. No, it is not natural but it is what helped/helps me cope.

Which is why research beyond randomised drug tests involving people with mental health problems never takes place

I think you have a point, in that the reason some people turn to it for the first time is going to be at least partly social, but I don't see how you're going to argue that it continues for social reasons as well.

People with mental illness can, and do, have insight in to their illness and their behaviour. You're not going to be able to understand why people self harm without having the perspective of the self-harmer, so they're not the least qualified to explain. Only they know what emotions, and situations led to the self-harm and for what reason they continued it.

Who said it continued for social reasons? There are a number of reasons that it can continue, familiarity and routine (both the stressors and the self-harm) being among the most common, with perceived results that the individual has coerced themselves into believing they achieve through self-harm.

Yes, obviously they have insight into their behaviour and illness, although a psychologist will have more insight into their behaviour and illness (being a psychologist and all).

'Only they know what emotions, and situations led to the self-harm and for what reason they continued it.' Not true. Anyone could know what emotions they're going through. Depends who they talk to etc. But again, their emotions are likely to be 'all over the place', and again, a good psychologist will have an unbiased and in depth understanding of their condition.

Four years ago. You were 14 and so would have been aware of either the goth or emo or both stereotype about them being depressed and resorting to self harm when hating their life. So you were aware of self-harm, even if it was subconscious.

No, it's not about reading books - it's about educating oneself and having highly experienced parents who basically dedicate their whole life to clinical psychology matters.

I know you didn't think jogging would help you. It was an example.

Sorry about your parents' divorce and grandfather's death btw.

I have derealization disorder and depression probably as a result of that.
It's frightening.

What sort of things do you experience with derealisation?

You can prove that? I knew about goths but I didn't know they resorted to self harm, I didn't read up about them. All I knew about them was they dressed in black, liked certain music etc.

I did say it wasn't all about reading books. You can't understand 100% what it is like. Not until you've been through it and I stand by that point.

I know it was an example but I was talking about any type of distraction, none of them work.

Thanks.

So you knew that they dressed in black and listened to certain music, but somehow the fact they self-harm just managed to elude you Even if you weren't consciously aware of self-harm, you subconscious was.

I'm pretty sure my parents have a better understanding of it than you do.

I'm guessing you actually haven't tried them all, but okay.

As a matter of fact, yes. They didn't go around sleeveless with noticable scars... I was quite sheltered then.

I'm pretty sure they don't seeing as how theye don't know my situation, they don't know anything about me, my background, my reasons... They don't know a lot of things. I think I understand myself a hell of a lot better than your parents do, who don't even know me.

No, I've not tried them all because there are far too many. Distractions last when they're happening and perhaps a short while after but if I got the urge to self harm, it wouldn't go away. It would be in the back of my mind and ultimately, I'd do it a short while afterwards. The distraction would have to be on-going. That's just for me though, distractions work for some people.

Again, your subconscious was aware of it (although I know you're lying about being consciously aware of it anyway). Also, they probably didn't go around blaring out their music, but you knew about that (inb4 'In my school they always played their music at full volume even in class').

I never said they were psychic, you complete and utter lower colon. You talk to the psychologist, then they know what's wrong with you. Can you not comprehend English. I never once claimed they had psychic abilities. And as much as you think you 'understand' yourself, you should remember that you're a human, with a brain, not an alien species yet to be scientifically studied. You have a brain, as do six billion people on the planet. You might like to imagine that you're different and unique, but the fact of the matter is that your brain acts the same as billions of others on the planets and so when you understand the 'typical' human brain, you understand the vastly overwhelming majority of human brains. And if you have depression, one of the most common mental illnesses, I'm pretty sure that my parents will know more about the depression and its effects on you, than you. Depression isn't going to have any special effects on you that it doesn't have on other people. You're just another person. Get over yourself.


Just stop replying.

Again, your subconscious was aware of it (although I know you're lying about being consciously aware of it anyway). Also, they probably didn't go around blaring out their music, but you knew about that (inb4 'In my school they always played their music at full volume even in class').

I never said they were psychic, you complete and utter lower colon. You talk to the psychologist, then they know what's wrong with you. Can you not comprehend English. I never once claimed they had psychic abilities. And as much as you think you 'understand' yourself, you should remember that you're a human, with a brain, not an alien species yet to be scientifically studied. You have a brain, as do six billion people on the planet. You might like to imagine that you're different and unique, but the fact of the matter is that your brain acts the same as billions of others on the planets and so when you understand the 'typical' human brain, you understand the vastly overwhelming majority of human brains. And if you have depression, one of the most common mental illnesses, I'm pretty sure that my parents will know more about the depression and its effects on you, than you. Depression isn't going to have any special effects on you that it doesn't have on other people. You're just another person. Get over yourself.


Just stop replying.