i hear you but the truth is they have nothing else to say, its all they have to compare it with, if you are talking about me or other members on here then i guess we can relate more.
tbh i like downplaying things, i try to downplay my illness as much as possible as it helps me remain stable, i mean what is the alternative? leave things the way they are or make them worse?
all my delusions i have ever had i try and downplay them now to myself, i make light of them and try to make a joke of it, i think that is down playing the seriousness of my illness at the time but now i donât really care about then, that was a bad time for me so i may as well try and turn it around, i donât want to get depressed every time i think of a bad thing that has happened to me.
That is what I do a lot of⌠I do personally try to up the humor of the situation⌠it makes it easier to talk to some family with out invoking a guilt response. I do get a little irritated that I canât be so straight up with everyone⌠but Iâve just had to learn what family I can really talk to and what family not to scare away.
Plus⌠Iâve had so much negativity and depression in my life⌠I like trying to clear out the depression and negative cobwebs.
iâve found that putting a positive spin on a negative experience helps people to realise that you are over it and that you have recovered from said situation, its the way you say it,
like if someone asks why you are unwell for some reason i try to think up something like, well it was usually cars that had a breakdown in our garage but at that point IT WAS ME haha and just try and make a joke of it, its better than getting all defensive and unwell about it, its a better way to deal with it.
idk if that is a good example but it is things like that i think
I get that a lot. Both on my side and especially the in-laws. âWell everyone has ups and downsâ (true, but I bet mine are a teensy bit more extreme). M-I-L has an AD prescribed by a GP, so she thinks sheâs on the same level I am. âOh, just do this incredibly difficult thing, itâs no big deal. I donât see why you canât just do this simple thing.â Then Iâm the bad guy for not making it family events. Iâm the lazy guy that doesnât care for others feelings.
Nod and acknowledge that it sucks can do wonders sometimes. Also, donât ask a lot. It seems invasive. If he starts to open up, listen and nod. If his mood isnât serious at the time, make a small joke or two. And please donât stare. Your son is in his 20s? PS? I used to hate (still do) when people/esp. my mom look too hard . Very hyper vigilant about such things. Sometimes the loved ones donât even notice theyâre doing it.
I do notice the family who Iâm comfortable talking to doesnât try to compare my situation to otherâs situation in that manner. They donât try to box it up with other families problems.
Excellent post ! It is so true, my symptoms get downplayed all of the time, especially by my brother and father - My negative symptoms quickly become a bout of laziness according to my father - he just does not get it.
It is very difficult for many neurotypicals to truly understand what we go through. It is very frustrating
I understand how you feel. My symptoms get downplayed as simple confusion or hearing problems by doctors. They try to tell me I have every thing BUT what I have been diagnosed with.
Sorry for laughing but âdonât try to compare it to your little earworm.â I laughed so hard at this, I choked on my coffee. Yea, people have down played my symptoms like they knew what it was like to hear screams non stop for hours.
I think maybe itâs their way of trying to relate to you.
I agree itâs annoying, I do, but Iâve learned not to take offense at it. After all, they probably mean well, and want to sound like they understand what youâre going through.
What I canât stand, though, is the people who say âI know how it feels, I have a mental illness myselfâ as if having a mental illness makes them a fecking expert on the subject.
It doesnât bother me as much when people compare to my symptoms. Sometimes makes me feel included actually. Itâs when they say, âEveryone hears voices in their head. Get over yourself.â Not to my face, but without knowing Iâm schizophrenic Iâve heard it said.
haha and just try and make a joke of it, its better than getting all defensive and unwell about it, its a better way to deal with it.
Can I get an Amen? Thank you in the back.