![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Angela2 on June 28, 2015, at 18:41:01
1. My diagnosis. I've been so scared for so long to come out with it. Even on a mental health support board. Here's what I'm diagnosed with: major depression, social anxiety, schizoaffective disorder. It's time to come out with it. People don't really know what the last one is, and I don't feel the need to explain to anyone, unless it's a close loved one. I'm grateful, because while most of the time I feel like a normal, everyday person, there are times when this last diagnosis makes sense to me, and it makes me feel better. I think that little by little, I am seeing people with this and other schizo diagnoses come out of the closet about it, so to speak. It's really not such a bad thing, for one, and two, it's incredibly misunderstood and feared by the society as a whole when really it doesn't need to be. Schizophrenia does not equal violent and evil. I'd like to see a day where I can feel good about myself, and say, I have this diagnosis. And at the same time, know that any diagnosis I have is not my identity.
2. My mom. She made dinner for us, stuffed shells. Yum and she's awesome.
3. I really want to be successful. I want to be able to live on my own, go back to college, hold down a job. These are things I want for myself. ps: I have an interview later in July at the local medical university. Yay. It felt really good to see that I was wanted for the interview!
4. I want a partner (wow, I think this gratitude list is turning into a wish list, lol). I also think that i need a substantial amount of time to myself. Oh yes, yes I do.
5. I'm grateful that everything has happened the way it has. When I stopped being friends with R, my guy friend, it was really hard on me. I literally threw a tantrum. A few times. Things were hard for a little while. But I've begun to face loneliness. I mean really face her. And it's not so bad. I experience really deep emotions about it, loneliness. And lately, without R's help, I've been dealing with it on my own. It's a great feeling. I feel triumphant and accomplished. Watching Bob's Burgers helps. So does writing and drawing cartoons :)
I guess that's all I have to say for now. I have a 2015 - 2016 goal list that I'd like to show you all at some point. But for now, I'm signing off :) Wherever you guys are I hope there's a silver lining somewhere in your Sunday.
Posted by Tomatheus on June 29, 2015, at 14:29:55
In reply to Gratitude and good things (a deeper version), posted by Angela2 on June 28, 2015, at 18:41:01
Angela,
You definitely put together a good, thoughtful list, as you always do. It's always nice to read about the things that you're grateful for, and I think that putting together gratitude lists can be helpful for individuals who may sometimes have difficulties recognizing all of the positive things going on in their lives with a lot of negative things going on. In my opinion, you did a nice job of identifying some of the good things in your life, and I think that you serve as a good example of a person who has a lot to be grateful for, despite facing the challenges associated with your diagnoses.
And speaking of your diagnoses, I think that "coming out" with your schizoaffective diagnosis was most definitely a courageous thing to do. Yes, there is a lot of stigma surrounding mental illnesses -- especially those that involve hallucinations, delusions, and related symptoms -- and I think that you're absolutely right that schizophrenia and related disorders shouldn't be equated with violence and evil. I also like the point that you made that despite the fact that you have schizoaffective disorder, along with major depression and social anxiety, that the illness isn't your identity. We are people first and foremost, and we have a lot of different things that make us who we are. Mental illnesses, though they do affect who we are as people, really shouldn't define us, and I always like to see individuals with mental illness demonstrate that they have many facets to their identities, with their illness(es) only being a small part of who they are.
Another thing on your list that I was particularly pleased to read about was the fact that you have a job interview coming up next month. Becoming employed after being out of work for some time is always a big step forward, and I wish you the best of luck with your interview.
Well, that about sums up what I have to say for now. I would like to read your goal list when you do feel ready to post it. I hope that your day's been going well.
Tomatheus
Posted by Angela2 on June 29, 2015, at 20:03:50
In reply to Re: Gratitude and good things (a deeper version) » Angela2, posted by Tomatheus on June 29, 2015, at 14:29:55
Hi Tomatheus, and thank you. :)
How are you? I hope you're doing well.
Posted by Tomatheus on June 29, 2015, at 20:56:22
In reply to Re: Gratitude and good things (a deeper version) » Tomatheus, posted by Angela2 on June 29, 2015, at 20:03:50
I'm doing ok, Angela. As you can probably tell from my signature, it's problems with concentration and, to a lesser extent, energy, that have seemed to challenge me more than any other problems associated with my affective psychosis over the last few years. And right now, my concentration and energy aren't too bad, and I suspect that this is due to the combination of supplements (niacin, molybdenum glycinate, zinc, and curcumin) that I'm taking along with my Abilify. So, I've been taking advantage of the fact that my concentration has been rather decent and have been doing some reading today. Whether or not I'll keep feeling how I've been feeling is hard to say, but I'll try to remain optimistic.
Tomatheus
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.