Does anybody else have this hesitation?

[Glaug-Eldare]

I'm loath to talk here for fear that if I get into an argument (or even just a discussion) somewhere else, the mere fact that I post here will provide their argument against me. "LOL, whatever, you're just off your meds. Go back to MHSG."

[elleng]

1. No such hesitation for me.

Stay around.

[Tobin S.]

2. No, and if someone does that give me a holler and I'll kick their ass

Seriously, I've been posting in this forum since its inception and I've never had that problem. If someone would say that to me I'd say it was a pretty weak attempt at stifling the conversation. It would be a good sign that you've gotten the best of them in the argument.

[Denninmi]

3. I agree, Tobin.

I've been slugging it out pretty hard the past 3-4 weeks in GD, and I have had some people say some rough things, but none of them said that or referred to anything said in this group.

My opinion, the world can be harsh, some days you take it on the chin, you need to be tough enough to roll with the punches. Kinda like this:

[Sophiegirl]

4. I find that it isn't worth the effort....

...to try to convince people who don't understand the complexities of mental illness or mental health, and that the issues involved are 1) more common than people know or want to admit to not understanding; 2) are not because of a character flaw(s); 3) are physiological (not pathological) issues; and 4) that more people than not suffer from one or another form of mental illness.

I don't even try to explain it to people. Most folks simply don't have enough REAL information to understand it and the varying degrees that mental illness affects people.

I try hard to deal with my own issues....with a lot of help from family, friends and mental health professionals. I, for the most part, keep them out of the "public eye." I know that there are people who want folks like me to advocate for mental illness issues. But many of us who suffer with it, and are willing to come out to a select few, are just not particularly well equipped to be strong advocates. It's hard enough to deal with day-to-day life.

Forgive me. I am cycling right now. Pretty hyper today and am probably not making much sense.

Consider this a "vent."

[HereSince1628]

5. I think that's an important point...

there is no expectation that persons participating in MHSG be activists/advocates.

[Denninmi]

6. Well. I told the group back in Oct. how the quack psych told me to come out.

That was truly about my third major "What The Fuck" moment of Crisis 2012. Hypocritical ass, sentenced me to the psych ward, turned my life upside down when it wasn't necessary, made me feel more shame than I ever have about anything, then told me I shouldn't feel bad about the whole thing.

Yeah, right.

But, I kind of like slugging it out now on GD or Meta, someone has to do it, even if the ignorant bastards just can't get the concepts under discussion. I know, it's easy in the anonymity of the Internet. Would be harder in flesh and blood.

Face it, if we don't stand up for ourselves, no one else is going to do it for us.

That doesn't mean everyone needs to put on the gloves and enter the ring, just do what feels right for them. What feels right to me is letting these idiots know that I'm not taking their shit lying down. Register me just because I take lamictal, I think not? Register every last firearm first, then we'll talk a out it, answer will still be No Fucking Way. But I'll tell them in a polite way to F off and leave us alone to live our lives.

[HereSince1628]

7. There's also no prohibition on advocacy, either...

Within MHSG, there is some expectation that participants practice, according to their individual abilities, empathy.

Out in the forums few of those using stigmatizing language or advocating policies like national registries of Wayne La Pierres' 'lunatics' are practicing empathy and damned few have any depth of knowledge of psychology or mental illness.

I suppose that's part of why those forums can be so arousing...few show concern for our/my sensitivities. But, I suspect another part of why those forums can be so arousing is not actually out there in the forums, but rather it is within me/us.

Having a disorder is problematic all by itself. Additionally, there are the issues of adjusting and accepting having such a diagnosis applied to my/our behaviors and emotions--things I/we see as intimate expressions of self.

Maybe those of us who have a need to be out in the forums fighting stigma are doing it as a vicarious fight against our own fearful beliefs?

Maybe all those usernames posting uninformed, stigmatizing bullshit are just surrogates for 'me'.

Who can say?

[Denninmi]

8. A vicarious fight with myself?

Absolutely. It's no secret how much I have struggled with fear, of stigma, of where I might end up in life, of how this could play out if I am "outed".

So, yes, the outer battle definitely reflects my internal battle. I guess I accept myself better if I know others are willing to accept me, and that I can defend myself against those who would oppress because they cannot accept.

[tama]

9. Self-confidence

is good state and good to learn:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creative-development/201111/is-self-confidence-pre-determined

And to my understanding and in my experience, it really comes from "self", not from social status and competitive social games.