General Discussion

blazeKing

(329 posts)

17. You're at an increased risk

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 07:04 PM

Dec 2012

I was mentally ill from 18-23 with severe depression. I took meds for it and they were powerful meds that changed a lot of my personality. I came off them over an 8 month taper and it was worth it in the end, I no longer suffer at all.

Looking back, I COMPLETELY understand why people are very wary of people with mental illness. I completely understand why I was discriminated against in terms of job opportunities and everything else. Would you have a paranoid schizophrenic babysit your kids? Would you hire someone with a mood disorder that makes them go off on a customer every now and then? Normal thinking people have every right to be skeptical and wary of those with mental conditions and especially those with untreated mental conditions.

The statistics don't say you are going to be a killer, they say you are at an increased risk. Just like those who are obese are at an increased risk of diabetes. Also be aware that these statistics are with people who have been diagnosed and committed a crime. A lot of mental illness in this country is NOT DIAGNOSED and NOT counted in crime statistics.

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I was diagnosed with Bipolar II last summer, spent 3 weeks in a psychiatric day program. [View all] Denninmi Dec 2012 OP

We as a society have to process this tragedy as it is and for what it is... FarPoint Dec 2012 #1

Denninmi!! blaze Dec 2012 #2

you're not a danger to society. mentally ill doesn't automatically = psychopath dionysus Dec 2012 #3

mental illness can take the best people in the world liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #6

i agree completely. i think this shooter had severe mentall illness. but let us not act as if dionysus Dec 2012 #10

It's also next to impossible to force an adult to get treatment. LeftInTX Dec 2012 #19

Way too many DUers are steadfastly convinced that is the case, though. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2012 #61

You have no right to own a gun HockeyMom Dec 2012 #4

you do have a right to own a gun dlwickham Dec 2012 #54

My dear Denninmi... CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2012 #5

Do you really think you should own a gun? I don't. Shivering Jemmy Dec 2012 #7

you know yourself, but you don't know the op cali Dec 2012 #11

If you really, really, really want to keep people from seeking help with mental difficulties Fumesucker Dec 2012 #12

It's not the gun ownership it's the facile baseless fear of the mentally ill HereSince1628 Dec 2012 #16

Well said BainsBane Dec 2012 #21

+1 freshwest Dec 2012 #44

This message was self-deleted by its author HereSince1628 Dec 2012 #39

you said it better than i ever could fizzgig Dec 2012 #40

I come across all sorts of rage-drunk "sane" assholes who shouldnt own 'em either Warren DeMontague Dec 2012 #25

+1 n/t jtuck004 Dec 2012 #47

Exactly where in my post did I say I wanted to own a gun? Denninmi Dec 2012 #26

We're not all broad brush painting... progressoid Dec 2012 #8

Thanks. Denninmi Dec 2012 #28

I am so sorry. I have been enraged by the insensitivity on display here cali Dec 2012 #9

I'm so sorry. Terra Alta Dec 2012 #13

My 28 y.o. son is in now in a psych ward in Oregon. 99th_Monkey Dec 2012 #14

I'm sorry about your son LeftInTX Dec 2012 #22

It is never easy or straightforward. 99th_Monkey Dec 2012 #32

Mental illness is one of the last societal taboos, in that "we don't discuss it" in public Fire Walk With Me Dec 2012 #15

+1 Thanks for the education. n/t Smarmie Doofus Dec 2012 #34

Oh, important addendum... Fire Walk With Me Dec 2012 #46

You're at an increased risk blazeKing Dec 2012 #17

False BainsBane Dec 2012 #23

Yeah. That's helpful. Denninmi Dec 2012 #31

As someone with a Bipolar Diagnosis redStateBlueHeart Dec 2012 #18

What mental illness looks like BainsBane Dec 2012 #20

We need specialized profiling XemaSab Dec 2012 #24

This is America we're talking about here Fumesucker Dec 2012 #45

The vast, vast, vast majority of people with mental health issues are not dangerous. backscatter712 Dec 2012 #27

I worry more about the "tea party" marching around with rifles than I do about the "mentally ill" Fire Walk With Me Dec 2012 #41

Me too. Denninmi Dec 2012 #50

It is human nature and the american way to look for one simple solution for every problem. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2012 #29

So... When did you stop shooting random people in schools and shopping malls? Quantess Dec 2012 #30

Depressive with suicidal tendencies is not a public safety issues. Bipolar in manic phase is. FarCenter Dec 2012 #33

It can be. Denninmi Dec 2012 #35

there are states enacting laws to try to prevent those kinds of behaviors liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #43

Yes the BS needs to stop. Mental illness does not equate to murderer. TexasTowelie Dec 2012 #36

i think some people use it to distract for the need to have gun control JI7 Dec 2012 #37

Hi, Denninmi! Good to see you! intaglio Dec 2012 #38

Thanks, I am. Denninmi Dec 2012 #51

Not all violence is the same. The cause of safety won't be helped by conflating the unlike HereSince1628 Dec 2012 #42

most people with mental illnesses are not dangerous. Deep13 Dec 2012 #48

Well, I'm pretty sure I'm not dangerous. Denninmi Dec 2012 #52

same here nt Deep13 Dec 2012 #55

People with mental illness are far more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of crime etherealtruth Dec 2012 #49

A lot of people are being broadbushed: Aspergers' (sp?), shy people, ecstatic Dec 2012 #53

The mental health canard is used to derail any real discussion of gun owenership/control/regulation. geckosfeet Dec 2012 #56

Thanks for a gutsy and challenging OP. JohnnyLib2 Dec 2012 #57

No, you're not dangerous AnnieBW Dec 2012 #58

Thanks, I know that. Denninmi Dec 2012 #60

Mmmm... clams... AnnieBW Dec 2012 #62

K and R Hatchling Dec 2012 #59

Part of our societal problem is lack of understanding of mental health issues. Coyotl Dec 2012 #63

If only more of us would take better care of what we learn. Festivito Dec 2012 #64