Well everyone, I have to come on here and vent about some bullshit that I have been hearing and reading non-stop after that horrible tradgedy in Conneticut this past Friday. Let me just say that to have a mental illness is traumatic enough without the bullshit and negative stigma that society attatches to it and how long it has taken people with mental illness in this country to be treated with respectful, efective and educated treatment, instead of what they used to do to us back in the day which was lock us up in torchurous assylums; as if people like us deserved punishment instead of treatment for a disease that we had no control over.
After the shooting, all that I have been hearing is, "all these shootings are just because ppl with mental problems are allowed to run rampid, they need to be locked up or placed under really heavily monitered care, crazy people need to be locked up before they do something destructive!" This is not only extremely hurtful but it demonstrates just how scary ignorant ppl STILL are about a person with a mental illness, and a monster. THere is a difference and moronic ASSHOLES are grouping the two together and that does not make me feel very safe or respected. It is HARD ENOUGH for a person like us to not only admit to having an illness, but to then admit to OTHERS that we have illnesses. It keeps us from getting help, from our families supporting us, or from healthily expressing our pain. Let me just say something about the type of person that can go into a building and slaughter a bunch of human beings-there is much more going on than just a mental illness. I do not think that Osama Bin Laden had Bi-Polar Disorder or that Hitler had anxiety or aneorexia. As a person who has fought their whole lives to survive with a horrible tormenting chemical imbalance, it feels like nothing more than our country's education going backwards when I hear bullshit like, "Lock up the crazies, keep a closer eye on them!" It feels like nothing more than a complete spit in the face after knowing people like me, knowing their lives, knowing their struggle, and knowing their hearts. It is the utmost insult to too many valuable ppl here on this blog and in this country. Please do not let ignorant people run their mouths off about things like this. There is a difference between a mentally ill person and a monster.
I agree and I'm angry and disgusted too about what people have been typing in various forums about people with mental illness. I'm afraid some of our civil rights might be taken away from those of us who suffer from mental illnesses.There is still such a stigma and ignorance out there..ive been rejected by people in regards to dating and friendships because when I revealed the things I go through,they automatically believed I was like some kind of dangerous person. I am also angry and bitter because I have had a lot of hospitalizations in my lifetime,and I have had bad experiences in a lot of the hospitals I was in..mean,uncaring staff,unconcerned doctors,units that were dirty..and not just dirty to people with OCD..other people there who didnt have OCD were complaining about the nastiness of the units and the terrible staff.I really hope things improve,instead of regressing-it is tough enough as it is for us
 I think this is the way they will handle it. Do better screening, test more, see who is teetering on the edge and maybe, just maybe some better health services will evolve from this. One can only hope.
I am not worrying about the route they take as long as they get there.
The other aspect in the one unknowable states below.
I’d say it different, though, When will they realize that the so called normals can flip under the proper circumstances too.
Well said i couln't agree more also what Unknowable and ancientgeekcrone said is so true,
Hey there, Jess. It is difficult to look at this story and not be offended at being lumped into the same category as this man. Mental illness covers so many things…it’s like saying you have a blood disorder…well…ok…rattle off one of a hundred or so and maybe you’ll define the person you’re looking at. We never look at a killer and say, “he has a long history of being a professional dancer.” One thing doesn’t always have to do with the other.
Â
The fact is, this man -was- mentally ill and the community he lived in had the misfortune of him being born to a gun enthusiast who would take her sons to the firing range, collected weapons, and worried aloud to her friends about her one son’s mental status which went way beyond being the shy, awkward kid at school from what I’ve been reading. Ultimately, it’s his family and the system that failed him–no recommendations for treatment that we know of from teachers or doctors and very poor judgment from his parents on what to keep around the house and what to involve their son in.
Â
People are always going to look for reasons that some on the fringes of society engage in appalling behavior. Unfortunately, almost any category these people fall into, it’s sometimes hard for people to imagine that a healthy mind could act out such things because it leaves the mainstream open to the unsettling possibility that it could be -any- person that could snap and do this. And so…these days…we hold mental illness up, nod, and say…yep, that’s it.
Â
I know it’s hard to read the comments on some forums from uninformed people…but none of us can expect that the world population as a whole is going to be enchanted with the idea of studying mental illness and seeing that people with OCD aren’t on par with psychopaths. It sucks. It really does. The best thing you can do is be an ambassador for people with mental illness–to go out and live your life every day as a good and caring person. And say it when you’re comfortable. Say “I have a mental illness”…because it forces those around you to put a face to mental illness and differentiate between -you- and other harmless people and those whose anger or frustration is so great that they commit senseless acts of violence. Thank you for the great blog on this issue. I hope everybody realizes that instead of -withdrawing- and hiding their OCD to avoid the stigma of mental illness that it’s times like this where it’s great to show the vast majority of those with mental illness are good human beings…by putting yourself out there and living life on your own terms. This won’t be the last “mental illness gone wrong” horror story in the news, but hopefully we can change society’s perception of mental illness in years to come. It’s a long battle, but it’s definitely worth fighting. Thank you again.Â
P.S. Try to smile and keep in mind that if all the crazies are locked up…we're going to need a lot more buildings and next to nobody is going to be walking the streets. *winks*
Why can't they just say he was a bad or evil person. Why do they have to have something to blame it on.When are people going to recognize and admit that true evil does walk this earth.
I'm so glad that all of you understand and are as pissed as I am. People like us need to keep defending eachother and ourselves. I'm still doing my project about ppl with mental illness, starting with my own crazy story. May be you guys can follow me on it through my tumblr.
I feel like we should all try to be advocates for people like ourselves and eachother more at this time than any other time. The fact is that believe me, this whole incident has kept me from sleeping at night; KIDS being shot SEVERAL times, a lot of them born in 05! I do not want to come off as trying to make this issue about me, I just see a lot of ignorance coming to surface because this is not the first mass shooting in this past year! People don't want to give up their guns, so they are going to put the switch onto the mentally ill. Now is the time to spread awareness and try very hard to educate people because as we have seen in the past, people do awful things out of fear and ignorance.