are you mentally ill or not?

[LaVieEnRose]

agreed! i still refuse to believe that all people that want to commit suicide are mentally ill

---

The traditional statistic often spouted is that 90% of people who kill themselves suffered from a psychiatric disease. 10% is a small but definitely not negligible percentage (assuming that's true).

I think the most important point is that mental Illness doesn't necessarily void someone's capacity.

 

[heavyeyes]

I've been severely mentally ill for almost half of my life now. I haven't been able to have a normal life.

 

[ksp]

i was correct about mental illnesses and my intentions, in general


what is wrong in my question: imprecision

---

here is what my initial question wrongfully implys:

• are you having a headache?
• are you having a stomachache?

are you ill, or not? - you cannot possibly be precise about answering this

---

here is what my question should imply:

• do you have a severe and persistent headache, everyday of your life? - unable to function
• do you have a severe and persistent stomachache, everyday of your life - unable to function

how do you consider your mental illness, on a scale of 1 to 10

1 = mostly healthy, most days	90% wellness	able to function
2 = mostly healthy, most days	80% wellness	able to function
3 = mostly healthy, most days	70% wellness	able to function
…		able to function
9 = rarely healthy, most days	10% wellness	barely able to function
10 = crippled, most days	1% wellness	unable to function

---

i did more research on mental illness and discovered that
everyone, is existence, has had a mental illness

just the same that
everyone, in existence, has had a physical illness

having an mental illness is the same as having a cough:
sometimes you do
sometimes you don't (mostly not, or at least more than 50% not)

---

most people in this thread will rush to evaluate themselves as 'mentally ill', and are correct to a point

the main difference is between

• mental illness, as a general term, and (on and off)
• mental illness, as in severe AND persistent (debilitating)

all people have mental illness, at one point or another
- can perform basic tasks routinely, and function in society - consistently

few people have severe and persistent severe AND persistent mental illnesses
- can not perform basic tasks routinely, and function in society - consistently

---

my question is inaccurate, so many answers may be potentially inaccurate

please reconsider your own answer for improved accuracy (very easy to change your vote)
i can't change any votes - only you can change your own vote
current results: 80 votes - yes (ill) / 45 votes - no (healthy), as of oct 27, 2022

also, thanks for challenging me!

---

the concept of Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) is complex, and it has a long history

- starting with the initial and imprecise definition of SMI - Severe Mental Illness (SMI)
- ending with the current 'a lack of consensus among researchers' about SPMI

most of you are extremely intelligent and will be able to comprehend the complications, from this paper from NIH (National Institutes of Health): Defining Severe and Persistent Mental Illness, but probably you will not have enough motivation or patience to read it

---

serious mental illness at wikipedia:

Serious mental illness or severe mental illness (SMI) is characterized as any mental health condition that seriously impairs anywhere from one to several significant life activities including day to day functioning

ps. it took me many hours in preparing this post!

 

[Anonymus]

I put an extract from my 2019 psychiatric report (waiting for the current one):
//
Poso un extracte del meu informe psiquiàtric del 2019 (a l'espera de l'actual):

"I believe that the aforementioned cognitive and social functioning fully justifies his severe adaptive limitations, both in the recreational-social and academic-occupational areas. These limitations are likely to continue in the short, medium and long term, with consequent serious repercussions on his work functioning."


That means I don't change my vote, I'm mentally ill.
//
Això vol dir que no vario el meu vot, sóc un malalt mental.

 

[ksp]

I think the most important point is that mental Illness doesn't necessarily void someone's capacity.

thanks!

mentally ill people are rational and intelligent !

i'm disputing fact that suicidal people are automatically seen as severely mentally ill
i think that most suicidal people are simply unhappy with life

---

…That means I don't change my vote, I'm mentally ill.

thank you

i made an update on my post:

i can't change any votes - only you can change your own vote

i am not disputing or invalidating your reasons
i don't trust doctors and labels - i trust you
if you truly consider yourself to be mentally ill, i respect your judgment

 

[its-about-time]

Mentally ill, therapist just told me this week she's still deciding between "bipolar manic type severe" and schizoaffective. But I've been in the system for 7 years now or so with varying psychotic diagnoses.

I'd say more than half of my reason to ctb is philosophical though. Absurdism and existentialism. Creating my own meaning in a meaningless world is supposedly the answer but I don't want to trick myself into thinking I'm happy when I'm not. I'd rather accept being miserable and get on out of here. The disabling aspects of mental illness do contribute, but it's not the entire picture.

 

[ksp]

Mentally ill, therapist just told me this week she's still deciding between "bipolar manic type severe" and schizoaffective. But I've been in the system for 7 years now or so with varying psychotic diagnoses.

i don't trust therapists / psychologists, so this diagnosis doesn't interest me

YOUR own diagnosis is much more important !

I don't want to trick myself into thinking I'm happy when I'm not

The disabling aspects of mental illness do contribute, but it's not the entire picture.

excellent

my own view (for myself): i want to die ! (regardless of what anyone may say)
so i will do it, but details will be finalized after i have my method ready

 

[its-about-time]

don't trust therapists / psychologists, so this diagnosis doesn't interest me

YOUR own diagnosis is much more important !

I do consider myself mentally ill. My functioning is often quite limited. My ability to connect to others is shot. It's been hell not feeling like a human, stuck here. I go through cycles with mood but each one has significant debilitating features. Sometimes I feel well, and even then, I am just waiting to kill myself.

That said, it's hard to know if I'm truly mentally ill or if I just can see the world and life for what it is. I know I believe things that others don't, but must that mean I'm wrong..??

 

[ksp]

I do consider myself mentally ill. My functioning is often quite limited. My ability to connect to others is shot. It's been hell not feeling like a human, stuck here. I go through cycles with mood but each one has significant debilitating features. Sometimes I feel well, and even then, I am just waiting to kill myself.

thank you - that was what i was waiting for, and i'm not disputing it - no one else will see your life the way you do

 

[Volo vent]

I dont think im mentally ill
Just affected by external factors that i cant controm

 

[ksp]

I dont think im mentally ill
Just affected by external factors that i cant controm

i'm sorry for your situation
let me know if you want to talk about it (if you value you life, or wish you could improve it somehow)

 

[DrWh033]

You definition of mentally ill as in being able to perform daily tasks or not is extremely flawed.
Is a tetraplegic person or a person with central pain syndromes "mentally ill " ?

 

[StrangeAndDeath]

I think I'm sane, even logical when it comes time to ctb.

Me too. I had a conversation on my university's department group chat. They were all proposing really nasty ways to die and when I point that out, they say I'm picky and not ready to die. I don't think most people understand that you can be suicidal and still rational

 

[Volo vent]

i'm sorry for your situation
let me know if you want to talk about it (if you value you life, or wish you could improve it somehow)

Im trying to improve it and i feel that i still have cards to play but im deeply suicidal and the option is always on the table
I kind of hate life

 

[hopeless302]

good question. I am functional to some extent, but the fact that I am suicidal af means something must be wrong with my thought processes.

 

[never mind me]

No, I wouldn't say that I am mentally ill. However, I suffered from bulimia nervosa when I was a teenager, but I completely recovered. After that I probably still had some mental health issues for several years, although I'm not sure, if it fitted any diagnosis? I had a few symtoms of PTSD back then, but not as many and not as severe as those persons I knew who actually had a PTSD diagnosis.
I wouldn't know how to describe my current state. Maybe just a bit tired and exhausted and feeling really old, as if I have already lived my life? Which sometimes makes me feel that there might not be so much more to be expected from life except watching my body becoming less and less agile. It only seems a bit weird to me that I am actually still relatively young, probably too young (?) for such a mindset.

Besides I find the framing of the survey a bit weird: It assumes that, if you are able to function normally you cannot be mentally ill. According to that I have never been mentally ill, because I was always able to function and hide what was going on within me from others, if I wanted to.

 

[ksp]

You definition of mentally ill as in being able to perform daily tasks or not is extremely flawed.
Is a tetraplegic person or a person with central pain syndromes "mentally ill " ?

my initial question of 'are you mentally ill, or not?' is not extremely flawed, but it is imprecise

your case, about being tetraplegic, or having a central pain syndrome, does't have anything to with mental illness

you do have a serious physical disease - i'm not invalidating your suffering, and i'm sorry for what you're going through

---

I don't think most people understand that you can be suicidal and still rational

exactly! no way that all suicidal people are mentally ill - i am absolutely mentally healthy and rational, and my reasoning for being suicidal is perfectly rational and solid (philosophical)

---

Im trying to improve it and i feel that i still have cards to play but im deeply suicidal and the option is always on the table
I kind of hate life

your answer is well thought out and objective! you're willing to play your cards - very nice (i'm not)
'I kind of hate life' - i definitely hate my life ! i hope you find some peace, whatever you choose

---

I am functional to some extent, but the fact that I am suicidal af means something must be wrong with my thought processes.

it sounds as if you are willing to consider yourself mentally ill, because society says so (but you're not entirely sure)

i am convinced that all people on earth are mentally ill sometimes, and mostly delusional about the value of life; i'm convinced that i'm not mentally ill (at least not more than the rest of the world), yet i still want to die

---

No, I wouldn't say that I am mentally ill. However, I suffered from bulimia nervosa when I was a teenager, but I completely recovered. After that I probably still had some mental health issues for several years, although I'm not sure, if it fitted any diagnosis? I had a few symtoms of PTSD back then, but not as many and not as severe as those persons I knew who actually had a PTSD diagnosis.
I wouldn't know how to describe my current state. Maybe just a bit tired and exhausted and feeling really old, as if I have already lived my life? Which sometimes makes me feel that there might not be so much more to be expected from life except watching my body becoming less and less agile. It only seems a bit weird to me that I am actually still relatively young, probably too young (?) for such a mindset.

thank you ! i find your answer absolutely rational, and it obviously looks like you self-analyzed objectively
i will continue to maintain that most people in this community are extremely sharp

i thing the main point in your mind should be if you are as mentally ill as society itself - everyone was, is, or will be mentally ill at one point or another

I find the framing of the survey a bit weird: It assumes that, if you are able to function normally you cannot be mentally ill. According to that I have never been mentally ill, because I was always able to function and hide what was going on within me from others, if I wanted to.

agreed, but i mentioned in my post above, asking people if they are mentally ill or not - this is not a valid question because it's imprecise

it's the same as if i'm asking people 'are you a having a headache, or not', or 'are you ill, or not?'

of course some people will say 'yes, i'm having a headache', or 'no - not now, but i did have one last week'
the same with the initial question of 'are you mentally ill, or not':
'i did a have a severe depression last month, but now i'm much better' (my depression is not persistent)

the question in the survey should have been instead:
'do you have an incurable, severe, and persistent mental illnesses, or not?'

my main points are:
- everyone in the world has had a mental illness, and
- not all suicidal people are automatically 'mentally ill'

 

[Altvtysp]

It's crystal clear to anyone who has ever interacted with me that I'm severely mentally ill. It's remarkable I was able to acheive as much as I did and why this latest implosion of my life should motivate me to die no matter what but since I'm such a wimp I'm trapped in this horrible nightmare of a life. Psych hospitals and psychiatrists are awful and do not help the situation. I think I'm way past chatting with a therapist. I just have to continue to suffer greatly until I'm finally willing to go through whatever pain necessary to be done with this world.

 

[ksp]

It's crystal clear to anyone who has ever interacted with me that I'm severely mentally ill.

i'm sorry you got this point

for what it's worth, i find you completely rational !
(fighting your survival instinct is absolutely unfair, but we WILL win, sooner or later)

 

[jodes2]

Depression. Social anxiety. Avoidant personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, autism, ADHD

I feel empty and bored ALL the time. Fucking tedious. I can't look after myself. Don't enjoy anything. Don't work, don't have friends. Barely wash. Rarely clean. I'm not meant for this world, I don't fit in, I don't have a place.

 

[BipolarExpress]

Bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and autism. I do a lot of masking to hide all the flashbacks, contamination fears, "stims," and suicidal ideation, but they're still there and making me miserable. (Well, not the stims, but definitely everything else. I don't want my autism cured, but I'd like to be rid of everything else.)

 

[ksp]

Depression. Social anxiety. Avoidant personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, autism, ADHD

i do feel depressed when i think of this miserable human condition, but i avoid thinking about it
i'm not sociable, and it doesn't bother me much; in fact i love being on my own
in general, i'm just as miserable as everyone else in the world, until i have my best method to exit

i do wish you success with the inert gas, if you want to pursue it - i think it's the most peaceful method available to us right now (but i didn't implement it yet)

---

Bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and autism. I do a lot of masking to hide all the flashbacks, contamination fears, "stims," and suicidal ideation, but they're still there and making me miserable. (Well, not the stims, but definitely everything else. I don't want my autism cured, but I'd like to be rid of everything else.)

i'm sorry that you suffer so much, yet you still want to keep your objectivity - i admire you

 

[damaged_soul]

This is a complicated question. I'm not voting because I don't know. I think I might fall somewhere in between. I think my reasons for wanting to die and being depressed are pretty rational, but I do struggle with daily tasks. I am still able to get through life, but not in a way that would make me a successful person.
Honestly, I have issues with the way society and psychiatrists think of mental illness. It seems to me that mental illness is simply based on being abnormal and/or negative, which makes no sense to me because I don't see how someone isn't "sound of mind"/"unable to think clearly" simply because they think differently from everyone else or think negatively. There is no logical reasoning behind why being suicidal is considered a sign of mental illness. I think the only reason it is considered that way is because it is abnormal (as humans are biologically conditioned to want to live) and negative (although even that is debatable since in my opinion, suicide is the kindest and most positive thing someone can do for themselves). Just because everyone thinks a certain way, doesn't make that automatically correct. Similarly, just because someone has a negative view on things, that doesn't make it wrong, especially because in many cases there is plenty of evidence to support a pessimistic worldview.

 

[ksp]

This is a complicated question.

honest, objective, and articulate - brilliant
thank you

 

[BipolarExpress]

This is a complicated question. I'm not voting because I don't know. I think I might fall somewhere in between. I think my reasons for wanting to die and being depressed are pretty rational, but I do struggle with daily tasks. I am still able to get through life, but not in a way that would make me a successful person.
Honestly, I have issues with the way society and psychiatrists think of mental illness. It seems to me that mental illness is simply based on being abnormal and/or negative, which makes no sense to me because I don't see how someone isn't "sound of mind"/"unable to think clearly" simply because they think differently from everyone else or think negatively. There is no logical reasoning behind why being suicidal is considered a sign of mental illness. I think the only reason it is considered that way is because it is abnormal (as humans are biologically conditioned to want to live) and negative (although even that is debatable since in my opinion, suicide is the kindest and most positive thing someone can do for themselves). Just because everyone thinks a certain way, doesn't make that automatically correct. Similarly, just because someone has a negative view on things, that doesn't make it wrong, especially because in many cases there is plenty of evidence to support a pessimistic worldview.

Have you heard of "depressive realism"? There's some debate about its validity, but it might be worth reading about regardless.

 

[damaged_soul]

Have you heard of "depressive realism"? There's some debate about its validity, but it might be worth reading about regardless.

Yes, depressive realism. That's the idea of what I was trying to go for

 

[ksp]

@damaged_soul & @BipolarExpress - thanks
i learned something new: 'Depressive realism'

 

[wesv]

Schizophrenia

 

[locked*n*loaded]

I'm depressed and hopeless. They categorize that as a mental illness. I see nothing good coming my way as I age except some kind of suffering down the road, who knows when. I don't feel being depressed and hopeless makes me mentally ill. I feel worn down by life and all of its trials. It has made me tired and unable to foresee anything good coming my way down the road. I believe my thought processes are quite sane and rational. I don't see this world through rose-colored glasses. I'm a realist.

 

[BipolarExpress]

I'm depressed and hopeless. They categorize that as a mental illness. I see nothing good coming my way as I age except some kind of suffering down the road, who knows when. I don't feel being depressed and hopeless makes me mentally ill. I feel worn down by life and all of its trials. It has made me tired and unable to foresee anything good coming my way down the road. I believe my thought processes are quite sane and rational. I don't see this world through rose-colored glasses. I'm a realist.

I feel similarly. I'm worn out and defeated.