If you could choose to experience one mental illness for a day

21-02-2019 1:35pm #1

Before anyone suggests that this is an insensitive question, that's not the point of it - living with a mental illness (which is not a choice) for one day might enhance all of our understanding of mental illness.

So if you could have any mental illness for one day, which are you most curious to experience?

I have a doctor friend who asks this question at parties (we're a riot, us pair) and he has a theory that most women opt for Bipolar disorder (or, the mania part) , and most men opt for Schizophrenia.

It's a slightly macabre question, hoping it doesn't offend anyone with these illnesses, the point is that it would be useful to appreciate what kind of turmoil they live with.

Noveight · 21-02-2019 1:37pm

Depression.

Thankfully I’ve never had a brush with it, but I’d like to have a greater understanding of it.

floatwinner · 21-02-2019 1:39pm

I'd chose not to have clicked on this thread.

judeboy101 · 21-02-2019 1:40pm

Nympomania

Fr_Dougal · 21-02-2019 1:41pm

Highly insensitive thread. Treating mental illness like a game of charades.:rolleyes:

weldoninhio · 21-02-2019 1:41pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Before anyone suggests that this is an insensitive question, that's not the point of it - living with a mental illness (which is not a choice) for one day might enhance all of our understanding of mental illness.

So if you could have any mental illness for one day, which are you most curious to experience?

I have a doctor friend who asks this question at parties (we're a riot, us pair) and he has a theory that most women opt for Bipolar disorder, and most men opt for Schizophrenia.

It's a slightly macabre question, hoping it doesn't offend anyone with these illnesses, the point is that it would be useful to appreciate what kind of turmoil they live with.

Dealt with depression before, but if I could choose I'd go for schizophrenia, but I'd want delusions and auditory hallucinations that weren't pervasive.

21-02-2019 1:42pm

floatwinner wrote: »

I'd chose not to have clicked on this thread.

And then you involuntarily replied to it.

Thoughts and prayers.

weldoninhio · 21-02-2019 1:42pm

judeboy101 wrote: »

Nympomania

But what if no one wanted to ride ya?? It would be incredibly frustrating.

Car99 · 21-02-2019 1:42pm

That's a question he chooses to ask at a party , is he a doctor or does he think he's a doctor?

Boom_Bap · 21-02-2019 1:42pm

Rodeo Clown

Feisar · 21-02-2019 1:43pm

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Highly insensitive thread. Treating mental illness like a game of charades.:rolleyes:

Snowflake is the worst form of mental illness. Getting upset over everything.

Hande hoche! · 21-02-2019 1:44pm

dysmorphia of another some variety.

21-02-2019 1:45pm

Car99 wrote: »

That's a question he chooses to ask at a party , is he a doctor or does he think he's a doctor?

Two of them do it, actually, one a psychiatrist one a medical doc.

It's does provoke interesting discussions. Can't emphasise enough that it's not intended to offend anyone, just to imagine walking a day in their shoes.

RFOLEY1990 · 21-02-2019 1:45pm

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Highly insensitive thread. Treating mental illness like a game of charades.:rolleyes:

I'm not so sure, but I know where you're coming from.

I think if everyone could experience depression for a day then there might not be the stigma there is around it,

I would be curious to know what it feels like

21-02-2019 1:45pm

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Highly insensitive thread. Treating mental illness like a game of charades.:rolleyes:

Yeah, because after hours is renowned for its collective sensitivity.

Satyromania (male Nymphomania). But only if surrounded by sexy bikini clad hotties with low self esteem and no inhibitions.

For a bonus, it’d be great if Dougal here had to stand in the corner and watch.

Hedgelayer · 21-02-2019 1:47pm

I'd love mania for a day, just to experience that overload of serotonin....

But all I'll have is enough fuel in the car enough food and maybe 30 Euro.

Bank card in a secure location and no phone.

Mania is High, but you're destructive in a happy way.
You'll book holidays, maybe buy a Bentley.
Then probably spend every thing you have on things which will never be used.

That reminds me I need to get my act together and sell all the stuff I don't need in the car boot sale in Tuamgraney in a few weeks

Fr_Dougal · 21-02-2019 1:47pm

Feisar wrote: »

Snowflake is the worst form of mental illness. Getting upset over everything.

Says the fella who can’t p1ss in front of other men! :pac::pac::pac:

Hedgelayer · 21-02-2019 1:48pm

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Says the fella who can’t p1ss in front of other men! :pac::pac::pac:

Ahhhh now

21-02-2019 1:49pm

Hedgelayer wrote: »

I'd love mania for a day, just to experience that overload of serotonin....

But all I'll have is enough fuel in the car enough food and maybe 30 Euro.

Bank card in a secure location and no phone.

Mania is High, but you're destructive in a happy way.
You'll book holidays, maybe buy a Bentley.
Then probably spend every thing you have on things which will never be used.

That reminds me I need to get my act together and sell all the stuff I don't need in the car boot sale in Tuamgraney in a few weeks

Do you mind me asking, are you male or female?

DEFTLEFTHAND · 21-02-2019 1:50pm

Can't see why anyone would want to experience paranoid schizophrenia

It's the people who live with them who really suffer.

Trying to get a family member sectioned in this country is easier said than done. Most families have to spend months living with an unhinged and potentially dangerous human being before any help can be provided.

The sufferer doesn't accept their condition (everyone else is mad, not me) and will naturally refuse any voluntary medical treatment.

It's a living nightmare for families.

Dravokivich · 21-02-2019 1:52pm

Whoa... Schizophrenia would be lower than the bottom of any list I'd have for something to try for a day.

Did anyone running this survey inform people of what the choices meant?

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Highly insensitive thread. Treating mental illness like a game of charades.:rolleyes:

I suppose something to take from this is, do people actually understand what these various mental illnesses entail? Anyone who knows what Schizophrenia is, wouldn't pick it. And it is often down played in crime drama's for suspects to escape responsibilities.

PingTing comes for Fire · 21-02-2019 1:52pm

Dyschronometria.

weldoninhio · 21-02-2019 1:52pm

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Can't see why anyone would want to experience paranoid schizophrenia

It's the people who live with them who really suffer.

Trying to get a family member sectioned in this country is easier said than done. Most families have to spend months living with an unhinged and potentially dangerous human being before any help can be provided.

The sufferer doesn't accept their condition (everyone else is mad, not me) and will naturally refuse any voluntary medical treatment.

It's a living nightmare for families.

Its for 24 hours.

Hedgelayer · 21-02-2019 1:54pm

RFOLEY1990 wrote: »

I'm not so sure, but I know where you're coming from.

I think if everyone could experience depression for a day then there might not be the stigma there is around it,

I would be curious to know what it feels like

If you don't have depression Let's just say it would be as if, you lost your job.
Money cleared from your bank account.
No roof over your head, kids and wife hate you.

You're off the road, no bills paid.
Convictions impending.
You think you might be on the way out.

Add them all together, and the feeling of impending doom and failure, guilt and nothing to look forward to.

But the strange thing is you have everything going for you a loving wife and kids, great job house no bills unpaid plenty of money in the bank, but that awful fear and dread is there, you know everything is ok but you just feel really horrid.

namloc1980 · 21-02-2019 1:55pm

floatwinner wrote: »

I'd chose not to have clicked on this thread.

Pity the thread title was so unclear.

21-02-2019 1:55pm

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

It's the people who live with them who really suffer.

Arghh... No offence but this rightly pisses me off.

Everyone suffers. Imagine how it must feel to genuinely believe you're being targeted, or followed, or watched. You and I can see that this is a delusion, but this is as real to them as though it were really, clearly happening. It's so real that it can cause some people to take their own lives. An enormous amount of people who suffer from schizophrenia take their own lives, it's easily the greatest contributor to premature mortality.

The delusion may not be real, but it might as well be for all the stress it causes.

Ariadne · 21-02-2019 1:57pm

I'd be curious to see what Schizophrenia is like. To experience what someone goes through with that mental illness. Only for a day though, I'd imagine it's not easy to live with and those that are living with it have my respect. I didn't go for bipolar because I have BPD and my emotions are pretty much a rollercoaster of highs and lows so I've got that covered thanks

judeboy101 · 21-02-2019 2:09pm

weldoninhio wrote: »

But what if no one wanted to ride ya?? It would be incredibly frustrating.

Nothing like a bit of auto erotic asphyxiation.

rgodard80a · 21-02-2019 2:10pm

Alcohol addiction.

And can we extend the trial period from 1 day to a long weekend?

21-02-2019 2:15pm

1) Someone beat me to it but I would not say no to a day of the "up" side of Mania. Clearly the "down" side of it is awful and I would not want that for anyone even myself. But the bursts of creativity and energy and sociability and everything that comes with the "up" side of it would be interesting for a day.

2) I would like to believe some conspiracy theory or other nonsense for a day and _really_ be convinced by it. Just to get into the head space of people who really believe things there is absolutely no reason to actually believe. Can not imagine what that is actually like. Maybe just being strongly religious for a day would be enough to experience that mental illness of total self delusion.

3) Assuming the personalities could communicate with each other in some way - multiple personality disorder would be interesting for a day. Just to see what my brain could come out with and what each person would be like. But if it was a case of each personality entirely suppressed the others and was basically unaware of them - that would be a pointless experience.

TheValeyard · 21-02-2019 2:17pm

Actually an interesting question. You could feel the same pain people live through on a daily basis. Might give you a different perspective on things.

Hedgelayer · 21-02-2019 2:17pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

1) Someone beat me to it but I would not say no to a day of the "up" side of Mania. Clearly the "down" side of it is awful and I would not want that for anyone even myself. But the bursts of creativity and energy and sociability and everything that comes with the "up" side of it would be interesting for a day.

2) I would like to believe some conspiracy theory or other nonsense for a day and _really_ be convinced by it. Just to get into the head space of people who really believe things there is absolutely no reason to actually believe. Can not imagine what that is actually like. Maybe just being strongly religious for a day would be enough to experience that mental illness of total self delusion.

3) Assuming the personalities could communicate with each other in some way - multiple personality disorder would be interesting for a day. Just to see what my brain could come out with and what each person would be like. But if it was a case of each personality entirely suppressed the others and was basically unaware of them - that would be a pointless experience.

I'd love to believe your post wasn't a dig at religious people and people interested in conspiracy theories

lalababa · 21-02-2019 2:19pm

A severe bout of ADHD if that's a mental illness, or the high as a kite side of bipolar, or delusions of grandeur/everybody loves me/extazy pill type thing. Or male nympho. Or thinking I'm Napoleon/Bertie ahern..ha.ha.

One eyed Jack · 21-02-2019 2:20pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Arghh... No offence but this rightly pisses me off.

Everyone suffers. Imagine how it must feel to genuinely believe you're being targeted, or followed, or watched. You and I can see that this is a delusion, but this is as real to them as though it were really, clearly happening. It's so real that it can cause some people to take their own lives. An enormous amount of people who suffer from schizophrenia take their own lives, it's easily the greatest contributor to premature mortality.

The delusion may not be real, but it might as well be for all the stress it causes.

You’re pissed off because someone pointed out that it’s those people around the person who is mentally ill who suffer, but you’re ok with asking what mental illness would people like to suffer from if they had the choice? The cause of their suffering has a lot to do with the fact that people with mental illnesses didn’t choose to be mentally ill in the first place!

Schizophrenia doesn’t always cause distress either btw, some people do learn to cope with it, completely unscientific of course which is why I could never see it’s widespread adoption, and it’s only useful in replacing one form of delusion with another that the person can cope with, ie generally milder forms of the condition -

Hearing Voices Movement

21-02-2019 2:22pm

4) Full on expletive tourette for a day might be interesting to experience.

Hedgelayer wrote: »

I'd love to believe your post wasn't a dig at religious people and people interested in conspiracy theories

It is a genuine interest actually. I would love to be in that head space just enough to know what it is like. When I see people subscribing to an idea or belief that is seemingly entirely without any evidence at all - I genuinely do wonder what it is like to be that way.

It is interesting how the brain can create delusion to deal with inputs too for example. I just wrote about Capgrah syndrome on another thread. Here the brain creates a delusion - that people have been replaced with replicas - just so it can cope with a change in input to the brain. There is zero evidence of any kind that the patient has that the person is a replica. But they believe it anyway because their brain needs to just to cope with the "damage".

The brain is amazing. All told.

sbsquarepants · 21-02-2019 2:35pm

Hedgelayer wrote: »

but that awful fear and dread is there, you know everything is ok but you just feel really horrid.

That's the exact feeling I have when my missus picks up my phone to check something:D

I'm not sure if it counts as a mental illness, but I'd love to have synaesthesia - I experienced it very briefly on mushrooms once and it blew me away altogether. I'd love to have it full time!

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 21-02-2019 2:36pm

Noveight wrote: »

Depression.

Thankfully I’ve never had a brush with it, but I’d like to have a greater understanding of it.

Honestly as someone who's had episodes of depression, I can't even understand it when I'm not depressed. You know when you recall past states of mind or emotional reactions your brain kind of gets an echo or facsimile of those feelings and you're like "oh yeah, that's how it felt to feel like that"? I find that my non depressed brain can't do that for depression. I can tell myself the details, crying upon waking, barely eating, having no access to pleasure or peace from anything in my life and feeling so guilty about worrying people, etc etc. It's just words though. Same as when I am depressed I cannot bloody conceive of not being depressed, I can't remember how it feels to enjoy something or want anything beyond a quilt to crawl under, it seems impossible.

I find it a useful mental health self check actually if I notice what might be other symptoms cropping up.

I don't think I'd want to experience any other mental illness for any length of time though, one's plenty ty.

Hedgelayer · 21-02-2019 3:02pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

4) Full on expletive tourette for a day might be interesting to experience.

It is a genuine interest actually. I would love to be in that head space just enough to know what it is like. When I see people subscribing to an idea or belief that is seemingly entirely without any evidence at all - I genuinely do wonder what it is like to be that way.

It is interesting how the brain can create delusion to deal with inputs too for example. I just wrote about Capgrah syndrome on another thread. Here the brain creates a delusion - that people have been replaced with replicas - just so it can cope with a change in input to the brain. There is zero evidence of any kind that the patient has that the person is a replica. But they believe it anyway because their brain needs to just to cope with the "damage".

The brain is amazing. All told.

Yes the brain is indeed amazing.
The amount of people out there caught up in new age spirituality is scary.

One guy I knows is a right nutjob.
Say's that he hand's his Will and life over to his imaginary friend every morning.

So if he pisses anyone off or ****s someone over it's god's will that it happened.
And God made him do it to teach that person he robbed blind a lesson, say doing a patio and charging some old lady 3 times his quote for the job.

Then it was god's will he decided to be a bollox, no responsibility whatsoever...

Sorry about that · 21-02-2019 3:10pm

Don't want to experience any type of mental illness. Years ago I smoked a tiny joint, and I was paranoid for a few days- thought I'd have to admit myself to a psychiatric ward. Felt completely detached from myself also. Scariest experience of my life. Killed my curiosity.

21-02-2019 3:14pm

PingTing comes for Fire wrote: »

Dyschronometria.

why? for what reason?

judeboy101 wrote: »

Nothing like a bit of auto erotic asphyxiation.

For 24 hours?

Id give any a shot, if I was recorded, see if there was any difference to how I normally feel, and see did any recording tally with my experiences, if I remembered them.

Deebles McBeebles · 21-02-2019 3:22pm

sbsquarepants wrote: »

That's the exact feeling I have when my missus picks up my phone to check something:D

I'm not sure if it counts as a mental illness, but I'd love to have synaesthesia - I experienced it very briefly on mushrooms once and it blew me away altogether. I'd love to have it full time!

You and I lead very similar lives! Ditto on both counts

Tell me how · 21-02-2019 3:25pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Two of them do it, actually, one a psychiatrist one a medical doc.

It's does provoke interesting discussions. Can't emphasise enough that it's not intended to offend anyone, just to imagine walking a day in their shoes.

I find it hard to believe that 2 Dr's would engage in such a game. There are so many other questions which are sufficient to provoke discussion, this seems a strange choice to use.

In a party environment many people go with a humorous angle on their conversations to make others laugh and therefore relax more. That is where this is likely to cause some offence in my view. Person A asks the question, Person B answers but makes a joke, Person C hears them making fun of their illness.

I'd ask your friends to consider that if they were in the depths of a particular illness, that that could be the day when they harm themselves or others. When suffering in this way, it's not like you can say "I'll be better tomorrow" and simply believe it.

Cryptopagan · 21-02-2019 3:27pm

That a psychiatrist would ask people this as a party game would certainly make me question whether they have enough insight into mental illness to be treating it as it is.

Red_Wake · 21-02-2019 3:44pm

Empathy.

Wibbs · 21-02-2019 3:58pm

lalababa wrote: »

A severe bout of ADHD if that's a mental illness, or the high as a kite side of bipolar, or delusions of grandeur/everybody loves me/extazy pill type thing. Or male nympho. Or thinking I'm Napoleon/Bertie ahern..ha.ha.

Meh, I'm already stocked up on those.

Deleted User wrote: »

4) Full on expletive tourette

That too.

Berties_Horse wrote: »

Hypomania for elevated mood & creativity.

Yeah, probably this. I can kinda hype myself up into that sorta state as it is, but the full on version would be interesting.

Sorry about that wrote: »

Don't want to experience any type of mental illness. Years ago I smoked a tiny joint, and I was paranoid for a few days- thought I'd have to admit myself to a psychiatric ward. Felt completely detached from myself also. Scariest experience of my life. Killed my curiosity.

Jaysus that must have been mad strong stuff. The first time I tried MDMA allegedly, the first half wasn't even touching the sides, so I necked another full one, allegedly, then another and another half allegedly. Then it started to work alright. I'm wired funny so I got the itchy dancing feet a little and really got the ohhhhh feel this cool texture thing, but didn't feel the huggy love at all. Quite the opposite actually. Anyhoo the next day I crashed out of it and got the major blues. Lasted the whole afternoon and into evening, but had burnt itself out by late evening. Apparently it induces a state kinda like depression and that was pretty bloody awful. And I knew it was the comedown buzz and knew it would pass and knew this wasn't my life, but jaysus if depression is anything like that... Nope.

PingTing comes for Fire · 21-02-2019 4:01pm

PingTing comes for Fire wrote: »

Dyschronometria.

1874 wrote: »

why? for what reason? For 24 hours?

Yes.

I'm sorry.

21-02-2019 4:07pm

None come to mind because I've already an idea of the living hell many of them create. I would like to be a psychopath for a day though. It would be nice to be devoid of feelings for a while.

Foweva Awone · 21-02-2019 4:17pm

Hmmm probably anorexia. Would love to feel so much control.

Actually do you know what I'd love, if someone could magic away all of my mental illnesses, and let me see what it would be like to feel normal for a day!

21-02-2019 4:26pm

Foweva Awone wrote: »

Hmmm probably anorexia. Would love to feel so much control.

Actually do you know what I'd love, if someone could magic away all of my mental illnesses, and let me see what it would be like to feel normal for a day!

What is normal though?

endacl · 21-02-2019 4:28pm

Vegan.

Foweva Awone · 21-02-2019 4:29pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

What is normal though?

I'm in the habit of constantly analysing and adjusting my thoughts and feelings and actions as a result of all the DBT/CBT etc I've done, so I guess for me, normal would be the "healthy" thoughts being my first thoughts in most situations. Just being able to trust myself instead of always watching myself, you know?

If you could choose to experience one mental illness for a day

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