Be Aware of What You Say

[Bible Believing Bill]

I'm crazy, not stupid

I've always been crazy, many times it's stopped me from going insane

I've said it before, Sometimes I feel like a nut and other times I know I am.

I used to be schizophrenic, but we're OK now...

Above is a collection of quotes from another thread that contribute to the stigma attached to people who suffer from a mental illness. I have purposely not identified the posters as I am sure that these quotes were not ment to be offensive.

We must all be careful what we say in a public forum. You never know who you might offend with what you consider a innocent comment.

People who have a mental illness are unfairly called nuts, crazy, insane, loony, etc. If someone is acting differently they are often accused of being "off their meds". People with mental illness are working beside you, sitting in the pew in front of you, selling you insurance, cashing your check at bank, having a cup of coffee with you, teaching your children, arresting criminals, raising children, getting married, reading their bible, preaching on Sunday morning, in short they are leading mostly normal lives except for the fact that they are ill.

All of the comments above show a lack of understanding about mental illness and he people who suffer from them. Would any say?

"I'm a cancer patient, not stupid" or "sometimes I feel like a diabetic, other times I know I have low blood sugar."

The comment about being schizophrenic implys that someone suffering from this illness has a split personality. Schizophrenic individuals do not have a split personality, they do suffer from hulluciations and delusions, and my not know what is real, but they don't have split personalities.

Lets please all try to help people who need it and not make their lives harder by adding to their burden thourgh our own actions.

Bill

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

You are right, Bill and the thread has been closed.

I was poking fun at myself when I made my contribution to that thread without thinking of how it might offend someone else.

I have suffered with an anxiety/panic disorder for thirty years (Agoraphobia) and I make fun of myself because of it.

I certainly meant no harm and I apologize to anyone I may have offended.

§ue

 

[preacher]

From what I saw on the thread everyone was poking fun at themselves.
Bill, I see what you mean, but isn't it just a tad over reaction? We say things about ourselves, & to each other all the time that could be offensive to someone, if they are looking to be offended. a good example is the way me & Gina pick on each other. we know each other are kidding, & I have to believe anyone else reading our comments can tell the same.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Why was the thread closed?

 

[Hope of Glory]

Everything you say will be offensive to someone. How do you pick and choose? I think it was Ronald Reagan who said, "I don't care if you make fun of me; I just ask that it be funny", or something along those lines.

 

[Helen]

I'm a California blonde (transplanted now...) and the California blonde jokes are my favorites! They're the only excuse I have!

Our youngest son is profoundly retarded. The social worker at the county was afraid to say the word 'retarded'. I told her "He's retarded! You can say that. It's not a dirty word. It's what he is!"

Sometimes I accuse Chris of fooling us all along when he seems to laugh appropriately at something.

We HAVE to laugh at ourselves and various misfortunes, don't we? How else can we deal with some of it on a day to day basis?

Or maybe that's just because I'm a blonde....

edit: my favorite sweatshirt that I don't have yet says something like "Some mornings it just isn't worth chewing through the restraints!"

But I guess that is unacceptable?

 

[just-want-peace]

Mercy me!

If any/everything that MAY be considered offensive is eliminated, might as well tell everybody "so long" & hopefully we'll see you in Heaven!

But this may offend somebody also since the odds are pretty good that not EVERYONE that posts here is a Christian, and the obvious implication is that those will not go to Heaven; more pointedly they will go to hell

I'm ready for the rapture and leaving all this garbage behind!

MARANATHA!!!!!!

 

[cojosh]

Don't say anything negative about tipping in a restaurant!!!

 

[billreber]

Anyone who has been in the military in the USA knows that ethnic/blonde jokes are "not allowed". However, many years ago, someone i knew consistently told 'pollock" jokes without EVER getting in trouble. Why? His name was Braunislaus Blaszkowski.

Moral of this story -- laugh at yourself!

Bill

 

[Hardsheller]

I guess all Christian Comedians should repent and find the ashes and sackcloth?

 

[blackbird]

***Moderator Note***

In defense of Bible Believing Bill---our original poster of this thread---I do not believe that he is telling us that we shouldn't be comical---or joke around---but simply is asking that we be considerate of those who have REAL hurts!

 

[Bible Believing Bill]

Brother Blackbird is correct. My intent was not to tell anyone to stop using humor. My intent was to make peope THINK about a very serious subject before they speak. If I was truly offended I would have PM'd the posters personally.

I have used humor to deal with my own situation, and some of it would seem cruel to anyone not going through the same thing. However, I ALWAYS know my audience when I say these things out loud. Unfortunatly on the net we never know who will read what we write, so we must pick and choose our words.

What really caught my attention about the quoted posts was not any one of them individually, but the fact that they all appeared one folloing another at the very opening of the thread.

For those of you who have never suffered from a mental illness, or had a family member or friend who does then you can not begin to know the suffering and agony that a person who suffers from a sever mental illness goes through on a daily basis.


I heard a man talk last year about his experiencs suffering from Bipolar Disorder. He was trying to explain why people feel suicidal, and provided a great analogy that gave me a new understanding.

Here is his analogy.

To any "normal" if we saw a woman being physically abused on a daily basis we would think that she was "crazy" to stay in that situation. We would tell her to get out any way she could.

A suicidal person has a little man in their head abusing them on a daily basis, and as they see it the only way to get away from him is to die. In effect the "crazy" person is being "normal" by trying to get out.

My retelling of his analogy is no where near as powerful as comming from someone who has directly experienced it. However, it provided me with a new perspective.

From the responses to this thread I can see that I have made at least a few people think about this subject. They may not have come to the same conclusion as me, but awarness has been raised.

If anyone is intrested in learning more about mental illness, suffers from a mental illness, has a loved one who sufferes from mental illness, or is intrested in becomming an advocat for mental illness wellness and recovery then please click hear to visit the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illiness),

Bill

 

[guitarpreacher]

Originally posted by billreber:
Anyone who has been in the military in the USA knows that ethnic/blonde jokes are "not allowed".

Are you kidding me???? That's where I learned most all of the really good ones.

 

[legalsec2504]

Thank you Bill for posting this. If you go to www.mentalhealthcommission.gov, you can read about President George W. Bush's plan to
call for a national campaign to reduce mental illness stigma. The fear of stigma is one of the main reasons that people with mental illness do not seek treatment.


Also, the NAMI website is a great resource to learn from.