Posted by Terry on March 11, 1999, at 22:55:47
In reply to answer, posted by Something to think about, ......... on March 11, 1999, at 19:42:17
Dante -- So your point is that people with mental illness should just wake up and decide to be in a good mood and snap out of it? I don't think so. There is so much evidence now that mental illness is biologically based. I think you can definitely help yourself with positive thinking, therapy, etc., but for many of us, we need medication too. Nothing worked (including many years of therapy) until I got on medication. For the first time in my life, I feel empowered because I have the tools to cope now. I am glad you have "overcome" your panic attacks and depression as you say with positive thinking, but for a great many of us, that's simply not enough. Many of us already feel guilty because we couldn't "cure" ourselves of our mental illness on our own. But I can no more cure myself of my disorder than person with cancer can cure himself/herself without chemotherapy. Sorry if I'm too defensive here but this is a touchy subject for me, as I'm sure it is for many other people battling mental illness. Terry
> Something to think about....
>
> I worked in a resteraunt part time during school, I had a manager named jeff, he was the type of guy you loved to hate because he was always in a good mood, and when ever your around him he would make you feel better.
> I walked up to jeff and asked: how do you do it?, how can you always be in a good mood and soo confidant all the time?
> he said: well when i wake up in the morning the first thing i do is make a choice, a choice to be in a good mood or a bad mood, i choose a good mood every day. life is all about choices.
> one night the resturant got robbed by 2 armed gunman, they put a gun to jeffs chest and said: whats the combo to the safe, and get all the money.
> jeff was scared stupid, and at that moment he made a choice, to live or to die, he made a choice to live, he opened the safe and gave them all the money.
> right before they left they shot jeff point blank, and said: nobody knows anything...
> jeff was rushed to the er, a nurse kept frantically asking him questions: are you allergic to anything, and jeff yelled 'yes'.....'bullets', now operate on me like a live man not a dead man, at that moment jeff made a desicion, to live or die, he chose to live.
>
> I use to suffer from panic attacks, and depression, but now I am going farther in life than i ever have before. every morning when i wake up i choose to live and not be afraid, and i choose to be in a good mood.
> yes anxiety and depression are hard to handle at times but they WILL NOT beat you, unless you choose to let them,
> make a choice!!
> Dante A.
poster:Terry
thread:3621
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990301/msgs/3623.html