The New Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry » Topic: Introduce yourself

The New Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry » Topic: Introduce yourself http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself Just another bbPress community en-US Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:58:16 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/search.php Liutgard on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/70#post-293995 Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:01:32 +0000 Liutgard 293995@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ There are so many posts here I can't possibly read them all! I finally (after years of wrestling with it) was given a diagnosis of Bi-Polar Disorder Type 2 (the milder form) in 1995. I was newly divorced, mom of three, in my thirties, and had gone back to school (part of the whole leaving-husband process). And I was terrified. I ended up on that endless merry-go-round of drugs ("That didn't work? Let's try this! It'll make you feel great!") with no end in sight. I did manage to finish my BA but had a breakdown in grad school that scuttled my career. And now I'm very ill with some cardiac issues and neurological problems. The bi-polar has stabilized though, been on the same blend of drugs for some time. Just wish I could say the same of the rest of me. <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_confused.gif" title=":?" class="bb_smilies" /> Thing is though, I don't think there's anything to feel sorry for or ashamed of, just being bi-polar. Actions, maybe. But *being*? No. Never be ashamed of being. And for Mr Fry, I deeply appreciate your work, and I think very highly of Stephen Fry, Human Being. So there. I've said my piece. <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_biggrin.gif" title=":D" class="bb_smilies" /> knuffel on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/70#post-293731 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:28:22 +0000 knuffel 293731@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Hello, I'm Emma, 33 years physical age, but still a kid at heart! Have suffered moderate depression throughout my adult life, I have kept it under control pretty well but recently suffered a relapse, so I am back on medication. I have been assessed and I possibly have cyclothymia but it has not been confirmed whether or not this is the case. When depressed I lose interest in doing things I enjoy and I lose confidence in my abilities, my medication is helping though and I am on a waiting list for cognitive behaviour therapy. I also try to do a lot of physical activity, running, going to fitness classes and having long walks. Love to you all xx qwan on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/70#post-292359 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:56:08 +0000 qwan 292359@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Hi, I'm new, although I've already posted a bunch before coming here. I'm diagnosed with cyclothymia and severe depression which brought me here. I dropped out of uni due to this, and am now crocheting to my hearts content. I need a few hundred cats and I'm set to be a mad cat lady. =] *tips hat* kashka on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/70#post-291985 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:06:49 +0000 kashka 291985@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Hi Im kashka used to be on the forum but i came off. i could do with some support right now ive no one i can talk too. im feeling suicidal but cant attempt it again as it would destroy my father. had an argument with my husband yesterday mainly my fault but it grew in to a full blown one. he was calling me disgusting names. he also said he was fed up living with my broken down sorry ass. i also have fibromyalgia so dont keep well.He knows i have a really derogatory inner dialougue and played on that telling me i was a c**t again and again. He knows this is a word a abhore and that i get it in my dialougue. i regretably attacked him and scratched his face which i apologised for i feel dreadfull about it.I also tried to get out of the car i dont know why. he said he wants a divorce and that im violent and dangerous which is not true though he has been. Then he buys a bottle of champagne i suppose to celebrate our split, a dramatic gesture just as throwing his clothes in the bin because of the blood- came out in the wash though before hand a forensic detective would probably have problembs finding it!I feel so alone confused and trapped fluffyteacake on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/70#post-291787 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:56:14 +0000 fluffyteacake 291787@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ hi there I am Lizzie from Leeds (well I am from a small market town called Morley actually) and I have bipolar too.... not good but I have to live with it really... sometimes suicidal I detest my whole being, the next I am flying around at the speed of light or even faster... it's not a nice thing to suffer with but at least it's nice being on this site... I've seen a lot of Stephen's works on YouTube and it is very interesting indeed ... thank you for allowing me to be on here thank you xx <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_biggrin.gif" title=":D" class="bb_smilies" /> Vampyros on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/70#post-290715 Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:23:48 +0000 Vampyros 290715@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Hey Alfredo you will be pleased to know the book is available The Katy Sara Culling Tribute is ready in e-Book form <a href="http://chipmunkapublishing.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2326" rel="nofollow">http://chipmunkapublishing.co.uk/shop/index.php?ma.....ts_id=2326</a> Charity/Bipolar Printed version to follow soon THanks for all your support Amanda. Vx alfredo3 on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/70#post-290495 Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:59:56 +0000 alfredo3 290495@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ We are all in the same boat. Love to you all. alfredo3 on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/70#post-290493 Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:58:00 +0000 alfredo3 290493@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I write on many websites and some people like what I am trying to do, which if to find out about my mental disorder by discussing my personal studies and experiences with people. Others see me as a narcissist who is a show off and only cares about himself. I am not a narcissist because I genuinely care for people and spend a lot of time to bring some positivity in people's lives. I am not perfect. But to really understand my work and what I am about I could use a poem written by Mother Theresa. Does not matter if some of you are not Religious because all that is needed is some spirituality to understand what Mother Theresa writes: Do It Anyway by Mother Theresa People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will forget tomorrow, Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got... anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God, It never was between you and them anyway.. <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_lol.gif" title=":lol:" class="bb_smilies" /> alfredo3 on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/69#post-290491 Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:33:51 +0000 alfredo3 290491@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ To continue my discussion and introduction of Dissociative Identity Disorder, I can say that a closer look at this particular mental disorder can be used to question the idea of mental illness as purely biological illness. For example, people with multiple personalities, or alters, can have different blood pressure, different heart beat, and respond differently to medication and treatment. To give you an example, someone with DID went to the dentist and after the local anaesthetic had been administered, and after the dentist had started to drill, suddenly a new alter had taken over, only that this alter could feel the pain because the anaesthetic was not working. Here was the same person whose personalities responded differently to treatment. What does this mean? It means that the different personalities have different electrical and chemical reaction therefore different brain biochemistry come into play. How is this possible? The only answer is that the mind can alter brain function in a matter of milliseconds. If this is so, can we really speak of mental illness as biological illness? Not really because there is no definite proof. To the contrary, the fact that some people with DID can also suffer with Depression and Bipolar and that when they are finally able to fuse their personality the bipolar and depression often go away, tends to indicate that the problem may not be of a purely biological nature but, to the contrary, traumatic. <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_mrgreen.gif" title=":mrgreen:" class="bb_smilies" /> alfredo3 on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/69#post-290469 Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:38:25 +0000 alfredo3 290469@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Hi there MWT, I have (hypo)mania which is the milder form of mania because I suffer with bipolar II. It is never easy to control the (hypo)mania for me especially when I have to work or study (I am a uni student). I find it helpful to cut coffee and tea completely and avoid all stimulants. Trying to get adequate sleep is the battle when I am high. I usually need help when the highs are severe which happens once a year. I do suffer with rapid cycles but the Spring (hypo)mania is particularly strong. It is during this troublesome springtime that I start some medication (Epilim which does not affect creativity but increases it). A modest 600 mg of Sodium Valproate (Epilim)does the job. So I am medicate 3 months of the year while I am medication free for the rest of the 9 months of the year. Then I may take one sleeping tablet which I discontinue as soon as possible. I use sleeping tablets very rarely and I am careful not to become addicted. The most important thing is that I have learned to accept my disorder and I try to cope as best as I can. I know that there is a purpose for my presence in this life so that I may as well learn my lessons and do the best I can. Life is only a short journey anyway but it is the most interesting of journeys. I am a multi talented artist and all artists are a bit unusual. Indeed most people with bipolar are a bit unusual but we are often those who join the dots of knowledge where others see a disjointed mess. In many ways, bipolar is also a gift. Not many see it as a gift and therefore not many use the gift. <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_mrgreen.gif" title=":mrgreen:" class="bb_smilies" /> Manwithtentacles on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/69#post-290467 Sat, 12 Jan 2013 22:41:29 +0000 Manwithtentacles 290467@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Hello all. Happy and peaceful New Year! Still a little better than was, still dealing with the year of disappointments, worried about the downs and slight manic ups. How does it affect anyone else at work? alfredo3 on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/69#post-290411 Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:27:08 +0000 alfredo3 290411@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Hi to all here including Stephen Fry who I hope gets to read this if he finds some time. I have already introduced myself a while ago here but, lately, there have been some good changes in my personality. I am becoming quite a different person, more humble and less grandiose. I do suffer with bipolar II but I have learned to control it with various methods. I do help sufferers with bipolar and depression, online, mostly by exchanging emails. What has come to my attention, lately, is a condition that is one of the worst mental disorders around and that is Multiple Personality Disorder. People who suffer with Bipolar can also suffer with multiple personality disorder. If you suffer with MPD (also known as DID or Dissociative Identity Disorder) it is very difficult to introduce yourself because tomorrow you may be a different person. Anyway in introducing my self I am really introducing one of my greates curiosity and passion: the study of people with DID or MPD. I write a journal which I have published here before: The Anti Stigma Crusaders. This time I have a letter of the month which I include here all about my struggle with a freind who suffers with both bipolar and MPD. At the very leasty, those of us with bipolar II can say that we are a bit luckier than Stephen whose short story I include here below: ANTI STIGMA CRUSADERS LETTER OF THE MONTH Alfredo Zotti January 2013 I am helping a friend who suffers with Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) better known today as Dissociative Identity Disorder or (DID). Stephen (not his real name) is an email friend who has a number of “alters” which means, in psychological jargon, different personalities. Indeed Stephen's personalities are hidden from each other, at least for now. The alters choose to stay hidden in order to protect the front personality. It is all too complex and some alters can be in conflict with each other although Stephen alters are not aware of each other at this stage. I am aware that in MPD the unity of consciousness, which we use to identify ourselves, is absent. However, there is a front personality. He wrote to me in desperation one day, telling me that his alters were doing things for which he had no recollection. One day he woke and noticed that all his hair had been shaved. He was now bald but could not remember how or why this happened. And there is missing time that he cannot account for. He told me that he does not like this because he feels as if he has no control over what the alters do and what kind of decisions they take. Could I help him? I told him that I am not a therapist just a student of psychology who communicates with many sufferers. Nevertheless, I had a pretty good idea about how he could keep track of his alters and gain more control, or at least knowledge, of his life. Technology could be helpful here. I noticed that he wrote to me the emails using his iPhone. So I told him to keep his iPhone hanging from his neck, attached to a kind of necklace. This way he always carries his iPhone and if he has a shower or goes to sleep he should keep his iPhone handy where he can see it, I suggested. On the cover of the iPhone, I suggested that he writes that he suffers with MPD and that even if he forgets that the iPhone belongs to him the phone does indeed belongs to him. In addition, there is my name and email on the cover and he should also write that I am his email friend and even if he does not remember I am his friend and always there to offer some advice and listen to him. Stephen really trusts me now and this is important for a person with MPD to have someone who they can really trust. I told Stephen that he should get into the habit of writing briefly, in his iPhone memory, the main events of his days no matter what personality takes over. He has a note on his phone about this as well, that no matter what personality takes over, he has to write a brief summary of where he goes and what he does. This iPhone idea of mine is working because now he has some knowledge of what is happening. He has come to understand that alters are not trouble makers and are quite sensible and are there to protect his front personality from past events. The iPhone is also giving him an opportunity to begin to sense his other personalities and to want to find out more about them. This is why Stephen is now much more interested in therapy. I have also explained to him that his MPD, like most if not all cases of MPD, has a traumatic origin often due to severe child abuse. His alters will not cause problems for him because the alters are there to protect him against the traumatic memories. However, they are reacting to the present as if it was the past. Objectively safe situations are treated as if they were terrible in some way. The way to cure this is to stop using avoidance strategies but to face the memories so they can be processed. And for someone with DID, a lot of work needs to be done to make this possible. As he progresses with the therapy ( with his psychologist) and the traumatic experiences are exposed, he will be able (hopefully) to slowly learn to integrate his various personalities and if he continues with his therapy he may one day be able to fuse his personalities. Stephen knows that this will take a long time and that we are probably talking about years of therapy with his psychologist who is a very nice man and who told me that my idea of the iPhone was ingenious. A major problem is to find the funding for those necessary years of therapy. I am glad that my iPhone idea has worked for Stephen and I wonder if it could be used to assist others who suffer with MPD. I have asked a few psychologists if this was safe for Stephen, I mean the use of the iPhone to keep track of his life. Psychologist Dr Bob Rich also agrees that this will not harm Stephen and that this is a good idea. He writes: “This is ingenious. I can't see any dangers. The alters who choose to stay hidden from the front personality do so as a form of protection for it/him. They will therefore not reveal anything that would have been dangerous for him to know during the time of his traumatic experiences.” Rose on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/69#post-289733 Sat, 22 Dec 2012 08:32:24 +0000 Rose 289733@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Hello Tourvel! Nice to meet you. Lots of what you say makes sense to more people than you know. Welcome aboard! <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif" title=":-)" class="bb_smilies" /> You are amongst friends. Tourvel on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/69#post-289685 Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:48:42 +0000 Tourvel 289685@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I know I suffer from depression and am medicated for it. But sometimes I feel that's it's a little bit more than that. I seem unable to find any middle ground for my feelings - I am either firing on an inordinate amount of cylinders or I'm feeling as I am feeling today (which is feeling utterly heartbroken and totally useless). The medication I am taking for depression has walled up the entrances to many of my old refuges of self hatred - I no longer call myself a stupid, fat ugly cow or torment myself in that way - my feelings about my appearance are non existent whether I am up or down. I rather fancy that I am invisible as a female and can slip through life unnoticed as an asexual 'thing', causing neither pleasure or offense. I see my Up days as my good days, days where I shop up a storm, cook an amazing dinner, am 'wickedly amusing' (that is someone else's description of me, not mine) and when I am in full flight I become an overblown version of myself which, in retrospect, is probably terribly boring for my audience. Spending silly money on silly things in my 'because you're soooo worth it!' moods and tramping around in the same sweater for a week (no lets be honest here, not a week, a month sometimes) because I want to be invisible. Looking back to my childhood I see things which I am deeply ashamed of. Overblown gestures to create friendships is the biggest one. The unusual desire to attract attention one moment and the desperate desire to become invisible the next. Swinging between begging to be popular, when feeling Up, and wanting to crawl under a stone and be unseen when down. Anyhow .. this is me. I don't know what else to say really, except for hello and does what I've said make any sense to anyone else? <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_rolleyes.gif" title=":roll:" class="bb_smilies" /> Rose on "Introduce yourself" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/introduce-yourself/page/69#post-289091 Sat, 24 Nov 2012 21:42:18 +0000 Rose 289091@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Rochelle and other young people here Music has helped me enormously, maybe it can comfort you too. "Shambala" <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmTx9y7ePTg&feature=related" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmTx9y7ePTg&feature=related</a>