It's a question about mental disorders.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Recently, a discussion on a hypothetical cure to autism sparked an interesting debate on whether those in the high functioning side of the spectrum would take a cure for their condition or not. This led me to ponder possible cures for other mental disorders and illnesses and I wanted to ask a simple question which, by no means has a simple answer for some of you affected by a mental disorder:

If a cure were developed which got rid of all the symptoms of your condition/disorder, forever, both negative and positive effects are going to be gone, would you take it? (If yes, elaborate. If not, elaborate)

Personally, I would take it. No question about it because although my social anxiety has some perks, the negatives far outweigh the positive. I stay cooped inside the house, I avoid socializing, I suffer terrible fears if I have to be out surrounded by people, I get physically ill when I even so much as brush with a stranger at the store. I can't shop by myself or even hold a steady job anymore. So much so that I've been declared disabled by the Social Security Administration. It makes me ashamed to be this way. It depresses me immensely. There are days I can't get out of bed, or sleep a wink. Medication to treat it makes me feel not at all like myself and have even caused me to contemplate suicide more than once. If there was a pill developed that would take away all these, I'd take it in a hot second.

Thoughts?

[-The Trade Federation-]

No.

There are many disadvantages, but I find that the advantages could help me alot.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

here's the question: Is it a disorder, or a different order? Is thinking differently, with all the advantages and disadvantages of doing so(but being able to function) really such a bad thing?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

here's the question: Is it a disorder, or a different order? Is thinking differently, with all the advantages and disadvantages of doing so(but being able to function) really such a bad thing?

For me, it is a bad thing. As already explained.

[Degenerate Heart of HetRio]

I wouldn't want to take it, but I'd have very little option because I'm sure many autism spectrum people would and I would't want to be even less visible as mental disabled, and would be more prone to social ostracism, discrimination and unfair competition.

It'd be crazy, there would be an autistic pride movement, lobby for our semi-depathologization and all that.

[Pandeeria]

I don't really think I have any mental disorders.

I mean, I get extremly nervous a lot and I get kinda depressed a lot, but I've haven't been officially diagnosed with any disorder.

[Alexanda]

I am not disabled, but, if I were, I would want the cure.
One would rather avoid shame which is so easily found in the modern day world and would prefer to have my life improved.

[Maineiacs]

Recently, a discussion on a hypothetical cure to autism sparked an interesting debate on whether those in the high functioning side of the spectrum would take a cure for their condition or not. This led me to ponder possible cures for other mental disorders and illnesses and I wanted to ask a simple question which, by no means has a simple answer for some of you affected by a mental disorder:

If a cure were developed which got rid of all the symptoms of your condition/disorder, forever, both negative and positive effects are going to be gone, would you take it? (If yes, elaborate. If not, elaborate)

Personally, I would take it. No question about it because although my social anxiety has some perks, the negatives far outweigh the positive. I stay cooped inside the house, I avoid socializing, I suffer terrible fears if I have to be out surrounded by people, I get physically ill when I even so much as brush with a stranger at the store. I can't shop by myself or even hold a steady job anymore. So much so that I've been declared disabled by the Social Security Administration. It makes me ashamed to be this way. It depresses me immensely. There are days I can't get out of bed, or sleep a wink. Medication to treat it makes me feel not at all like myself and have even caused me to contemplate suicide more than once. If there was a pill developed that would take away all these, I'd take it in a hot second.

Thoughts?

I'm with you, dear. PTSD, anxiety disorder, and clinical depression. There's no upside to that. I'd take any cure offered long before I'd worry about a hypothetical cure for my physical disability. Being able to function would be a far higher priority for me than being able to walk.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

here's the question: Is it a disorder, or a different order? Is thinking differently, with all the advantages and disadvantages of doing so(but being able to function) really such a bad thing?

For me, it is a bad thing. As already explained.

For me, it's part of my charm.

[Eowyth]

I don't really think I have any mental disorders.

I mean, I get extremly nervous a lot and I get kinda depressed a lot, but I've haven't been officially diagnosed with any disorder.

Diagnosis doesn't make a disorder any better or worse, it just shows you have it. "Official diagnosis" isn't needed to have a disorder, good sir.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I am not disabled, but, if I were, I would want the cure.
One would rather avoid shame which is so easily found in the modern day world and would prefer to have my life improved.

The shame I feel strives on me thinking that I shouldn't be disabled. On feeling that I have no right to use the system because I can walk, I can move, in every other physical aspect I'm fit. But I'm fucked in the head.

I guess my problem is part and parcel of the age old stigma people with mental disorders and illnesses suffer. Psychiatry is, when you come right down to it, a fairly young field.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Recently, a discussion on a hypothetical cure to autism sparked an interesting debate on whether those in the high functioning side of the spectrum would take a cure for their condition or not. This led me to ponder possible cures for other mental disorders and illnesses and I wanted to ask a simple question which, by no means has a simple answer for some of you affected by a mental disorder:

If a cure were developed which got rid of all the symptoms of your condition/disorder, forever, both negative and positive effects are going to be gone, would you take it? (If yes, elaborate. If not, elaborate)

Personally, I would take it. No question about it because although my social anxiety has some perks, the negatives far outweigh the positive. I stay cooped inside the house, I avoid socializing, I suffer terrible fears if I have to be out surrounded by people, I get physically ill when I even so much as brush with a stranger at the store. I can't shop by myself or even hold a steady job anymore. So much so that I've been declared disabled by the Social Security Administration. It makes me ashamed to be this way. It depresses me immensely. There are days I can't get out of bed, or sleep a wink. Medication to treat it makes me feel not at all like myself and have even caused me to contemplate suicide more than once. If there was a pill developed that would take away all these, I'd take it in a hot second.

Thoughts?

I'm with you, dear. PTSD, anxiety disorder, and clinical depression. There's no upside to that. I'd take any cure offered long before I'd worry about a hypothetical cure for my physical disability. Being able to function would be a far higher priority for me than being able to walk.

Exactly. I feel similarly. It's not a walk in the park. It sucks terribly. You feel broken and unfixable.

[Pandeeria]

I don't really think I have any mental disorders.

I mean, I get extremly nervous a lot and I get kinda depressed a lot, but I've haven't been officially diagnosed with any disorder.

Diagnosis doesn't make a disorder any better or worse, it just shows you have it. "Official diagnosis" isn't needed to have a disorder, good sir.

Well, I'm not sure if I actually have a disorder. I haven't been diagnosed so that's my point, I don't know because I haven't been diagnosed.

I may or may not have anxiety and/or depression. I don't know.

[Aequalitia]

To answer it short, I would not go to the option to cure my mental disorders. It basically just made me who I am, with the painful negative things but also the good things.

Change myself isn't what I want anymore, I do accept myself finally at least.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

For me, it is a bad thing. As already explained.

For me, it's part of my charm.

And I commend you for approaching your own condition that way, LG.

[The Orson Empire]

Although my family, including my mom, has a history with mental problems, the only mental disorder I have been diagnosed with is ADHD, and I don't have too many problems with it anymore. If there was a cure for it, and I still had major problems with it, I would take it.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

For me, it's part of my charm.

And I commend you for approaching your own condition that way, LG.

Well, I've observed normality from the outside for most of my life and frankly, I'm not impressed.

[Cyyro]

Not sure if my lack of motivation is related to anything or not, if it is, well, I'd dew it.

[The Joseon Dynasty]

I was diagnosed with high-functioning autism as a little boy, but over time and with a lot of trial and error I've worked out most of the attendant social kinks. So I personally wouldn't 'cure' it (whatever that entails) because it doesn't have a recognisable impact on my day-to-day life. As far as I can tell, anything about the autism that's makes me different than I otherwise would have been is completely internalised and inseperable from the other stuff.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Although my family, including my mom, has a history with mental problems, the only mental disorder I have been diagnosed with is ADHD, and I don't have too many problems with it anymore. If there was a cure for it, and I still had major problems with it, I would take it.

Perhaps those who get diagnosed with a disorder early in life tend, and I stress the word because I'm sure not everyone's the same, tend to deal better with the negatives than someone who's diagnosed later in life.

I was already 19-20 years old when the issue presented itself in full force. I had been an atypical child, but nothing so drastic as when my symptoms developed later in life.

[Alexanda]

My friend's cousin had a form of mental disability, although I do not know exactly what. Her parents did not want her to live disabled, as she was their only child and had to take over the family business when they had passed away. Anyhow, they somehow paid large sums of money to fund therapy and all sorts of things to 'fix' the problem my friend's cousin suffered from, and, in time, she recovered. So it is possible for one to find a sort of cure for these sorts of things, but it depends upon a person's financial confidence and security to do so, and even then it depends upon their motives...

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I was diagnosed with high-functioning autism as a little boy, but over time and with a lot of trial and error I've worked out most of the attendant social kinks. So I personally wouldn't 'cure' it (whatever that entails) because it doesn't have a recognisable impact on my day-to-day life. As far as I can tell, anything about the autism that's makes me different than I otherwise would have been is completely internalised and inseperable from the other stuff.

It seems, for what I've gathered recently, that this is not an uncommon feeling among those in the high functioning side of the autism spectrum.

[Pandeeria]

Although my family, including my mom, has a history with mental problems, the only mental disorder I have been diagnosed with is ADHD, and I don't have too many problems with it anymore. If there was a cure for it, and I still had major problems with it, I would take it.

Perhaps those who get diagnosed with a disorder early in life tend, and I stress the word because I'm sure not everyone's the same, tend to deal better with the negatives than someone who's diagnosed later in life.

I was already 19-20 years old when the issue presented itself in full force. I had been an atypical child, but nothing so drastic as when my symptoms developed later in life.

Would you say it's easier to work out the problems if you discover the disorder as a child instead of an adult?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Perhaps those who get diagnosed with a disorder early in life tend, and I stress the word because I'm sure not everyone's the same, tend to deal better with the negatives than someone who's diagnosed later in life.

I was already 19-20 years old when the issue presented itself in full force. I had been an atypical child, but nothing so drastic as when my symptoms developed later in life.

Would you say it's easier to work out the problems if you discover the disorder as a child instead of an adult?

I believe so, mainly because children are in their formative years. They're in full blown development, both physically and mentally. More elastic. An adult is more... static. Not as elastic, as in, they are pretty much already set on their ways, on their behaviors and thought patterns.

[Pandeeria]

Would you say it's easier to work out the problems if you discover the disorder as a child instead of an adult?

I believe so, mainly because children are in their formative years. They're in full blown development, both physically and mentally. More elastic. An adult is more... static. Not as elastic, as in, they are pretty much already set on their ways, on their behaviors and thought patterns.

I agree.


Also, how do I answer this thread if I haven't been diagnosed with a disorder?