Why is one user applying this quote in mental and emotional health responses? (below in green)Are people not here to "waste their words on emotions? Knowing from experience, using action when I was depressed ended up with me hitting a tree, and in a full body cast being told I would be paralyzed from the neck down. I was not, I ended up with a full leg cast and years of pain, but obviously Florence Nightengale was not suffering from any mental illnesses.

"I think one's feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results.” - Florence Nightingale"

How nice it would be to "go visit a neighbor". Or "plant a tree". Or go "canvas for Greenpeace". I have tried all the above and many more for my depression and PTSD. I have found SLEEP to be the best cure. If things get too bad, I am able to sleep away the depression. Yes, I feel as though I am "wasting my life". People see me as "lazy". But it is better to "stay in the same place" than to "act out" when depressed, or for some people manic. I have seen bipolar 1 people use their "emotions" to "act out" as Florence Nightengale suggests only to end up in jail. There is a joke that is not funny for those that have Bipolar as my close friend does and we relate in the depression.

The not so funny joke/statistic says "one out of every three bipolar people end up committing suicide. One out of those three end up in jail. One out of every three end up in a psyche ward for the rest of their lives". Though it is very very depressing to read, Unfortunately I have seen too much of this actually happen to good friends I have met in groups and otherwise. How do we get understood by people.

Celebrities would rather admit they have an addiction and go into rehab, than admit a mental illness that fueled that addiction! When will celebrities come out and be honest that they are sick, and that there is no reason "to be scared of them" or see it as a weakness[/color]. With my depression I applaud ANYONE who is able to work a stable job with their illness. I have watched all stability in my life fall to the side, work, friendships, income/finances. There are few that understand and will stay close through the good and bad times.

But I am grateful to say that my family and a handful of friends understand that it is not their job to "cheer me up" and "make me ok". I am "ok" as I am, and that the more stability I gain through the work I can do. Jobs with deadlines, but I work on the computer when I am personally able. Friends who have depression, those I can call on just to hear "remember when you accomplished this?" Much of the time it was something I had done a week or two ago but in the depression had forgot or not been able to see it as an accomplishment.

The best medicine is surrounding one with the right people. While the church may seem a good place to look, often too many church members, despite their care do not understand or take the time to educate themselves. Find a doctor who has something near priceless, 'time for you!" Know your patient rights!

And like they have terms for people that are "african american", or "east indian", or "native american", "little people", when are they going to come up with something for all the people that lump us into "crazy"???? I am not crazy! I am not someone to fear or to be frightened of. I would never hurt anything. I do not see or hear voices. And even if I did, people need not laugh, or mock just because they are uneducated. Some of the worlds geniuses have had mental issues. I was told Einstein had to be reminded when to bathe and to change his clothing. All his mental energy was going toward one thing and not wasted on common practical bodily needs. Was he crazy? or a genius? So don't feel bad. Feel worthy. We all have a reason for being here, though I often feel worthless. Completely. I see all the projects I have not finished, and it takes caring friends to show me though uncompleted, they are further than most would have done and "good enough". ( a term my perfectionist mind cannot handle live with, but must learn through self forgiveness).

Anyway. I may post this as an overall topic. I would like to hear some support, and during the holidays, I think everyone needs it. Including my family members who may not be diagnosed, but may need to be! LOL!

xoxo! All the best to everyone.

N0help4u

I can understand what you are saying. I use to sleep my life away in high school because of depression but I was depressed (external) about THINGS. I have never had to go through the internal type of depression bi-polars suffer. I am sure that many probably think you are just a procrastinator that can't be bothered with whatever you don't want to be bothered with. I sure don't have any answers for you....as you say it is easy for somebody to say get a life.....get out and D0 something to get over it but I know that is easier said than done.
I can see your point about Florence Nightingales statement but I see it directed more at
people who are all take and no action and her meaning put your words into accomplishments. Often accomplishments can help people over come problems--like you said you like it when somebody reminds you of one of your accomplishments.
If you have a hard time getting involved with things maybe you could try making some short term projects for yourself like thinking of an area of interest or hobby like history or
psychology to you and looking it up on the internet and trying to learn all about it.

I have been saying for months about how Britney, Paris and the others must be bi polar and their fame probably amplifies the extremes of it. They said Britney didn't even show up for her court date because she didn't feel good but later was seen riding around with a friend.

KBC

First for a response to this question.


Celebrities would rather admit they have an addiction and go into rehab, than admit a mental illness that fueled that addiction! When will celebrities come out and be honest that they are sick, and that there is no reason "to be scared of them" or see it as a weakness.

As artists see their abilities,they also see the 'mental state' as a part of their personality,their charisma, their make-up.Change that,change them.

I beleive this because I knew, for a fact, that admission to anything like a 'mental illness' (or drug addiction,alcoholism) would make me a lesser person, no longer liked by the world I lived in, I FOUND OUT I WAS WRONG.

If your life was dependent on your abilities as an artist, and you admit a limited success rate while off drugs,what conclusion would you draw?

And if the lack of drugs made you such a different person,where would your career go?

Now, talk about the mental idea.

If you had a mental instability,one which also contributed to the uniqueness of your personality,and admitted it as a problem,what would the social stigma be for the actor then?RUIN.

ANY PERSON WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS,IN TODAYS SOCIETY,IS JUDGED AND LOOKED AT WITH FEAR AND CONTEMPT BY THOSE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND MENTAL ILLNESS.

A drug addict is almost acceptable in the eyes of society(ie. AWW!, THEY JUST HAD TOO MUCH MONEY AND WANTED TO 'PARTY')

The person with an admitted mental illness would be shunned and blacklisted from 'Hollywood' for being unstable and unreliable, drinking and drugs are just more socially acceptable than mental illnesses.

I wish you a happy holiday season and hope you and yours are mentally safe this year,

Ken

J_9

LOL, I am a nursing student, and this is in my signature line (which appears in all my posts, not just mental health)....This quote means that, as a nurse, I do not waste my feelings in words, but rather use actions, as a means of healing, whether it be medicinally or through talk therapy.

Florence Nightingale was the pioneer of nursing.

I think you are reading too much into that quote. That quote was meant for those of us in the nursing field to go out and do....go out and help..