mental illness
By NerdGirlUSA
@starflye78 (260)
Daytona Beach, Florida
January 21, 2019 12:06pm CST
I suffer from bipolar disorder, along with a slew of other mental issues, but I am extremely intelligent. That whole "fine line between genius and insanity' for sure holds true for myself, and it is a difficult path to follow. Fused with a gift from God in the passion and ability to really relate to the mentally disabled, old and young, makes some days especially trying, especially with my husband not being here. My question to you mylotters is this: do you think that persons with diagnosed mental illness are more or less qualified to help other mentally ill people on a professional level? I don't plan on going back to college and being a doctor or anything but I feel as if I would make a good therapist or counselor because I live with it every day. Currently my bad days out weigh the good so I can't really hold a steady job, but I just know I am bred to help others who have special needs, old and young. I just continue to pray and have faith that my Higher Power has it all planned out for me. But opinions are always nice. Hope everyone is having a happy Monday. Oh, and Happy Martin Luther King Jr day.
2 people like this
5 responses
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
21 Jan 19
I think they can be more qualified or less qualified. If they can use their experience from their own disorders in a positive way they can be better than people who have no personal experience with mental illness. If they have too many bad days, if they lack energy or concentration etc they might find it harder to have that kind of job than people who aren't mentally ill.
Have you read "An unquiet mind" by Kay Redfield Jamison? She is a psychologist and she has bipolar disorder. Arnhild Lauveng from Norway is another example. She has been mentally ill, but she is a psychologist today.
2 people like this
@fivecandles (435)
• United States
19 Feb 19
I don't know. Honestly, I think it varies just as it would with someone without a mental illness. I know at one point in time I could have done GREAT. Now, not so much. I just don't know.
@MainerMikeBrown (1373)
• Bridgton, Maine
22 Jan 19
Some of the best psychotherapists have never had diagnosable mental illness before. But the ones that do will always have an advantage while trying to help others with mental illness.
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
21 Jan 19
Mike here is a social work and very aware of all of this.He works with the homeless.
