Mental Disability Fanclub

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

Let's make this a serious fanclub, kind of like the LGBT fanclub. This is the Mental Disability fanclub for anyone who was born with any type of mental disability, disorder or syndrome and its supporters.

• You can share stories relating to your condition.
• Explain what your disability is and what it does if it hasn't been explained already.
• If you are comfortable enough, talk about your diagnosis.
• How you manage it and how it affects your life today.
• Talk about famous individuals who have a disorder like ourselves.
• Supporters are also welcome to join in and ask questions.

So I'll start.

 

When I was six, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a developmental and disruptive behaviour disorder. Many of the symptoms include hyperactivity (duh), impulsivity, inattention, short term memory loss, tendency to multitask and daydream, constant restlessness, procrastination, laziness, ect. From age six to sixteen, I used to take medication that slowed my mind down, cause me to concentrate and to calm me. Unfortunately, the effects of the medication did more than just calm me. It made me descend into such a depressed state I considered suicide more than once. At the time, no one knew it was my medication until April of last year. Ever since I stopped taking my medication, I've been a lot happier. I smile and laugh more than I can ever remember and I haven't regretted going off of it.

 

Now for my Asperger's Syndrome. I was diagnosed when I was thirteen. Asperger's Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder and is the mildest of them all. Symptoms include the inability to function socially, to lie, to understand sarcasm, jokes and irony; intense interest in a certain subject or area; atypical or advanced vocabulary; heightened senses; being literal minded; average or above average intelligence. My Asperger's used to be very severe and when I stopped taking my meds (it intensified it) it got milder and milder as each day passed. Now it's mild enough that I'm almost a normal teenager but even then it doesn't make my Asperger's any less there. Some symptoms are more dominant than others. I still can't lie and I'm often subjected to sensory overloads every once in a while.

 

Last but not least, is my synesthesia. Synesthesia is a sensory disorder that affects your senses with colour. As far as I am aware, I can taste colours, hear colours, feel colours and feel sounds. Many people with Asperger's Syndrome have it but don't realize it. - copy and paste from my profile.

 

Who's next? (:

Edited May 12, 2012 by TheApprenticeofKingMickey

[Skai 3,961]

I just read up on your description of Aspergers and Synesthesia... it sounds a lot like me... but I was never diagnosed. Actually somewhat the ADHD also..

Edited May 12, 2012 by Sky Heart

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

I just read up on your description of Aspergers and Synesthesia... it sounds a lot like me... but I was never diagnosed. Actually somewhat the ADHD also..

 

Have you ever talked to your parents about this or considered going to see someone with a profession in mental health who might be able to help and ultimately diagnose you?

[Skai 3,961]

Have you ever talked to your parents about this or considered going to see someone with a profession in mental health who might be able to help and ultimately diagnose you?

 

 

Meh, not really. I thought it was just kinda normal for me. It's not something I really put thought into, but sometimes I am reminded of it by reading things like this.

[Always 309]

You know, like Sky Heart, I've actually started to wonder over the past few months whether I have Asperger's Syndrome as well, because I seem to have some of those symptoms. Also I'm pretty sure I'm genetically predisposed to it. Of course, if I asked any of my friends or family about it, they'd say there's nothing "wrong" with me, and I shouldn't worry about it. And I don't feel like I need to see anyone about it, but now my curiosity is really sparked, and I want to find out just to find out. Maybe I'll sneak over to see a mental health professional in the near future...

Edited May 12, 2012 by Always

[Skai 3,961]

You know, like Sky Heart, I've actually started to wonder over the past few months whether I have Asperger's Syndrome as well, because I seem to have some of those symptoms. Also I'm pretty sure I'm genetically predisposed to it. Of course, if I asked any of my friends or family about it, they'd say there's nothing "wrong" with me, and I shouldn't worry about it. And I don't feel like I need to see anyone about it, but now my curiosity is really sparked, and I want to find out just to find out. Maybe I'll sneak over to see a mental health professional in the near future...

 

I know, exactly what you said. But then again it could just be a Self Fulfilling Prophecy, a form of Hypochondriasis or Conversion Disorder, where we believe to have a disease because we believe we have these certain symptoms when it could just be in your mind. That's why I'm sort of doubtful and hesitant to proceed further in my curiosity in this.

[Kinode 3,056]

Supporter joining!

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

Supporter joining!

 

Love you

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

Well i have ADHD ..It hasnt affected me as harshly as some though . Mainly bc i was born with a high IQ and was in gifted classes. I also graduated @16. My doctor wasnt concerned enough to medicate me bc i was able to compensate my horrible attention span and hyperactivity with this . I hate talking about this due to the fact i dont want to seem like im bragging. ( Im not ) Its just helped me overcome any learning obstacles without medication. However , my hyperactivity levels are outrageous on a constant basis ..Its also hard to calm me down sometimes and i can get really restless.

Edited May 12, 2012 by axel_lea_lives_on

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

Well i have ADHD ..It hasnt affected me as harshly as some though . Mainly bc i was born with a high IQ and was in gifted classes. I also graduated @16. My doctor wasnt concerned enough to medicate me bc i was able to compensate my horrible attention span and hyperactivity with this . I hate talking about this due to the fact i dont want to seem like im bragging. ( Im not ) Its just helped me overcome any learning obstacles without medication. However , my hyperactivity levels are outrageous on a constant basis ..Its also hard to calm me down sometimes and i can get really restless.

 

Like an itch you can't scratch.

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

Like an itch you can't scratch.

 

Yes yes ..and sometimes i annoy myself with this .LOL

[Think Pink 1,967]

Technically I don't have anything, but I figure I must have some form of mental insanity.

My pre-school teacher recommended I get tested for ADHD, but the doctor said I didn't have it, I was just really, really, hyper. 8D

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

Technically I don't have anything, but I figure I must have some form of mental insanity.

My pre-school teacher recommended I get tested for ADHD, but the doctor said I didn't have it, I was just really, really, hyper. 8D

 

8D

 

Tell us stories about your brothers.

[Godot 513]

I haven't been formally diagnosed, but I have all of the symptoms of BPD (although i know self-diagnoses can be a little iffy). i want to get it checked out, but my mom won't pay for me to go to a psychiatrist, as my brother has Asperger's and ADHD so she's already spending a lot on him.

 

i'm actually really interested in mental disabilities (especially mood disorders and the Autism spectrum) and am planning to become a psychiatrist one day.

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

I haven't been formally diagnosed, but I have all of the symptoms of BPD (although i know self-diagnoses can be a little iffy). i want to get it checked out, but my mom won't pay for me to go to a psychiatrist, as my brother has Asperger's and ADHD so she's already spending a lot on him.

 

i'm actually really interested in mental disabilities (especially mood disorders and the Autism spectrum) and am planning to become a psychiatrist one day.

 

Cooooool.

[Kinode 3,056]

i'm actually really interested in mental disabilities (especially mood disorders and the Autism spectrum) and am planning to become a psychiatrist one day.

 

This this this

goes for me too.

[Robbie the Wise 5,050]

Supporter here btw Apprenty your psot was very informative good job

[Weedanort 8,786]

Supporter joining!

 

Supporter joining!

 

Same here.

 

I have a few friends with the Down Syndrome, and they're really cool.

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

If any of you have questions you want to ask, just go ahead and I'll answer them as best I can.

 

Supporter here btw Apprenty your psot was very informative good job

 

Thank you. http://kh13.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/happy.png

[Roxie 71]

As you all know I have Autism. I don't know anything about it but I'm gonna look it up!

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

As you all know I have Autism. I don't know anything about it but I'm gonna look it up!

 

It's really important to inform yourself about your own disability. Try asking your parents about it and maybe they can buy you books that are about autism. I find that books featuring Temple Grandin (she's a famous person with autism) are really informative. In fact, there's a movie about and called Temple Grandin that I really recommend you watch.

[Roxie 71]

Ok.

[VoidXName 346]

Definite supporter here! I've had several friends with ADHD, ADD, Asperger's, Down Symdrome, and you know what? they are all really cool people just like you and me (sounds really corny, but it's true). I wish more people could see that.

 

 

 

It's really important to inform yourself about your own disability. Try asking your parents about it and maybe they can buy you books that are about autism. I find that books featuring Temple Grandin (she's a famous person with autism) are really informative. In fact, there's a movie about and called Temple Grandin that I really recommend you watch.

 

I loved that movie so much!

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

Definite supporter here! I've had several friends with ADHD, ADD, Asperger's, Down Symdrome, and you know what? they are all really cool people just like you and me (sounds really corny, but it's true). I wish more people could see that.

 

 

 

I loved that movie so much!

 

I know! It was like seeing a mirror version of myself when I was younger.

[Number XV 490]

Okay. I have A.D.D. which basically makes it hard to concentrate for a long time. I often wander off into my own world. It's strong enough to affect me, but not strong enough that medicine helps. Sucks, huh? I also have Depression, which is pretty self explanatory. I, you know, feel awfully depressed a lot, sometimes for no reason

 

I also have a kinda mild case of Schizophrenia. I often experience voices that I can't explain and hallucinations. Basically I have a very hard time grasping reality.