Mad Pride

Hi There,

Welcome to the Fourms 😄

I was just wondering if you could explain to the community here what exactly Mad Pride is?

It sounds like you may have some wonderfully interesting things to say on here.

When you mention "can you operate with out mentioning family stories" are you referring to on this sight? As we ask our members not to reveal enough information about themselves that they may be identified- just to keep every one safe.

Keen to read your reply

Baboo

I need to learn about self-revelation and safety, but also seem to have a drive to persist with just being me, Its about levels of authenticity I guess.

I only heard about the Mad Pride movement through a recent googling about anti-psychiatry (like gay-pride) I like the way it turns a vulnerability into a strength but it could also be tricky when people are unsure about boundaries. I am only learning about boundaries recently as I have a somewhat institutionalised outlook.

Just thought it worth discussing. I have not had much to do with mental health movements as I have been too busy trying to survive, but i have more time now.

Hi @Appleblossom

Just thought I'd pop in and say hello! I am Hobbit, one of the moderators on these forums. I don't really know much about Mad Pride either unfortunately.

To be honest, I couldn't even imagine losing two siblings like that, that must so so very hard for you.

But I do hear from your posts that you are trying to learn about yourself and boundaries, and I think that is a really good thing. Also, I really like your comment "but also seem to have a drive to persist with just being me". I think that's a famtastic trait to have really, after all, we can all only be ourselves!

What I can say is this - you can certainly be yourself on these forums! You have friends here. We need to keep things anonymous, for satety reasons, but you will find this a really warm and welcoming place for all, I am sure.

A big welcome once again!

Hobbit.

I've encountered 'Mad Pride' a few times in passing on the internet. From what I understand it is a radical movement that questions the very basis of calling someone mentally ill. For example: is it really the individuals diagnosed with mental illness who are sick or is it the society we live in that is distorted?

I relate to this just on the level of ideas. In practice, I think things are more complicated. For example: I agree that the mechanisms of society may have a pretty large part to play in why some of us react in a 'dysfunctional' way. On the other hand, we have to live in this society so finding a way to fit into it at least to some degree seems important.

Thank you Hobbit

I try to walk with respect but that was also so well enforced in me, I had to find more assertive parts of my self. Some people would say I was too nice and others said I was resentful

Brene Brown also has interesting things on Shame and turning negatives into positives.

Hello Mazanita

I agree there are mental states that are dysfunctional and practical considerations to manage them are important for person involved and those around them. But yes I often think society is distorted and the individual who is diagnosed may have good reasons for their circumstance, reactions. Usually an accumulation of reasons if a person is damaged enough to come to the notice of medicos and get a diagnosis.

I like your sense of responsibility about fitting in. I am not advocating .. just trying to talk about ideas and not just my self.

Hi again @Appleblossom. So cool that you want to talk ideas and not only personal stuff (though it seems a great place to do that here too). I think there are big problems with western society and I do think that some of us with mental illness are kind of like walking expressions of the breakdowns in society that are happening. One of the first things that occurs to me along these lines is the ever increasing speed at which people are expected to live their lives, especially their working lives. I've pretty much crashed out of every job I've ever had, partly due to workloads that get heavier and heavier and more and more speedy in their demands. Theoretically I aspire to fitting in. In practice I'm very withdrawn from the world (except on the internet). I'm pretty angry about society and my place in it, deep down, but try to keep calm about it. Meditation, breathing and mindfulness (all in a fairly haphazard way) seem to help with this.

Ideas effect our sense of the personal and the attitudes of others in our lives. So for me the distinction between ideas and the personal is a bit fuzzy.

So I dont take the rat race too seriously or personally anymore ... enough is enough. There are limits to growth. Extreme pressures to PERFORM aint making people happier. Even if their sadness or stress does not come under a medical diagnoses, or I do or I dont know about them.

Your decision to leave the workforce to be with family is admirable. I can also see how that could leave you feeling powerless in some ways. I think too much emphasis is put on career and work force in general. At the same time, I'd have to say that one of the reasons I find it difficult socialising is not having a satisfactory answer to the question, 'what do you do?' It's only part of the problem but it looms large. Your experience of growing up in orphanages - I can hardly imagine what that was like. I appreciate your honesty in describing your experiences. My childhood was very solitary (only child). Learning that 'I am not the only one' seems to me like a life-long lesson.

@Mazarita

Different situations that we grow up with have different pluses and things that are tough. I was an only child for 2 years, between 8 and 10 That 2 years was with both parents and very stabilising for me, its my GOTO when I need a happy place.

Maybe I am mad but I am sick of the career thing. I was career focussed enough when young, but mostly I just want to understand, what was "it" all about. It seemed too difficult to break back into the workforce, and I dont like consumerist life-styles anyway. I have plenty of security now, eat well, dress ok, see the odd movie. I dont need more and more.

I know too many people who are not happy and put others down to justify themselves, their lives etc.

Many things I want, money cant buy and I knew that very young.

I have decided to fight back on the "what do you do" socialising front. Not having lots of "success" yet but am finding highly creative people I like to be with and helps heaps. I am productive in my own way.