Comments on: Girl, Interrupted

By: 2nd year psych student

2nd year psych student — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:50:18 +0000

Sorry, but tagging this as “Completely Psychotic” is kind of horribly insensitive and frankly upsetting. She was on medication to control her positive symptoms and should therefore have NOT been psychotic, and as the OP said she wasn’t a terrible person.

By: Rockstar Philosopher

Rockstar Philosopher — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:33:30 +0000

I don’t get these “we went out the first time, and the person was really honest about something important and difficult to talk about, WORST DATE EVAR!!!” people… Perhaps everyone with an illness, disability, unusual job or odd habit should just never go on dates eh?

By: TheAuthor

TheAuthor — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:48:52 +0000

Hey, thanks Bdub. This is the author writing. Just a point to be made — she wasn’t a bad person, and I’m certainly not insensitive towards mental illnesses, not with a social worker mother and a father on Paxil and another ex-girlfriend with severe borderline personality disorder. It simply wasn’t what I was expecting — the line “there I was, sitting across from a mentally ill person” was more about my surprise than anything else.

Of COURSE people have mental problems. I’ve known quite a few. So don’t get your panties/boxers in a bunch when I state a simple fact.

And yes Sasha … I’m happily married now.

By: Bdub

Bdub — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:21:42 +0000

II would like to make two points:

First I thought this was a about bad dates, not bad people. The folks disparaging the poster because he was uncomfortable with his date’s attitude and then revelation about her mental issues, you are missing the point I think. We’re supposed to be sharing tales of bad dates and I would say this qualifies: Person shows up not at all as you expected, reveals—right or not—socially stigmatizing condition and that she potentially has a substance abuse problem. Now, more power to her for being honest, but it would be a bit overwhelming for anyone on the first date.

Second, I do agree with some portions of the comments, in particular with cellardoor’s about which reality is more comfortable. When I was younger I was treated for depression with Celexa. I hated being on the meds. Hated the person I was on the meds more than the person I was without them. Fortunately Celexa is not a long term treatment. I haven’t looked back, I would rather be moody and unfriendly than bland and disinterested.

All the same, my prior treatment has never been first date conversation…

By: pixie

pixie — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:32:51 +0000

I feel sad for her too. While I agree it’s probably not a good idea to mention that you’re mentally ill on a first date, maybe to her, not mentioning it, felt like lying about who she is. At least, that’s how I used to feel.

By: ert

ert — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:56:55 +0000

So my comment’s awaiting moderation, but I realized I want to clarify it. :O

My examples were meant as examples of what would also be really insensitive to say, not as an “OH EM GEE, we should totally watch out for these people!”

By: ert

ert — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:46:01 +0000

Yeah, I was bothered by the “OMG MENTALLY ILL PERSON!” line, too. To me, it would’ve been like saying “There I was, sitting across from a woman with AIDS.” or “There I was, sitting across from a woman with cancer.” :/

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:47:42 +0000

Thanks to lmnop, wendy, etc. While I can see that the date was totally not meant to be, the “there I was, sitting across from a mentally ill person” line is pretty insensitive.

Guess what, author–you’ve probably sat across from a mentally ill person before, and you’ve probably enjoyed his or her company. Most of us are almost completely “normal” on the surface, with lives, relationships, hobbies, jobs, etc. What’s more, there are a lot of us; 1 in 5 people will suffer from some form of mental illness during their lives.

By: Saffy

Saffy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:47:11 +0000

that’s really sad…but she wasn’t acting crazy, it sounds like, and it didn’t seem like a horrible date. However, if i were ill I doubt i’d tell someone until i felt at least comfortable with it. I guess dealing with that kind of illness isn’t easy and it’s not for everyone, and it sure ain’t first date chatter. Poor thing though…also feel bad for her.

By: Pers

Pers — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:56:25 +0000

Poor thing…I hope she finds a good doctor who will work with her and help her out. I also hope she can find people in her life to help her stick with her meds. Can you imagine seeing everyone as Hitler? Ugh.

I hope she finds a healthy path Mental illness is no joke.