Originally Posted By jonvn So, I've been sort of following the Britney Spears story. I'm not much of a fan of her music, in fact, I don't think I have heard 2 seconds of it. It seems, though, that she's a bit of a bimbo. Has been for a while. But she's really having some mental health issues. You don't go in for a 72 hour observation, and then spend an extra 14 days in the psych ward as a publicity stunt. So something is very wrong there. But what I have been seeing on the internet from people are some horrifically cruel comments. They say it is for publicity, that she's a drug addict, that she's got this problem or that problem, that it is her own fault. People have wished death on her, and laugh at her suffering. I don't understand this. I think it is ghastly that people are doing this, it makes me feel a great deal of shame for our culture. Can someone try to explain the horrible nature of these comments? They are filled with anger and hatred towards someone they don't even know, who has done nothing wrong, and is literally sick with an illness. Why are people like this?
Originally Posted By DAR It's actually the nature of celebrity in this country we'll put you up on a pedestal but won't have a problem knocking you off of it. My problem with Brittney was the danger she posed to her children with her erratic behavior. It's for the best that they were taken away from her. She needs to get better and hopefully she will but like I said she has to be willing to work at it otherwise she will be dead.
Originally Posted By jonvn well, the thing is that she is actually sick. Like disease sort of sick, only instead of affecting the circulatory system as in ateriosclerosis, it affects the brain. Can you have a problem with a person who has diabetes or cancer?
Originally Posted By DAR No however someone that has diabetes or cancer can still take their insulin shots or go in for chemotherapy treatments. And it seems like we have a pill for everytime type of ailment in this country from depression to an overactive bladder. So I imagine there's something for Britney's condition.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <It's actually the nature of celebrity in this country we'll put you up on a pedestal but won't have a problem knocking you off of it.> Who does this -- you? The thing is, she is mentally ill. And hopefully she'll be able to get help.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <but like I said she has to be willing to work at it otherwise she will be dead.> Do you know anyone who sufferes mental illness? Your statement above tells me you don't, as 'willing to work at it' is right on par with 'snap out of it.' The thought that outsiders have seems to be 'Well, if they take her kids away, she'll wake up and take responsibility.' Gosh, if mental illness were that easy, there'd be no more addiction left in the world. The mentally ill could simply 'pull themselves up by their bootstraps' and get well.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka The nature of mental illness is that people often won't get the treatment they need. If they do get help, they tend to stop taking meds once they feel better. Sadly, it's a major part of it. Believe me, with some of the people in my life, I know the frustration of them not seeming to get it through their heads that the reason they feel better is because of the meds. It's frustrating to be sure, but it is a very big part of it all. :-(
Originally Posted By jonvn "however someone that has diabetes or cancer can still take their insulin shots or go in for chemotherapy treatments." At least those diseases have effective treatments. Somewhat.
Originally Posted By jonvn It's very hard with mental illness, because the part of the body that tells you to do things in a correct manner is the part that is not working right. And then people who don't understand just act so very cruel. Like schoolyard children picking on someone less fortunate. I find it very sad.
Originally Posted By EighthDwarf I think her decline fascinates people because it seems like it was her fame that led her to insanity. Ironic that her insanity is also making her famous. Poor kid.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <I know the frustration of them not seeming to get it through their heads that the reason they feel better is because of the meds. It's frustrating to be sure, but it is a very big part of it all. :-(> Amen to that mele. It's one of the toughest aspects of living with a mentally ill person. But it's such an awful disease. And treating the brain is so tricky. Imagine taking pills so that your brain chemistry becomes more 'normal.' It's not heart medication, or blood medication -- it's brain medication. It must be a very strange feeling.
Originally Posted By DAR Yes I realize she is mentally ill, but we do have medications in this country that if she takes them will help her with her problems. And not once did I say that she needs to snap out it, Jim that is dishonest and you know it. People have to work through their problems no matter what it is and whether or not that means you take a pill to get through it or something else then so be it My sister teaches special needs kids and at least two or three have to go to speech therapy(what my original profession was going to be). Now the therapist works with these kids on a regular basis but the kids have to work at improving their language skills.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I do not wish her death or suffering. But, I might wish a little suffering to those "friends" around her who have let it come to this. Everyone in the WORLD saw the warning signs in this young lady and those closest to her turned a blind eye.
Originally Posted By jonvn "but we do have medications in this country that if she takes them will help her with her problems." Sometimes yes, sometimes no. You can't generally work through an organic mental illness. "But, I might wish a little suffering to those "friends" around her who have let it come to this." It's not easy to know what to do.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka A lot of the drugs have odd side effects and sometimes they still don't work. Plus, there is the cost of them all, etc. Did you know they still do shock therapy on people for depression? Scary.
Originally Posted By jonvn it is a last resort, sometimes nothing else works, and this does. It also can scramble your brains.
Originally Posted By dsnykid Okay ladies and gentlemen.. here is the problem with the drugs that treat BiPolar and Borderline Personality Disorder, which are waht people are claiming MS. Spears has... the doctor tells you you have this condition and then works with you to find a combination of medications that do not make the situation worse and do not have too many side effects... that process can take several YEARS. Once a patient is on the right combination, everything is hunky dory and life goes on so well, that the patient say "Hey, I'm better now, I am going to flush the pills down the toilet" A week or two goes by and the chemical imbalance returns and the cycle repeats. Often this will repeat multiple times until the doctor or family force medical treatment (aka Psychotherapy) upon the patient. At this point the patient will receive almost round the clock counseling focusing on the life skills needed to work on overcoming the imbalance. How to recognize that the reason you feel healthy is because of the pills, and the pills are just one of many tools needed to maintain a 'normal' life. Often addiction therapy is mandated by the counselors because a high percentage of these people also have addictive personalities. Pills, yeah they help, but it takes a lot of counseling and hard work to have a balanced life. How do I know? Cut myself since I was 12, Diagnosed with depression at 13, Began drinking at 14, medicated since I was 18, hospitalized at 25 for 4 months because I told my family I didn't think I would be able to ignore the voices in my head telling me to kill myself any longer left the hospital but remained in counseling and on meds for 5 more years. At 32 I am off my meds, except for panic attacks, I quit drinking, and haven't cut myself in 4 years. So it has been a 20, almost 21 year long journey for myself and my family. I feel horrible for Britney, and I hope her family realizes the uphill battle facing her.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka ((((dsnykid)))) I am so sorry to hear of your past. Great job at getting clean and facing each day.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA dsnykid, thanks for having the bravery and guts to put it all in perspective for those of us who haven't experienced it first hand. To all of you who have been saying 'buck up' and 'snap out of it' regarding Britney Spears, read the above post. Then, read it again. Depression is an ugly disease and tough to treat.
