I might echoe some people or be a bit late to comment... But this
is my take on it.
But yes research!
And I know you posted on my wall about not being admitted into
a psych ward, but I think that has definately helped me, I
don't think I'd be writing about one of my characters being
admitted or even being mentally ill, if I didn't go through it,
being locked up you get to experience a lot of 'details' and
notice a lot of things during research I don't think otherwise
you would, the whole 'oh yeah totally' thing.
I read in a previous comment on here someone saying about the
behaviours that do get you committed, and it's very true and
most of the time the character won't always be like that. They
would go through 'extreme' behaviours and almost 'an episode',
and even though there is no cure for insanity other times they
will be completely normal.. usually achieved by stability and
the ability to cope and/or someone who looks after them and
keeps them stable. Stability and healthy mind set is definately
not achieved easily and the everyday can consistantly be a
struggle and will always be challanged by others, as even the
though 'the character' feels 'stable' some behaviours and such
to outsiders can still be very shocking and they still horrible
things and tell you, you are nuts and should be locked up for
life even though you think are coping extremely well. As for
going through an episode their behaviour would be very
distructive and they might not care enough or even realise what
harm they are doing to themselves or others until much, much
later down the line. And rarely feel regret or guilt for things
they have done, if anything more anger and frustration of not
doing things right. They would also consistantly struggle to
feel human and 'normal', and will almost mirror or mimick other
people they almost 'admire' or want to be like and essientally
create a personality and behaviours on what they learn is
acceptable behaviour, mostly by a lot of trail and error.
I've also discovered, telling people I suffer with and such
ends up leading to bad news, and most of the time they say 'oh
well that explains a lot' you think it might help in them
understanding you, but usually it makes them more prejedice and
usually gives them 'fuel' or reason to hate you. So you end up,
when meeting new people or gaining new friends, you try harder
to just be normal and not say anything, unless you really,
really have to. But in the end the true friends don't make an
issue out of it and treat you like any other person, which in
the end helps a lot towards the never ending search for
happiness.
And one last thing I would say, even though this is probably
more of me ranting! Someone who ends up truly understanding the
mental illness they have NEVER uses it as an excuse for
anything. I've known a lot of depressed people and they use it
as an excuse for everything, like not being able to work being
one of them, usually the people who update their status's on fb
everytime they feel 'down' or something or update EVERYONE
about shit they are going through and then end up calling me an
attention seeker when they private convo me or come and sit in
my living room and talk with me about stuff I have gone or am
going through... and tell loads of people I didn't want to know
about stuff. Which ends up relating to the 'not saying anything
when you meet new people'. You learn to be tough and grow a
thick skin.
Hope this helps, even just a little bit.
xo<3
