Comments on: To Nurture Our Invincibility http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/ one single mother. one spririted preschooler. oy -- what a life. Fri, 18 May 2012 11:42:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: SeellaRus http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-1542 SeellaRus Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:44:45 +0000 http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-1542 I just sent this post to a bunch of my friends as I agree with most of what you’re saying here and the way you’ve presented it is awesome. I just sent this post to a bunch of my friends as I agree with most of what you’re saying here and the way you’ve presented it is awesome.

]]> By: Jenni http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-1237 Jenni Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:14:20 +0000 http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-1237 You are so right - mental illness is real, but it is normal to feel crappy about something horrible that happened and there's so much emphasis on snapping out of it and less on your lesson on learning from a negative experience. I hope you found a school that understands this. My daughter was at one stage diagnosed borderline adhd but she is really just not one of those very outgoing kids who will not sit quietly and draw and does not take kindly to authority. She twirls, and dances, and rushes about and makes things I think the adults become tired from it and don't see it as her just enjoying her life and her body. You are so right - mental illness is real, but it is normal to feel crappy about something horrible that happened and there’s so much emphasis on snapping out of it and less on your lesson on learning from a negative experience.

I hope you found a school that understands this. My daughter was at one stage diagnosed borderline adhd but she is really just not one of those very outgoing kids who will not sit quietly and draw and does not take kindly to authority. She twirls, and dances, and rushes about and makes things I think the adults become tired from it and don’t see it as her just enjoying her life and her body.

]]> By: Karen http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-57 Karen Sun, 29 Jul 2007 20:57:00 +0000 http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-57 Leah, there is a word for all the things you describe here: the labels, the diagnoses, the disorders. They are just concepts, and like all our concepts, we mistake them as permanent. Behaviors are behaviors, they arise in response (like all things) to conditions, and they change. As long as we do not fixate them with our conceptual views. Remember this about Sami, and remember that wherever he does his schooling, you can always take responsibility by trusting your open, faithful eye. There is nothing to fear. Leah, there is a word for all the things you describe here: the labels, the diagnoses, the disorders. They are just concepts, and like all our concepts, we mistake them as permanent. Behaviors are behaviors, they arise in response (like all things) to conditions, and they change. As long as we do not fixate them with our conceptual views. Remember this about Sami, and remember that wherever he does his schooling, you can always take responsibility by trusting your open, faithful eye. There is nothing to fear.

]]> By: desert mom http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-56 desert mom Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:19:00 +0000 http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-56 Hi Leah -<br/><br/>I'm so glad I found your blog before Chattering Minds leaves Beliefnet -<br/><br/>Your posts are so encouraging - My label is heart disease, rightfully so, as my Dad dropped dead @ 40 and his parents were both gone in their 60's. A few years ago I had what I thought were symptoms of a heart attack which led to the usual cardiac workup, which were all clear (Thank God) - but it did lead to an anxiety diagnosis which includes Xanax when I have these attacks. Thankfully they don't happen too often, I fight myself every time it happens because I don't want to take a pill! Even though I know the feelings will go away, I usually give in, because the feelings keep intensifying etc...I'm happy to say I'm going to be 45 next month, and I still have feelings around my birthday that I can't believe I have now outlived my Dad by 5 years! I've tried to get my doctors to take me off Lipitor, but my background is too risky, so I try to eat well, exercise and stay away from the occasional stress induced cigarette! <br/><br/>My son on the other hand was "diagnosed" ADHD in 3rd grade, we went the usual medication route, it was almost like he was a different kid! School work wise anyway, but he still looked like he was "on something" he was very subdued in his reactions etc...Later when he was in junior high, he had a spell of bad decisions that got him into trouble w/school and the law and one day I found him on his bed saying he would rather be dead than continue living his life....I took him to a mental health hospital immediately, he was diagnosed with a depressive disorder, given Wellbutrin, we saw a psychologist for a while...He's now off his meds, he's almost 20 now and if I had a $1 for every time I spoke w/a woman who had a son his age and was going through the same thing about school and life in general, I wouldn't have to work, its all pretty normal. But I think the problem lies in parents thinking their kids need to mature and go out into the world like we did, in the time frame that we did, and it doesn't work like that anymore. I personally would hate to be in my teens and early 20's now, there's so much more pressure and things to get into that we never had exposure to...I think we need to be patient.<br/>We can take our "labels" from the medical establishment, but we also have to do our homework, find out what works for us, when my son was little I couldn't get past the fact that I had to give him a pill to get him to behave! I hated it! We've become a society of labels and pills for the corresponding label! Its ridiculous!<br/><br/>I wish you much luck with your son, thank you for your thought inspiring words... Hi Leah -

I’m so glad I found your blog before Chattering Minds leaves Beliefnet -

Your posts are so encouraging - My label is heart disease, rightfully so, as my Dad dropped dead @ 40 and his parents were both gone in their 60’s. A few years ago I had what I thought were symptoms of a heart attack which led to the usual cardiac workup, which were all clear (Thank God) - but it did lead to an anxiety diagnosis which includes Xanax when I have these attacks. Thankfully they don’t happen too often, I fight myself every time it happens because I don’t want to take a pill! Even though I know the feelings will go away, I usually give in, because the feelings keep intensifying etc…I’m happy to say I’m going to be 45 next month, and I still have feelings around my birthday that I can’t believe I have now outlived my Dad by 5 years! I’ve tried to get my doctors to take me off Lipitor, but my background is too risky, so I try to eat well, exercise and stay away from the occasional stress induced cigarette!

My son on the other hand was “diagnosed” ADHD in 3rd grade, we went the usual medication route, it was almost like he was a different kid! School work wise anyway, but he still looked like he was “on something” he was very subdued in his reactions etc…Later when he was in junior high, he had a spell of bad decisions that got him into trouble w/school and the law and one day I found him on his bed saying he would rather be dead than continue living his life….I took him to a mental health hospital immediately, he was diagnosed with a depressive disorder, given Wellbutrin, we saw a psychologist for a while…He’s now off his meds, he’s almost 20 now and if I had a $1 for every time I spoke w/a woman who had a son his age and was going through the same thing about school and life in general, I wouldn’t have to work, its all pretty normal. But I think the problem lies in parents thinking their kids need to mature and go out into the world like we did, in the time frame that we did, and it doesn’t work like that anymore. I personally would hate to be in my teens and early 20’s now, there’s so much more pressure and things to get into that we never had exposure to…I think we need to be patient.
We can take our “labels” from the medical establishment, but we also have to do our homework, find out what works for us, when my son was little I couldn’t get past the fact that I had to give him a pill to get him to behave! I hated it! We’ve become a society of labels and pills for the corresponding label! Its ridiculous!

I wish you much luck with your son, thank you for your thought inspiring words…

]]> By: bella http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-55 bella Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:48:00 +0000 http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-55 Oh Leah,<br/>I too have my own history and tales with mental illness, the health care system, the stigma, the family legacy, the diagnosis and how the treatements for insanity can make you crazy. It was comoforting to hear you honesty and fierce compassion in your words. I was moved at your courage and your claiming of your own voice. This is freedom.<br/>love to you,<br/>bella Oh Leah,
I too have my own history and tales with mental illness, the health care system, the stigma, the family legacy, the diagnosis and how the treatements for insanity can make you crazy. It was comoforting to hear you honesty and fierce compassion in your words. I was moved at your courage and your claiming of your own voice. This is freedom.
love to you,
bella

]]> By: Leah http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-54 Leah Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:37:00 +0000 http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-54 thanks for your comment Stacy. I really hope my experience may give your daughter some hope!<br/><br/>one thing I need to correct in my post is to caution people not to chuck their meds out the window like I did. that can be very dangerous and people are best to go off slowly with the help of their doctor. <br/><br/>peace to you!<br/>Leah thanks for your comment Stacy. I really hope my experience may give your daughter some hope!

one thing I need to correct in my post is to caution people not to chuck their meds out the window like I did. that can be very dangerous and people are best to go off slowly with the help of their doctor.

peace to you!
Leah

]]> By: Stacy http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-53 Stacy Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:57:00 +0000 http://mamadharma.net/2007/07/to-nurture-our-invincibility/#comment-53 This is very encouraging. I have a 22 year old daughter who, after experiencing a year long chronic illness followed by the breakup with a boyfriend whom she adored, was diagnosed with major depression, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. Years earlier she had been diagnosed with ADD and Central Auditory Processing Disorder. I have tried very hard to tell her she is too young, has dealt with too many difficult circumstances in a very short period of time, to accept these diagnoses as a life long sentence of chronic mental illness. I am sending this too her as it is rare to see such a positive take on her future potential. She has been told (and believes) that she will have these diagnoses for the rest of her life and will aways have to be medicated. This is very encouraging. I have a 22 year old daughter who, after experiencing a year long chronic illness followed by the breakup with a boyfriend whom she adored, was diagnosed with major depression, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. Years earlier she had been diagnosed with ADD and Central Auditory Processing Disorder. I have tried very hard to tell her she is too young, has dealt with too many difficult circumstances in a very short period of time, to accept these diagnoses as a life long sentence of chronic mental illness. I am sending this too her as it is rare to see such a positive take on her future potential. She has been told (and believes) that she will have these diagnoses for the rest of her life and will aways have to be medicated.

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