Platitudes: Which Ones Make You Scream?

[anni]

From your professor?? Oh my. I've had an awful lot of professors, and have to say that in the mix there were a fair percentage of people who could be termed at least 'eccentric'. It's not an across the board statement observation but it at least seems to be a collection of professionals who display distinct personalities. I'm sorry you had one who thought it their business to make an observation which is wierd all by itself, Ms. Spock. That was very, very uncool of them.

 

[Sethe]

"There is some one else worse than you"

Maybe so, but try telling that to a sufferer when they are in the deepest of crisis modes. Not knowing which way is up, or which planet they are on.

I heard this a lot from my mother when I was young.

Did. Not. Help.

 

[Sethe]

There is a quote I hear sometimes in relation to trauma which goes, You can measure a man by how much suffering he has endured. I have been told this a lot by people and I find it absolutely ridiculous. Really? You can measure suffering?

Heh, I didn't know suffering was quantitative.

I got something similar from my father about being 'tough.' I had to be 'tough' to get through life. Apparently, according to him, I didn't want to be 'weak' or a 'chicken shit.'

So, kind of a similar reference...

 

[Sethe]

"Aren't you over that yet?"

UGH! I've heard this one too!

 

[Sethe]

I can't stand when people tell me "If you would just be more positive things would be better." -.- you're freakin kidding me right?

My parents actually gave me a book to read when I was about 13- "The Power of Positive Thinking" which is a book from the 50's. I glanced at it. I was mortified and humiliated because part of me believed them when they told me there was something 'wrong' with me. They seemed to love putting all the blame on me. Hmm, perhaps if home life were a bit more stable and less violent I wouldn't be so depressed?

They were clueless.

 

[shell]

You need to stop living in the past, and focus on the present.

 

[Sqweak]

"There is some one else worse than you"

Maybe so, but try telling that to a sufferer when they are in the deepest of crisis modes. Not knowing which way is up, or which planet they are on.

I can not, Can not stand that. I've come across people who live by this and if i actually too the time to think about, I could only compare my life's woes to someone in a third world country in order to feel as if there is someone out there worse off then myself.

 

[intothelight]

" You're not wierd, you're just eccentric."

I've heard that one a lot too. Wish I would tell them, "I'm not eccentric, I am crazy and have the diagnosis to prove it!" All while trying to bite my left ear. Maybe someday I will say it.

 

[Lucycat]

The one I hate.... and I have had it said when going in for surgery, for painful procedures and for therapy;

"It will all be worth it in the end!"

er ...no - the surgery did not work, I had to have it redone 3 times, the procedures still hurt and did not have the desired outcome and .... well ......I'm still in therapy :whistling:

 

[traumablackout]

I could only compare my life's woes to someone in a third world country in order to feel as if there is someone out there worse off then myself.

I think doing this is the only thing that keeps me going sometimes. I find I'm constantly thinking about women who are killed and beaten in the middle east, I'm constantly thinking about the starving children in Africa, the teens in Japan who are under immense pressure to be perfect, the people who don't have a voice in China. The thought that there are other people suffering and suffering on a much higher level than I am make me feel like I can keep going. I think about how people have survived for thousands of years without mental help.

Times were much worse back when Gladiators could snatch up women and throw them into the Colosseum arena covered in hormones to attract the chimps that raped, and eventually killed and ate them. Thoughts like this keep me going through the day, I think "well at least I'm not dealing with that." Sometimes it will make me a bit more depressed though because I'll start thinking about why are humans so god awful to each other, we should stand together as human beings. It bothers me that a lot of people on here have PTSD simply because they lacked support and love. Two basic simple things. It's sad that a majority of the population seems to lack the ability to give support or love. Makes me wonder who is really human? Us (survivors), or them?

 

[Sqweak]

“It is what it is.”

REALLY? Is it really?

<Font size corrected by Amethist>

 

[Stacie]

In posting a reply to another thread, I came up with two that absolutely make me want to scream, whether in frustration or in envy or hopefulness I am honestly not sure. I don't know if these are technically platitudes but when I hear:


"Fake it till you make it" and " It will be true if you just believe" I want to pull my hair out!