What does it look like to feel suicidal? - great article

[gealach]

http://globalnews.ca/news/3722178/woman-you-dont-look-suicidal-post/
woman's photos show why you should never say ''you don't look suicidal''

Like the young woman at the heart of this story, I've been judged for not looking sufficiently distressed when describing how I was feeling. That judgement actually delayed my ptsd diagnosis by a full year. The last I saw, there isn't a ''patient must be crying uncontrollably during assessment'' criterion in the DSM.

 

[EmmaOwl]

Ugh. Sorry @brokenEMT and anyone who has been through this. I get the idea. :( The link is interesting, thanks for posting it here.

 

[Muted]

Wow, how true. I can completely relate.

 

[user44376]

Try being a man.

You keep quiet and try to act "normal" you're invisible. If people know you're sick, "quiet and normal" means the shooting spree is impending.

If you get mad and frustrated, you're a hothead and loose cannon.

If you cry, you're a weak pussy.

If you try to talk about feeling depressed or anxious, you're a pessimist and Debbie Downer. "Lighten up dude. Go for a walk or something. Get out of the house"

If you say you're lonely, you're a thirsty zitbag loser who can't get laid.

f*ck I hate the world.

 

[Tinyflame]

Idk, I don't feel that way re:men . Maybe because I was never the 'typical' woman, either? But Idk, I never really thought it makes any sense, that kind of thing, having emotions is a sign of character/ being genuine to me. I'm more afraid of my own emotions than other's, or afraid of consequences expressing them, or there's just general unsafety/ unacceptance/ no where anyone would tolerate them, let alone how I'd feel about it. You don't need to express a lot when you feel terror, I think. Idk don't have the words even now.

 

[shatter eyes]

Behind the mask is a faceless despair between life and death; without a face there are no sides to choose, no identity to uphold, no identity to lose.

They cannot see the infection and fight for wellness. They only see the bandaid.

 

[EveHarrington]

I've perfected the art of looking normal.

I.e. Not mental.

It's a toss up.

Do I look functional in order to not be judged by society, and you know, be accepted, be able to work, have friends, etc.....?

Or do I look like a disheveled mental nut case mess so that I can get help when I see my psychiatrist once every 4 months, my shrink for 45 minutes a week....?

I opt for normalcy. Even making myself a mess for one appointment would mean I subject myself to ridicule the other hours of the day I'm out and about. (Who needs that?!?)

 

[shatter eyes]

I've perfected the art of looking normal.

I.e. Not mental....

I try really hard for normal.
I dont have energy to even try look presentable anymore. Have not took bath nearly week.. no shave... socks same... living off water meds and expired 2015 cereal. Ran out of canned food.

 

[bento]

People like normal, prefer tidiness. A lot of mental health personnel seem to navigate by
stereotypes. What someone suicidal or PTSD, etc should look like. But heaven forbid
if you do actually break down and show them your real feelings of fear, etc. Then out
come the labels and a perfect imitation of a cat not wanting to get its feet wet. Something
between morbid fascination, pity and disgust. Kind of forces us to keep the mask on even
when in crisis. It seems as if there are not enough mental health professionals that have
real empathy, a true grasp of the latest research on PTSD or enough life experience. Or
have done their own healing. I've ended up working with someone who is still pretty much a
newbie (she sometimes reads aloud from a textbook, and tells me about the latest thing
she's learning at conferences). Despite this, she's waaaay better than most folks I've seen
as she is very focused on the latest research, is fairly non judgmental and has also a fair
amount of life experience.

Seems like with all the info out there about PTSD, suicidal ideation etc. there should be more
help out there for those in crisis.