Posts by Carl Brown152

Being crazy doesn't mean much, really—since it all just comes down to whoever gets to decide who's actually losing it.

So, who's really the crazy one in the end?

I've always loved escaping into my own little world—and honestly, I still do. I don't see it as a bad thing at all... though I always make sure to get my stuff done regardless.

I’ve actually pulled off some things in my life that, honestly, used to feel totally impossible to me... which just goes to show how much our own self-image holds us back from what we can actually do.

The other part is figuring out what you *actually* want—what truly fulfills you—without worrying about what your dad, or some random person on Reddit, thinks... And hey, it doesn't even have to be just one thing, right? It could be a whole bunch of different paths...

cosmiclynx79 said:Design was my first choice, but the best programs are all based in New York, much like how I couldn't do veterinary medicine because I didn't want to move to Boston. Eventually, I gravitated toward nursing after watching nurses work in local hospitals. I didn't even attempt pre-med due to my grades and a total lack of foundation in the sciences. Back then, I had no idea what the reality of nursing actually entailed. Now I know better, and I know that with my diagnosis, this career is off the table. So, what's left? I'm not exactly a genius...

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What I’m trying to say is... it’s just not true that you can't. Social anxiety can be treated, just like anything else we struggle with... Having these things doesn't make us incapable—there's always potential there, right?🙂

Honestly, based on everything I’ve heard about those antipsychotics—I wouldn't even touch them unless I was in such a massive psychosis that I was actually a danger to myself or someone else. 😁 I mean, if they work for some people, that’s great, but it feels like doctors are just handing them out for everything lately... Like using them for insomnia 🤷 which is just awful.

Wait, is anyone actually prescribing antipsychotics for social anxiety or stuff like that?? First I've ever heard of that.
Isn't that a bit much—especially considering all those side effects? I just don't get it 🤷

cosmiclynx79 said:I’m a nursing student, and for the next two weeks, I’ve got clinical rotations on the internal medicine ward for four hours a day. Honestly, the panic is already setting in. Is it a bad idea to take 10 mg of Valium every morning before my shift just to stay calm? If I switch majors, my parents won't fund my education anymore, and I'll be forced into the workforce—but finding a job is nearly impossible given my social anxiety. I really want to work so I don't have to rely on my parents. If anyone has advice regarding clinicals, please share. And sorry if this thread is out of place; I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed right now.

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If I were in your shoes, I'd probably take it once at first—then maybe only when I know things are gonna be super stressful... Doing it every day? Seems like a bit much to me. 🤷

briskbison47 said:Do you honestly think an alcoholic is even aware of how they're acting?

Someone drinking all day long—probably not. Some people just act like jerks and happen to be drunk while doing it... it's not always the booze that's the problem, right?

Donna Martin said:It sneaks up on you, and if you actually try to confront them, they’ll turn on you instantly, acting like you’ve lost your mind just for suggesting it. They’ll swear up and down that they could go five years without a single drop if they wanted to, but hey, they aren't "an alcoholic," so they don't have to prove anything to anyone. But if you actually manage to force them to stay sober for even a few days? Their hands start shaking, they spiral into delirium, and things get incredibly ugly, very fast...
Admitting you're an alcoholic takes massive guts, which is exactly why that's the very first thing you have to say when you walk into an AA meeting.

Those sound like extreme cases, though. People here seem to be saying alcoholism is more like, I don't know, having one too many over the weekend and realizing you crossed a line, so next time you try to scale it back. Or am I totally missing the point? 🤷

mellowskipper said:I’m not judging either, per se, but I wouldn’t say I’m feeling particularly empathetic about it.

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Look, I have empathy—it just depends on the person, you know? Like, how they act and if they're actually hurting anyone else.

briskbison47 said:With alcoholism, if you're even sitting there questioning where the limit is, you've already passed it. But hey, feel free to debate with yourself whether your habits are "normal" or not. It's your life and your addiction.

🤷😁 To be real, I don't care about the technical definition of addiction or anything. For me, it’s all about how someone behaves—and how that affects their own life.

Donna Martin said:The practical way to define any kind of addiction isn't really about how many ounces of alcohol someone gulps down in a sitting, but rather whether their entire demeanor and emotional state would absolutely crater if they couldn't get their hands on a drink for, say, ten days straight. If just the thought of being without it sends you into a spiral of pure anxiety and dread, then yeah, you’re looking at an addiction, plain and simple. If a person can't even navigate their daily life without it, that's the bottom line... We aren't going to measure addiction by the ounce, nor are we going to base it on some subjective feeling or the unsolicited opinions of every old lady on the block (and that includes my own 😁)

I'm actually leaning more toward this definition myself. Though, honestly? If someone chooses to live that way, let them do their thing. Their life, their choices... who am I to judge? You never really know what someone's been through to end up there anyway.

briskbison47 said:It’s always the guy drinking the most who gets labeled the alcoholic. It reminds me of this one guy I knew—a total regular at the local pub—who tried to convince me he wasn't an alcoholic just because he drinks water alongside his whiskey.
Alcoholism is a tough pill to swallow.

So, what’s your definition then? Is it someone who actually stops to wonder if they have a problem? Or is it about hitting some specific limit? Does it have to mess up your life first? Just curious...

briskbison47 said:That logic definitely applies to alcoholism.

I don't know—I wouldn't really agree with that. There’s just way too much to consider, right? Plus, everyone seems to have their own definition of what alcoholism actually is... I mean, some people act like basically everything counts.

briskbison47 said:Look, Emily Barrett9, trust me on this: anyone who isn't a drinker isn't going to be sitting there wondering if they're an alcoholic. That’s just my two cents, anyway...

But honestly? I've second-guessed myself about a million different things at some point—so I wouldn't say it's all just black and white.

Yeah, honestly, what’s even "too late" about it? You just go, you see, you give it a shot. And as for everyone else—who cares, right? Let them think whatever they want, it doesn't matter. That’s basically how you gotta organize your head if you want any peace. 😁

shadowangler6 said:I commented on the original post regarding the search for a positive outlook because I truly believe that abstract, generalized values aren't the bedrock for solving internal struggles. Likewise, there is no magic, universal cure for everyone who experiences extreme negative polarization. However, stepping back from a situation and widening one's perspective feels like a much better strategy than constantly swinging between extremes and spinning in the same endless loop. Setting small, manageable micro-tasks for oneself allows for incremental growth, which eventually builds a brighter picture of one's own life. It’s a way to shake off self-pity—if that even exists—along with anger and frustration. These battles of personality are fought within us and alongside ourselves; that is where the true battlefield lies. The moment we step outside our own frame, we run into an endless minefield of noise, comparisons, and distractions, which is far harder to manage than dealing with just one voice and one person.
I only know about FBI-level instability through certain individuals, so I can't truly feel things the way they do to fully grasp their mental landscape. That is why I focused solely on the concept of a "negative personality" without getting bogged down in clinical psychological categories. Black and white. 😁

And let's be real, the hell inside our own heads can get even worse sometimes. 😁

I don't know if you struggle with drinking or not, but man—I get you. Or at least, I think I do.

Patrick Patel4 said:Honestly, I’d much rather just stay in and deal with 600mg of Q-Pina, 40mg of Normabela, and 5mg of Lorsilana than bother putting on shoes to go out and socialize. Or, frankly, just hitting a line of Morphine. So, hey, you be the judge. I should probably mention that my social circle isn't exactly huge to begin with, but even then, staying put feels way more comfortable than the whole ordeal of actually leaving the house.

And then there's this whole "just go outside" thing, blah blah blah... Like, is it really so crazy that being alone feels better than being with others? We know ourselves best, right? Honestly, I don't see what I ever gained by forcing myself to go somewhere just for the sake of going. 😕

Is it really a good thing—or just being a pushover? How much does one even affect the other?

Usually, that’s just how people comfort themselves when they can't stand up for themselves... they call it "being good"... but let's be real—they just don't know how to fight back. It comes from fear, right? And man, that's not exactly something everyone can just learn overnight.

I’m not really pushing some "stay positive" lifestyle or anything—some people are just naturally more neurotic while others see the bright side. It’s just how we're wired, right?

For me, the only thing that matters is being real with myself and sticking to what I actually value. I don't have any interest in fake affirmations or that whole vibe. I tried it back in the day, but honestly? It was just useless for me.

I get super anxious about pretty much everything when I'm dealing with people face-to-face—but phone calls? Totally fine... So I don't really have an issue with this, as long as the person isn't actually right there in front of me 😁