Posts by Joseph Bailey41

Kenneth Barnes4 said:I’m posting in psychology because I can't stand watching a bunch of moms jump to defend their kids.

Nowadays, modern psychology loves pushing this "no physical punishment" stance. Let's check out this video. Parents keep insisting kids know they shouldn't go with strangers, so why does this even happen?

It's theory. Kids are born with zero knowledge about how the world actually works. When parents say, "there will be bad consequences," the kid CANNOT visualize those consequences because they have no prior experience with them. Basically, parents are just talking to thin air and wasting their breath. They achieve nothing.
Kids are also selfish. So, when we use physical discipline, here’s what happens: when a kid finds themselves in a situation that might lead to bad outcomes, they remember they'll get punished—meaning they'll end up in a bad spot (because of the parent). That’s what they’ve experienced, so that's what they avoid. That's how you control a child to teach them what to avoid and what not to.

Sure, people will cry "violence, boohoo," but the fact is, people who want to beat and abuse their kids are going to do it regardless of what some textbook says is allowed. My support for physical discipline has nothing to do with child abuse; it’s just an easier way to steer them toward a better outcome.

Bottom line: kids decide based on how they feel in the moment. Look at a dog—it's cute, so they want to see it more because it's fun. But the idea that "a stranger might hurt you" is impossible for them to grasp.

Here's another one: You want cookies? Yes. NO, THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES. AGAIN. You want cookies? Yes.

Zero impact and zero understanding without lived experience.

Were you beaten as a kid too, and somehow still turned out fine? 🍿

Carl Rivera43 said:Do you ever look back at those times when you actually stuck to your guns and made some real, firm decisions?
Was there ever something out there just too overwhelming, keeping you from being able to commit to a solid plan?

Personally, I’m looking to start making tougher calls. I want to be more independent, boost my confidence, and finally get my focus dialed in. Any tips on how to make that happen?

Make a real commitment to finding out what's actually causing this, pull it out by the roots, and then plant this new version of yourself right in its place. 🙂

Morgan Campbell4 said:I have decided to make a move toward change. I’ve started losing too much lately, and I am quite dissatisfied with the direction
these losses are taking. Today was particularly foolish; I haven't eaten anything all day besides a few crackers and
just drank. There is no appetite, yet I feel nauseous from hunger. I have concluded that I focus far too much
on questions to which, generally speaking, absolutely no one—including myself—can provide an answer.
And perhaps the answers to certain questions only arrive after death, assuming death is even a destination.

There are certain things that motivate me slightly, but today was simply one of those animalistic days,
which, ironically, spurred me toward something I don't actually desire.
Because of that, I even studied today; I sent out a few resumes and will soon be changing my email signature. 🙂
There is a vast amount of things I need to fix—things I messed up because I didn't want to deal with them.

Thank God that one of my many diagnoses isn't bipolar; I hope it never becomes so.
It isn't interesting; in fact, it is quite boring. However, certain things have shifted in my mind, my life, and my job, leading
me to take a step that I will begin implementing tomorrow (I did something small today just to test my motivation).
I plan to see a doctor in two weeks once I settle everything at the office. And there will definitely be significantly less
whining that leads nowhere, since whining won't lead me anywhere beyond this current state anyway.

I have an extensive list of repairs and goals to achieve across almost every segment of my life.
I will attempt to remain persistent in achieving them. Ultimately, I realize that with whatever support I might eventually receive,
no one else can or will help me accomplish this. I haven't written anything in a while because I read the recent comments and wasn't
sure exactly what to say to make it sound like my own voice; I don't even know if what I am writing is any good.

But certain things in my mind have shaken me—even devastated me, I would say. Perhaps the beginning of understanding
comes through the silence that resides within us all; a silence as vast as the universe, and when we experience that silence, we remember who we are.
Voices in the back of the head.

The pain I feel daily, and even now as I write this—this sensation of heaviness in my stomach,
a whirlwind of aches as if something inside me is wrong; it is unpleasant and creates a sense of discomfort and anxiety.
That pressure and pain, every time I eat or abstain from eating, is exhausting.
I no longer want this; I want to feel well and I want to start working toward that goal.

Thank you to everyone who reads and comments on my threads, no matter how often it seems they are all essentially the same.
But these things I am going through—these pains—are not something I would wish upon anyone.
They hinder me in so many ways, and I am simply losing, losing, and losing everything that matters to me.
I am done with this losing, these pains, and these sensations. I need change; perhaps change needs me.
I don't know, but there are fears I must confront.
At least, that is what the "card" says, which I pulled immediately following an overdose; it's almost "funny" to me that out of a backpack full of messages, I pulled that specific one.
As for psychological wellness, I will certainly look into that.

Wait, what? 🤔

The 'freeze response' is a totally normal reaction, but man, it’s incredibly tough to deal with. I tried to explain my thoughts on it more deeply last night, but my phone actually froze up right when the stress hit. 😠

Off course. 😬

George Cook said:Cut contact.

I once thought I was the only one holding everything together, convinced she’d spiral if I walked away.

She didn't end up taking her life; instead, she just spends her time badmouthing me to the neighbors.

If you break things off, expect her to play the victim with everyone on the block—that’s a statistical certainty at this point.

Let her take her grievances to a therapist or a family doctor. You aren't a mental health professional, and you certainly don't owe her your life.

When he says, "If you won't listen, who will?" tell him to find a psychiatrist while you go get a manicure. When he starts yelling, tell him you have a massage appointment.

It’s all noise. He isn't considering your feelings; he’ll spin this same tragic tale to anyone from the lady at the deli to the neighbor in the elevator.
Presebican is far too self-important to actually follow through on something like that. It won't happen. He thinks the world revolves around him too much.
His failing marriage is his own cross to bear.
☕

That was my first thought, too. At least for a little while, until they finally realize that their actions actually have consequences. Another option would be for her not to go alone, but to bring her sisters along—that should make things a bit easier. I know it might not work out with the sisters, but honestly, it’s only fair that the responsibility of looking after their father is shared among them.

Morgan Campbell4 said:The lounge bar is locked, so I'm heading out. Juhuuuuu ������

Bye-bye, losers..

Yeah.

Mods, can someone send the key?

Morgan Campbell4, why don't you go ahead and call in some more therapists over here... I only invited the five of you plus that one encrypted notification that only Mars was smart enough to decode. 🤣

Harold Anderson3 said:When I first experienced psychosis, they ran every single neurological test under the sun "just to be safe," even though it seemed pretty obvious it was a psychotic break (schizophrenia), especially since my mother has that diagnosis and it's partially hereditary. Why some children of schizophrenic parents develop it while others don't—well, according to official medical consensus, we just don't know for sure. It could be early childhood trauma, or maybe just bad luck; for instance, if one parent is ill but the other doesn't have any predisposition toward mental illness, the condition might never manifest. Bipolar disorder seems to have a much stronger genetic link than schizophrenia; for example, in identical twins, if one has schizophrenia, there's only about a 50% chance the other will develop it, whereas with bipolar disorder, that number jumps up to 80%.

That's an interesting point. Though, I don't think we can ever be 100% certain that a specific "gene" dictates one illness over another. Even identical twins end up with different personality traits and psychological profiles. A lot of it comes down to how an individual processes things—like whether they can overcome a traumatic event or if it eventually turns into a clinical diagnosis.

Quote: The Flowers of Evil

Morgan Campbell4 said:Grace Edwards92, you really should have mentioned that lounge bar on the side somewhere. That way our people would've known! 😝😝😝

Look, I’m a patriot, but I’m also a total grammar Nazi. It can just be "slacker." 🙂

Quote: The Flowers of Evil

analogowl4 said:Kakaf, what is this chat even about? Is everyone here on some kind of diagnosis? 😳

We actually have plenty left over. Please, help yourself—the buffet is open. 🎉

Linda Young38 said:I'll jump in too. What actually caused Psychopath to shut down? I see some people are looking pretty gray over this.

Things got a little heated last night, too. I don't have all the specifics since I wasn't there, though.

The psychotroll finally went offline, so I figured I'd try to get a group together here. Honestly though, the more I think about it, the more I’m starting to doubt if that was even a good call. 🤣

... that way, you'll spend your whole life living in joy! 🎉

It honestly confuses me because I really thought Martian was such an honest woman, but then... 🕺

That might be it, then. If I were in your shoes, I’d ask about switching up the treatment plan or just getting a referral for a second opinion. If we're talking about a transient psychotic episode, I don't see any reason for you to keep taking substances that mess with your cognitive functions.

Steven Richardson46 said:You hit the nail right on the head!
So yeah, I am looking for some sort of payoff—it doesn't have to be huge—and I basically hate the idea of feeling like I'm just wasting my life away..
But this mindset is so hardwired into my brain at this point that I don't really have any control over it anymore...

I stay online as long as I feel like it; I honestly have no clue about the exact timing. If I'm not programming or "playing" a game, I'm almost never on. When I am, it's usually about 2 to 4 hours. I eat a ton because I take two Zeprex pills a day.. They slow down my metabolism and ramp up my appetite. (Which is a "perfect" combination, clearly).
Sometimes I hit the sack around midnight, other times it's closer to 1 or 2 AM, and then I sleep until about 11.
Though, occasionally, I'll end up nodding off for an hour or two during the day. It doesn't happen constantly, though.
Back when I was working that six-month season, I obviously wasn't getting nearly as much sleep.

Just to add to that, when I'm not dealing with "that," I barely even think about gambling, and my behavior starts bordering on "addict-level." So, you can imagine how messed up that gets...
I don't know anyone else with a similar or identical struggle, so I'm basically left to deal with the misery on my own. The psychologist I've been seeing for nearly four years tells me that if I just stay away from screens for a few days, my brain will reset itself. I tried that, but I simply can't—I'll snap! Right now, having nothing to do feels terrible, like I haven't even had a cigarette in a few hours...

My usual routine is going for a walk, grabbing a coffee, hanging out, or just focusing on/thinking about "that."

By the way, I forgot to mention that back in 2013, I dealt with a brief psychotic episode.

Did you feel this way before you started taking the medication?

Matthew Castillo5 said:I’ve been wondering how being part of the Psychic Reddit community has actually impacted your lives. What was it that first drew you to follow this sub, and what have you actually gained from participating—whether you're actively posting or just lurking in the shadows?

If it’s alright with you, I’ll wait a day or two before explaining my own reasons for starting this thread; I don't want my bias messing with your honest answers. But if you'd rather I just get to the point right now, let me know.

I’m genuinely looking forward to reading your deep dives on this. Thanks in advance for sharing. 🙂

I’ve been trying to write out my own story. Honestly? It’s not happening. I’ve come close to finishing it a few times, but I always end up second-guessing myself and backing away. So, for now, it’ll probably remain a mystery. 😁

Well, since trying to pull myself together after "the incident," I’ve started writing about other things too. I feel like I can relate to almost everyone here; I see little pieces of my own story reflected in the people on these various subreddits. It’s like I’m slowly piecing together my own Frankenstein’s monster of a puzzle—looking at my problems from different angles, playing around with metaphors, and stuff like that.

At the end of the day, I know I can't fix everything myself, and there isn't anyone else who can step in and do it for me. But I hope that by helping others here and there, I might accidentally help myself in the process. Maybe. 🤔

Steven Richardson46 said:Hey everyone, thanks for taking the time to read this. Honestly, I’m in a really bad spot right now, which is why I’m asking you to please just listen—or rather, read—what I have to say here...

Here’s the breakdown of my situation:

Please, if anyone can help, I need it. I deal with Borderline Personality Disorder. Looking back, I’ve also struggled with nervous breakdowns, anxiety, panic disorder, depression, and health anxiety (well, at least that's how I experience it)
I am pathologically addicted to cigarettes.
And sometimes, I fall into gambling too... I'm hooked there as well.

The core issue is that I constantly need to be "on something." But there's a catch: if one tiny little detail goes wrong, my entire drive for that thing just vanishes instantly. (For example, if I'm collecting photos and find one microscopic smudge on one photo out of a thousand, I immediately lose all interest in the whole collection)....
(It's the same if I don't register for a site before midnight for some hobby I planned; suddenly, the whole thing feels pointless)
Also, everything I "do" has to be recorded somewhere...
My hobbies usually involve things like programming, collecting stuff, or even playing online games.
But just like everything else, I either dive in headfirst or lose interest incredibly fast.

Maybe that sounds somewhat harmless, right? Well, it isn't!

When I have my "fix," I'm all smiles, motivated, social... I'm at my absolute best. But when I don't have it? It's the exact opposite. It's pure hell, plain and simple!
There is no downtime between one stimulant and the next. As soon as I get sick of one thing, I immediately hunt for the next. As time goes on, I just get more restless, tense, irritable, and depressed. There have actually been moments where I've had suicidal thoughts or felt like I needed hospitalization... all because I didn't have "that" thing...

Some people—probably most people—would probably tell me to just go dig a hole, go for a run, or ride a bike...
But that doesn't work for me. No matter what I do, if it isn't being logged in a physical notebook or saved on a server, the activity feels completely meaningless to me.
A hobby might kill time while I'm feeling "normal," but it doesn't come close to providing what I actually need...
Even when I'm just waking up, my brain is already asking, "Is there 'something' available, and is it 'clean'"...

I view this as a sickness or an addiction, and I feel powerless to fight it.
In my opinion, this is worse than alcohol, drugs, or gambling combined!

Does this specific thing have a name? Is there anyone else on this planet dealing with the exact same struggle? If you can figure out what this is or if it's even curable, please let me know.
Help me before this destroys me down to my very last atom!

Thanks for reading. Best regards.

To me, this sounds a lot like OCD.

Steven Richardson46 said:Hey everyone, thanks for taking the time to read this. Honestly, I’m in a really bad spot right now, which is why I’m asking you to please just listen—or rather, read—what I have to say here...

Here’s the breakdown of my situation:

Please, if anyone can help, I need it. I deal with Borderline Personality Disorder. Looking back, I’ve also struggled with nervous breakdowns, anxiety, panic disorder, depression, and health anxiety (well, at least that's how I experience it)
I am pathologically addicted to cigarettes.
And sometimes, I fall into gambling too... I'm hooked there as well.

The core issue is that I constantly need to be "on something." But there's a catch: if one tiny little detail goes wrong, my entire drive for that thing just vanishes instantly. (For example, if I'm collecting photos and find one microscopic smudge on one photo out of a thousand, I immediately lose all interest in the whole collection)....
(It's the same if I don't register for a site before midnight for some hobby I planned; suddenly, the whole thing feels pointless)
Also, everything I "do" has to be recorded somewhere...
My hobbies usually involve things like programming, collecting stuff, or even playing online games.
But just like everything else, I either dive in headfirst or lose interest incredibly fast.

Maybe that sounds somewhat harmless, right? Well, it isn't!

When I have my "fix," I'm all smiles, motivated, social... I'm at my absolute best. But when I don't have it? It's the exact opposite. It's pure hell, plain and simple!
There is no downtime between one stimulant and the next. As soon as I get sick of one thing, I immediately hunt for the next. As time goes on, I just get more restless, tense, irritable, and depressed. There have actually been moments where I've had suicidal thoughts or felt like I needed hospitalization... all because I didn't have "that" thing...

Some people—probably most people—would probably tell me to just go dig a hole, go for a run, or ride a bike...
But that doesn't work for me. No matter what I do, if it isn't being logged in a physical notebook or saved on a server, the activity feels completely meaningless to me.
A hobby might kill time while I'm feeling "normal," but it doesn't come close to providing what I actually need...
Even when I'm just waking up, my brain is already asking, "Is there 'something' available, and is it 'clean'"...

I view this as a sickness or an addiction, and I feel powerless to fight it.
In my opinion, this is worse than alcohol, drugs, or gambling combined!

Does this specific thing have a name? Is there anyone else on this planet dealing with the exact same struggle? If you can figure out what this is or if it's even curable, please let me know.
Help me before this destroys me down to my very last atom!

Thanks for reading. Best regards.

This feels like it might be some kind of short circuit in your dopamine receptors. What are your usual habits like? How many hours a day are you online, and how's your diet, sleep, and everything else?

Morgan Campbell4 said:Perhaps one day when I actually have someone to talk to... But by the time that day arrives, it might already be too late.
One never knows; you're here today and gone tomorrow...
This has been breaking me down for quite some time now. I'm nearing the edge, and once I snap, who knows what happens next?

Hey, let's not get too dramatic. Tomorrow’s Monday—just go ahead and get yourself an appointment with a therapist. ☕

Morgan Campbell4 said:@ maystor, between working two jobs and keeping up with my college courses, I’m at a total loss for what else I could possibly do...
I feel for those people, truly. But I have no intention of building my own success—or justifying my existence—on the foundation of someone else's misfortune.
I try my best to avoid being that kind of person.

As for me, I’ve managed to reach a point where I can actually afford to show up late to work. Honestly? I just told them straight up that I lack the motivation—read: financial incentive—to commute nearly ninety minutes before my shift starts. So, there it is.

@leteca, I spent some time volunteering at a Red Cross counseling center once. It was great; I genuinely missed it. But eventually, I hit a plateau. I stopped showing any sign of progress, and that was that. Why would I assume I’m special? Maybe I'm unconventional, but "special"? Hardly.

@8472, am I really this dense that I can't even manage basic grammar?
I have a few major ambitions—two or three big goals that I know would completely turn my life around...
But as my mother likes to say, nothing grows in a field of dreams. At this point, I simply lack the will. I can't find it in anything. Work, people, romance... nothing feels fulfilling anymore.

@pjegavi poriluk, I'm not sure, perhaps because of the "things" I've written... I am not the type to believe solely in what is visible, so no. I don't subscribe to a purely materialistic worldview. Still, this entire existential phenomenon feels utterly senseless. What is the purpose of growth? I'm going to die regardless. Is the goal merely to live life with some semblance of spiritual maturity? Who knows.

@tox, like I mentioned, it's two jobs, college, and studying. I'm not sure if I can push my brain any further. Yesterday, I found myself standing outside a meeting after being gone for God knows how long. It's a shame I didn't get the chance to meet you; we probably crossed paths. But such is life. I agree with you, though—doesn't everything originate from within, from some deep part of oneself? :/

@nosonja, I think caricature turns into variation when you hit rock bottom. You reach that stage where you simply cannot go any lower, where you look in the mirror and can't even muster a facial expression you recognize—where you hate yourself enough that you're just completely done with the feeling. When you finally snap, it leads to either suicide or a total transformation. I have quite a few diagnoses; I'd have to check my medical records, but they all stemmed from an ecstasy overdose.

@radical, honestly, I'd love to leave. But what am I supposed to tell the doctor? "Hey, look, I'm not doing well and I'd like to speak with a professional"? I mean, I know what to say, but... I don't know.
Generally speaking, I don't suffer from much shame, nor do I struggle with self-confidence regarding most things in life. This, however, is a reflection of a weak mind. Or something. It's embarrassing to admit.

I understand that everyone finds their own sense of meaning in certain things. As for me? I find it nowhere. 😞

Unconventional, special, it’s all the same thing. From what you’ve shared, I get the impression you feel somewhat isolated from everyone else—like you’ve gone through things they haven't, which makes it hard to find any real connection. That’s a very common feeling for people dealing with trauma, and honestly, your family situation sounds pretty toxic.

There are therapists, counselors, shamans, healers... it doesn't really matter which path you take. What matters is finding someone who is truly ready to listen and understand without forcing their own opinions on you. At the end of the day, you're the only one who can discover your own purpose in life; nobody else can do that for you.

It seems to me that, for starters, you could really benefit from opening up to someone—just letting out all that negativity you're carrying around before you eventually hit a breaking point. It’s only logical that when you're in a state of rage, you aren't going to find much empathy. The tools you picked up during counseling are still with you and can help; the professional you worked with got you to a certain point, but they reached their limit. Now, it's time for someone else to step in. This continues until you learn how to manage your own emotions and frustrations, plan for your future, and build deeper connections. In short, until you learn how to actually live.