Look, I think we’re arriving at the point where cognitive therapy—assuming I have the right term and concept here—might actually be rooted quite heavily in semantics. If any experts on this forum happen to be familiar with this connection, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I've come across a few presentations lately that illustrate this point rather beautifully.
EDIT: It just occurred to me that I read something interesting in the papers a few years back. My memory is a bit fuzzy on the details, but it was about a growing trend here in the USA toward a "new" kind of psychotherapy—one that leaned heavily on philosophy and was practiced by therapists specifically trained in philosophical thought. Personally, I find that approach incredibly compelling and potentially useful.
That’s exactly why I think it would be incredible if there were a support group here in NYC—specifically one for people managing this diagnosis while navigating their careers. It would be such a game-changer. If I were in your shoes, I’d honestly try every possible avenue of treatment available, even if it feels overwhelming right now—though, in theory, it’s much easier said than done.
If you look back at that link I shared the other day, you'll see a whole list of therapeutic options. The cognitive stuff really stood out to me, and it brings me back to my point about those support groups. Having a space to swap stories and offer genuine empathy would be invaluable. The support would hit differently coming from people who actually "get it," rather than from us folks who don't deal with these specific challenges. Plus, the practical advice and shared experiences would be much more useful.
At the end of the day, you just have to find that spark of willpower—grab hold of it, and then give yourself a direct order. Just tell yourself, "Alright, let's go." Even when it feels like you're walking straight into a furnace, you have to throw yourself into that heat. You have to realize it isn't some insurmountable disaster—by "fire," I mean stepping into an environment that might feel totally uncomfortable or uninviting, but doing it anyway because you know it's vital for your long-term recovery and overall quality of life.
Honestly, if you ask me—and I mean this sincerely—I don't think it's such a massive revelation that things feel the way they do for you right now. Look, you shouldn't have to tear your life apart just to be a teacher. Or really, for any job, depending on what we're talking about. To get a task done, a person might only need, say, 40, 50, or maybe 60% of their total effort—their energy, focus, whatever you want to call it. That’s out of a full 100%. So, if someone only has a few percentage points—or even a few dozen percent—left from that total capacity, they can still meet that 40 or 60% threshold. They'll still have enough left over to make it work. That's just how I see it.
It isn’t just about being lazy—it’s more like he’s struggling with these deep-seated insecurities and a lack of self-confidence, much like so many other people out there who aren't dealing with clinical issues. It’s holding him back from finding a better, more stable career path. (Plus, let’s be honest, his education isn't exactly extensive, and in today's job market, that makes things even tougher.)
From what I can gather—and that’s a pretty limited perspective, mind you—he’s actually perfectly capable of working anywhere; there aren't any real physical or logistical barriers standing in his way.
Look, this forum doesn't exactly have enough traffic for some paranoid individual to be hunting you down. And as for that stigma—as briskgull27 mentioned—it might just be that one of those high-profile regulars is struggling with their own issues and wants to avoid the label.
I’m telling you—if you dig through the English-speaking web and actually know how to play around with idioms, you'll definitely stumble upon plenty of examples like that. I'd try to pull one out of my own hat right now, but honestly, nothing is coming to mind.
I have a friend who only works part-time, but even before his schizophrenia diagnosis, he wasn't exactly a go-getter—so I can't help but wonder if he’s just naturally lazy, though I might be wrong about that.
But you mentioned earlier that you actually met a teacher with this diagnosis—someone who manages both her own kids and an entire classroom...
I'm not trying to call you out, but that seems to contradict what you're saying now.
If you're looking for more details, there's plenty of info online. If you search through American English resources—which, let's face it, have thousands of times more content than anything else—you'll easily find countless articles and reports about people living incredibly productive lives despite these diagnoses.
So, I'm not sure if I've misread your point or misunderstood why you're surprised by this...
I've been doing some reading online regarding schizophrenia—and look, feel free to mock me, disagree, or tear my logic apart if you must 🙂—but I hold a very deep conviction that this isn't an incurable condition, nor does it necessarily have to be progressive. I truly believe that quite a few people have experienced symptoms or an early stage of schizophrenia in their past, only to spontaneously return to what we consider "normal." It's also my belief that we are approaching a massive paradigm shift in how we understand schizophrenia and other mental health issues; once that happens, we’ll see immeasurable possibilities for actual healing, rather than just managing or masking symptoms...
My conclusions stem, in part, from some personal experiences and my own observations of how the mind works.
Furthermore, when we discuss the mind, the concept of "healing" feels—to my way of thinking—somewhat broader than when we talk about recovering from, say, a physical ailment.
Honestly, I’m already fed up with these Fxx—you guys bring them up constantly regardless of the context, yet I haven't the slightest clue what they actually signify. Not that I’m complaining, though—if I were truly interested, some pretentious psychiatrist would likely try to give me an analysis.
mistybison said:We are certainly entitled to share our own perspectives, though we shouldn't offer professional advice since none of us are qualified experts—I don't think there are any psychiatrists on this forum. That said, it's always a pleasure to hang out with briskgull27 and everyone else who stops by.🙂
mistybison said:But then you find yourself unable to put food on the table or provide for your family, forcing you to work and suck up to all sorts of bosses just to get by. I wonder where you'd actually end up if you lived by the "just be yourself" or "follow your instincts" mantra you see in every commercial. 😁
Oops, we drifted off-topic again. 😲 That terrible ego will be the death of us. 😈 😁
I think you're looking at this the wrong way. It depends. One path leads there (though it seems pretty unlikely to me), while the other could see you becoming a highly successful manager at some major corporation. Either way, you can lead a high-quality life regardless of external circumstances... everything else is just an excuse or a way to rationalize things.
You didn't miss anything (!!) — if anything, I think you handled things perfectly and did a great deal of good.
Oh, by the way—I’ve actually thought about pursuing this professionally outside of this forum. There’s clearly a massive demand for it out there. (I’d probably try reaching out to someone) In theory, it would be my main driver—though, in practice, that "engine" would likely break down a dozen times before I even got started, leaving me just scratching my head. Still, I’d love the chance to refine my skills to become truly proficient. But honestly, I’m starting to feel like I’m just shouting into the void in this specific thread.
briskgull27 said:And honestly, those theories about having "immense willpower" only appeal to people who had everything handed to them on a silver platter.
I’ve definitely felt that too—that sense that this whole conversation can be interpreted as a weight. I often process things through that lens myself, which leads to feeling bitter or inadequate—if you know what I mean—like there’s this constant underlying pressure. But I think the real key is just being kind to yourself, staying patient, and all that... I can easily imagine opening a thread about one of my own struggles, only to have ten different people jump in to offer their unsolicited advice and life lessons. But hey, what can you do? That's just how it goes. 🙂Keep moving forward
Taylor Campbell4 said:Dealing with family and their perception of you is often the hardest part—it’s this tangled web of complex relationships that can wrap around a person, making them feel completely powerless.
I just wanted to weigh in on this, as it's something I noticed in myself years ago and still struggle with today. There's this phenomenon where you unconsciously adopt the exact identity someone close to you—like a parent—has projected onto you, and then you find it nearly impossible to break free from that mold. It's tied to how we shift identities constantly, whether we're at school, home, work, or out in the world. I think Mahatma Gandhi touched on something similar regarding the different layers of ourselves—the person we believe we are, the person others perceive us to be, and then there's that third, true essence. Finding your actual self—being genuinely honest in your thoughts and feelings without those borrowed identities—is such a profound blessing.
Honestly, I think they’d find a way to make it work, one way or another 😍 😍 😁 I once shared a room with people whose entire life philosophy was basically just cutting corners at all costs 😛 🤣 😳
briskgull27 said:I totally get that. It's such a paradox; back when I was working summer jobs in Florida, I slept in rooms packed with people. When you're broke, you aren't even worried about your own safety, are you?
And man, they certainly made themselves at home with my food!😂 😂 😂 😂
I'd probably just give you one of my sleeping pills so you could finally get some rest.😍
Well, if I were in that spot, I’d be terrified. Every single time I went to make coffee or tea, I’d be double-checking to make sure nothing had been slipped in. I’d be sleeping with one eye open—plus, I always sit with my back against the wall, which is just my habit anyway. 😛 (Though, honestly, I have a hard time falling asleep myself; most things don't work on me unless it's something incredibly strong.
briskgull27 said:So, does that make me the rotten root?😳
It isn't us playing games with you—it's more like you're struggling to keep up with us. 😛 😠
Ben explained it quite clearly; it’s not even about whether I could squeeze in more upgrades—I just have a feeling it would only make things unnecessarily complicated 😬 )