Fragile

[Appleblossom]

Thanks @Dimity yes, being scientifically literate matters and helps us be more informed. Respectful and sceptical about the DSM project sounds fair and reasonable to me.

Wishing you good luck with your nephew. It is not an easy time for young males.

[Emelia8]

Ahh the mysteries of the mind aye @Appleblossom ?  Wonder if the so called professionals ever really know.

Interestingly, my brother in law was initially diagnosed with schizophrenia, but many years later they amended it to bipolar. And my good friend's son is bipolar but there is also mention of schizoaffective. So not sure there.

I have another friend, long time friend of my late husband, whose grandson was schizophrenic. He was raised by his grandparents since he was a little boy. When schizo developed in his early 20's and you could see his rapid decline, it was so sad. He wouldn't take his meds, got into drugs, and tragically he took his own life at 28.  Schizophrenia runs in their family, as his two uncles both also have schizophrenia. They are both compliant with meds and lead a fairly normal life. One of them has a daughter with similar issues. Unsure if schizo, but likely.

Like I said ... the mysteries of the mind. How deeply should you delve I wonder?

I'm really glad Apple that your cats bring you so much pleasure. Pets really are wonderful aren't they? 💞

Hi @Dimity 😊

[Appleblossom]

Oh @Emelia8 sorry to hear about your friend’s grandson taking his life. Mental suffering is so difficult. Drug abuse doesn’t help. Yet, different people tread different paths even with the same diagnosis.

It’s too late for me to stop delving into the mysteries of the mind, now….lol.. I somehow have been required to do that all my life to simply survive and make any sense of the going’s on around me. My family has always been my family, the diagnoses have always been secondary, but part of both my reflection and my physical experiences and locations…. Etc…  I had to cope with the orphanages , foster families and extended family, and also the fear of developing schizophrenia myself. 

Being close to animals has helped me understand and normalise, like when I was at the zoo. I am terrible with anthropomorphism. lol

Give Hannah a pat from me. 

Love apple 

[Emelia8]

Yes I can understand your need to delve and explore in an effort to better understand @Appleblossom 💕😊

I just doubt that we will ever really truly understand all there is to fully grasp the intricate workings of the mind. But anything we can pick up along the way can surely help, right? 

And I will definitely give Miss Hannah a pat from you. She will like that 🐕❤️

[Appleblossom]

Agreed @Emelia8 I am at peace for myself with not knowing and appreciating the mysterious and unknowable. Life has endless twists and turns.

With my son, I had to start researching again as a responsible parent, meds, Bipolar and Asperger’s this time.

I wasn’t the type to dispute until the last 15 years. Mostly I just believed the experts and went along with things. 

Our furry friends are healing.

[Zoe7]

@Appleblossom ❤️