Just needed to be heard for a little while

Pyxis

Sorry!:(
But then I include myself and often say I am batty or bats.

But if I have offended anyone with my pics, please say so and I'll delete them.

System

Errata wrote: »

Some find the phrase 'Bats in the Belfry' to describe mental health problems deeply offensive, including MIND which ran a well supported campaign about innappropriate and abusive words and terms used as mental health symptom descriptors.

Interesting, i've actually never heard that phrase used to describe mental health related things

I wonder if its one of thise things where people use terminology to describe themselves that would be offensive if others did? I often refer to my issues as my "mentalness" which i don't mind me saying but not sure i'd want anyone else to describe me as that.

Errata

Pyxis wrote: »

Sorry!:(
But then I include myself and often say I am batty or bats.

But if I have offended anyone with my pics, please say so and I'll delete them.

Those pictures are fine - they all relate to animals.
Offensive words and phrases stigmatise, and the casual use of them serves to either enable others such as me to challenge their use when I come across them, or lead others to believe they're ok and use them.
Sorry I can't find the MIND link, but there is a vast amount of information on the net about discrimination of people with mental health problems through the use of words and phrases that are not used to describe those with optimal mental health.

whitewing

I actually find the terms 'mental illness' or 'mental health problems' more stigmatising than batty. At least being batty still implies there is a bit of personality there.

codemonkey

I quite like 'batty'. It sounds friendly.

elsien

Apologies to anyone who was genuinely offended. The post was intended in the affectionate spirit of the thread and is not something I'd go around saying to all and sundry. In the same way that when I was unwell and my sibling called me fruitcake I found it both humorous and reassuring that I was being treated the same as always. Perhaps it does depend on the context and the relationships between those involved.

I am not planning to edit my comment as I think it's a useful debate, however anyone who wishes is free to ask the mods to remove it.

jobbingmusician

Our family phrase is 'box of frogs' - short for 'mad as a box of frogs'. It celebrates eccentricity and being a lovely offbeat creative person, and embraces people with a diagnosis of mental health problems and without any diagnosis

I certainly behaved like a BOF in Waitrose this evening. I had one of their free coffees, but as I was taking it out of the stand the machine dripped hot water on to my hand. Hardly at all, but I had a reflex, pulled my hand away quickly and threw coffee everywhere They were very nice about it, though!

(For the record, I wrote this before I'd seen elsien's post, above. But I agree, it's a good discussion, and no offence is intended.)

[Deleted User]

Hi all

I've read the first page and a fee intermitent ones, then the last. Seems like a supportive thread. Can anyone please give a brief summary of beginning to end....it's too long to read. Don't want to make a faux pas. I'm a little fragile today and no offence intended. Thank you.

elsien

Hi bailey, and welcome.
There isn't really a summary as such- WaS first post pretty much says it all. It's a kind of a mixture of support, discussion and general conversation.
Don't worry about making a faux pas - the whole point is that people can get support when they need it without having to worry about being careful about what they say. People kind of dip in and out depending on how they're feeling and what else is going in in their lives.
Pyxis has put a bit of a summary which she re posts regularly, I'll look for the link.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=66965598&postcount=6322

jobbingmusician

Hi bailey :wave:

The thread was started by Worried and Scared when she was feeling very fragile one night. (She's now changed her name to Waves and Smiles as this is far more positive ) Lots and lots of people who experience mental health problems read this thread and support each other, or just lurk in the ether. We suggest that some things aren't discussed as they can trigger distress in others - we call these 'penguins' and if anyone mentions anything they think might be distressing, they warn everyone there is a penguin coming.

We've got lots of silly jokes, a thread mascot called Sir Pugliet, and various dogs who are pets of some of the regulars. But we try to be very inclusive, so just dive in if you'd like to post and join in the fun - and some of the serious discussions. :beer: