Misconceptions
5 posts in this topic.
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With my SA, it's mainly people thinking that I can get over it like this instant. One of my friends said that people who have panic attacks bring it on themselves. I've never had one but I'm pretty sure it's a misconception or whatever. Are there any you'd like to share?
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Everybody I see and that see me are presented with the reality of Tourette's syndrome, and in many ways I back up the stereotypes. Many people seem to believe that it is only cursing, where in fact, few people with it other than the very severe (most cases are quite mild, in fact) ever have to curse as a tic. I twitch like crazy and can hardly walk due to squatting and hopping tics. I also have fits of screaming and thrashing around on the floor when it gets really bad. Sometimes I can't even drink out of a glass because my hands won't quit twitching to pick up the glass. Most people just have small tics, though. And the thing is: you can't help it, you can't stop no matter how much you want to.
Then my autism: people seem to think that all people with autism have some special gift, like they think all autistic people are also savants and have special talents. Wrong. Although it would be nice. I don't have any extraordinary gifts, I mean, I'm a decent writer and know a lot of useless trivia, but I'm not crazy smart or have some amazing talent at music or numbers. Then how a lot of people think of autism as a silent, completely still four year old...no, most kids with autism are fairly mild, although the most severe cases are actually pretty much like the stereotype, despondent, silent...yeah. And no, it's not caused by lousy parenting or vaccines. The people with autism can't just "snap out of it" they have a poor or nonexistent understanding social rules and how to communicate. Plus the obsessions.
As for the OCD: I'm not a germ-a-phobe, far from it... Mine presents in nasty, heart-wrenching intrusive thoughts that are more like supersonic worries that can be absolutely terrifying. You don't have to exhibit large compulsions to have OCD, although many people do have at least small compulsions. People with OCD are not overemotional or melodramatic although at times we seem to behave strangely. There's just a glitch in the brain that keeps giving OCD sufferers bad thoughts. -
I think with depression and anxiety too many people believe you can just get over it -- not that it's a genetic/chemical/mental thing that takes a lot of effort and counseling to get through.
People need to be educated -- these issues are all so taboo. -
I completly agree, Clo, and because of those sterotypes about stuff like this, people won't listen when you try to tell them otherwise.
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I find that people seem to think that depressed people are being self-indulgent and are creating their own problems.
I think the all to common misconception with self-harm is that the s-harmer is doing it for attention. I personally don't harm anywhere that would noticeable while I'm fully clothed. It's not a random passer-bys business, and I don't want people to know. There's only one person who I know in real life that knows, and that's because I couldn't hide it from her. When she found out I couldn't look her in the eyes any more. =/
I think the biggest misconception about gender identity disorder is that the person is just sexually confused. Gender and sexuality have no baring on each other. I.e a transman (a person born female who transitions into a male) who likes woman is really just a lesbian who can't accept it, or that a gay man just wants to be a woman really, and so on. Also, I think a lot of people think you have to have surgery in your nether regions - or surgery in general to transition. You don't, a lot of people - granted mostly transmen because the effects of testosterone are more prominent than oestrogen - only have hormone replacement treatment. Also, the misconception that we're freaks, less than human and are sick.
We're people to.
I think the biggest misconception about anxiety is that the sufferers are just 'blowing things out of proportion'. What is and isn't in proportion with the situation is entirely subjective and I wish people would stop saying it.
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