Learning Disabilities , Developmental Disorders and Mental Illness
Raymond
It seems that people talking to me harshly and putting me down for
talking about things that goes on in society. I wrote about things
that I have read about. I am even got put down for talking about
Dyspraxic symptoms, and being told that they are garbage. Good Grief!
Dyspraxia is a recognized learning disorder, and it does have
comorbidity with Dyslexia and ADHD/ADD. Well...this is stuff from the
DSM-IV. If you want to talk to people like they are stupid, you better
talk to the psychiatrists!
Ray
Here are some interesting things that I read in the DSM-IV-TR
(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
page 69 - 70
Pervasive Developmental Disorders are characterized by severe and
pervasive impairment in several areas of development: reciprocal
social interaction skills, communication skills, or the presence of
stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities. The qualitative
impairments that define these conditions are distinctly deviant
relative to the individual's developmental level or mental age. This
section contains Austistic Disorder, Rett's Disorder, Childhood
Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, and Pervasive
Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. These disorders are
usually evident in the first years of life and are often associated
with some degree of Mental Retardation, which, if present, should be
coded on Axis II. The Pervasive Developmental Disorders are sometimes
observed with a diverse group of other general medical conditions
(e.g., chromosome abnormalities, congenital infections, structural
abnormalities of the central nervous system). If such conditions are
present, they should be noted on Axis III. Although terms like
"psychosis" and "childhood schizophrenia" were once used to refer to
individuals with these conditions, there is considerable evidence to
suggest that the Pervasive Developmental Disorders are distinct from
Schizophrenia (however, an individual with Pervasive Developmental
Disorder may occasionally later develop Schizophrenia).
That paragraph made me very concerned. They admit that people with
pervasive developmental disorders have been referred to as being
psychotic and schizophrenic. They suggest that pervasive developmental
disorder is distinct from schizophrenia, but they say that pervasive
developmental disorder may later develop schizophrenia. How do they
even differentiate a person that has pervasive developmental disorder
from a person who has a schizophrenic disorder? How do they know a
pervasive developmental disordered person develops schizophrenia.
Could they be saying that to cover their own butts?
page 50
Demoralization, low self esteem, and deficits in social skills may be
associated with Learning Disorders. The school drop-out rate for
children and adolescents with Learning Disorders is reported at nearly
40% (or approximately 1.5 times the average). Adults with Learning
Disorders may have significant difficulties in employment or social
adjustment. Many individuals (10% - 25%) with Conduct Disorder,
Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit
Disorder/Hyperactivity Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, or
Dysthymic Disorder also have Learning Disorders. There is evidence
that developmental delays in language may occur in association with
Learning Disorders(particularly Reading Disorder), although these
delays may be sufficiently severe to warrant the separate diagnosis of
a communication disorder. Learning Disorders may also be associated
with a higher rate of Developmental Coordination Disorder.
There may be underlying abnormalities in cognitive processing (e.g.,
deficits in visual perception, linguistic processes, attention, or
memory, or a combination of these) that often precede or are
associated with Learning Disorders. Standardized tests to measure
these processes are generally less reliable and valid than other
psychoeducational tests. Although genetic predisposition, perinatal
injury, and various neurological or other general medical conditions
may be associated with the development of Learning Disorders, the
presence of such conditions does not invariably predict an eventual
Learning Disorder, and there are many individuals with Learning
Disorders who have no such history. Learning Disorders are, however,
frequently found in association with a variety of general medical
conditions (e.g., lead poisoning, fetal alcohol syndrome, or fragile X
syndrome).
I find those things very interesting. I have a learning disorder, and
I definitely had developmental delays in language and coordination. I
have a lifelong history of low self esteem (a symptom of
depression,avoidant personality disorder)
and demoralization. I definitely had difficulties with employment and
social adjustment. I had depression, and I was diagnosed with a
Depressive Disorder. I definitely have deficits in memory and
linguistic processes. It is sad that psychiatrists didn't even have a
clue about that in my adult years. All they had to do was ask me and
talk to my mother and others that know me. Of course, I was afraid
that they were going to view me as stupid which was always one of my
greatest fears.
page 59
The most common associated feature of Expressive Language Disorder in
younger children is Phonological Disorder. There may also be a
disturbance in fluency and language formulation involving an
abnormally rapid rate and erratic rhythm of speech and disturbances in
language structure ("cluttering"), When Expressive Language Disorder
is acquired, additional speech difficulties are also common and may
include motor articulation problems, phonological errors, slow speech,
syllable repetitions, and monotonous intonation and stress patterns.
Among school-age children, school and learning problems (e.g., writing
to dictation, copying sentences, and spelling) that sometimes meet
criteria for Learning Disorders are often associated with Expressive
Language Disorder. There may also be some mild impairment in receptive
language skills, but when this is significant, a diagnosis of Mixed
Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder should be made. A history of
delay in reaching some motor milestones, Developmental Coordination
Disorder, and Enuresis are not uncommon. Social withdrawal and some
mental disorders such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder are
also commonly associated. Expressive Language Disorder may be
accompanied by EEG abnormalities, abnormal findings on neuroimaging,
dysarthic or apraxic behaviors, or other neurological signs.
One of the main reasons why I was diagnosed with bipolar mania is
because of my rapid rate of speech. The psychiatrists didn't consider
that I was cluttering. I did have 3 years of special education for
speech problems. Rapid speech is a symptom of mania too. You can see
how a person with speech problems can be misdiagnosed with mania. It
makes sense that a lot of people with learning disabilities are
diagnosed with bipolar and even schizophrenia. Learning disability
symptoms that include poor coordination, left-right confusion, and
disorganized speech are listed as signs of schizophrenia.
page 697
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Diagnostic Features of Schizotypal Personality Disorder is a pervasive
pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked by acute
discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships as well
as by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of
behavior. This pattern begins by early adulthead and is present in a
variety of contexts.
Individual with Schizotypal Personality Disorder often have ideas of
reference (i.e. incorrect interpretations of casual incidents and
external events as having a particular and unusual meaning
specifically for the person) (Criterion A1). These should be
distinguished from delusions of reference, in which the beliefs are
held with delusional conviction. These individuals may be
superstitious or preoccupied with paranormal phenomena that are
outside the norms of their subculture (Criterion A2). They may feel
that they have special powers to sense events before they happen or to
read others' thoughts. They may believe that they have magical control
over others, which can be implemented directly, (e.g., believing that
their spouse's taking the dog out for a walk is the direct result of
thinking an hour earlier it should be done) or indirectly through
compliance with magical rituals (e.g., walking past a specific object
three times to avoid a certain harmful outcome). Perceptual
alterations may be present (e.g., sensing that another person is
present or hearing a voice murmuring his or her name) (Criterion A3).
Their speech may include unusual or idiosyncratic phrasing and
construction. It is often loose, digressive, or vague, but without
actual derailment or incoherence (Criterion A4). Responses can be
either overly concrete or overly abstract, and words or concepts are
sometimes applied in unusual ways (e.g., the person may state that he
or she was not "talkable at work).
Individuals with this disorder are often suspicious and may have
paranoid ideation (e.g., believing their colleagues at work are intent
on undermining their reputation with the boss) (Criterion A5). They
are usually not able to negotiate the full range of affects and
interpersonal cuing required for successful relationships and thus
often appear to interact with others in an inappropriate, stiff, or
constricted fashion (Criterion A6). These individuals are often
considered to be odd or eccentric because of unusual mannerisms, an
often unkempt manner of dress that does not quite "fit together," and
inattention to the usual social conversations (e.g., the person may
avoid eye contact, wear clothes that are ink stained and ill-fitting,
and be unable to join in the give-and-take banter of co-coworkers)
(Criterion A7)
Individuals with Schizotypal Personality Disorder experience
interpersonal relatedness as problematic and are uncomfortable
relating to other people. Although they may express unhappiness about
their lack of relationships, their behavior suggests a decreased
desire for intimate contacts. As a result, they usually have no or few
close friends or confidants other than a first-degree relative
(Criterion A8). They are anxious in social situations, particularly
those involving unfamiliar people. (Criterion A9). They will interact
with other people when they have to, but prefer to keep to themselves
because they feel that they are different and just do not "fit in."
Their social anxiety does not easily abate, even when they spend more
time in the setting or become more familiar with the other people,
because their anxiety tends to be associated with suspiciousness
regarding others' motivations. For example, when attending a dinner
party, the individual with Schizotypal Personality Disorder will not
become more relaxed as time goes on, but rather may become increasinly
tense and suspicious.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder should not be diagnosed if the
pattern of behavior occurs exclusively during the course of
Schizophrenia, a Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features, another
Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Criterion
B).
Associated Features with Schizotypal Personality Disorder often seek
treatment for the associated symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other
dysphoric affects rather than for the personality disorder per se.
Particularly in response to stress, individuals with this disorder may
experience transient psychotic episodes (lasting minutes to hours),
although they usually are insufficient in duration to warrant an
additional diagnosis such as Brief Psychotic Disorder or
Schizophreniform Disorder. In some cases, clinically significant
psychotic symptoms may develop that meet criteria for Brief Psychotic
Disorder, Schizophreniform Disorder, Delusional Disorder, or
Schizophrenia. Over half may have a history of at least one Major
Depressive Disorder when admitted to a clinical setting. There is
considerable co-occurrence with Schizoid, Paranoid, Avoidant, and
Borderline Personality Disorders.
Specific Culture, Age, and Gender Features
Cognitive and perceptual distortions must be evaluated in the context
of the individual's cultural milieu. Pervasive culturally determined
characteristics, particularly those regarding religious beliefs and
rituals, can appear to be schizotypal to uninformed outsider (e.g.,
voodoo, speaking in tongues, life beyond death, shamanism, mind
reading, sixth sense, evil eye, and magical beliefs related to health
and illness).
Schizotypal Personality Disorder may be first apparent in childhood
and adolescence with solitariness, poor peer relationships, social
anxiety, underachievement in school, hypersensitivity, peculiar
thoughts and language, and bizarre fantasies. These children may
appear "odd" or "eccentric" and attract teasing. Schizotypal
Personality Disorder may be slightly more common in males.
I could easily fit the criteria for Schizotypal Personality Disorder.
I am hypersensitive, had poor peer relationships, social anxiety, and
I had peculiar language(have a very soft voice with a high pitch...a
lot of people thought I sound feminine or gay). I had a history of
speech problems. I believe in and do Astrology and Numerology since I
was 28 years old. I even believe in the valid use of Tarot and other
metaphysical tools. As a kid and adolescent and even as an adult, I
appeared odd to others and attracted teasing because I preferred to
wear my long hair longer, I didn't act "Black", and I talked like I
was "White"(that's what my Black peers told me), and had my hair
straightened. My being a mulatto was a factor. My lack of coordination
while playing basketball and other sports made me look weird, but I
also seemed weird to others when they saw me run - I ran very fast but
didn't look like I was running. My track coach told my peers that I
don't get tired. They responded that I must not be human. As a kid, I
appeared odd to others because I was very interested in Mythology.
People thought I was weird because I didn't care about sex. I was far
more interested in romance. I seemed odd to my peers because I opened
doors for the opposite sex in junior high school. I didn't believe in
having sex before marriage, but I gave up at 22 years due to peer
pressure in the Navy. Having morals made me look odd to my peers. I
didn't use foul language until I got into high school, and I still
don't feel like using the F'word to refer to sex. Women talking dirty
turns me off. You can easily see how I could fit the criteria for
Schizotypal Personality Disorder. I am quite shy too, and that can be
labeled as social anxiety. However, I am not shy at all when it comes
to dancing in front of a large crowd people...especially when I am the
only one dancing on the dance floor....I love the attention that I get
from my dancing.
I saw something interesting that shrinks should have taken into
consideration. I am even going to point it out to them when I see them
at my next visit! I am even going to ask them how do they
differentiate Schizotypal Personality Disorder from Schizophrenia,
Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Expressive Disorder,and Mixed
Expressive Disorder. I will definitely explain to them how Dyslexics,
Dyspraxics,and other related disorders can be mistaken for Schizotypal
Personality Disorder and even Bipolar and Schizophrenia. I can easily
point out that a lot of Bipolar children have learning disabilities.
If my future children have Dyslexic syndrome like me, I will pray to
God that they don't end up being diagnosed with ADHD and/or mental
illnesses and forced to take medication. There is a strong possibility
that I could end up with Dyslexic children because I seem to be very
drawn to Dyslexic women!
page 700
There may be a great difficulty differentiating children with
Schizotypal Personality Disorder from the heterogenous group of
solitary, odd children whose behavior is characterized by marked
isolation, eccentricity, or pecularities of language and whose
diagnoses would probably include milder forms of Autistic Disorder,
Asperger's Disorder, and Expressive, and Mixed Receptive-Expressive
Language Disorders. Communications Disorders may be differentiated by
the primary and severity of the disorder in language accompanied by
compensatory efforts by the child to communicate by other means (e.g.,
gestures) and by the characteristic features of impaired language
disorder found in a specialized language assessment. Milder forms of
Autistic Disorder and Asperger's Disorder are differentiated by the
even greater lack of social awareness and emotional reciprocity and
stereotyped behaviors and interests.
Ray
Maria P.
were only five messages and all of them were from you, none of them were
about dyslexia, all of them were related to other emotional and learning
issues which may or may not appear at the same time as dyslexia, and all of
them were WAY too long in quoting material--you could have just as easily
put in the citation and left it alone. If I want to see an article, I can
look on the web or go to a library. There is no "conversation" when you
write. That is why I find your emails tiresome.
--Maria
"Raymond" <Gla...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:42653b7f.03121...@posting.google.com...
Raymond
experiences. I also wrote things that I read from books. I even added
my own feedback in regards to things that I typed from out of books. I
didn't deserved to be called stupid,moron,retarded,and worthless for
sharing my own input. I don't call people those things either. I don't
believe that people should be put down for sharing their own views.
Another thing, there is a connection between emotional issues and
people with Dyslexia or learning disabilities. There is evidence that
ADHD/ADD is comorbid with Dyslexia and even bipolar. Learning
disabilities and some dyslexic symptoms are listed as common traits
and behaviors in bipolar children. A lot of Dyspraxics have a
psychiatric diagnosis, anxiety, and depression. A lot of Dyspraxics
have ADD/ADHD and Dyslexia. A lot of learning disabled have sensory
integration disorder, and sensory integration dysfunction is often
mistaken for psychological problems. A lot of people with Dyslexia and
Learning Disabilities are big percentage of juvenile offenders and
prison inmates. It is not a "may or may not" thing. These are things
that have been well-noted. They are even noted in the
DSM-IV-TR(Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
I am pointing out that a lot of people with learning disabilities can
be misdiagnosed with a mental illness. Some of the symptoms of some of
the mental illnesses are low self esteem, problems with concentration,
and sensitivity which are common in the learning disabled. Dr Levinson
even titled one of his books, SMART BUT FEELING DUMB. He pointed out
that a lot of Dyslexics grow up feeling dumb because of low self
esteem. He points out how they are misunderstood. Some of the symptoms
of schizophrenia are symptoms that people with Dyslexia can have, and
those are poor coordination, left-right confusion, and disorganized
speech. There is research about dyslexics having schizotypal traits. I
even talked and pointed out how the mental disorders can actually be
Dyslexia. My point was that Dyslexic symptoms can be mistaken for
mental illness by people who are biased, prejudiced, ignorant,and who
lack empathy and perception. I am always reading things about
Dyslexia,Dyspraxia,and other learning disabilities. I also read about
mental illnesses and how they can be connected to learning
disabilities. I don't believe people should be labeled for deviating
from the so-called norm.
I care about people in general, and I especially care about people who
are Dyslexic or learning disabled. I care about my fellow Dyslexics
and learning disabled people. Nobody should be unfairly labeled. I
don't believe in prejudice nor racism. I am a person who believes in
judging a person by the content of their character and not by
appearance. I believe that we should all treat each other like fellow
human beings and respect, and tolerate one another. My
compassion,empathy,sensitivity, and spirituality have strongly
motivated me to have a life of helping and serving others.
Ray
"Maria P." <yello...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<ZdqdnZIHDIJ...@comcast.com>...
Rob
> It had nothing do with that. I was typing my own things including my
> experiences. I also wrote things that I read from books. I even added
> my own feedback in regards to things that I typed from out of books. I
> didn't deserved to be called stupid,moron,retarded,and worthless for
> sharing my own input. I don't call people those things either. I don't
> believe that people should be put down for sharing their own views.
> Another thing, there is a connection between emotional issues and
> people with Dyslexia or learning disabilities. There is evidence that
> ADHD/ADD is comorbid with Dyslexia and even bipolar. Learning
> disabilities and some dyslexic symptoms are listed as common traits
> and behaviors in bipolar children. A lot of Dyspraxics have a
> psychiatric diagnosis, anxiety, and depression. A lot of Dyspraxics
> have ADD/ADHD and Dyslexia. A lot of learning disabled have sensory
> integration disorder, and sensory integration dysfunction is often
> mistaken for psychological problems. A lot of people with Dyslexia and
> Learning Disabilities are big percentage of juvenile offenders and
> prison inmates. It is not a "may or may not" thing. These are things
> that have been well-noted. They are even noted in the
> DSM-IV-TR(Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
It's possible that some of these things have some connection to
dyslexia. It's possible Ted's right and this is all a bunch of BS. I really
don't know. I'm not an authority, I haven't looked into it, and I really
don't have the time nor the interest to do so. One of the problems with you,
which is so very unlikely, is you claim to have nearly everything. I think
you've claimed to have at least three LDs with variable symptoms, almost all
of the various symptoms, and a lot of things which some people have claimed
sometimes correlate to those LDs. I may be off a bit, I don't pay much
attention to you and I don't want to go and read through all your posts
right now. But think about it, how the hell could anyone get that screwed
up. If it's true, it'd be an interesting case study. Like that kid in The
Royal Tannembaums.
I'll admit I have a lot of problems in life, some of which you've
connected to dyslexia. Ultimatly, I'm probably as screwed up, if not more
so, than you, just in different ways. The difference is, I don't think all
my problems are due to dyslexia. I don't think most of them are. You act as
if you've been screwed in life because you have dyslexia. Like there's this
world that's holding you down and out to get you because of it. If things
are wrong, it isn't the world, it isn't dyslexia, it's you.
Screw the LDs. All of us, everyone here and everywhere else, are going
to rise and fall in this lifetime on our own merits and shortcomings.
Dyslexia hasn't ruined your life. It hasn't held you back. You've done those
things. The dyslexia is just an obstacle, and if you've failed to overcome
it, that's your fault. It may seem like you've had it harder than the rest
of the world because of it, and that everyone else has had an advantage over
you. But there are hundreds of other things that could've been wrong with
you, a lot of them worse things. And other people have overcome those worse
things, and they've overcome this thing. If you haven't, it's because of
you.
The world isn't a mean and cruel place for dyslexics. It's just a mean
and cruel place. It isn't unfair for dyslexics. It's unfair for everyone. If
it knocks you down and tears you apart, it's because you weren't strong
enough to handle it. It has nothing to do with dyslexia. So Ted called you
some names, deal with it. There are mean and rude people in the world, and
you are seriously lacking social skills if you can't cope with them.
Children with LDs may need to be cuddled. They may need special help.
Exceptions should be made for them at times. That's not true of adults with
LDs. Your childhood's over, and you need to overcome your problems on your
own, and the world doesn't owe you any special treatment to help you with
it. Even if it did, it wouldn't pay up.
I think I got the good side of this dyslexia thing. Once the spell does
its magic, it'll be very hard for you to find any hint of dyslexia in here,
if one exists at all. That took years of hard work, but the fact that I can
do it makes me think I'm better off than a lot of people. My symptoms seem
to be in unimportant areas, or they seem to be light in important areas, or
there are tricks to get past them. Through good luck I've also learned how
to overcome certain problems. Judging by the quality of your posts, and how
much you've read, if you do have dyslexia, you can't be much worse off than
me right now. I have to clench my fists to tell right from left, and I am
dependent on things like a spellchecker, and I have a couple dozen other
quirks. But I don't see dyslexia as having any major impact on my life right
now, for good or bad. There was a point in my life where a comic book might
take two or three days to get read, and anything beyond that level was
hopeless. But I've moved past that, as you apparently have, and I'm not
really hurting because of dyslexia. What's your problem?
Most people come here because they want help dealing with dyslexia or
help dealing with their children's dyslexia. Some people are here because
they've been through the situation, either themselves or with a child, and
they feel they can help. I'm here because some of the dyslexics will make
the same mistakes writing up posts as I do, and I think it's cute. This
really isn't the place to whine about all the unrelated things, from low
self-esteem to bi-polar disorder, that plague your life.
And, something that gets to me, maybe schizophrenia does share some
symptoms with dyslexia or ADD. But not the symptoms that are used to
diagnose schizophrenia. I have schizophrenia in my family, and I have no
doubt that it isn't misdiagnosed dyslexia. Schizophrenia is so far removed
from those things, you'd have to be a fool to mix them up, without any
medical training.
Raymond
I didn't blame Dyslexia on my problems. I didn't say that Dyslexia
held me back. My low self esteem and my insecurity held me back. My
problems with anxiety and depression are mainly from my self esteem
and insecurity from living as a misunderstood multiethnic, highly
sensitive, spiritual and idealistic Dyslexic. My point was that I know
what it is like being an underdog and suffering from the prejudices of
society, and that has made me highly empathic to others that suffer in
the world. I do have Dyslexia, and I have compensated. I had other
challenges in my life too. I am a highly sensitive person, and a lot
of people with learning disabilities are highly sensitive. Another
thing, a lot of learning disabled children get teased, bullied, and
picked on. As adults, they can be seen as stupid by people who are
just ignorant. The learning disabled adults can feel stupid. They can
have low self esteem. They can develop anxiety and depression, and
there is evidence that a lot of learning disabled people can have
anxiety and depression as well as behavior problems including ADHD.
Well...if people get picked on a lot, it makes sense to me that they
might act out. I can easily put myself in their shoes, I can
understand that pain of being ostracized by peers. A lot of people
seem to lack empathy.
It's hard growing up as a minority in society. I am not Black, and I
am not White. My mother is white, and my father was black. I have
suffered prejudice and racism. I don't like being labeled and forced
to choose something. I am not a racist, and I believe that all the
races can live in harmony. I definitely have empathy for all races. A
multiethnic learning disabled can have lots of problems. There are
people who still think blacks are stupid, and there is an
overrepresentation of blacks in special ed, prisons, and in the
schizophrenia population. I have never even met a black psychiatrist
before either. Psychiatry is dominated by white people. The ones that
diagnosed me bipolar were white. They didn't even bother to do
psychological testing. There aren't even any diagnostic tests for the
learning disorders. They didn't even interview people that knew me.
They never asked me about any history of learning disability either. I
fought for myself, and I got my diagnosis changed to anxiety and
depression. I bought my own DSM-IV, and I pointed out that
irritability is a symptom of both anxiety and depression even though
the psychiarist focused on irritability as mania. I changed
psychiatrists. A female oriental psychiatrist listened to what I was
saying and changed my diagnosis. People don't get things corrected if
they don't stand up for themselves.
It was hard growing up as a highly sensitive and emotional male. High
sensitivity and being emotional are considered to be feminine traits
in society. Males with so-called feminine traits get labeled as
effeminate and even gay. The white doctor who diagnosed me with
bipolar had written that I was effeminate in my medical record, and I
find that rather prejudiced. I just opened my mouth. That was all. I
cannot help that I am softspoken with a highpitched voice. That
doesn't mean I am feminine or gay. Because of my voice and not fitting
the male stereotype, people have mistaken me for gay and I had to deal
with prejudice from other people. I cannot stand gender stereotypes,
and a lot of males and females are guilty of stereotyping. I believe
that females can do anything good as males. I don't believe that
females are more understanding of emotional and social cues than males
in general. I feel that it depends on the person. I have no problems
understanding social and emotional cues like facial expressions, tones
of voice, gestures, and body language. I can definitely express those
things, and I express them too easily at times. I can easily express
my feelings through poetry,writing, dance, and acting. A person
speaking in a condescending tone or giving me a mean luck can really
irritate me just like the kindness in a person's voice or a hug can
really make me feel wanted. Positive people make me feel positive, and
negative people make me feel negative.
I have social skills. I even open doors for women, elderly, and other
people all the time since I was 11 years old. I call men that are
older than me "sir". I call women that are older than me "ma'am". I
always shake hands when I meet new people. I always tip the barber,
pizza deliverer, waiters, and other people that you are supposed to
tip. I tell the busdriver thanks after getting off the bus. I talk to
people like fellow human beings without showing prejudice. I talk to
homeless people including the homeless mentally ill. I give food to
homeless people. I don't look down upon homeless people. I care about
all kinds of people. I am very kind to others. I believe in Chivalry,
and I believe in defending the underdog. I defend others that are
getting picked on. I respect people's rights. I don't judge people by
appearances. I am sensitive to other cultures,ethnicities,and
religions. I have tolerance for those things. I support the rights of
gay people and other minorities. I believe that gay marriages should
be legal, and I feel that banning them are a violation of their civil
rights as well as their religious rights. I believe that Church and
State should be completely separate. I don't believe that biased
perceptions should influence laws like they did in the past.
Dyslexics can be diagnosed with Psychosis. Not all psychiatrists are
perfect. A lot of Dyslexics share some of the soft neurological signs
of schizophrenics. There is research that points out schizotypal
traits in Dyslexics. Psychiatrists judge people by how they speak.
Rapid and disorganized speech isn't just a symptom of bipolar and
schizophrenia. Those can be symptoms of Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and
language disorders. It can even be anxiety. Even ADHD people can have
rapid speech. Doctors make mistakes all the time. That is why doctors
have malpractice insurance. Also minorities do get unfairly labled
with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. I am certain that
Dyslexic or learning disabled blacks can be mistaken for
schizophrenia. I am certain that depressed, anxious, dyslexic blacks
can be mistaken for psychotic. The stuff happens in society. There was
woman who suffered from depression, and she was misdiagnosed with
schizophrenia and was incarcerated in the hospital for 3 years. She
was forced to take drugs. Things like that happen. I am not friggen
naive. I know that there are doctors that are too biased. They even
violate the spiritual and religious rights of others. People have a
hard time feeling safe about believing, practicing, and talking about
spiritual and religous things because they don't want to be seen as a
nutcase. I am very tolerant about all religions and spirituality. It
isn't fair that people getting misdiagnosed with mental illnesses
because they have visions of the Virgin Mary or have mystical
experiences. It isn't fair that people cannot have spiritual insights
from meditation which is common in the eastern religions. There are
christians who believe in speaking in tongues because of the holy
ghost. There are voodoo practitioners that believe in spirit
possession as part of their religion. Hindus and Buddhists believe in
reincarnation and pastlives. The selection of the Dalai Lama in Tibet
is done through the reincarnation concept. There are native americans
that believe in shamans who have visions. The thing is that
psychiatrists label them as nutcases. Do you think that my father was
a paranoid schizophrenic for gathering his hair because it wouldn't be
used against him? Well..he wasn't. He believed in New Orleans Voodoo,
and he was a black Creole man from the New Orleans area. Even his
grandmother believed in practicing Voodoo protection, and she even had
snakes on the porch to ward off negative spirits. My spiritual and
religious beleifs have to do with the believing in God,
pantheism(believing that all is god and god is in all),universalism,
unity,healing,altruism and reincarnation. I don't believe in hurting
others. I believe that we get what we put out. I believe that we live
in a world that is cause and effect, and I believe that is what karma
is all about. I am not an ignorant person, and so I study about other
religions and spiritual beliefs. I have a strong interest in other
cultural beliefs and norms.
I was only expressing my past as what it is like to deal with
prejudice and misunderstanding including how I have lived life as a
highly sensitive and multiethnic dyslexic. It is not something that I
dwell on. I am dealing with my problems on my own. I am reading books
and articles about Dyslexia and other learning disabilities. I am
reading books and articles about mental illnesses which include some
that are connected to people who have learning disabilities. I am
interested in support groups for the learning disabled, adult children
of alcoholics, and anxiety. I am even thinking about joining a
universalist church. I am even pursuing a career in the holistic
health field in which my sensitivity and empathy can be utilized. I am
defending the learning disabled who unfairly get labeled as mentally
ill. I am going to be an activist in regards to those things as well
as to rights of gay people and other minorities. I will definitely be
an activist for multiethnic recognition. I write poetry about unity
and universal love.
I am thankful for the things that I have suffered and my own
differences because they gave me the ability to easily empathize with
others. They have helped me be able to sympathize with people that are
suffering in this world. They have made me tolerant and unprejudiced.
They have made me understand that it is not right to judge others by
their appearances. Appearances can be deceiving. I have an
understanding that norms are different in certain societies. What is
normal in one society is abnormal in other societies. What was normal
in the past is not normal in the present that include things like
segregation, slavery, diagnosing gay people as mentally ill, lack of
civil rights for blacks, and other things. I know that just because
something is normal doesn't necessarily mean that it is right. Norms
are based on the biased of society. I don't agree with all the norms
of society.
Please don't give me any lectures. You don't even know me. You
misunderstood what I was getting at. Also, the things that I have been
posting have a lot of reference. There is a lot of research on it.
There are books written about it. I know people that lived through it,
and I am one of those people. I wasn't blaming Dyslexia for my
problems, and I am not blaming anybody. I believe that everything that
I went through is preparing me for my role as holistic health
practitioner, activist, and just a person that help make a difference
in the world. It has given me a lot of idealism and empathy. I just
see people as my fellow human beings and as souls. I can see the big
picture. That's what I am about. Peace.
"Rob" <no...@none.com> wrote in message news:<NcgFb.34143$pY.24259@fed1read04>...