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In short, I had a really stressful junior year of college. I was so stressed out between school, work studies, being a resident assistant for the university, a break up that past summer, the death of my lifelong cat, and everything else related to personal family ties. I got next to no sleep during this time, and when I did sleep, I was met with horrific sleep paralysis which resulted in drastic and unfortunate mental consequences. The consequences were so intense that I had what psychiatrists called a “brief psychotic break”. Before the holiday break, I had reached out to some friends and told them what was going on and what I was experiencing. It was during the time when I was still pretty unwell, so I probably shared too much, and assumed it would be information kept with some respect or at least secrecy out of concern for my obvious unwellness. Over the holiday break, I was sent to a psych ward for four days. Thanks to my work with counselors and the use of other resources, I have recovered and am well, and I am very thankful.
For some reason though, something came to my mind yesterday, despite it happening last year, closer to my break. A guy I barely knew messaged me on Snapchat when I still had the app and asked me “are you really psychic?“ to which I responded, “who’s telling you this?” And he said, “oh -the person in question- told me you think you’re psychic.” I want to say something to -the person in question-, but am curious if I should.
The issue is old, and I was in a different space during the time of the Snapchat message, hence why this wasn’t addressed earlier. However, I am really frustrated about this. I feel that the darkest point of my life was exposed and exaggerated for the sake of gossip, which is something the person in question is known for loving. I want to at the least have a conversation with them saying that now I know what they did was wrong and that I don’t appreciate them sharing something so private about my personal timeline. I just don’t even know how I’d bring it up. I could say it came up in a photo memory, but no doubt they’d ask for a screenshot. I literally just thought of it all yesterday and I really do not know why. A few people in my life are saying that I should simply use this event to serve me in a guiding sense to “be more careful” around this individual. I usually am particularly careful, as I am not super into dramatics. I do, however, want to advocate for myself, not really expose anyone. If I want to be petty, I can use it as a yu-gi-oh card style talking point in the event of a need for a desperate measure, but that of course sounds childish to me.
I feel silly writing an advice request for an old issue, but it truly has been irritating me for the past 24 hours. If anything, validation and guidance are appreciated. Advice on whether or not I confront, leave it in my back pocket, or move on also greatly welcomed. Thank you for your time and for reading a brief overview of my largest obstacle. Stay well, all!
I agree as the other person said that "Psychiatric issues are yours alone to disclose" however unless I read this all wrong, you realized something was wrong, but not neccessarily that it would turn into a psychotic break. You needed to see some one who is a specialist and eventually you did, only because you told friends, one or a couple who were concerned for you and told others. Its the same to me as a person who wants to commit suicide, tells friends but not an older trusted adult or parent. It is now up to someone your age to get this info to an adult. I had a daughter with depression through her teen years, and I never saw it though I spoke with all my kids daily alone time with them where they know they could share anything, even sex stuff and I would remain calm and understanding and not fly off the handle. Those who may have shared info cocially on you, is not right but they are young yet, unable to see posslbie consequences to any of their actions Before choosing their action, just like you because your age group I am guessing is below 25 yealrs old. Scientlsts have determined that decision making is crippled until then by an immature frontal lobe of the brain so they can't help but do stupid and yes, hurtful things often. Look part the stupidness to why they talked about you, even if it was supposed to be a secret. They were worried. We usually tell as many people as we can about something hoping that one person will know what to do, but it doesn't work if all those who know or are talking are without a working frontal lobe. What should have happened is you telling not friends but trusted adults. One of my daughters went to her Aunt for advice when she knew her issue was something I was against in my beliefs. I was short sighted then, but not now. SO I am glad mt daughter went to her aunt. So if not a parent, then a trusted teacher, even a school counselor. I know I am trying to give you answers that I wouldn't have followed yet at your age because I had a great fear of what other people were thinking of me or would think of me. Its this fear that holds you back in life, or in getting help when you really need it. The truth is, no one really cares, aside from teens and young adults who don't know any better due to the frontal lobe issue. But I speak of older adults. They won't ctiticize you for having an issie with diffecult things that led to seeing a psych Dr. I figure more people have something happen in life, who don't have mental illness but do have a mental issue due to a situation in life. These situational episodes are quite common but I figure many don't realize they had it or have it.k I did. I was married to a man who was mentally and emotionally abusive. I stayed san but the stress gave me all sorts of stress related medical problems. So I went once for counseling to see if talking to a professional would help. My ex husband was someone I couldn't depend on to help in household stuff or with kids and the abuse too, so I tried to do everything all myself and my Dr. told me it was like I was burning the candle at both ends. Either he is willing to go into counseling, get help and change or I would have to make some drastic changes. And so it went, I had to divorce him to avoid getting so sick I might die.
You do not have to go back and talk to anyone regarding what you went through. If no one brings it up, don't start stirring it up by bringing up something that might remind them of it.
As for a guy saking if you are psychic...he probably read something someone else said, and either they wrote the wrong word, meaning to say you were psychotic instead of pschic. Or maybe they used the right word but he read it wrong thinking it was the other word, psychic. So to bring it up, with him, or find who told him that, would open up a can of worms so to speak. You don't want that to happen, so do not confront, and just move on. But in the future, if ever you find yourself in another sticky situation, I really hope you would share only with older adults who know you, and care about you because they can help steer you the right way and they wont tease or condemn you or think any worse of you for it. Also, since you feel silly, writing for advice, this tells me you don't understand how writing in here was one of the better things you did, because you were reaching out for advice. Do so next time with adults you love who love you too and yes, parents top the list. But if the parents themselves never grew up, then extended family, teachers, and counselors, even priests, are the very much needed step to take, sharing your situation and asking them. Dont stop at one persons opinions and many will share from experience and if they never had such an experience they won't know how to help but say something that sound logical but won't apply well to you. Talk to a tell a few people so you can see if the consensus is the same or not and if too much differing advice, its time to talk to a specialist, and to me, a specialist is someone who studied, trained and got a degree inthe area you need help in. so even a lawyer qualifies as a specialist, a specialist of laws and rights.
(Rating: 2) It seemed that this columnist did not read the entire context of the story. I had mentioned that I reached out to friends when I was obviously unwell, which had NOTHING to do with my age. The original post also mentioned that I DID reach out to and utilize the counseling of specialists and "trusted adults" - I do not need to be told to do that as that was absolutely not the question. I would not have returned to wellness if I hadn't reached out to parents, family members, and professionals. I did make the mistake of talking to friends first, which was a choice made during the single most confusing and scariest point of my life. I did not appreciate being given a "lesson" on "frontal lobes" by this columnist... I am fully aware that developing of the brain still takes place even after a certain age in which many think the development is complete, again, SO not the question. The question was in regard to whether or not I confront a specific person in the small group of people I told before receiving professional help. This "answer" hardly touched on the topic. I again questioned whether the columnist read the whole context when I read the line from the individual stating that "to find out who told him that would open a can of worms." I am well aware of who told him the information. I would know exactly who to confront or speak with. What I would have really appreciated would have been a more detailed input on WHY exactly the columnist thought it better to not open the can of worms and to "just move on," as the entire question revolved around the issue of whether or not to address this older event. The question in no way mentioned that I was CURRENTLY having psych related issues, rather that they happened a while ago, that I reached out to friends before "adults" due to my extreme unwellness, - again, if the full context was read, the columnist could see the line in which the words "I usually am particularly careful" appear. This small group friend consultation was NOT done at a time when I was mentally well, therefore it would not happen in my current day-to-day living. While I do appreciate the columnist's time in answering my post, I did not particularly care for the ways in which this person seemingly told me what to do assuming I was still having mental problems, telling me "it is up to someone your age to get this info to an adult." My psychotic break was caused by unrelenting stress during an extremely tough year, NOT MY AGE. I am well aware that "older adults" will not "criticize me for having an issue." I have recovered from this traumatic chapter and I am aware that I did so with the help of said adults BECAUSE I brought it to adults. Toward the end of the columnist's feedback there was indication that the individual recognized that the mental break was in the past, which I appreciate, but I really did not care for the telling of what to do in another "sticky situation" as I DID mention in the story that I am not one to usually spill all my secrets, stating that I usually am particularly careful. Given the fact that I am no longer in that dark space, it is obvious that I can now recall what resources to properly utilize if I am ever again unwell. I know I CAN talk to professionals, and I have, as the story states "A few people in my life are saying..." This should imply that I have outside resources, but posted on this site for extra feedback. Not because I "don't understand" how it is actually a better alternative. I REALLY did not care for the somewhat degrading verbiage in the response on the topic of using this site. Again, maybe knowing how to seek professional help would have been more fitting during the time period of my mental break, but that is not where I am at, nor is it what I am asking... Also hurtful, was the assumption towards the beginning of the answer that I eventually got help "because I told friends." That was not the case. Upon my choice to talk to adults, they recognized my mental state and helped me towards recovery. The question calls readers to advise me on handling an issue AFTER my mental break, not "tell me how to get better, or feel free to assume I did this wrong in my recovery." In regards to this topic in question, the TITLE of the context, "Should I call my friend out regarding an older issue?" The prompt calls for a columnist to focus on the question of "yes this is an older issue, it came to my mind, here is context, should it be addressed and how?" This brings me to my next point of feedback details for the columnist.. there are about 7-9 lines in their answer which detail their own personal struggles. Relatability is sometimes beneficial in some cases, and while I pray that things get better for this columnist, I did not need to know details regarding their breakup, children, or abuse. It did strike me as hypocritical as the columnist says they (presently, I can assume given the way it is written in line 3) want to commit suicide, yet is telling a person online what to do in the ways of seeking help, not seeming to recognize that help has been sought, and I am simply looking for advice on a issue I am perplexed by in the means of present interpersonal communication - NOT communication I should do with an "adult." The author also states that they are guilty in talking to friends before an older trusted adult or parent - as seen in line 3. IN CONCLUSION: I appreciate this person's time and consideration and the tiny amount of input towards the question that was provided. However, I found this response to be filled with too much "what I could have done in hindsight" advice, too much details on their personal life, seemingly incomplete reading of the posted question, and slight demeaning tone in some places. This columnist would have benefited from either reading the whole post, answering the ASKED question, or even finding a question to answer that does not relate to mental unwellness as this individual seemed to focus on that element far too much.
*Suicide prevention is a call away: 1-800-273-8255 . I recognize that you gave an ANSWER NOT A QUESTION, so I don't want to be hypocritical, but given the severity of what you disclosed, I am morally obligated to somehow help. They have both English and Spanish, but I do not know the specifics of their location(s). You are worth more alive.