would you rather be Mentally Normal or fat?

[Mitchy1nge]

oi

I'm just not confident in my ability to cope, or to relate to people in an Appropriate Manner.

And I've spent so many years of my life (like 10 or so) being Professionally Mentally Unnormal for a living that I really don't want to mess up this job now.

Hugs, toothpaste. My thoughts will be with you tomorrow.

It's different for me as everyone in work knows about my mental abnormality. I'd say as little or as much you're comfortable with.

MP really??

I started life as a medical student and had it made very clear to me that mentals could not under any circumstances be doctors,

I spend a lot of time with a GMC psychiatrist but I still have my licence to practice.

I've has so many absences from work that it was easier to let my big secret out if the bag. I'm probably known as the gay, mental one but I don't really care.

I can't comment on medicine, but in allied health you have to complete a range of specialisms to qualify. Once you're qualified you can make your practice quite narrow/use aids and equipment/help. So if your condition develops after qualification it's easier.

It's too late for me anyway. Or at least, I wouldn't have the energy for any more training.

Anyone else find their agent detection much more hair-trigger on anti-depressants, more shadow people, leaves that look like mice, etc.? Suspect it's an arousal thing sacrificing specificity for sensitivity and something to do with the neurotransmitters they're fucking about with. I can't find anything related to it in side effect lists but don't know what doctors would call it anyway.

Never happened to me Ennn but sounds v plausible. Scary, too.

I wondered before why you're happy to be open about being a gay bipolar female psychiatrist on the internet Mp - can't be too many of those about so either youre obfuscatibg or you're extremely identifiable

Not too scary tooth; often seems to wax and wane for me but is very high on some antidepressants. I asumed it was an anxiety thingthe first rtime I had it, while taking prozac, as I was also unbelievably anxious on that drug, but it seems to be independent of anxiety - just a brain that assumes every leaf is a mouse and every shadow or flicker is a person.

I don't think you've ever been my psych. The only female one I ever saw would be a decade or so older than you.

I've disliked both female psychiatrists I've had for any length of time especially the curly-haired bright-jumpered CAMHS one who didn't appear to like maungy teenagers as much as bouncy eight-year-old boys.

There are a lot of psychiatrists in a similar position to me. I personally know three. I don't give out a lot if details of my life that would make me much more identifiable. And my cat's not really called Gladys!

I liked the female psychiatrist I had, although she was not to be crossed(!)

I've just disclosed my mental abnormality to my boss by email. Under DH advice that it's better to be straight with line manager. I've worked there 18 months and been absolutely fine which I'm hoping will count in my favour with her. Academics are allowed to be mentalists but us lowly admin staff supposed to be normal. In previous job had 6 weeks off when I had a bit of a meltdown and GP wrote it up as "viral illness".

Who knew manic-depressive lesbian shrinks were so common?

I'm hoping that the way in which this is my first meltdown will also count in my favour. In the eight years I've been there I've had quite a lot of time off sick, my only for less-stigmatised physical/medical issues and surgery.

*but only

We're everywhere! The 3 I know have various mental abnormalities boy just bipolar. Incidence of mental illness is pretty high amongst psychiatrists. We all end up as mad as out patients.

I hope the line manager is professional about it pastey.

I wonder if cardiologists end up with shitty tickers.

Oops have conflated yoni's and toothpaste's posts. Sorry guys

I meant I hope your line manager is professional, yoni

I think my line manager will be gentle and discreet. It's just a very big organisation, with all of the range of attitudes and prejudices or discrimination found within wider society.