Posted by
Jesse "The Mind" Norman on Saturday, December 06, 2008 12:03:00 AM
I hate how all these behavioral "disorders" are called diseases. Alcoholism, drug addiction, OCD, ADHD, and bipolarism are not diseases in my world. I have real diseases. Things that affect me in a medical way without any choice I have made. I was born with a type of glomerulonephritis (most likely IgA), and it led to two more diseases called proteinuria and hematuria. I had no choice in either case. For years these diseases have unwittingly slowed me down to nearly a halt. I just found out a few years ago I had this. I can't do very much at all now. If I had some obsession with pulling my own hair out, I think I could get past that. Who can't stop pulling their hair? I suppose if you have nothing to do but think of pulling your hair, you'll eventually do it. These new "diseases" are for people who can afford them. I don't think starving Africans are saying "damn the food, I want to slice my own arm for a bit". My late grandfather was an alcoholic. Even though I didn't totally blame him for being one, he did make the choice to be one. He had a rough life and started drinking early when he was 12. When he was 10, because his mom was Greek and father had indian blood in him, the KKK tried to break into their home when his father was away. He was the oldest of the kids so he took a rifle and shot through the door, injuring one of those redneck jackasses. Try dealing with that as a 10 year old. His father also wasn't the kind of father one dreams of (a family trait), so that led to him depending on alcohol. I feel sorry for the guy for what he went through and for getting hooked so early. He was great to be around. A funny, friendly guy, but he did make that choice. After growing up in that environment and him being hooked on it so early, I do not blame him. Not everyone has an excuse such as that for depending on alcohol.
The newest craze disease is OCD. This is where someone who after taking five steps can't stop from slapping themselves senseless three times before continuing their walk. This is the silliest of the so-called diseases. Can you imagine the frontiersmen who were occupied with thoughts of "what's out there" and "will I find something to eat", then finding a deer and chasing it but having to stop at every seventh tree and do two spins around it before continuing their chase? "Damn I almost got him, too!" It must have been that last double-spin that created too much distance between him and the deer. Him and his family would have starved to death. I wish I was rich enough to afford these diseases. I'd even do an ad. "With my great luck and skill investing into real estate, now I can afford the diseases I always wanted but only dreamed of owning." ADHD is today's code for "child with too much energy". Schools have even made (I don't know how) parents give their children ritalin to keep them calm during school. Ritalin has been known to cause suicial tendencies in teens. Great drug to put your kids on. If I was a child today, who knows what they would have come up for me. Wait til you hear about the next possible disease. Psychiatrists are trying to call too much videogaming a disease. I'm not kidding. Instead of having parents take their kids away from the tv, they are wanting to call it a disease. This is also for those thirtysomethings who also play too much videogames. I really am not a conspiracy junkie, but there's something here. Why name all these diseases and then prescribe something for them immediately? Psychiatrists prescribe drugs for just about anything. "Dr., I have this problem with traveling at ni.." "I'll prescribe you some Happyalin." "Dr, I wasn't finished." "Like it matters. Here's your prescription." Psychiatrists must get kickbacks from the drug companies in some way. Maybe they have a lot of stock in that particular drug company. Think about it. Nearly everyone seems to be on something. Walgreens are popping up like zits on a teenager's face. CVS still finds room to expand at the same rate. Why? How? I am also on pills. Mine are to basically keep me living for the foreseeable future. Makes you wonder though why people WANT to take pills. I hate them. I absolutely hate them. What I hate more by far though is comparing someone who can't stop washing their hands immediately after hearing someone saying the word "storm" with me who was born with a deadly kidney disease. ADHD isn't on par with someone dying from leukemia. Give me a break. Sorry John Stossil.