MI and Amanda Bynes

birdybride2014

this article- "Amanda Bynes, Robin Williams, and the Spectacle of Mental Illness" is a good read. 

I don't really have an opinion on Amanda Bynes. I have had some friends re-tweet some things that she's said that they viewed as humorous, but beyond that I don't pay much attention. I think this article is spot on. How is it that people have so quickly forgotten that Robin Williams was recently battling his own hurdles, but we as a society aren't taking precautions to keep it from happening again to someone else. This article couldn't have found a better comparison.

I've certainly taken the opportunity to laugh at something going on in a celebrities life before, I'm sure of it. But, this really is a good reminder for everyone. 

bethsmiles

Dealing with mental illness is so difficult, I can't even imagine trying to deal with it as a celebrity with everyone watching you and judging you. Nothing that's been going on with Amanda Bynes is funny, it's horrible to watch someone's life spiral out of control like that.

Sugargirl1019

bethsmiles said:

Dealing with mental illness is so difficult, I can't even imagine trying to deal with it as a celebrity with everyone watching you and judging you. Nothing that's been going on with Amanda Bynes is funny, it's horrible to watch someone's life spiral out of control like that.

Especially when we watched her as a child being so happy. It's so sad to see what she's going through. Why aren't they trying harder to help her? What would help her?

sarahufl

Nobody would point and laugh at her if she had cancer. Mental illness is no different.

I feel bad for her.

bethsmiles

Sugargirl1019 said:

Dealing with mental illness is so difficult, I can't even imagine trying to deal with it as a celebrity with everyone watching you and judging you. Nothing that's been going on with Amanda Bynes is funny, it's horrible to watch someone's life spiral out of control like that.

Especially when we watched her as a child being so happy. It's so sad to see what she's going through. Why aren't they trying harder to help her? What would help her?

That's what I keep wondering too. Where are her family/friends? I know it can be hard to get someone with a mental illness to seek help though because there is so much stigma surrounding it so sometimes even if you want to help it can be really hard to actually do anything.

OliveOilsMom

bethsmiles said:

Sugargirl1019 said:

Dealing with mental illness is so difficult, I can't even imagine trying to deal with it as a celebrity with everyone watching you and judging you. Nothing that's been going on with Amanda Bynes is funny, it's horrible to watch someone's life spiral out of control like that.

Especially when we watched her as a child being so happy. It's so sad to see what she's going through. Why aren't they trying harder to help her? What would help her?

That's what I keep wondering too. Where are her family/friends? I know it can be hard to get someone with a mental illness to seek help though because there is so much stigma surrounding it so sometimes even if you want to help it can be really hard to actually do anything.

She is currently on an involuntary hold again and her doctor's were able to lengthen it from 72 hours to 2 weeks. I was saddened to hear that Amanda Bynes had slide backwards after she seemed to have found a good mix of doctors and medication to treat whatever her ailment is. I lived with someone who was bi-polar and it always effects everyone in a household when they go off their meds or start trying to self-medicate.

KatieinBkln

This is a great article. I feel terrible for the girl, and for her friends and family. I've been on the "friends and family" side of involuntary psych holds and it isn't fun for anyone. It's also really hard to know what to do and how best to help--I just hope she's getting the help she needs. Mental illness is hard enough without the extra bullshit society likes to pile on.

mrsdee15

So sad, I really hope she gets the help she needs.  My heart goes out to her.

sophhabobopha

I feel so bad for her. I  hope she's getting help.

loro929

I agree with PPs that asked "Why aren't they trying harder to help her?" I mean every situation is different, but I remember years ago when Britney Spears was going through the really dark parts of her mental illness. After a certain point, she was committed and her entire estate was placed in control of a guardian (her father). Until she was deemed healthy enough to fully comprehend her responsibilities it was not given back to her.

Besides the awfulness of not only have a mental illness and also being constantly in the public eye, she has access to a lot of money, which I don't think helps anything -- rather I think it is an enabler. I think some that really cares about her needs to get their shit together, open up their eyes and really get her the help she needs.

porkchops926

I think that even though the world in general is finally accepting that mental illness IS actually an illness, it's still very new, so the stigma of "that crazy person" still exists in the back of most people's minds. Just like substance abuse. Hence, we're not quite there yet as far as reacting appropriately.

SmileDamnit

loro929 said:

I agree with PPs that asked "Why aren't they trying harder to help her?" I mean every situation is different, but I remember years ago when Britney Spears was going through the really dark parts of her mental illness. After a certain point, she was committed and her entire estate was placed in control of a guardian (her father). Until she was deemed healthy enough to fully comprehend her responsibilities it was not given back to her.

Besides the awfulness of not only have a mental illness and also being constantly in the public eye, she has access to a lot of money, which I don't think helps anything -- rather I think it is an enabler. I think some that really cares about her needs to get their shit together, open up their eyes and really get her the help she needs.

Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful if it were that easy? As someone with a schizophrenic brother, I think I speak on behalf of loved ones who would give anything if we somehow had the magic power to get our mothers/fathers/sisters/brothers/daughters/sons the "help they need". 

As for Ms. Bynes, she's an adult, so unfortunately her parents or "someone who really cares about her" have zero say in her treatment, even if they 'get their shit together'. Sure, they can be (and likely are) advocating for her, but as we know, the mental health system is HIGHLY dysfunctional so advocacy by friends and loved ones only go so far. Remember Senator Creigh Deeds? He, as rich & influential politician, fought tooth & nail to get help for his son...and even he, Mr. Powerful, got no help. Instead, he ended up stabbed himself and will now spend the rest of his life mourning the loss of son who committed suicide. 

Trying harder doesn't have anything to do with it. Having a society that values mental health does, though, and that takes a whole hell of a lot more effort by EVERYONE, not just friends and family.

loro929

SmileDamnit said:

loro929 said:

I agree with PPs that asked "Why aren't they trying harder to help her?" I mean every situation is different, but I remember years ago when Britney Spears was going through the really dark parts of her mental illness. After a certain point, she was committed and her entire estate was placed in control of a guardian (her father). Until she was deemed healthy enough to fully comprehend her responsibilities it was not given back to her.

Besides the awfulness of not only have a mental illness and also being constantly in the public eye, she has access to a lot of money, which I don't think helps anything -- rather I think it is an enabler. I think some that really cares about her needs to get their shit together, open up their eyes and really get her the help she needs.

Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful if it were that easy? As someone with a schizophrenic brother, I think I speak on behalf of loved ones who would give anything if we somehow had the magic power to get our mothers/fathers/sisters/brothers/daughters/sons the "help they need". 

As for Ms. Bynes, she's an adult, so unfortunately her parents or "someone who really cares about her" have zero say in her treatment, even if they 'get their shit together'. Sure, they can be (and likely are) advocating for her, but as we know, the mental health system is HIGHLY dysfunctional so advocacy by friends and loved ones only go so far. Remember Senator Creigh Deeds? He, as rich & influential politician, fought tooth & nail to get help for his son...and even he, Mr. Powerful, got no help. Instead, he ended up stabbed himself and will now spend the rest of his life mourning the loss of son who committed suicide. 

Trying harder doesn't have anything to do with it. Having a society that values mental health does, though, and that takes a whole hell of a lot more effort by EVERYONE, not just friends and family.

@SmileDamnit I am so so sorry if I offended you in anyway, that was the least of my intentions. I personally do not know anyone affected by this type of illness, so perhaps I was ill-equipped to comment in this thread. However, the main point of my post was to say that there are lots of people that have horrible mental illnesses, however the fact that she has access to a lot of money might be exasperating her situation (such as in the Britney Spears situation when her father needed to take control of her estate).

SmileDamnit

loro929 - I appreciate it and know you didn't mean to personally offend. It's terribly frustrating (and confusing & sad & anger inducing) for many to witness people suffering from mental illness, whether your personally involved via a loved on or simply a citizen seeing stories in the news. You've got just as much a right to an opinion on the subject as I do, but I would challenge you to dig a bit more deeply into the multifaceted issue ~ it really is both heartbreaking at just how fucked up and convoluted the system is & eye-opening to realize just how much work it's going to take from an entire nation to even begin to try to "fix" it.

USA Today is doing a great series called "The Cost of Not Caring: Mental Illness in America" (<<clicky) that's definitely worth the read.