Category: Mental Health
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Marginalized Polya People
Updated version of an article first published on Postmodern Woman. What does polyamory look like when you’re poor or disabled? How do you maintain autonomy and independence when you require specific care or assistance? How do you have safe, kinky, enjoyable sex when you’re allergic to latex or have a condition that leaves your body racked…
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Clarify Your Silence In the Name of Love by Michon Neal
Updated version. Previously appeared on Postmodern Woman. Are you one of those people who hates awkward silences? Do you feel like you have to fill in the quiet with something, anything? Have you ever dated or talked with someone who went silent and assumed they were bored, angry, or shutting you out? My longest term partner…
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Mental Illness and Dating for Polyamorous Folk Part 3
So far we’ve talked about how mental illness can interfere with dating, dating as a numbers game, and ways you can shift those numbers in your favor. Today we’re finally going to look at tips and tricks for keeping mental illness from fucking with you too much while you are meeting people/dating. Pick Your Venue…
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Mental Illness and Dating for Polyamorous Folk, Part II
Last week we talked about the first rule of dating: dating is a numbers game. The problems for people with mental illness (and many other people as well) are: 1) Mental illness can lower the number of people who are attracted to you 2) Mental illness can make it hard to meet people, making it…
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Mental Illness and Dating for Polyamorous Folk
Hadn’t meant this to be a two parter, but overdid it last week and paying for it. Other posts this week may be very short or delayed depending on long my recovery takes. I like spending time on Quora. It’s an interesting site with a lot of good information, and I’ve wrangled myself a spot…
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Polyam Advice for the Mentally Ill: Use Direct Communication
Standard Poly Advice: Use Direct Communication “Direct communication” is the term used by Franklin Veaux and Eve Rickert in their book More Than Two. But the same idea, unnamed, is extremely common in the poly community. “Did you state your needs?” “You need to clearly state your boundaries.” “You can’t expect them to guess you…
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Polyamory and Psychotic Disorders, Part 3
Continuing our review of the psychotic disorders and the way symptoms of psychotic disorders impact polyamory. Disorganized thinking (speech): communication is the key to any healthy relationship. And when someone can’t speak their thoughts it’s hard to communicate about relationship needs, problems, or just get clear consent. Some people find ways around this. For instance,…
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The Impact of Executive Dysfunction on Relationships
(The last part of Schizophrenia and PTSD is giving me trouble, so you’re getting next Sunday’s post a week early. Enjoy.) Executive dysfunction is associated with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, ADHD, ADD, schizophrenia, autism, and Parkinson’s disease. It is probably found in numerous other contexts as well, but that’s a long…
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Polyamory and Psychotic Disorders, Part 2
We’re going to do something a bit different this time. We’re going to look at the main symptoms of psychotic disorders and see how they each impact polyamorous relationships. This is pretty involved, so Polyamory and Psychotic Disorders is going to end up as a 3 parter. Today we’ll be focusing on delusions and hallucinations.…
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Polyamory, Schizophrenia, and other psychotic disorders (Part 1)
This post and others discussing specific mental disorders will reference the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Psychiatry and Psychology, Edition Five (DSM-V). Apologies to my international readers, I’m just not familiar enough with the ICD to use it as a reference. Please note: everyone’s experience of mental illness is different. This is general information meant…