The Problem With Mikachu

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

As most of you know, my mental health is questionable. I am 23 years old and still like Pokemon and when I was at the hospital, I had an impression that most nurses disliked it. Now I'm in Kuntoutuskoti, care of out-patients here in Ylivieska, and my current nurses understand me more though.

But I have this problem. I'd like to say to my nurses I kinda live at TPM so I can't leave. It's true, I draw my signatures, translate Yokoku, keep some PCG games up, take part in ASB, post poems and everything, right? TPM is my home. I'm sorry if I'm showing off but don't you agree?

Briefly, what do you think? Should I tell them how much I love TPM although there's a danger they realize I'm too addicted and I should leave at once.

[Zak]

What were you in the hospital for in the first place?

[The_Missing_Link]

Zak is right. First of all, we need to know why you were there and how TPM factors into it

[Roy Karrde]

If TPM were in some way able to prevent you from leading a normal life, or progressing with your life. I would say to go on and tell them. Other than that a refuge, a safe zone, can be a very healthy thing when a person is going through mental problems in their life. It's a area where they do not have to deal with the current stresses and anxieties brought about by their conditions.

While I would never say I understand what you are going through, when I was going through my own problems in 2006, in dealing with a suicidal depression. I sought refuge in my friends as well as the Anime Full Moon ( Which is why I have 400+ dollars of girly stuff on one of my shelfs ). It was a safe zone for me, and while it dominated my life for a while, it helped me survive.

So, my suggestion would be that if you believe TPM is holding you back in your life, and that letting go a bit won't adversely affect your mental health, talk to them about it. If you think that it would hurt you, and that you can be a functioning person even with TPM, then I don't see the danger in it.

Then again this whole post may be crap because it is 1 am and I am trying to play amateur psychologist.

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Zak: As I told in 'Truth About Mikachu Yukitatsu.' and now also 'Shiny new Smiley Town *bling*' my mental health went down when I was in Finnish army. I had to face too many changes during that year (2004) like the ending of Lukio (high school), never seeing my first loves again and getting sort of banned from Haapavesi. Plus I took the army too seriously.

From the TPM point of view, that was a double-edged sword. I had to take a long break, my longest one, that is 1 1/2 years, but on the other hand, I was able to find this house called Mielikkitalo here in Ylivieska. Mielikkitalo is open every day, even on Christmas, New Year, Easter and Midsummer and this is where I use TPM.

T_M_L: Now that I think of it, I kinda got bored with TPM in 2004. I didn't plan to return until December 2005. The critical point, of course, was spring 2006 when I had to quit TPM because of sleeping problems. There you could say TPM was bad for me. But I love it here.

Roy Karrde: I think TPM helps me in my life. I get strength from it, can express my creativity here, talk with friends and practice my English. If I quit TPM, my life would be empty in my opinion. About the mental hospital Visala, it's true that they omit the extra stimulus in order to heal you, but, on the other hand, it's boring!

[Roy Karrde]

Zak: As I told in 'Truth About Mikachu Yukitatsu.' and now also 'Shiny new Smiley Town *bling*' my mental health went down when I was in Finnish army. I had to face too many changes during that year (2004) like the ending of Lukio (high school), never seeing my first loves again and getting sort of banned from Haapavesi. Plus I took the army too seriously.

From the TPM point of view, that was a double-edged sword. I had to take a long break, my longest one, that is 1 1/2 years, but on the other hand, I was able to find this house called Mielikkitalo here in Ylivieska. Mielikkitalo is open every day, even on Christmas, New Year, Easter and Midsummer and this is where I use TPM.

T_M_L: Now that I think of it, I kinda got bored with TPM in 2004. I didn't plan to return until December 2006. The critical point, of course, was spring 2007 when I had to quit TPM because of sleeping problems. There you could say TPM was bad for me. But I love it here.

Roy Karrde: I think TPM helps me in my life. I get strength from it, can express my creativity here, talk with friends and practice my English. If I quit TPM, my life would be empty in my opinion. About the mental hospital Visala, it's true that they omit the extra stimulus in order to heal you, but, on the other hand, it's boring!

If you know there was a critical point, and you took steps to correct it, then you are already far more in control over this than most people. I would say don't tell them, it seems like a healthy outlet, and it would be more detrimental than good for you if you lost it. If anything I would sit down, and ask myself several things.

A: Is what I am doing preventing me from recovering
B: Is what I am doing preventing me from carrying on with school or a job
C: Is what I am doing preventing me from interacting with others

Think it over carefully, and maybe even do some self help of possibly making a calender and planning out when to be on TPM and when to do other things. Or "If I do these things, then I'll go on TPM for a few hours" it may seem childish, but it can help.

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Hey thanks for the replies so far, everyone! I wish for more.

Roy Karrde: Your ideas sound good in fact. But I'd still like to tell my nurses I feel like I live at TPM.

By the way, you already quoted my post, but I got the years wrong in the first place. No big deal, though.

[Dark-San]

I think you need to find your passion in life and work towards it, Mikachu. Life does not just revolved around Pokemasters alone nor is it a place where can you escape from reality. Although I can't give anymore decent advice, but I can say that that is much more things to look forward in life besides the forums here. Go out there and search for it. ^.^

[Little_Pikachu]

Most of us have been addicted to TPM at one point, although that was when the board was a lot more lively. Anyway it's not a bad thing to have a passion for a place that you gain so much positivity from, you've had a rough life and TPM is a place that makes you happy, I think being here will help your recovery but it wouldn't hurt to have some other hobbies.

[PancaKe]

I think that if you are seeking help, it's probably a good thing to be very honest so that they can help you in the best way possible. So that probably does mean telling them about TPM. Unlike other addictions, I think TPM is a fairly safe addiction, but at the same time, as other people have said, it's probably good to have other hobbies as well. But its nice that you care about us so much

[Magmar]

Wow, addicted to TPM at age 23 in the year 2009......

there's a few of us

*not one*

Anyways, really you should tell your mental health counselors about your obsession with TPM because then they can help you recover from this dangeorus addiction and tell them that you like to role play as girls a lot too because it might help them diagnose you or something. Show them your art too they need to grasp just how entwined you are in this dead message board

[shazza]

The world is a scary place, and to be an active and well known member of a community will give you a feeling of safety and high self-worth for which the world might not currently offer you. There isn't anything wrong with that, but it is highly destructible when it becomes an addictive obsession. I've been there, although I was young at the time and the forums were widely more active. Hell, even in the mid 2000's of my teenage years it was somewhat addictive to troll and be known for trolling. Recognition is something we all love, and is probably a reason why many of us have remained here more or less for so many years.

But to greatly appreciate the community and the extent of your involvement, it would be very healthy to engage in the real world and share your passions. You need to cognitively rework the framework of your mind; to say you "live" at TPM isn't a productive philosophy and will lead to failure. Perceive life as long and prosperous and know that you have a lot to offer it, if you use TPM to escape the problems you face rather than dealing with them, they will only get bigger and more harder to solve in the long run.

Enjoy your path to recovery.

EDIT: And yeah, everyone else has basically the same advice. It's vital to be honest with your councilor, and if you think you want to mention it to her, then you've already got your answer. She can't make you quit if that's what you're scared of, but you can work together to moderate your usage and actively willing to engage in other productive areas of life.

[Houndoom_Lover]

Internet? Addicting? Nonscene *didn't study for her finals because she spent her whole day on Neopets*



I rotate between sites, sometimes, it's good and even, others it like. Woah. Just wasted a whole day refreashing.

You might as well tell them. Although, I never told my therapist anything. The weasle. They said it was confendential. But I knew they were lying. Liars.

But being addicted to the internet is much healthier than others. You could be additcted to drugs...or porn! Or both!

[Zak]

Internet? Addicting? Nonscene *didn't study for her finals because she spent her whole day on Neopets*

lol that site still exists? haven't heard it mentioned in almost five years.

[Blademaster]

Yeah, it's not like there's any porn or drugs on the Internet, you know...?

[shazza]

Post would have been effective if you just said porn. You know, like, since it's impossible to download anything physical from the internet, i.e. drugs.

[Roy Karrde]

I thought it was established a while back that a person could be addicted to the internet. That finding news or information on the internet, or coming across well anything you were looking for, produces a bit of a addictive chemical response, aka instant gratification. Then again my memory is a bit fuzzy on it.

[Blademaster]

Post would have been effective if you just said porn. You know, like, since it's impossible to download anything physical from the internet, i.e. drugs.

Poppycock. Just open about 19 windows simultaneously and inhale the fumes coming out of the back of the computer.

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Dark-San: Oh yes I do have other hobbies and passions. Videogames, studying and teaching Japanese, drawing, music, manga and anime. Yeah, the lack of sport activities stays, I only watch football and sometimes ice hockey from TV. I rarely go to a gym and almost never jogging. And as you can see, all of my hobbies have something to do with TPM, too, you could say.

Little_Pikachu: An administrator reply! Awesome! Well the life has been kinda rough to me sometimes. I have a crush on a girl easily and it's very difficult for me to let off. In a sense, I had a crush on the same girl for a total of 5-7 years and she never responeded me. Another crisis in my life was to move from a substitute family to another. In fact, in 'Truth About Mikachu Yukitatsu.' Dark-San described TPM might mean a safe haven to me and now I think he was right.

PancaKe: In case I didn't say it clearly, your post made me wonder, my nurses (heck, is that the term) know about TPM. This is funny because I have written my autobiography here to be seen by the whole world and you technically know pretty much about me too. But they aren't forum people and that's why I'm afraid they don't grasp the point of TPM so well.

Magmar: Counselors! Now that's the term! OK, actually they haven't seen my TPM videos, I have yet to show them. I do have showed my other anime/game music videos, the same as are on Youtube as well.

shazza: Yeah there's only one TPM, and that's the problem. Where else could I share my work to the world and get the same response. I have been to other forums as well but my second biggest postcount is only 731, in my former school forum. Anyway, now that I think of it, do I 'live' at TPM? You and other people who have replied here sort of live here, too. Correct me if I'm overanalyzing but some of you have been here longer than me and posted much more messages. Some of you write and read long fanfiction and use more time here as well. Plus, I never was a moderator. But already in 2001, I was addicted by TPM. The forum meant a lot to me although I wasn't noticed because I didn't post so much. And my replies were dumb. Dumber than today. And there were so many other active members.

Houndoom_Lover: Yeah we waste our youth at TPM. That's the opinion of the world around us. Why the heck do we keep posting here? I just think I miss something if I don't come online while the truth is I'm missing something just now when I'm writing this freaking reply.

Blademaster: Heck, where I have lived, people in lower level use the web in school computer classes for porn. For porn. In school computer classes.

Roy Karrde: By the way, I have a Facebook account as well. But it's not as big a thing to me as TPM. I'm not addicted to Internet, I'm addicted to TPM.

Zak: OK, I hardly responded to Blademaster and that post of yours isn't meant to be replied by me but still I wanted you to know I read it as well.

[Drago]

Mika, I can't say much more than what's already been offered, but you have to consider; in TPM you find safety, familiarity and people you can relate to. However, when it's all said and done, it probably doesn't offer much progression. You have to be able to take the confidence and social skills you've gained here and apply them in the real world, otherwise you're just going to keep facing the same problems.
Forum accomplishments are gratifying, but on the outside thousands of forum posts mean nothing. You need to be thinking more objectively about the situation.

Is TPM your best friend, or your worst enemy? It depends on whether it is leading you towards better mental health, or if it's like any other addiction, a familiar safety that you retreat to instead of trying to get better.

And if I may impart an outsider opinion on your troubles with girls, it just sounds to me dude that what you're feeling isn't love, but obsession. You seek love, so when someone strikes your fancy you glorify and idolise them. How much do you speak with the girls you seek? And what kind of person do you find yourself being when you are speaking with them? You can't simply study girls from afar, allowing your obsession to grow to boiling point. You have to just get in there and find out if they're really what you're looking for.
If they are, they'll understand the person you are. If not, then you have to realize that it was never going to work.

[Houndoom_Lover]

Ya'll write too much for my sleepy face to read, ya know that? All I have to say is why should people look down at you for doing something that they don't do.

If the internet was never invented, it would still be books. If you spent all your day reading like I did pre-internet, you'd still be looked down upon and labled negitively.

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

DragoKnight: Yeah I can see your point. TPM has helped me to create social skills to some extent, but it surely doesn't suffice alone. Also, I had one problem in real life when I was in lukio. My substitute family mother wondered why I had to comment on everything and that's what I do at TPM sometimes. And about girls, yes, except for my first crush, almost every girl has been quite distant to me. I let my imagination deceive me, for instance, I associated MaaREIto-sama with Sailor Mercury from Sailor Moon when I was in lukio. Sounds stupid? More things, one problem is should I draw pictures of the girls I have crush on. It works as a therapy sometimes but I overdo it on the other hand and let my obsession grow stronger.

Houndoom_Lover: Oh yes people actually used to blame books of the very same escapism if I remember something from school.

Great to have you all replying.

[Zak]

Just wondering, why were you banned from your hometown?

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Zak: I said sort of banned. I loved to live in Haapavesi but the social workers in Kalajoki (a town where I lived with my mother before moving to the substitute parents) said (in 2003) that they'd stop supporting the substitute family soon. Of course my words weren't precise enough, actually I wasn't 'banned' from Haapavesi until I was put into the hospital and made a 'pakko-ylivieskalainen' (who sort of is forced to live in Ylivieska). Now I have learned to like Ylivieska more, though, because of 4 factors. Mielikkitalo, new crushes, friends and the fact that even if I moved back to Haapavesi, I'd never get my school memories back as they were.

[firepokemon]

ok late but .....

Time to bring out a "Truth about something"

[shazza]

Nigga wat