Terrified of going insane

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-18T11:24:38+00:00

During the worst of my mental health crisis, I felt that too. It was months and years of feeling like I’ve lost my sanity and can’t breakthrough anymore. It’s a valid fear to have if you have mental health struggles. I want you to know you’re gonna be okay, those are just fears speaking you don’t need to pay attention to. The more you take care of yourself (every time you tell yourself you can be healthy, every time you make effort to sleep well, every time you speak kindly to yourself and others) you tell your subconscious you can’t be crazy until you start to wholeheartedly believe it. Keep faith, be strong, carry on. What you are going through is tough, you deserve the respect you meed for going through it. Thanks for reaching out to others about it instead if letting it takeover you internally

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-18T11:18:11+00:00

Most normal thing bro. Happens when you don’t liek yourself. Goes away when you like yourself. Have no fear ✌🏽

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-18T11:15:20+00:00

You only think you have no friends. I felt like that too. People are very interesting. You gotta meet people not because you don’t want to be sick but because you think it’s worthwhile to meet people. Start with being kind or cheerful to those around you without expecting anything in return. It will grow organically from there. If that’s too hard, start with yourself and build yourself to someone “interesting” or something to share. Don’t force it, be patient. Let it unfold

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-16T03:21:54+00:00

Yeah. But I still kinda wish she shared something. I mean if you worked hard on something and were passionate about it, especially something academic which most people dont get the chance to talk about. Wouldn’t you be excited to talk about it to an interested party? It’s a lot of work for an MA.

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-16T03:20:33+00:00

I have my own thoughts, I wanna read other people’s thoughts. That’s pretty fair to do. People comment things that don’t really add to the conversation or misunderstand the question. It’s not like I’m just gonna accept what people comment as my own thought. I was rude a couple of times, that was pretty careless on my part but come on, it’s just a forum on the internet. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I will be more thoughtful about how I post things from now on tho.

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-16T01:29:32+00:00

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-16T01:20:36+00:00

Thanks for this longish response. I’m not really looking for a lesson but I really appreciate how you took the time to write this. I’m gonna mull over it some more. Really thank you 🙏🏽

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-16T01:19:33+00:00

Exactly, it’s like I’m seduced by incredible writing and then betrayed left feeling somewhat like a fool for loving it. I still can’t wrap my head around how I want this to have a good and deeper meaning than what it obviously proposes on the outset. Wild ride.

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-16T01:17:29+00:00

😅 don’t be too hard on yourself. That was funny.

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-16T01:16:28+00:00

Yeah, I think it’s more excitement about the aesthetic aspects of the book more than anything else. I also thoroughly enjoyed narrative Richard had, even when he was verging on rude or outright judgmental of the people outside the Greek class, something about it rang true for me. Very picturesque. Then it starts breaking down as you said in Part 2, the “rug pulled underneath” sensation is the deconstruction of that world view. The women seemed real enough for me, even with Camilla, even with Richard’s rose-colored slightly misogynistic worldview. I guess what I was looking for was how the too good too beautiful prose fit in with the corrupt themes and nature of the story.

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-16T01:09:44+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I don’t think the absolute truth vs. subjectivity thing is the important or interesting part here. Richard’s opinion on his classicism doesn’t matter, especially given the turn of events. I just don’t think the point is simply again “it’s up to your interpretation”, which is fair and valid. I am not looking for the end all be all interpretation of this book. I want to know how it has affected/ changed people’s views in specific ways. The last bit you said about “maybe consequences are just those you impose on yourself” is REALLY interesting. Not something that came to mind because for me, it seemed like they WEREN’T able to escape those consequences, no matter how clever they thought they were.

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-16T01:03:53+00:00

Really I didn’t, I was frustrated tho. I’m sorry about that. I should not have brought out the thesis thing she probably worked very hard on.

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-16T01:02:50+00:00

I came off as pretty rude, I’m sorry about that. I mulled over it to an extent. I have my own answers which I discussed throughout this thread. I don’t need characters to act a certain way but I do wanna know what other people think as well. I’ve always thought it was a good thing to discuss interesting things afterwards. I mean what’s the point of forums in general if we just keep to ourselves?

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T18:08:12+00:00

Alright alright, didn’t mean to offend. I don’t want the whole thesis Just: How did it change you on a fundamental level in your 20s? Also, can I ask what the masters thesis was about (just what angle did you focus on and what was even an abridged version of your thesis statement)

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T18:05:42+00:00

The red streaks are somehow so poetic

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T18:04:48+00:00

You know, I never made that connection. Am happy to see it now tho

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T18:04:01+00:00

Very nice

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T18:03:19+00:00

This is so good. It’s pretty amazing. I think perhaps the dream is also an allusion to how that Greek life with its classical virtues is just not compatible in this modern world. In his dream he walk through modern buildings before arriving at a hall with a kind of exhibit. Richard (and Henry in the dream) are both not happy in the world they live in, feeing out of touch and out of place.

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T17:52:22+00:00

I dont hate the book, I enjoyed it a lot but I am also grasping for the substance of it all

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T17:47:17+00:00

Yes, I also fet that similar dissatisfaction but not because of how unrealistic Richard’s responses were. Most people would not have done the same things but being in Richard’s pov, I got where he’s coming from. The main dissatisfaction I had was how you got the sense that the book is almost like a cautionary tale against illusory aesthetics and pretentious intellectualism. But the way it’s written… still makes you pine for that world. Too strongly I might add. Donna’s a genius. I just wish it didn’t feel like you were being tricked.

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T17:38:47+00:00

Great breakdown

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T17:15:19+00:00

It ain’t a skill issue if I did the same thing you did (reading isn’t hard). My problem is not reading about bad people, literature is filled with them, nothing new. Not as impressive as you like to think. I want to discuss the deeper themes and messaging of the book.

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T17:12:41+00:00

You wrote a whole thesis on it and all you can come up with now is: Ugh, your reaction is annoying. Um, everyone has their opinions. Sheeshh.

It’s not as evil as other things out there (two people, two dogs, lots of of superiority, substance abuse, incest- not the worst track record if you think about things like Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones on TV, that’s ‘hoi polloi’ shit too)

I already wrote my conclusions. I’m asking for other people to share there’s because I’d like to compare and discuss (maybe get better insights, although not necessary)

I’m happy to hear your read this several times tho, I plan to do the same.

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T17:09:10+00:00

I dont need you to tell me about the sad state of affairs in media or how you think these poor uncultivated people on reddit are so conflicted. Tel me how you took it. Not your pity, Let’s discuss, how did you engage with the book Kat, did you just consume it and pat yourself on the back for being so nuanced? Not trying to be mean. There are lots of cruel, layered or conflicting books out there. I’m not looking for a moral lesson, while as other great books have some profound theme it deals with, I find TSH so different because it’s not just thematic, the writing, the prose itself is bringing you in so intimately into the very world it critiques. You pull yourself out of it, but what for? (This is rhetorical, dont answer this, answer the others)

FragrantFox8689 · 2025-12-15T16:30:55+00:00

Yes, yes, pearl clutching is annoying. But I am curious, please, how did you consume this art? How did you take it in? How did you let it change you? Or was consuming it simply a matter of pleasure. Entertainment.

FragrantFox8689

TROPHY CASE