This show is a train wreck. You just can't look away from the catastrophe that it's become. A long time ago, I actually enjoyed it. The Real World was funny with all those different people trying to live and work together. The drama wasn't too over the top and when it was, it was a treat to watch (like that dude who got kicked out of the house for attacking that other girl...I think his name was like David or Kevin...).
But now--
Who thought it was a good idea to put a crazy anorexic girl on the show? When I see her, I just cringe. When she talks I keep waiting for her teeth to drop out of her head. When she goes into one of her hyperventilating panic attacks (which is any time she gets upset about something), I wonder if this is 'it' for her.
Obviously, this girl shouldn't be on a reality show that embraces insensitivity and meanness. She needs to be institutionalized. Seriously. Before she kills herself from either starving, a heart attack, or giving herself the flesh eating virus by picking her arms until they bleed then ripping the scabs off when she's upset.
If she was just an anorexic, I don't think it would be such a big deal. Unfortunatly, every episode has a point where someone says something Paula doesn't agree with and she goes into some hyperventilating panic attack where-------she--------can't--------form------a-------sentance----- properly. Or she's sitting in the phone room or at the table picking her arms bloody.
And if being mentally ill wasn't bad enough, she's a glaring moron too. She admits she's sick, admits she needs help, but does nothing to help herself. She drinks herself into a stupor, ends up screaming (or trying to), and then expects everyone to apologize to the poor sick girl. Oh, she is seeing a shrink, but somehow she seems to be able to warp her sessions into "It's OK to be me" instead of "It's not OK to be like this". You're missing the point of counseling, dumbass!
It might help if she got a new shrink. Any Dr. who thinks it's a good idea for her 'abusive put me in traction' boyfriend to come and visit should lose his/her license. Or maybe this is new therapy? Beat my ass until I realize it actually hurts?
Jesus Christ.
I understand that shock TV sells, but I think this is a new low for MTV. Paula needs help. Long term, heavily medicated, locked up help. I'll admit I've laughed at a few of the other people on the show who have had problems, but Paula isn't funny or entertaining. She's just painful.
Vid:
One of her housemates decides he's had enough of her pity party and gets personal back
Posted by Zoso at June 8, 2006 06:12 AM
Oh boy, where to start...
Paula doesn't need a mental ward. She needs our society to pull its collective head out of its ass regarding mentall illness.
It is facinating how we have sympathy for the deformed, the chronically ill, the traumatically brain damaged, but not for people whose brains do not function properly. Instead they're accused of being drama addicts, attention whores, and a variety of other character demeaning things. (i.e. "the poor sick girl" or "He's had enough of her pity party.")And it's often family and friends who make these accusations...fun abounds.
I don't know anyone who would want to miss the experience of seeking help for an illness only to have their loved ones accuse them of faking it for attention.
It is no wonder so few people seek help or are open about it when they do: Be abandoned and rdiculed by friends, family, and peers OR get help for an illness that makes your life a daily hell. Nice choice.
Paula has OCD, a very treatable anxiety disorder that can result in tics such as picking of skin, pulling hair, eatting disorders, etc. It is the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain and sometimes trauma. I know this, because I happen to have it myself. Trust me, there is nothing enjoyable about having it...and there's certainly nothing enjoyable in discussing it with other people. It is in fact, very isolating.
Explaining what it is like to suffer from these types of illnesses is like explaining colors to a blind man. You'll never understand it until you experience it.
I agree Paula shouldn't be on that show. But it just goes to show how predictable people's reaction to mental illness are. Rather than sympathy and understanding, she's met with drama and hostility. Exactly what MTV wants.
Interestingly MTV did an excellent documentary on OCD and what it really is:
http://www.mtv.com/onair/dyn/truelife/episode.jhtml?episodeID=98386
Unlike Paula, I doubt you're on a one way track to killing yourself. She's riding the bullet train and doesn't seem to care. What pisses me off about her is she knows she's sick, admits she needs help, but doesn't do a damn thing about it. Even worse, she uses her disease as an excuse to behave like a bitch to people. Then when they call her on it, they're the bad guy and big meanies because she's OMG SICK!
That's wrong no matter what way you slice it.
And it seems like there are a lot of people who use mental illness as an excuse to behave badly. Maybe that's why no one here takes it too seriously? Everybody under the sun has some sort of daignosis. Even me! Even your nephew! *GASP* But I'm not going to go around flaunting it and wearing it like a badge, and I'm not going to use it to make excuses for when I treat other people like shit. That's just being irresponsible.
Mental illness is a serious problem, that I'll agree with. Doctors need to stop handing out meds like candy to everyone who complains their sad or worried, and really helping the people who need it. And people like Paula need more help that what comes in a little pill. She needs long term counseling, because OCD isn't the only problem she's suffering from.
Posted by: Zoso at June 8, 2006 12:50 PMLets break this down...
"she knows she's sick, admits she needs help, but doesn't do a damn thing about it." This is true of most people with mental illnesses. They are afraid to report "crazy" symptoms for fear of the backlash. She gives a damn...but the consequences of getting help are frightening.
"Even worse, she uses her disease as an excuse to behave like a bitch to people. Then when they call her on it, they're the bad guy and big meanies" She suffers from a cognitive impairment. Many cognitive impairments skew reality for people...It is afterall their brain that isn't functioning properly. It's absurd to expect complete rationality.
"there are a lot of people who use mental illness as an excuse to behave badly" is it actually an excuse? Or do you just think it is one? Perhaps it is actually the cause for bad behavior and people just call it an excuse because they don't understand it.
"Everybody under the sun has some sort of daignosis. ...I'm not going to go around flaunting it and wearing it like a badge..."
I am not sure what any of this has to do with anything... Just about everyone on earth has allergies too...shall we accuse them of "wearing a badge" and "flaunting" it if they discuss it? Someone better tell those cancer people to cancel their walks...they wouldn't want to be accused of flaunting their illnesses or wearing "badges".
This double standard and backward logic is why I hid my problems for just about as long as I can remember. Who wants to admit to having a problem like this when this is the crap you have to hear? From friends and family no less.
We cheer former alcoholics, drug abusers, AIDs and cancer survivors, for having the "courage" to talk about their problems. Meanwhile, talking about recovering from or having mentall illness is "a badge" or "flaunting". If you know what the difference is..please..do tell.
Otherwise, we should probably go back to pretending everyone in our family is fine.
__edited__
As hard as it is, sometimes silence is the best answer.
Posted by: Zoso at June 8, 2006 10:34 PM