Finally making my intro loll

Heyy, my name is Maeren (May-Ren). I'm 16 and I'm not in school but, I do work 3 hours short of full-time (bear with me if I don't get on here consistently plsss😓) I honestly have a lotttttt of things that I could talk about but I'll just say a few loll. 

My most favorite thing in the world is philosophy. I've been like obsessed with philosophy since I was in elementary and it honestly makes me a more intelligent person. Psychology is definitely an extremely close second because I love people and I want to understand them from all angles. Philosophical, sociological, psychological, neurological; etc. 

Politics are absolutely huge for me. My political views cross over between pragmatic social democracy and social libertarianism (though I don't like to claim labels because I don't really like them). (I know I already said it but) I love people so much and I want everyone to know they are entitled to live a happy and prosperous life. 

If you couldn't tell, I'm pretty analytical loll. I have ADHD, CPTSD, and intellectualism is genuinely so beautiful to me so, even if I'm not talking about politics I'm probably talking about something that allows me to critically think (whether it's personal, micro, or macro).  

Music is for sureeee my therapy. I mostly listen to Paramore or Get Scared. My music taste is extremely diverse, though. One minute I might be listening to them and then the next I'm listening to the utmost amazing Laufey. 

Idrk what else to say so, I hope this was an okay introduction loll. 

dudeeee we're like legit the same person, I LOVE philosophy, sociology, psychology, neurology, and politics. I want to study those in college lol

You seem really cool 

Omgggg shut up me too! I plan to do a double major in philosophy and psychology with sociology electives and hopefully a neuroscience minor (if I can handle the workload). 

You seem really cool too! 

I want to be a trauma and crisis management psychologist that specializes in adolescent therapy. I eventually want to own a non-profit that extends my work (and hopefully other mental health professionals) to children and families who can't afford it or, just don't have great access to healthcare. Hopefully, I can branch out and place multiple practices like this in undervalued and underserved communities but, idk yet loll. 

I definitely considered becoming a politician but, I'd have to do a lot of things that don't really align with my moral compass. I feel like I would inadvertently be contributing to the very system that breeds the inequality in which I'm seeking to balance. I for sure think I'm going to be a social worker after undergrad because, I really am passionate about helping children. I love kids so I would genuinely do anything to minimize the suffering of children  

That's really good.

That's very true. This may seem silly, but I want to figure out how to slowly replace capitalism somehow, if that makes sense? I don't think I'd be comfortable having a different career when there's still a system that I disagree with. Of course, I'm only 15 right now, so I don't know how I would do that, but I do know that it's not entirely impossible. 

That's really sweet that you want to help children, and smart too, because the children society raises will one day be the children running the world. Children's education and health is very important 

Yeah, I definitely believe there is something that can be fixed within the system, I just don't believe in reform honestly. I believe in decolonization and equality so, that's where being a politician kind of diverges from my personal beliefs if that makes sense. I think it's great that you believe in a way to equality through the system, it's an interesting POV! 

Yesss the kids are the future loll. That's definitely another reason I want to help out the kids for sure. I never really viewed myself outside of the healthcare system because with all of the therapist and psychologist that are working just because they either never made medical school or are waiting to get in don't really care for the kids. Idk, I feel like a psychologist should genuinely take interest in the healing of the mind and while I'm not blaming them because the job market is shit, people deserve healthcare professionals that hey feel seen with and I aspire to make kids know that even though they are kids they're deserving or a voice and advocacy.   

That does make sense. What do you think would be an efficient way to decolonize? I've always thought that was a good idea, I just wasn't sure how it'd be done, although I do know that sometimes change has to be gradual, so there's never a perfect plan. And thank you!

It seems like a lot of people genuinely do humanity jobs (I'm not sure if that's the correct term, sorry if it's not) just because it brings them money, yet don't give a shit about the actual ethicality of what there work is meant to be directed toward. But it is true that the job market sucks, I just wish more people would start caring about what they're directly doing for the world, if that makes sense.

We really do need more advocacy for kids 💔

Honestly, that's a really good question. I'm not too sure how we'd start but, my idea would be to put Indigenous systems back in place (especially in America) because we were living off of those systems for hundreds (possibly thousands) of years with the next 7 generations in mind (I'm Cherokee and Iroquois so it's a bit different for us considering our history). The Earth was still happy and not so heavily soiled, the people built true community and diversity within them, and the people stayed as healthy and happy as possible! Like I said though, I'm not sure where we would start because we're so deep into colonization that there's so many thing to be deconstructed. This is another reason why I personally wouldn't be a politician because, with my idea of decolonization I would only be adding to the system that seeks out to oppress Native systems.  How could you see yourself changing the system from within because, you're the first person I've heard who has shared that perspective with me and it has me genuinely interested?

No, that for sure makes sense. I wish people had more agency to get jobs that they want because there is no reason why people who are rich are the only people who can afford medical school. It's unfair on so many levels because that leaves plenty of people with jobs they despise or just don't like and in turn the people they serve don't feel cared to at the service provider's full ability. It just leaves a lot of people unhappy and without help. 

We really do need advocacy for the babies. Coming from a household where I was taught that my opinion and emotions didn't matter I understand how detrimental that conditioning can be for kids. I want to be their safe spaces! The only thing I'm slightly worried about are the children who may not receive treatment because their parents don't want to get in trouble but, I hope to further destigmatize therapy for children. I hope I can make it to the point where I can convince stubborn or just outright negligent parents that therapy isn't about punishing them or making their kids hate them but rather giving their children the tools to deal with their tomfoolery (and obviously reporting if I'm required to but HIPAA exists otherwise loll).  

White people have really destroyed Native American culture. I know that they forced Native Americans to change their religion, and they cut off the boys' cultural long hair because it was seen as feminine. They even try to strip their culture now. Decolonization is definitely an interesting idea and I'm sure it could happen. It should!

I did have a big plan for how I'd try to change the system, it just hasn't been in my mind for a while because I was very overwhelmed by my (undiagnosed but very likely) OCD, that I tried to slow down my worrying so therefore I haven't thought as deeply about these things until now (if any of that makes sense). 

I think the reasons politicians have yet to try to diminish the foundation of America currently is because 

#1: they don't genuinely want to do that, probably because they're all for the same thing: capitalism

but #2: they're too afraid to change things because of the reaction of the people.

I wonder if in the future, maybe the Green Party could become more seen, but maybe in a more socialist way? I believe that in order for people to actually care about something, there needs to be more real action towards what is right, and you need to appeal to emotions. I think that if I started to work more towards that kind of thing, it would bring more awareness and maybe then I could try to implement ways to slowly decrease capitalism.

I'm so sorry, that was very broad but I'm very tired and there's a LOT more to it 

It seems like people get rich from destroying the environment and/or helping the government, and they don't help people, so the good people never get the good jobs

I'm so sorry you were taught that way. Childhood definitely shapes who individuals turn out to be, and somehow adults (not just parents) don't seem to understand just how much kids are affected by their environment. 

I hope you make those goals!!

I forgot to add, but, when I was researching my symptoms while I was going through whatever it is I was going through, I definitely could relate to the symptoms of existential OCD. I also forgot to add that my compulsions were usually mental, although I guess those led to the physical ones such as recycling anything I could (even my friends' stuff), and I guess the food stuff. But yeah, I was mostly conflicted internally.

Ngl, your reply made this even more ambiguous I fear. Honestly, idk if it will help but my parents were the same way until I framed getting evaluated as something to understand myself better, meds aren't a requirement. I think it would be beneficial to at least try because advocating for yourself right now ensures a better future for you even if you don't get the results you want because you at least know how to stand your ground. 

A lot of what you're describing overlaps with ADHD, Autism, OCD, CPTSD, and so many other mental health struggles for the simple fact that most of the time the only real way to identify the driving cause of this is to see where everything is rooted in which, is the job of a mental health professional because your first-hand experience may have patterns you haven't picked up on or interpreted wrong because while you're dealing with untreated mental health issues, the presentation can really be anything. 

Also the Green Party is exactly what you said but, they're considered socialist in America (sorry ik it's confusing). 

Are you at least feeling better with your head rn? Since I've dealt with a lot of what you're describing if you need any help coping with how fast your brain runs, what it runs about, etc you can always reach out to me! I'm not saying I know a quick fix but I can definitely help you find a way to deal with this while you're waiting to actually get evaluated! 

Sorry for replying so late. I have tried to get them to evaluate me because I want to know what ways I could help myself, but my mom thinks it's too much money for just that cause. The main reason I want to be evaluated and eventually medicated is because I want to care for the matters I used to care about and do what I used to do without them becoming impulses.

I don't think I have Autism, but I looked into C-PTSD again, and it seems similar to what I experienced when having derealization/depersonalization. My mom told me I can be evaluated when I'm 18 :/ 

That makes sense about the Green Party 🙏

I am way better in the head!! I kinda had to condition myself to "think normally" because I could not take it any longer. Thank you for offering help, I may need it again lol! Do you know of any ways to do/study the things you really care about without them becoming compulsions, though?

just wanted to say you seem pretty cool. i, too, am interested in philosophy and im trying to get into neurology and psychology by looking into different characters in media specifically ones i relate to since i also want to know myself more. and hell yeah music as therapy is the best