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Original poster

today is mental health awareness day

28 replies

seanna · 10/10/2018 23:04

Today is one of those "international" days... Mental health awareness Day. As someone who suffers some version of it although nobody has ever been able.explain to me of what I feel is normal or not... I have dealt with suicidal thoughts/ideation. I've had to numb my mind with alcohol and sleeping pills. For someone who also suffers of what I would call chronic loneliness well life can be hard. I know that of it weren't for my partner nobody would notice if I was dead in my flat... That sobering realisation was not really that easy to swallow. All I'm trying to say is you never now who's on the other side of your screen, treat them with kindness even if you don't think they deserve it... You never know if the have someone to talk to or not or what happens in their lives outside of MN. Just be kind... There's millions of people who need help and you don't know when you'll bump into them.

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jackio2205 · 10/10/2018 23:11

Firstly, yes completely agree to be kind, always, I genuinely can't even understand why some people try to be mean. I get jokes, I get not thinking/realising sometimes, but to try to be mean, just baffles me?!

Secondly and ever so more importantly, I'm so sorry that you have these problems. Did you want to talk about them more, ask for advice or other stories, or just to make the point about the above?

FYI- my motto in life is 'everybody has their mountain, try not to be a dick' so I'm well on your wavelength! Xxxxx

Original poster
seanna · 10/10/2018 23:21

I just wanted to make a point really. I lost all hope in public mental health when GPs repeatedly told that their online resources would do wonders... Even once (not that long ago) I asked if they could tell me if I was clinically depressed or if the way I felt was normal...she just told me to get more pills. I've pleaded to be referred to a psychiatrist but they just never do anything.

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SemperIdem · 10/10/2018 23:27

I’m so on board with mental health issues being recognised and supported.

I can’t accept my own issues though. I feel ashamed of them and won’t go to see a doctor because I don’t want it on my medical records.

So I suppose I am part of the problem re mental health stigma.

Original poster
seanna · 10/10/2018 23:33

But society has made us feel that way. It's normal to feel sadness or anxiety just as it is normal to catch a cold. I actually had a conversation with myself the other day... It was so strange... I was trying to convince myself that what I was feeling was not the real me, very, very odd.

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NotUmbongoUnchained · 10/10/2018 23:34

I don’t really know what to say right now but I wanted to post because Im suffering too. And I would like to follow this thread.

SemperIdem · 10/10/2018 23:41

My mental health is being aggravated massively by being on roaccutane. The awful thing is - without it, it’s aggravated anyway because my skin is covered in very sore cystic acne.

So I walk a fine line between having the medication I need to stop it impacting my mental health but also not taking so much of it that it impacts my mental health Confused

Original poster
seanna · 10/10/2018 23:42

Big hug to you umbongo. You're not alone in your suffering even if it feels that way :)

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Original poster
seanna · 10/10/2018 23:46

sempeldem I remember my sister got it prescribed but she had to sign a release a form so never took it. Her acne eventually got better.

OP posts:
SemperIdem · 10/10/2018 23:46

umbongo Flowers

If you want to, and feel comfortable to do so, I think this is a thread where you can share your feelings without judgment

SemperIdem · 10/10/2018 23:51

op

It is very much worth it and working. But I am very aware of it side effects. I am one of life’s Eyeore’s on a good day.

My parents ignored my raging eating disorder in my late childhood and teens. They did their best, but I hope I do better with my own child, if needs be one day.

Original poster
seanna · 10/10/2018 23:57

Well my parents ignored the fact that I had no real friends for at least one full school year when I changed schools... That school was girls only and it definitely has an effect on how I relate with men. Later I was horribly bullied and even won a prize for "the ugliest of my class". My mother (and sister) where oblivious to all of this and I'm sure that messed me up a bit.

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Wolfiefan · 10/10/2018 23:58

I’m watching “Professor Green Suicide and me.” It is so moving and tragic.
I have MH issues.
I’m not ashamed.
I’m not ashamed of my physical issues.
I’m working on getting well.
Flowers to all of you who are suffering.

SemperIdem · 11/10/2018 00:12

I have a horrible feeling that re parents “ignoring” very obvious issues, it is a case of they just didn’t know what to do to help. It wasn’t ignored because it they didn’t care but because they just didn’t know. And not knowing was damaging,but not maliciously.

I truly hope that I never minimise any issue my daughter has when she’s older (only 3 now) but that’s a hope.

Original poster
seanna · 11/10/2018 00:14

We'll always mess up our kids one way or another BUT at least we can always be there for them and try to understand what they're going through.

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jackio2205 · 11/10/2018 08:12

I'm so sorry that all of you are feeling various mental health issues, I too have had my fair share. Everyones journey is different but I feel that my turning point is when I made a choice to move forward, I don't know if anyone can relate to that, I've made it sound so simple there, but I was a horrible person and a nightmare for my husband to live with and I thought if I don't sort this out he'll leave me, so I made a choice in my brain and got my arse into gear x

Original poster
seanna · 11/10/2018 08:19

I'm glad that you were able to turn your life around "Jackie" I wish it had been the same for me. But no amount of exercise, not leaving my EA husband and finding the most loving man I've ever met has completely "cured" me. I still have bad, bad days, when the darkness creeps in. Or not even that but my brain acts in funny ways that I simply can't comprehend.

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jackio2205 · 11/10/2018 08:37

Oh it's still there, dont get me wrong, but I think some of the things I've learnt have helped me to be more aware of triggers so I'm able to stop things in their tracks a bit easier.
Right now I'm pregnant and my anxiety is getting higher, so I'm controlling a lot of what I see on social media and am unfollowing a lot of people and companies so I'm left with things I can handle. Also following meal plans so I don't have another thing to think about/decide, just gets too much sometimes
X

jackio2205 · 11/10/2018 08:40

Just to add that they are really simple things, I don't want it to sound as if they are the cure by any means or that I'm minimizing anxiety, but lots of little things like this for me add up and make my anxiety a lot lot better! X

didyouseetheflaresinthesky · 11/10/2018 09:36

Seanna, sorry for the detail but if you are in the UK have you tried MIND/Healthy Minds? Their therapists are much more willing than any GP I've met to refer you to a psychiatrist. You can self refer to them for free. I've just been referred myself.

Spamfrittersforeveryone · 11/10/2018 09:40

Struggling with PTSD and anxiety here. Have been in counselling but “gave in” and got prescribed some meds yesterday as it’s just too big at the moment.

I feel quite overwhelmed just from keeping going with work, kids etc. Am going to try and do some housework today so that home feels nicer, and walk my elderly neighbour’s dog in the sunshine.

Original poster
seanna · 11/10/2018 09:54

I'll check that one out flare. There's a local service here that you can self refer to... But that lady told me to get a cleaner rather than to get rid of my EA exH :/

Spam I have intrusive thoughts every now and then so I know what you mean.

For me it's my thoughts that overwhelm me rather than life itself if that makes sense

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Spamfrittersforeveryone · 11/10/2018 10:44

Yes that makes total sense.

Mine is the physical symptoms of anxiety more than thoughts. I really like my life! It’s hard to get people, even doctors, to understand I’m not depressed or even worrying about stuff. Having said that the GP yesterday was lovely.

beachcomber243 · 11/10/2018 10:57

I deal with my problems [CPTSD and chronic insomnia] on my own after over many years having input from various places [therapy, counselling, self help books, drop in groups, courses, medication, consultant psychiatrist, psychotherapists, Samaritans etc.etc].

Been helped 50% of the time, made to feel worse 50% of the time. Live life on a low level, isolated and lonely, live alone and no partner...I have a grown up, busy family I don't see often enough. The pain comes from not being heard or understood.

However older now I just try and enjoy life a day at a time, I suppose I have given up, just accept things are as good as they could be and not many years to go now.

Original poster
seanna · 11/10/2018 11:02

Well thanks to you lovely ladies I've had some success today :) I've been able to self refer myself to the psychiatric team as I think my problems are more of that sort (therapy has helped but the voices have never been able to go away...) So hooray! BTW the lady on the mind helpline was a bit useless... She wasn't getting what I meant and told me to not raise my voice/calm down that's a text book trigger to anyone with MH issues :/

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jackio2205 · 11/10/2018 11:27

Hi @Spamfrittersforeveryone, i'm sorry you feel this way about meds but i hope they work for you, keep up with them, they are not a short term thing, u need to give them time and you will go through an adjustment period with them.
I personally think they saved me, they gave me the break from my anxiety that i needed, i was able to rest, get strong and get wise to be able to start making the right decisions, i was on them for 9 months.
Theres such a taboo about meds, they are not a cure but they can help. Its like having a dodgy knee.... if you constantly keep bending down it'll hurt and cause damage, taking painkillers help but when u stop taking them you need to change what you're doing to be able to get better.
God I hope that makes sense, it's just a comparison I made to a friend once who never understood before x

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