Is anyone totally mentally healthy?

[hellofromthelma]

I have just been prescribed a beta blocker for anxiety - still haven't decided if I'm going to take it yet. But I was looking for experiences on mumsnet and there are countless threads discussing just this one type of beta blocker going back so so many years.

I know that every time I scroll through threads on here there are so many relating to mental health.

I was just wondering, would any of you consider yourself to be 100% free of any issues or is it just a fact of life that we will all suffer (whether or not we are formally diagnosed)?

Ps. I'm interested to hear if anyone has also managed to 100% cure anxiety or if it's just something that has to be managed forever, with or without medication.

Thanks for your help! ☮️💟

I think I'm fine. I also think it's natural to feel some level of anxiety or stress and that feeling those things isn't a sign that there is a problem. Only if you are feeling heightened anxiety which is stopping you from pleading a normal life.

Is anyone totally mentally healthy?

I'd say I am, yes. And all of my family, and (I think) all of my friends.

I don’t think anyone is, no.

Why not Carrotcakey?

Why would I not be 100% mentally healthy?

@Daisy829

Would you mind saying which medication you are on?

I think it depends on your definition of mentally healthy. It’s natural to feel anxious, or down, or frustrated etc when times are hard - I think too many people confuse good mental health with always feeling happy, bouncing back from adversity, being “resilient” by which they mean taking everything in their stride. I consider myself mentally healthy, that doesn’t mean I don’t struggle at times, I just recognise those struggles as being a natural reaction to life with all it’s ups and downs.

@PowPurry I’m on 50mg of sertraline. The doc told me it’s quite a low dose so I don’t know if it’s just the fact that we’ve got more positive vaccine news or because I’ve been honest with people that’s helped alongside the medication but I’ve definitely improved. I’ve been fortunate not to have any of the side effects that can sometimes happen too.

@Daisy829 thank you.
I was put on citalopram and then fluoxetine in 2018 but at that time I was depressed more than anxious.
I feel a lot better on the depression side of things, and came off them last year, but my anxiety is getting out of control now. I really need to see about it.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope you continue to feel better

@PowPurry thank you. I hope you get sorted soon

I have struggled with my mental health previously, particularly in my early 20s and then again a few years ago (which was caused by a very specific event). I am OK. Aware of my issues. Full of rage at the gov and anxiety about society but I assumed that was normal right now!

Having seen some really very dark times with my mental health, I feel able to deal with lockdown etc. A few people I know who have (by their own admission) breezed through life to date, have been hit hard.

I don't think anyone is completely mentally healthy. I have a serious mental illness diagnosis that might lead people to think I'm holed up in my house on benefits crying all the time but I'm not.
I work full time in a responsible job in the NHS and have friends.
It's how you deal with it.
Sometimes I need medication and some help but mostly I just get on with my life. Currently I'm having trouble opening emails at work because they are causing acute anxiety so I'm working through that with my counsellor and it's getting better. She's giving me tips on coping and my team leader is aware and will help me.
As long as you recognise there is a problem and get appropriate help it's not so much of a problem.

I don't think anyone is completely mentally healthy

I still disagree. I'm bloody fed up of wfh, but I don't have any mental health problems, and I don't know anyone who does (or who has told me they have anyway).

To answer your question about recovery OP, yes it is possible. Having been mentally healthy all my life, in 2015 I developed a really crippling health anxiety. No idea why, but it got to the point I couldn’t get on planes for fear of blood clots (I travelled a lot with work at this point). I was prescribed beta blockers for the panic attacks and, within a few months of taking them sporadically, the space they gave me from the physical symptoms of anxiety had stopped the anxiety itself. The most bizarre thing.

Never had a ‘relapse’ and consider myself mental healthy, as much as anyone can be.

I think plenty of people are pretty much 100% mentally healthy. That doesn’t mean always being happy, but experiencing a normal range of human emotions and being able to cope with them. It doesn’t mean being immune to future episodes of poor mental health, in the same way that I have strong bones but I could fall and fracture something at any point in the future.

I'd say I don't have any mental health problems. I count myself lucky as I have a friend who is bipolar, who has a son who is suicidal. And my 2 best friends are both on anti depressants and not dealing with things well, as is my SIL. I cope well with my busy classroom teaching job, inc being on the management team too and don't feel ground down or anxious about anything.

@Nothowiexpected

I can't imagine anyone could say they were 100%, surely not actually possible?

Why not? It’s the other end of the spectrum to the persons that is totally mucked up.

I’d imagine it was a bit like physical health - some people are clean eating, health freaks and keep their bodies in top shape ( some will have the benefit of good habits in childhood or good genes to help).
Some will be obese, drink too much and smoke. upbringing may be a factor but for whatever reason, physically they aren’t great.

I don’t think being sad or anxious with the appropriate stimulus is poor mental health though. Not getting over it or being sad or anxious at inappropriate stimuli is problem mental health.

I think plenty of people are pretty much 100% mentally healthy. That doesn’t mean always being happy, but experiencing a normal range of human emotions and being able to cope with them. It doesn’t mean being immune to future episodes of poor mental health, in the same way that I have strong bones but I could fall and fracture something at any point in the future.

I really like this conceptualisation of good mental health. Yes I agree I think there are many people in that position.

Pretty robust I think.

I do however get anxious a lot - not that I've been diagnosed with anxiety. I am a worrier.

I have never been depressed, and consider myself an optimist.

I never lose my temper, rarely argue with people and hate confrontation. I'm fairly self - analytical though, and REALLY care what people think of me.

I consider myself 100% and I know how fortunate I am to feel this way. 10 years ago I had crippling anxiety and panic attacks. My now DH had to accompany me everywhere and even then I could barely make it through without a panic attack. It took a lot of work and counselling to move past that period.

I would consider myself 100%. I've never had any issues with my mental health. I'm very lucky.

Really interesting question, OP and I agree with PP's who have said that being mentally healthy doesn't equal never feeling sad, upset or anxious. All of those are normal emotions.

I've worked quite hard at techniques for managing my mental health and how I interact with DH & DD and these efforts are largely successful. My emotions don't get out of control, I don't feel guilty for having emotions and I'm able to recognize what I'm feeling and manage it usually quite positively. I naturally inclined to be a bit tense and anxious so these techniques really help.

I wouldn't claim to be 100% healthy though - I think these things are always a process.

I agree with PP's who have said that being mentally healthy doesn't equal never feeling sad, upset or anxious. All of those are normal emotions

I agree with that also. I think I am totally mentally healthy. I've been mostly unemployed for two years, living off a partial JSA and a part-time job, so not nearly enough money. My DM died this year, my DF has had heart problems (okay now), and I'm renting, have absolutely no savings, and the money left to me by my DM is not forthcoming due to a dispute over the will. However, even if I do feel a little down it doesn't last and I always wake up in a positive frame of mind. I know I am lucky, and don't take it for granted. My family and friends are mentally okay also.

Yep, I agree with the people saying mentally well doesn't mean always happy. I have been through some extremely difficult times but have been lucky enough to always have good mental health. DS1 (14) has anxiety and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, it's miserable ☹️

Mostly yes I think. I’m very lucky in that I appear to be (up until now) quite resilient. I can definitely have days where I’m really fed up and a bit low but they’re usually short lived and I think often have a hormonal / tiredness aspect to them. I’m generally pretty up beat and cheerful,

HOWEVER for the first time ever I think I have anxiety as a result of being frontline NHS in a covid ICU. I’ve had horrible gnawing feelings in the pit of my stomach, diarrhoea (sorry!!) and occasional bouts of weepiness. It’s not all the time but it does catch me unawares. Don’t think I’m quite at the stage of needing to see my GP. Have found cutting out alcohol and long walks plus talking with my amazing mates at work who all feel the same to help hugely.

to all of you

No I don't think they are. I have an outer shell of being supremely confident. I have a high powered very responsible job in one of the biggest companies in the U.K. I present to hundreds of people. And every time I shit myself - I am sure I am going to have a panic attack. When I get stressed I end up with all sorts of symptoms that the turn into medical anxiety that takes over my brain. No one aside from close friends and my DH know this. Everyone else thinks I find it all a breeze