I've always had trouble with my mental health but was an adult before I even heard the words mental health.
As a child I developed obsessive tendencies - routines I had to correctly follow, otherwise repeat etc. I started to genuinely believe I was in a Truman Show style set-up. I didn't tell anyone because I was already thought of as weird enough. I've no idea how I did it but one day I just thought 'enough.' and forced myself refuse to engage further in any of it.
I had a severe phobia of fire and didn't sleep properly for several years.
As a teenager I felt constantly sad and self-harmed. I had zero confidence or resilience, was bullied, and school didn't give one as long as you were passing your exams which I was. Again I never told anyone for fear of being labelled more of a weirdo than I was.
I've only realised as an adult that I was suffering from mental health issues, because these words simply didn't exist (to me at least), weren't said by anyone or talked about by teachers; you were just a weirdo and you kept your weird thoughts to yourself.
AIBU to wonder what I might have been - and what pain I might have avoided - if I'd grown up today in the age of mental health campaigns, pastoral care, school counsellors, open discussion, Internet forums, etc. and been able to get support?
Does anybody else wonder this?
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AIBU?
Growing up before mental health was a thing
7 replies
moutonfou · 18/06/2017 10:22
OP posts:
deckoff ·
18/06/2017 15:33
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