What is your experience of mental health?

[Mandy Lifeboats]

9 hours ago, snowychap said:

Which imbalance and how?

They increase my levels of serotonin.  I have no idea how it works but if you Google  “SSRI” there is ample information that I struggle to understand.  

[mjmooney]

On 03/04/2021 at 09:58, Mandy Lifeboats said:

This thread is one of the best in ”Off Topic”.  
 

There was (and still is) a stigma around admitting to mental health problems.  I first started having symptoms of depression in my teens.  It continued and worsened in my 20s.  I finally sought help in my 30s.  I hid my illness.  I took time off work and disguised the true reason.  I worried what people would think of me.  I viewed taking medication as an admission of failure.  I was ashamed.  
 

Why should I be ashamed of an illness?  Do diabetics feel ashamed that they need insulin every day?  Do people avoid seeking help for a broken leg because people might think it’s fake?  Is taking an anti-depressant any different from taking an aspirin?  

The mind can be injured and ill.  If you are ill you seek help.  If you need medication you look at the negative side effects against the benefits and more often than not - you take the pill.  
 

I’m in my 50s, happily married, have a secure job, live in a lovely area, have a good pension and am financially stable.  I also have a long term illness.  I am definitely not a failure for being ill.  Nor is anyone who posts in this thread.  

This. I don't have any serious mental health issues beyond very occasional bouts of anxiety and/or feeling down - but they invariably pass without need for intervention. The women in my life however, all seem to have struggled (go figure, eh?) The missus went through hell with hormonal rages and black depression, which used to do my head in, but she refused to seek any medical help, for fear of the stigma of being labelled a 'mad woman'. Then she got breast cancer (successfully treated), and the subsequent homone-suppressant drugs triggered an instant menopause - which magically stopped the mood swings pretty much overnight. Swings and roundabouts indeed. Both our daughters have suffered from intermittent anxiety and depression, but have had no qualms about getting medical help. The younger one came off prozac 'cold turkey' when she was pregnant, which rather worried me, but she was fine. 

As I'm sure I said near the beginning of this thread, there should be no stigma attached to mental illness. Everybody gets physically ill sometime in their life - if we're lucky it's just minor stuff, if we're unlucky it might be more serious, but either way, it's sensible to get treatment. Mental illness is no different - we all get it at some point. The lucky ones just get a bout of the blues occasionally - the mental version of the common cold - and it just needs a bit of TLC. At the other end of the scale are the cancer equivalents like severe psychosis, that definitely need serious attention. And then there's a whole spectrum between those extremes. Leaving them untreated is downright silly. Being ashamed of them is plain wrong. 

[maqroll]

Anyone else sort of like donning a mask when out in public? 

[snowychap]

On 04/04/2021 at 07:11, Mandy Lifeboats said:

They increase my levels of serotonin.  I have no idea how it works but if you Google  “SSRI” there is ample information that I struggle to understand.  

I'm glad that the SSRI you take has worked for you and that improved levels of serotonin have improved your situation but the chemical imbalance trope really should have been put to bed some considerable time ago.

[Mandy Lifeboats]

 

1 hour ago, snowychap said:

I'm glad that the SSRI you take has worked for you and that improved levels of serotonin have improved your situation but the chemical imbalance trope really should have been put to bed some considerable time ago.

I thought my description was sufficient for a Off Topic discussion on a Football Forum. Of ourse, its not that simple. 

Its actually caused by the chips in our brains which are placed there by the Uluminati  when we have our MMR vaccinations. 

Its a pleasure to set the record straight.  

[snowychap]

53 minutes ago, Mandy Lifeboats said:

I thought my description was sufficient for a Off Topic discussion on a Football Forum. Of ourse, its not that simple.

Except it is too often suggested that it is 'that simple'.

I'll ignore the other crap.

Edited April 5, 2021 by snowychap

[Genie]

3 hours ago, maqroll said:

Anyone else sort of like donning a mask when out in public? 

I feel naked without mine now.

[maqroll]

3 minutes ago, Genie said:

I feel naked without mine now.

I bet the whole world sees a spike social anxiety over the next 6 months. 

[Xela]

5 hours ago, maqroll said:

Anyone else sort of like donning a mask when out in public? 

We only need to wear them in shops here, so as soon as I'm outside I whip it off. I hate them. I'll wear them because its the right thing to do, but it makes me feel uncomfortable. 

In the fresh air though, no mask. 

 

[mottaloo]

15 minutes ago, Xela said:

We only need to wear them in shops here, so as soon as I'm outside I whip it out. I hate them. I'll wear them because its the right thing to do, but it makes me feel uncomfortable. 

In the fresh air though, no mask. 

 

Fixed for you

[Brumerican]

6 hours ago, maqroll said:

Anyone else sort of like donning a mask when out in public? 

Metaphorically yes. Been doing it for decades as it keeps me sane.

Physically no as my lips are probably my sexiest feature.

As an aside I haven't wore a mask once in the last year . I genuinely have been using the free scarf we got from the Arsenal Cup final as it's more comfy and the shopkeeper doesn't seem to object.

[Big Salad]

Being a Mental Health Technician myself for over 5 years now, It was very interesting to read through this thread to get other's perspectives on mental health, some issues they themselves have had, tips, etc.  Think it is fantastic as well that forum members have helped fellow forum members with any problems that may have arisen in their own lives, just great.

My current position is a MHT Supervisor on a Dual Diagnosis unit. This type of unit is patients that have a drug and/or alcohol problem or addiction along with mental disorder such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar, etc.  To say it is challenging would be a vast understatement, but also of course rewarding in its own way whenever I see a patient really get better day by day through learning new coping skills, med management, etc.  We do a great job of sending patients to proper outpatient rehabs and similar as well.  I love my job for sure and see no reason that I won't still be in the Mental Health field for several more years to come.

As for my own mental health problems, I have dealt with depression and anxiety a lot during my life, but am grateful and blessed to have a good network of friends and a close family to help me get through those times.. Also, I consider the coping skills I have (Mainly reading, taking hikes, etc) to really help me also.  Unfortunately, I do think mental health and the stigma as it were that is attached to it is still a major problem around the world, but I do think things are somewhat headed in the right direction in regards to that.

Not a therapist by any means, but more than willing to be a listening ear via PM or through a reply if need any advice about coping skills or just want to vent about something. Take care all.

 

Edited April 6, 2021 by Big Salad

[A'Villan]

Had a meeting yesterday with colleagues regards the findings of the royal commission into mental health, and it's recommendations.

I had personally been asked to submit a piece for the royal commission, however while that was something I really wanted to do, it didn't happen. That was made amends yesterday, I was so well received in the meeting, management and leaders applauded my input.

That was followed up by a meeting with the mental health advisory board I am member of today, where we discussed General practitioners and their role in mental health. 

It was an interesting discussion where some dark truths were revealed to me by a GP who had been asked to attend our meeting so we could liaise and bounce ideas and stories, with a view to establishing methods to better the service and experience.

I know this is all a bit vague and doesn't offer any real insight into the discussions I've had last two days, but I will return and hopefully articulate the dialogues had in a way that offers this forum something of value.

I'd write it in this post but it's getting late, and I've got more work than I will manage to get done on my plate currently. Still it's been a while since I posted last (by my standards) and have been meaning to check in.

Hope everyone is well, and congratulations VT, on creating a space where we can have an outlet for and discuss any difficulties or queries about this experience we have in life. That's definitely credit to all who are present here at one point in time or another.

 

[StefanAVFC]

Yeovil Town's captain is the latest victim it seems. Desperately sad.

[maqroll]

Global suicide numbers must've skyrocketed over the last year. Grim.

[NurembergVillan]

7 hours ago, maqroll said:

Global suicide numbers must've skyrocketed over the last year. Grim.

Thankfully, the data seems to indicate that this is a widely-accepted misconception.  It'd be better if it weren't a widely-accepted misconception, but we are where we are...

Quote

From the earliest days of the pandemic there was concern that suicide would increase. It wasn’t hard to see where the risks might come from: anxiety about infection, isolation, disrupted care, domestic violence, alcohol, recession. Actual figures, though, took months to appear. Now we have reports from several countries, based on national or state level suicide data. They come from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Sweden, and the US—high income countries in most cases—and they carry a consistent message. Suicide rates have not risen.

https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n834

[Vive_La_Villa]

I wonder if lockdown may have actually helped people that suffer from anxiety. I may be totally off the mark but I’ve found that I haven’t been as anxious over the past year being able to wfh and also not having to attend any social gathering. I know it’s not healthy and anxiety may be even worse once lockdown lifted but I wonder if other people have felt the same. 

[Paddywhack]

My GP sent out a text to everyone today encouraging people to book an appointment if you’re feeling low, anxious or depressed, along with their phone number and a link to their online booking form.

Fortunately, it’s not something I’ve ever had to really consider, but I think it’s a really good thing to do.

I’ve had a couple of appointments in the past with physical issues where the doctor has made me feel like I’m wasting their time and have been quite dismissive. Based on that, I imagine I would be quite hesitant to seek help with my mental health if I ever needed it, but I’d imagine/hope that text might have encouraged a few people to take that step.

I dunno, just my thoughts 

[Jimzk5]

Having my driving license revoked has hit me harder than being told I have a brain tumour today

I've had my 2 kids and it would've been nice to take them out now the zoo and safari park are open

I'm very up and down at the moment, at my best I'm happy to have 2 amazing kids, at my worst I'm depressed that I have this tumour that is taking them away.

[villakram]

17 hours ago, Jimzk5 said:

Having my driving license revoked has hit me harder than being told I have a brain tumour today

I've had my 2 kids and it would've been nice to take them out now the zoo and safari park are open

I'm very up and down at the moment, at my best I'm happy to have 2 amazing kids, at my worst I'm depressed that I have this tumour that is taking them away.

Jeez, hang in there.