The Life of Leviathan – Depression, Bullying, Fatigue and Other Obstacles
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Original post by Leviathan1741
An Introduction to my Father’s Mental Illness
Hi everyone, I hope you’re all well!
I mentioned in my last post that I wanted to begin writing about my father’s struggles with mental illness, and how they have affected both me and the rest of my family. This will be the first post in a series of posts (around five or so), pertaining to these experiences, and I would just like to say now that you may find these posts upsetting (particularly the ones following this first one).
I originally created this blog because I wanted to increase understanding of and raise awareness for a number of issues, both mental and physical, and I hope that I have managed to achieve that goal so far. That is something that I still very much wish to continue doing. I have chosen to write about my family’s battles with mental illness because it’s something that has had a huge impact in my life, and I hope that my story might provide hope for anyone who is currently experiencing, or has experienced, something similar.
The first major mental illness that my father suffers from is a form of psychosis known as delusional disorder, which means that he often believes in things which aren’t true. Specifically, he suffers with ‘non-bizarre persecutory delusions’, which basically means that he believes that certain people, groups of people, or even whole organisations such as the government, want to harm him in some way, or cause him injustice.
Some of the delusions my father had when the disorder was at its worst included:
• Bushes were installed with cameras which were programmed to watch him
• People in aeroplanes spying on him
• People with earphones listening to him
• Car headlights giving him messages
The second mental disorder which my father suffers from is depression. This causes him to frequently experience low moods, have very little motivation, be unable to sleep properly and has also led him to attempt suicide on more than one occasion.
I just wanted to give a brief overview of the illnesses that my father suffers from, and I will be going into much greater detail on them in my subsequent posts. In the next one I will talk about how his mental illness first began, and how it affected us all. I’ve decided to write it almost in the form of a story with chapters, to hopefully make it easier to understand what was going on (it can get quite confusing otherwise!).
Once again, thank you all so much for reading, I hope you will continue to stick with me on this blogging journey!
Hi everyone, I hope you’re all well!
I mentioned in my last post that I wanted to begin writing about my father’s struggles with mental illness, and how they have affected both me and the rest of my family. This will be the first post in a series of posts (around five or so), pertaining to these experiences, and I would just like to say now that you may find these posts upsetting (particularly the ones following this first one).
I originally created this blog because I wanted to increase understanding of and raise awareness for a number of issues, both mental and physical, and I hope that I have managed to achieve that goal so far. That is something that I still very much wish to continue doing. I have chosen to write about my family’s battles with mental illness because it’s something that has had a huge impact in my life, and I hope that my story might provide hope for anyone who is currently experiencing, or has experienced, something similar.
The first major mental illness that my father suffers from is a form of psychosis known as delusional disorder, which means that he often believes in things which aren’t true. Specifically, he suffers with ‘non-bizarre persecutory delusions’, which basically means that he believes that certain people, groups of people, or even whole organisations such as the government, want to harm him in some way, or cause him injustice.
Some of the delusions my father had when the disorder was at its worst included:
• Bushes were installed with cameras which were programmed to watch him
• People in aeroplanes spying on him
• People with earphones listening to him
• Car headlights giving him messages
The second mental disorder which my father suffers from is depression. This causes him to frequently experience low moods, have very little motivation, be unable to sleep properly and has also led him to attempt suicide on more than one occasion.
I just wanted to give a brief overview of the illnesses that my father suffers from, and I will be going into much greater detail on them in my subsequent posts. In the next one I will talk about how his mental illness first began, and how it affected us all. I’ve decided to write it almost in the form of a story with chapters, to hopefully make it easier to understand what was going on (it can get quite confusing otherwise!).
Once again, thank you all so much for reading, I hope you will continue to stick with me on this blogging journey!
Spoiler
PRSOM, as always Levi an interesting read
@Leviathan1741
Good read as usual
I'm sorry for what your dad has to go through, it must be hard for him and your family to deal with :/
As I've already said before, you're brave to share that with us, because it's such a big deal and sounds complicated to talk about !
I look forward to read more about how your dad dealt with the issues, and I hope he feels better today
Thanks for sharing, it's very interesting you know because I never really heard about MH issues like that from someone who is directly involved ^^
Good read as usual
I'm sorry for what your dad has to go through, it must be hard for him and your family to deal with :/
As I've already said before, you're brave to share that with us, because it's such a big deal and sounds complicated to talk about !
I look forward to read more about how your dad dealt with the issues, and I hope he feels better today
Thanks for sharing, it's very interesting you know because I never really heard about MH issues like that from someone who is directly involved ^^
Original post by FrenchUnicorn
@Leviathan1741
Good read as usual
I'm sorry for what your dad has to go through, it must be hard for him and your family to deal with :/
As I've already said before, you're brave to share that with us, because it's such a big deal and sounds complicated to talk about !
I look forward to read more about how your dad dealt with the issues, and I hope he feels better today
Thanks for sharing, it's very interesting you know because I never really heard about MH issues like that from someone who is directly involved ^^
Good read as usual
I'm sorry for what your dad has to go through, it must be hard for him and your family to deal with :/
As I've already said before, you're brave to share that with us, because it's such a big deal and sounds complicated to talk about !
I look forward to read more about how your dad dealt with the issues, and I hope he feels better today
Thanks for sharing, it's very interesting you know because I never really heard about MH issues like that from someone who is directly involved ^^
Thank you so much FrenchUnicorn!
Making this blog was quite a hard decision for me, as obviously this stuff is very personal. But, I believe that mental health is a very important issue, and my desire to share my experiences and raise awareness of it overrode any doubts I had about making this blog!
I think a lot of people are reluctant to talk about their or other's mental health issues because they worry they will be judged harshly for it! With this blog, I hope to dispel these anxieties and hopefully encourage others to speak up about what they or someone they know might be going through
Original post by Leviathan1741
Thank you so much FrenchUnicorn!
Making this blog was quite a hard decision for me, as obviously this stuff is very personal. But, I believe that mental health is a very important issue, and my desire to share my experiences and raise awareness of it overrode any doubts I had about making this blog!
I think a lot of people are reluctant to talk about their or other's mental health issues because they worry they will be judged harshly for it! With this blog, I hope to dispel these anxieties and hopefully encourage others to speak up about what they or someone they know might be going through
Making this blog was quite a hard decision for me, as obviously this stuff is very personal. But, I believe that mental health is a very important issue, and my desire to share my experiences and raise awareness of it overrode any doubts I had about making this blog!
I think a lot of people are reluctant to talk about their or other's mental health issues because they worry they will be judged harshly for it! With this blog, I hope to dispel these anxieties and hopefully encourage others to speak up about what they or someone they know might be going through
You're welcome
That's a very good idea you know !! Because hearing about MH issues in TV or something like that is not at all the same as hearing from someone who actually experiences it. Very different, and even more interesting tbh
Yes I can understand why people are reluctant, a lot of people are ashamed of their MH issues, but there is nothing to be ashamed of and nobody should be ashamed of something that is not even their fault. So yeah, your blog is a very good idea, and btw I never judged you about anything, that's the proof you can talk about it in public dw
@Leviathan1741
Great read as usual!
Im hoping your dad is ok at the moment!!
Its interesting to read about how different conditions affect other people!
Im looking forward to reading your mini-series!
Im not familiar with delusional disorder so it will be good to learn about it!
Keep up the good work!
Great read as usual!
Im hoping your dad is ok at the moment!!
Its interesting to read about how different conditions affect other people!
Im looking forward to reading your mini-series!
Im not familiar with delusional disorder so it will be good to learn about it!
Keep up the good work!
Original post by FireFreezer77
@Leviathan1741
Great read as usual!
Im hoping your dad is ok at the moment!!
Its interesting to read about how different conditions affect other people!
Im looking forward to reading your mini-series!
Im not familiar with delusional disorder so it will be good to learn about it!
Keep up the good work!
Great read as usual!
Im hoping your dad is ok at the moment!!
Its interesting to read about how different conditions affect other people!
Im looking forward to reading your mini-series!
Im not familiar with delusional disorder so it will be good to learn about it!
Keep up the good work!
Thank you @FireFreezer77, your kind words are much appreciated, as always!
He isn't too bad at the moment, although it is very difficult to reason with him, and he often comes up with excuses for things. I think that's because of his paranoia though, he doesn't like other people's ideas/suggestions because (I assume) he thinks there is some hidden agenda or something like that behind them.
I wasn't familiar with delusional disorder either before my dad developed it! Hopefully I will be able to give you and others a better understanding of it though!
Original post by Leviathan1741
Thank you @FireFreezer77, your kind words are much appreciated, as always!
He isn't too bad at the moment, although it is very difficult to reason with him, and he often comes up with excuses for things. I think that's because of his paranoia though, he doesn't like other people's ideas/suggestions because (I assume) he thinks there is some hidden agenda or something like that behind them.
I wasn't familiar with delusional disorder either before my dad developed it! Hopefully I will be able to give you and others a better understanding of it though!
He isn't too bad at the moment, although it is very difficult to reason with him, and he often comes up with excuses for things. I think that's because of his paranoia though, he doesn't like other people's ideas/suggestions because (I assume) he thinks there is some hidden agenda or something like that behind them.
I wasn't familiar with delusional disorder either before my dad developed it! Hopefully I will be able to give you and others a better understanding of it though!
No worries! I appreciate you tagging me in your blog
Im happy to hear that! Ah well that cant be good but youve just got try and help him through it all.
Ah well that could be it the, it would make sense. It does correlate to his delusional disorder.
It does seem a common problem, but it needs more awareness!
Im sure you will! Stay positive! You will all get through this!
Good afternoon everyone!
I know this isn't my usual sort of blog post, but I really wanted to share this article with you all! It's all about different ways to overcome 'analysis paralysis' - basically how to make stop worrying and make important decisions! It's quite long, but well worth reading in my opinion!
I have found it incredibly useful, and I hope you do too!
I know this isn't my usual sort of blog post, but I really wanted to share this article with you all! It's all about different ways to overcome 'analysis paralysis' - basically how to make stop worrying and make important decisions! It's quite long, but well worth reading in my opinion!
I have found it incredibly useful, and I hope you do too!
Spoiler
Original post by Leviathan1741
Good afternoon everyone!
I know this isn't my usual sort of blog post, but I really wanted to share this article with you all! It's all about different ways to overcome 'analysis paralysis' - basically how to make stop worrying and make important decisions! It's quite long, but well worth reading in my opinion!
I have found it incredibly useful, and I hope you do too!
I know this isn't my usual sort of blog post, but I really wanted to share this article with you all! It's all about different ways to overcome 'analysis paralysis' - basically how to make stop worrying and make important decisions! It's quite long, but well worth reading in my opinion!
I have found it incredibly useful, and I hope you do too!
Spoiler
Will read tonight, Sounds very interesting thanks
@Leviathan1741 this blog is amazing, and I think it's really great that you're raising awareness on these issues.
I hadn't known much about Asperger's but now you've really helped me understand how to be more considerate of those with it, and empathise with what you're going through.
I've read your whole blog, and it is so brave of you to talk so openly about your life, and the troubles you've faced.
I'd love to read your next installments.
I hadn't known much about Asperger's but now you've really helped me understand how to be more considerate of those with it, and empathise with what you're going through.
I've read your whole blog, and it is so brave of you to talk so openly about your life, and the troubles you've faced.
I'd love to read your next installments.
Original post by flyingpanda
@Leviathan1741 this blog is amazing, and I think it's really great that you're raising awareness on these issues.
I hadn't known much about Asperger's but now you've really helped me understand how to be more considerate of those with it, and empathise with what you're going through.
I've read your whole blog, and it is so brave of you to talk so openly about your life, and the troubles you've faced.
I'd love to read your next installments.
I hadn't known much about Asperger's but now you've really helped me understand how to be more considerate of those with it, and empathise with what you're going through.
I've read your whole blog, and it is so brave of you to talk so openly about your life, and the troubles you've faced.
I'd love to read your next installments.
Thank you so much for your kind words, flyingpanda, I really appreciate them!
Would you like me to tag you for future posts?
Original post by Leviathan1741
Thank you so much for your kind words, flyingpanda, I really appreciate them!
Would you like me to tag you for future posts?
Would you like me to tag you for future posts?
You're welcome.
Yes please!
Original post by flyingpanda
You're welcome.
Yes please!
Yes please!
Awesome, I will make sure to tag you
Original post by Leviathan1741
Awesome, I will make sure to tag you
PRSOM
1 – How the Madness Began
Hi everyone! This is going to be the first ‘chapter’ if you like, describing how my father’s mental illness first developed.
It all started in 2011, with a painful knee. My father had woken up one morning with a sharp pain in his knee accompanied by a mysterious lump. His knee became increasingly painful and stiff, until my mother finally decided to take him to the doctor. The doctor tested him for various things, but could not find a cause. Not long afterwards, other symptoms started to become apparent: alternating between sweating and shivering, difficulty sleeping, irritability and depression. On a second trip back to the doctor, my mother mentioned that he might have a problem with his thyroid, after doing some research online. The doctor then tested my father again, and the results showed that he had hypothyroidism; however his symptoms were those of hyperthyroidism (I think that this was probably one of the factors which contributed to his subsequent paranoia).
He gradually became more and more suspicious of my mother, and was convinced that she was trying to poison him. One night her friend came round, and he asked her to drive him to the doctors. He wanted to have a blood test to check his system for drugs (he also thought my mother was giving him drugs, as neither he nor the doctors could otherwise explain his symptoms). The tests came back negative, but that did nothing to stop his paranoia from worsening. In addition to the belief that my mother was poisoning him, he also believed that bushes were watching him with cameras, people in planes were spying on him, people with earphones were listening to him and car headlights were giving him ‘messages’.
A few months later, arguments between my mother and father started breaking out almost daily. In their last row before he moved out, I remember my mother telling him to get his things and **** off. My father moved in with my grandad a few days later.
So that is essentially how his illness developed – a set of mysterious symptoms with no obvious cause led to him believing that he was being poisoned. I guess it just goes to show really that even something seemingly innocent like a painful knee can easily turn into something much more sinister, and that the development of mental illness is very unpredictable. It is this fact that I want to emphasise with my blog, and I hope to spread the message that mental illness can strike at any time, so it is always important to be both understanding of those who have it, and also to be aware that mental illness is something that anyone can develop.
As always, thank you all so much for reading!
Hi everyone! This is going to be the first ‘chapter’ if you like, describing how my father’s mental illness first developed.
It all started in 2011, with a painful knee. My father had woken up one morning with a sharp pain in his knee accompanied by a mysterious lump. His knee became increasingly painful and stiff, until my mother finally decided to take him to the doctor. The doctor tested him for various things, but could not find a cause. Not long afterwards, other symptoms started to become apparent: alternating between sweating and shivering, difficulty sleeping, irritability and depression. On a second trip back to the doctor, my mother mentioned that he might have a problem with his thyroid, after doing some research online. The doctor then tested my father again, and the results showed that he had hypothyroidism; however his symptoms were those of hyperthyroidism (I think that this was probably one of the factors which contributed to his subsequent paranoia).
He gradually became more and more suspicious of my mother, and was convinced that she was trying to poison him. One night her friend came round, and he asked her to drive him to the doctors. He wanted to have a blood test to check his system for drugs (he also thought my mother was giving him drugs, as neither he nor the doctors could otherwise explain his symptoms). The tests came back negative, but that did nothing to stop his paranoia from worsening. In addition to the belief that my mother was poisoning him, he also believed that bushes were watching him with cameras, people in planes were spying on him, people with earphones were listening to him and car headlights were giving him ‘messages’.
A few months later, arguments between my mother and father started breaking out almost daily. In their last row before he moved out, I remember my mother telling him to get his things and **** off. My father moved in with my grandad a few days later.
So that is essentially how his illness developed – a set of mysterious symptoms with no obvious cause led to him believing that he was being poisoned. I guess it just goes to show really that even something seemingly innocent like a painful knee can easily turn into something much more sinister, and that the development of mental illness is very unpredictable. It is this fact that I want to emphasise with my blog, and I hope to spread the message that mental illness can strike at any time, so it is always important to be both understanding of those who have it, and also to be aware that mental illness is something that anyone can develop.
As always, thank you all so much for reading!
Spoiler
Great read as usual!!
It does seem rather strange, I've never known anything like that.
I'm sorry to hear what he's been going through, it's not fair on him really.
I hope he can manage to overcome this soon as it must be genuinely awful to live with!
It's unfortunate that the doctors can't explain what's going on either. That can't have helped him at all.
I look forward to the next instalment!
It does seem rather strange, I've never known anything like that.
I'm sorry to hear what he's been going through, it's not fair on him really.
I hope he can manage to overcome this soon as it must be genuinely awful to live with!
It's unfortunate that the doctors can't explain what's going on either. That can't have helped him at all.
I look forward to the next instalment!
Original post by FireFreezer77
Great read as usual!!
It does seem rather strange, I've never known anything like that.
I'm sorry to hear what he's been going through, it's not fair on him really.
I hope he can manage to overcome this soon as it must be genuinely awful to live with!
It's unfortunate that the doctors can't explain what's going on either. That can't have helped him at all.
I look forward to the next instalment!
It does seem rather strange, I've never known anything like that.
I'm sorry to hear what he's been going through, it's not fair on him really.
I hope he can manage to overcome this soon as it must be genuinely awful to live with!
It's unfortunate that the doctors can't explain what's going on either. That can't have helped him at all.
I look forward to the next instalment!
Thank you!!
It would be nice if he did, but I highly doubt that he will. He will be on antipsychotics for the rest of his life.
I will tag you as always
Original post by Leviathan1741
Thank you!!
It would be nice if he did, but I highly doubt that he will. He will be on antipsychotics for the rest of his life.
I will tag you as always
It would be nice if he did, but I highly doubt that he will. He will be on antipsychotics for the rest of his life.
I will tag you as always
No worries!
It sure would be! Aw that's such a shame! Ah well, I guess it helps him to deal with it.
Thankyou!
Original post by Leviathan1741
Asperger’s Syndrome (part 1)
Spoiler
Very educational.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by Leviathan1741
1 – How the Madness Began
Spoiler
Interesting presentation of mental illness.
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