Let's keep talking - Time To Talk Day - let's talk about mental health

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I always wonder about this. Why do people get awkward if someone tells you they have a mental health condition? I reckon it's very misunderstood. People don't react in the same way when you tell them you have a physical condition.

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That must be really frustrating. Could you say "health reasons" instead of being too specific? Although that kind of goes against what this thread is trying to escape from.

I think one difficulty i see quite often is that people assume you're using your mental health conditions as an excuse to be lazy or not do certain things, which is completely untrue, it's something that seriously affects your concentration span, motivation and energy.

I've found this too. I was once told I should be locked up for other peoples safety. I have never harmed anyone.

So if it affects 'normal people', who are the 'abnormal people'?

I think one difficulty i see quite often is that people assume you're using your mental health conditions as an excuse to be lazy or not do certain things, which is completely untrue, it's something that seriously affects your concentration span, motivation and energy.

i had that at uni! my "friends" thought i was just lazy and boring when i didnt want to socialise and just hid in bed all day, was quite the opposite really, id have loved to have socialised but my anxiety crippled me!

definitely, I think that's out of ignorance sadly, people don't know about or understand how MH issues affect people so tend to dismiss them because of that, it's also due to the fact that people unfortunately seem to think that people are only unwell or "disabled" if they can see that they are, which is obviously not even remotely accurate but again people don't seem to know enough to realise this, I think teaching people about MH at school might help here, if people understand the issues better then they are less likely to be ignorant and stigmatize people because of that!

I agree that there should be stuff taught about MH issues as most people simply don't understand them like you say. There's such a poor perception of it and people often don't believe how hard it can be to have energy and motivation to live the kind of lifestyle that people who aren't affected by MH live.

I don't have anything specific to say, but thought I'd share this video I came across a while back. It's probably the best explanation I've found for what depression is like:

Possibly have very mild depression, not really sure Think I might just be bad with stress/upset/conflict, though also had symptoms in the past
I really wish I understood why I feel this way/why I think I feel this way...!


Meant to watch that video last week - thank you for posting it

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, I was really touched by your honest account. Absolutely fantastic news that you're now living an OCD free life

Everyone's journey is very different but would you mind sharing how you got to the point of no longer having OCD?

I suffered from what I thought to be at the time Generalized Anxiety Disorder and was in a pretty dark place. It was exhausting and lonely, I was constantly stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts - they would just rise up from nowhere, I felt like I'd somehow lost "me". At times I felt like I had no resilience, I would just find a cupboard and cry.

It got to the point where I had to make a lot of changes in my life to come through the other side. I had 6 months of solution focused therapy which helped me and gave me the drive and energy I needed to do things like no longer investing in friendships that were no good for me, quitting the job I was doing, cutting down the hours I was working and finding and exploring my passions - helping myself to remember what lifted my heart, what got me excited about life and come face to face with my fears and talk about them.

No really, they will help you if you're not sure, don't be afraid. I left it too long but now i'm glad I went.

Probably

I went last term and they told me to go to counselling, and I didn't - but then started feeling worse again so did eventually go this term. She vague-diagnosed as very mild depression.

I kinda don't think I'm that serious enough at all for them to be able to do anything, either? But then I suppose you don't know until you ask Just feels odd asking again

(Also that's an awesome smilie )

I'd advise to have counselling before it gets worse - 'prevention is better than cure' if you know what I mean.
All the best

Hi everyone, I have just recently been diagnosed with severe anxiety and severe OCD. It is not a great thing to have as it affects my day to day life so much, I would encourage people to speak out. We aren't "crazy". 1 in 4 people will experience mental health problems in their life time. We need support not just from professionals but from our family (mine aren't supportive), friends (I've lost all of mine) and other people in society. If you think you are suffering with your mental health, talk to someone. I did and now I am getting the help I need and I have the support of my boyfriend to help me through it. Make goals for yourself. Your mental health does not define you as a person, I assure you. I am still the same person, just my anxiety and my OCD get in the way. Stand up, speak out and talk!