How has mental illness affected your life?
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Original post by twist.the.illusion
Calm down! This is a place to express opinions and that's what I did!
First of all. I think you've completely missed my point. My concern is simply that your mind plays tricks on you. There was some psychological experiment (the name of it eludes me right now), that showed if you gave a group of people a set of symptoms they would all end up believing that they in fact were suffering from whatever disease the symptoms were supposed to be portraying. Depression has still has such a stigma attached to it that in fact saying you suffer from depression can actually make you feel more depressed. My point was if you feel normal like the next guy over who's suffering from the same thing, you might feel a little better about said depression.
I didn't say anything about 'manning up' at all so please don't try and read what isn't there.
Just to add too; I didn't say that depression is overdiagnosed. What I was getting at is that everyone seems to be affected by it these days and doesn't that in itself make the whole thing 'normal'.
First of all. I think you've completely missed my point. My concern is simply that your mind plays tricks on you. There was some psychological experiment (the name of it eludes me right now), that showed if you gave a group of people a set of symptoms they would all end up believing that they in fact were suffering from whatever disease the symptoms were supposed to be portraying. Depression has still has such a stigma attached to it that in fact saying you suffer from depression can actually make you feel more depressed. My point was if you feel normal like the next guy over who's suffering from the same thing, you might feel a little better about said depression.
I didn't say anything about 'manning up' at all so please don't try and read what isn't there.
Just to add too; I didn't say that depression is overdiagnosed. What I was getting at is that everyone seems to be affected by it these days and doesn't that in itself make the whole thing 'normal'.
it's normal to get colds and infections and any number of other things, doesn't mean they're not illnesses
i'm perfectly calm, the last paragraph was more generally directed to a lot of posts of late along similar lines
i don't see the relevance of what you're saying to be honest. that's all true but that doesn't mean that conversely, minimalisation or denial of your feelings will make you feel better or that *avoiding* saying you suffer from depression will make you feel better. thinking of depression as a normal thing that many people go through would go some way to removing the stigma and thus some of the suffering, but it won't go any length at all to removing the reality of those feelings for the section of people that go through it
Original post by littleshambles
it's normal to get colds and infections and any number of other things, doesn't mean they're not illnesses
i'm perfectly calm, the last paragraph was more generally directed to a lot of posts of late along similar lines
i don't see the relevance of what you're saying to be honest. that's all true but that doesn't mean that conversely, minimalisation or denial of your feelings will make you feel better or that *avoiding* saying you suffer from depression will make you feel better. thinking of depression as a normal thing that many people go through would go some way to removing the stigma and thus some of the suffering, but it won't go any length at all to removing the reality of those feelings for the section of people that go through it
i'm perfectly calm, the last paragraph was more generally directed to a lot of posts of late along similar lines
i don't see the relevance of what you're saying to be honest. that's all true but that doesn't mean that conversely, minimalisation or denial of your feelings will make you feel better or that *avoiding* saying you suffer from depression will make you feel better. thinking of depression as a normal thing that many people go through would go some way to removing the stigma and thus some of the suffering, but it won't go any length at all to removing the reality of those feelings for the section of people that go through it
Who said anything about denial of people's feelings?
Isn't the whole point of this thread to share experiences and feelings so that other people can relate and you don't feel so alone? You know there's other people feeling similar things to yourself. I mean, that doesn't 'go any length to remove the reality of those feelings', does it? But it helps.
Original post by Anonymous
I've suffered from pretty severe OCD for five years now; it crushed myself confidence and made me a pretty messed up individual.
Only now am I kind of coming to terms with the fact that I really do need help (taken long enough)..and I'm so tired of having to pretend everything's okay- I daren't moan about it incase I annoy people.
My parents still don't know but I hate to admit I can't help but feel ashamed and embarassed even though I know I shouldn't.
Anyway, I'm interested in how people handle it whether it's yourself or someone you know.
I think that there should be more of an emphasis on recognising mental illnesses because in my experience nobody really talks about them because they're kind of invisible if you get what I mean and my parents have often just labelled me as a 'hormonal' teenager :/
Only now am I kind of coming to terms with the fact that I really do need help (taken long enough)..and I'm so tired of having to pretend everything's okay- I daren't moan about it incase I annoy people.
My parents still don't know but I hate to admit I can't help but feel ashamed and embarassed even though I know I shouldn't.
Anyway, I'm interested in how people handle it whether it's yourself or someone you know.
I think that there should be more of an emphasis on recognising mental illnesses because in my experience nobody really talks about them because they're kind of invisible if you get what I mean and my parents have often just labelled me as a 'hormonal' teenager :/
Depression has affected my life by causing me to not want to get out of bed, lack of concentration and listening and filling my head with paranoia and feelings that life isnt worth living, I finished Secondary school with just 64% attendance and 3 GCSE's.
I believe that my depression caused me to be vunerable to bullying, because it made me feel so un sociable ' they wont like me' etc etc, In the end, I made friends but they enjoyed humiliating me and causing mental abuse so much that I decided to commit suicide, thank god I survived, but It will always haunt my memory.
I'm in college now, And I have real bad issues with trusting people, I have mood swings that cause me to seem high or withdrawing from drugs, and because of my tust issues, I just cant tell people about my depression, so they can think whatever.
I know that society is un educated about depression, I wish it could be made more of an important issue to be made aware of, but sadly, this doesnt look like its going to happen any time soon, so in the meantime people like me have to be taught how to deal with the ignorance of others which sucks.
Ive got an alright bunch of friends in college now, and I have one best friend who I could not like without, She has members of her family with depression so she understands, I really hope I find more people like her through life.
I try to look on the brightside of life though, and Im hoping to go to herts uni in 2012, and to get more counselling as I havent been in about a year.
Sorry if its tl;dr
!Ive just been to see the doctor about my 'low mood' - they wont put a label on it until they know for definite. But basically ive got a form of depression or anxiety, and it just makes me feel like a worthless person that doesnt deserve happiness.
Luckily, Ive got a great support network of friends, boyfriend, and parents who were surprisingly supportive when i told them (for ages ive just apparently been having 'silly girly moments' according to them) and a great psychiatrist who is really down to earth and tells it like it is.
But it has affected my relationship. It causes me to be really irritable and I become a bitch over the slightest thing. Im trying so hard not to let it cause issues.
Its also affected uni cos i just cant get the motivation to go in. The only thing i do is work because i know ill get fired if i dont go.
But im trying to be upbeat. Got a meeting with my uni tutor, my boss at work knows, so has reduced my workload to something i can cope with, and ive joined a poledancing class to have something to take my mind off all the stress.
Luckily, Ive got a great support network of friends, boyfriend, and parents who were surprisingly supportive when i told them (for ages ive just apparently been having 'silly girly moments' according to them) and a great psychiatrist who is really down to earth and tells it like it is.
But it has affected my relationship. It causes me to be really irritable and I become a bitch over the slightest thing. Im trying so hard not to let it cause issues.
Its also affected uni cos i just cant get the motivation to go in. The only thing i do is work because i know ill get fired if i dont go.
But im trying to be upbeat. Got a meeting with my uni tutor, my boss at work knows, so has reduced my workload to something i can cope with, and ive joined a poledancing class to have something to take my mind off all the stress.
Original post by blinkbelle
My mum's had bipolar my entire life and it's gone untreated. This has effectively reversed the mother-daughter relationship with us and also had a knock-on effect on my self esteem etc.
My dad is currently suffering from depression and anxiety, and has done so for 3 years now. We're hoping he'll be off the prozac soon and back to his old self. This has had a pretty mahoosive impact on my life as I've always relied on my dad to be a solid influence - kind of necessary given my mum's disposition. It's really been hard these past few years and I've felt more alone than ever before.
I've also suffered from mental health problems intermittently through my life - inevitable really given the family history. I feel like I've come out of it a stronger person though, so it's all good. xx
My dad is currently suffering from depression and anxiety, and has done so for 3 years now. We're hoping he'll be off the prozac soon and back to his old self. This has had a pretty mahoosive impact on my life as I've always relied on my dad to be a solid influence - kind of necessary given my mum's disposition. It's really been hard these past few years and I've felt more alone than ever before.
I've also suffered from mental health problems intermittently through my life - inevitable really given the family history. I feel like I've come out of it a stronger person though, so it's all good. xx
My gf has pretty severe depression and her mom has (most probably) had depression for years but is in complete denial, so her mother-daghter relationship has pretty much been reversed too.
When she was nine she used to "tuck" her mum into bed every night and listen to all her problems. It didn't help that she couldn't say anything to her mom because she would just kind of swing it arround to kind of be about her (ie if my gf would have gone to her if she was upset, within a few minuits she would be comforting her mom (in tears), rather than the other way arround!)
All I can say to people is that it can get much better, after years of struggling with different meds we found one that works (with out too bad side effects) though councilling was useless.
Stick with it, things can get alot better!
Original post by twist.the.illusion
In my opinion (so don't get cross), I think that the term depression is thrown around too lightly these days, say, compared to fifty years ago. I think that the bar for depression should be raised considerably to account for the added stresses and pressures of life in 2000, so that way people can stop saying they're depressed and can understand that even though they feel down, they are NORMAL.
I agree somewhat - it is thrown arround lightly. If someone has a few days of being unhappy, they are not depressed.
When people have spent years "feeling down" and the situation has changed (so they probably should be feeling quite happy) but they still can't function properly and are still very very unhappy, well somethings just gone wrong in their brain and It needs medical atention!
Original post by using_the_force
Please don't think like that : ( One has to look on the positive side of life. Take up a hobby, usually sports make one feel happier - I remember I went to the gym during a stressful and depressing time and I actually felt better.
In class, think before you answer. If you don't know the question, don't feel compelled to answer because you believe it's going to get you noticed.
As or friends, try first with your neighbours. Make small talk with them. Invite them to go for coffee sometime. Or, find a gourp in your lectures/class/course and go out with them. Go to the pub - drinking is always a good way to meet new friends. Join a society - join a sports club.
If all else fails, you have us : )
In class, think before you answer. If you don't know the question, don't feel compelled to answer because you believe it's going to get you noticed.
As or friends, try first with your neighbours. Make small talk with them. Invite them to go for coffee sometime. Or, find a gourp in your lectures/class/course and go out with them. Go to the pub - drinking is always a good way to meet new friends. Join a society - join a sports club.
If all else fails, you have us : )
Thanks for the reply. But believe me, I've tried. I've spent the last 4 years completely alone, as in going weeks and weeks without talking to anyone but my doctor, I've done everything I can think of to make friends, I've read books, and looked on the internet, watched youtube videos, asked here, but mostly I just try all the time at societies and being friendly to everyone I meet.
Like I say though, I put it down to the medication, whilst before I was shy now I come across as a jittering retard weirdo so no wonder no one wants to know me.
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
Have you told the shrink about the negative effects the meds are having? 
I told everyone who'll listen and everyone refuses to believe me. Just put things down to me being "ill".
Original post by twist.the.illusion
Who said anything about denial of people's feelings?
Isn't the whole point of this thread to share experiences and feelings so that other people can relate and you don't feel so alone? You know there's other people feeling similar things to yourself. I mean, that doesn't 'go any length to remove the reality of those feelings', does it? But it helps.
Isn't the whole point of this thread to share experiences and feelings so that other people can relate and you don't feel so alone? You know there's other people feeling similar things to yourself. I mean, that doesn't 'go any length to remove the reality of those feelings', does it? But it helps.
Yeah... Which was my point in the first place.
So I don't understand why you made your post here. Why do you assume anyone in this thread is in the bracket of people whose depression should be ratcheted up to "normal".
You know what.... Whatever.
As soon as I wake up, all hope fades, I struggle every single day, med's don't help, I barely socialise with anyone other than the friends I have now, can go from feeling okay, to struggling to cope in minutes, just feel constantly unhappy, alone, anxious, I went from being really out going to be extremely introverted, can't even keep eye contact any more...
The best part of my day is going to sleep, if I'm lucky...
The best part of my day is going to sleep, if I'm lucky...
Seriously, how hard is it to get an actual diagnosis?
I have more than a strong suspicion that I'm manic-depressive, first spoke to my GP around last Octoberish and have seen countless useless people with little (more accurately, NO) outcome at all.
I wish I could have a proper diagnosis, mainly so that I can say to my parents and such 'look, I am officially not just being an arse' and get some decent help as well.
I have a key worker who often cancels appointments at the last minute and is pretty much no help at all, which is outrageous, in my opinion.
Most days it is more than fact that my life sucks. That is mental illness in my rage of the day,
I have more than a strong suspicion that I'm manic-depressive, first spoke to my GP around last Octoberish and have seen countless useless people with little (more accurately, NO) outcome at all.
I wish I could have a proper diagnosis, mainly so that I can say to my parents and such 'look, I am officially not just being an arse' and get some decent help as well.
I have a key worker who often cancels appointments at the last minute and is pretty much no help at all, which is outrageous, in my opinion.
Most days it is more than fact that my life sucks. That is mental illness in my rage of the day,
Original post by vixen23
What makes you feel like nothing is enjoyable?
Original post by thru sun and rain
What makes you feel like nothing is enjoyable?
Feelings of detachment and isolation, the fact that little simple things present massive difficulties, on a 'normal' day I wouldn't even be on here because it's just hard to face doing things, especially when you don't have to do them. The little energy I get is focussed on the boring, compulsory stuff, like a set of binomial expansion questions I spent 3 times the recommended time doing earlier today.
Original post by vixen23
Original post by vixen23
Feelings of detachment and isolation, the fact that little simple things present massive difficulties, on a 'normal' day I wouldn't even be on here because it's just hard to face doing things, especially when you don't have to do them. The little energy I get is focussed on the boring, compulsory stuff, like a set of binomial expansion questions I spent 3 times the recommended time doing earlier today.
Have you thought of trying something new? Instead of thinking I don't have energy to do it, just go and do it any way. I know it sounds like something quite trivial. But finding something small that you have wanted to do for a long time and doing it really does give you a boost. For example going to a cinema, or to a museum or art gallery.
I know quite a lot of people who suffer from mental illnesses. It is hard to be around them sometimes. I know they can't help it, but it is hard to bear, and no one wants to see someone they love and care about suffer so much. Some things do get to me though, like a lot of these people genuinely believe I'm not Darth Vader.
Original post by littleshambles
Yeah... Which was my point in the first place.
So I don't understand why you made your post here. Why do you assume anyone in this thread is in the bracket of people whose depression should be ratcheted up to "normal".
You know what.... Whatever.
So I don't understand why you made your post here. Why do you assume anyone in this thread is in the bracket of people whose depression should be ratcheted up to "normal".
You know what.... Whatever.
I really hate people who spend their time just looking for an argument.
You know what? Bite me.
Original post by Anonymous
not motivated enough to even get out of bed
sleep about 14 hours a day
and even when i am awake its like im sleeping, moping around my house between things but not actually doing anything
its got the the point where even emptying the dishwasher, getting dressed, brushing teeth, are a massive effort
when im late for school every day i know i will get into trouble i just dont care
when i get bad reports, i think "yeah i should do some work", but it never happens or happens excruciatingly slowly, for example, making a 20 minute homework last 3 hours which turns into not doing it at all
in person im friendly and chatty
whenever im out with my friends, even if im having an alright time, i just cant wait to be back home by myself
people dont really interest me unless i want something from them
sleep about 14 hours a day
and even when i am awake its like im sleeping, moping around my house between things but not actually doing anything
its got the the point where even emptying the dishwasher, getting dressed, brushing teeth, are a massive effort
when im late for school every day i know i will get into trouble i just dont care
when i get bad reports, i think "yeah i should do some work", but it never happens or happens excruciatingly slowly, for example, making a 20 minute homework last 3 hours which turns into not doing it at all
in person im friendly and chatty
whenever im out with my friends, even if im having an alright time, i just cant wait to be back home by myself
people dont really interest me unless i want something from them
Here's something for everybody with mental illness to think about. Think about the person you want to be. Really think hard. Then just work towards being them. For example, if you had OCD you would feel very proud of yourself that you didn't do or think something, and say 'I didn't do it'.
Original post by twist.the.illusion
I really hate people who spend their time just looking for an argument.
You know what? Bite me.
You know what? Bite me.
Right and your reason for posting your original post in a thread that totally wasn't meant for it was what? Comfort and sharing?
My post was ENDING the argument, not looking for one.
So maybe you should ****ing bite me.
Original post by Anonymous
Seriously, how hard is it to get an actual diagnosis?
I have more than a strong suspicion that I'm manic-depressive, first spoke to my GP around last Octoberish and have seen countless useless people with little (more accurately, NO) outcome at all.
I wish I could have a proper diagnosis, mainly so that I can say to my parents and such 'look, I am officially not just being an arse' and get some decent help as well.
I have a key worker who often cancels appointments at the last minute and is pretty much no help at all, which is outrageous, in my opinion.
Most days it is more than fact that my life sucks. That is mental illness in my rage of the day,
I have more than a strong suspicion that I'm manic-depressive, first spoke to my GP around last Octoberish and have seen countless useless people with little (more accurately, NO) outcome at all.
I wish I could have a proper diagnosis, mainly so that I can say to my parents and such 'look, I am officially not just being an arse' and get some decent help as well.
I have a key worker who often cancels appointments at the last minute and is pretty much no help at all, which is outrageous, in my opinion.
Most days it is more than fact that my life sucks. That is mental illness in my rage of the day,
I've been in contact with mental health services for nearly 4 years and still haven't got a diagnosis so I wouldn't put money on you getting one anytime soon.
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