Have you/family member/friend etc, ever suffered from a mental illness?

[Eddie the head]

My aunt was bat shit insane. And my dad is dyslectic. Oh and I say "was" insane, because she killed herself in a bucket of water.

 

[Rawberry101]

Thankfully I don't have any mental illness. Although there is a lot in the family. One of my older cousins has Aspergers and two of my younger cousins have mild Autism.

When I was young some of my teachers took it upon themselves to diagnose me with some sort of Autism spectrum disorder. They were incorrect, and they never told me but my parents knew their suspicions. When I found out years later it made me rethink all my previous encounters with those specific teachers. Just an odd experience all around.

 

[Yopaz]

I've never seen a therapist or had my mental health evaluated (well I did once, but I didn't ask for results) so that means I am perfectly sane.

I have my weird periods, but I am not sure how I can express much about them. I got periods of time where pretty much everything seems perfect and everything is funny. Standing in the rain, looking at birds, seeing people do something nice for total strangers, doing something nice for strangers. I guess this just means I am happy though.

Feel free to tell me if this has already happened or simply wouldn't go well, but has anybody thought of setting up some kind of support group on here? I know maybe, out of our large userbase, less than 1% might be qualified psychiatrists, but maybe just talking with people with similiar problems might help?

I mean, just looking at the amount of people who've posted here, and other people who have mentioned such issues, we clearly have a lot of people with mental issues on here. Maybe we can help each other?

I have a feeling that voicing your concerns is a major part of dealing with it, knowing others feel the same and seeing how others deal with similar problems. I think this is a great idea.

 

[Lt._nefarious]

My mother is a bi-polar paranoid schizophrenic, my grandmother and my half-brothers dad both suffer from manic depression and I apparently have a mild case of depression and possible Nicolascageitis...

 

[JimB]

I don't like repetition.

I've been talking about my mental problems for, hell, I don't know, three years now, and I am at a point where I don't think I can do it any more. I feel a little bad about that--I know that people need an example to follow when it comes to these sorts of things--but the thought of wallowing in the same rotten waters again makes me feel like there's a hook in my heart trying to pull it out through my throat. When I say "I'm sick of it," I mean that almost literally.

I mention all that to provide a frame of reference, so you will understand why I'm just answering questions instead of providing details.

What is your history with mental illness?

Many diagnoses. The current is depression. Tried killing myself a while back; didn't work out.

How did you overcome it?

I haven't. I think having a mental illness is like being an alcoholic: Even if you're not symptomatic/drinking, you still have the disease.

Are you still dealing with it today?

I'm medicated. The pills are okay but not great. Some days are harder than others, especially just recently due to a lot of physical pain I find myself in (anyone who thinks the body doesn't affect the mind is nuts).

Have you ever had a family member or friend talk to you about their troubles?

Yes. I will not provide details because they are not my details to provide.

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

While watching the videos of the escapist expo, I was surprised to hear of Yahtzee's confession of a life long struggle with anxiety disorder. As a fellow sufferer of anxiety/depression it's always nice to hear others you respect talk openly about it. For me, it makes me feel like less of an outlier. So I want to hear from you all, what is your history with mental illness? How did you overcome it? Are you still dealing with it today? Have you ever had a family member or friend talk to you about their troubles?

I'm in the same boat, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and depression brought upon by chronic back pain. Makes me feel less alienated, so to speak, to hear of Yahtzee, a guy who has entertained me endlessly through Zero Punctuation and Extra Punctuation. OP, which escapist expo video did Yahtzee mention his anxiety disorder specifically? I haven't watched that one, it appears.

 

[Heronblade]

My grandmother was at one point among the most intelligent and insightful individuals I have ever met. In the past few years however she has suffered a series of strokes, both major and minor. The damage has been extensive.

What really bothers me is the timing, it seems like every time she manages to adjust to the limitations imposed by the brain damage she gets slapped down even further.

 

[BENZOOKA]

Depression and social anxiety some time ago. It was pure hell and a couple of years completely wasted and all kinds of damage done. Dreamed about going to a doctor, but never got even close to contacting one out of shame and feeling of worthlessness. I solved it myself eventually, and I think I've learned greatly from it. Still heavily interested in psychology and I study it pretty much on a daily basis.

Mother has gone through depression, father has alcohol and physical trauma related mental deficits, sister was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. That's what I know.

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

All of these things were why I majored in Psychology. I ended up dropping out when I found out there were no answers. Best thing to do, I think, is just sort of exist for the time being. Have fun while you can, etc. *heavy sigh*

I'm currently majoring in Psychology, obtaining my bachelor's degree by the end of this year before deciding upon my specialization for Honor's level.
I've always had this great passion for helping others by any means possible and I found from my early teens that aiding someone on an emotional level proved to be most effective and where, I personally, felt the most comfortable in the role of support and facilitator.
I did initially start my studies with that very idealistic goal as the driving force, crafting and molding it as I grow as a person (making it less idealistic and more realistic, while acknowledging my limitations and strengths) Like you, in the back of my mind, I always hoped Psychology would open the gateway to all the answers I seek for my long-term anxiety and fluctuating depression in the meantime. While I have gained a great deal of insight, I have abandoned the notion of looking for answers in my studies and instead refocused on continuing my goal and subsequently my passion towards counselling and aiding those with mental disorders. (I intend to go down the path of working at a psychiatric facility)

My apologies for the mini life-story >.>
Your post just got me thinking

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

I'm medicated. The pills are okay but not great. Some days are harder than others, especially just recently due to a lot of physical pain I find myself in (anyone who thinks the body doesn't affect the mind is nuts)

While medication has failed me on all fronts, I pretty much have to bear with my physical conditions on my own. For context: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type 3: Hypermobility (Painful joints, soft skin, easily bruised, loose joints and abnormal range of motion, weakness in collagen in the connective tissue) & Fibromyalgia (Localized pain in my lower back that intensifies throughout the day).

Everyday is an endurance match basically.

With regards to your message, there is a hell of a link between the mind and the body. They work together and when the body is in excruciating pain, it will trigger a variety of negative responses, behavioural patterns, evoke feelings of anger, hopelessness, self-loathing and ultimately depression, which may even exasperate the condition even further by adding a plethora of symptoms.

 

[Mel Theofficegamergirl]

I've always had this great passion for helping others by any means possible ...

My apologies for the mini life-story >.>
Your post just got me thinking

It's all good, I rather enjoy hearing people's stories. You know, I used to enjoy helping people too, but you can't help those that aren't willing to help themselves...and it gets frustrating really fast. Also, a lot of people are just jerks. So, yeah. I became a bartender instead, it's pretty much the same thing right? Listen to people vent and feed them poison they don't need. Pays shit though.

 

[Sectan]

Anxiety and a bit of depression, but the depression isn't crippling. The anxiety's another story. My anxiety's related to my health. I'm healthy, but at times I'll just get anxious and start worrying about stupid shit. I'm not good at talking to new people and that sort of thing. The usual.

 

[GTwander]

I had a bad episode about 6 years back, but I blame my father's genes.
He's about 10 years away from screaming at trash cans.

 

[SushiJaguar]

Wow, look at all you guys. Am I really the only person who doesn't use the label I had slapped on me?

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

Wow, look at all you guys. Am I really the only person who doesn't use the label I had slapped on me?

Sometimes the "label" helps. There was, for me, a huge sense of relief when I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and panic disorder. It meant I could be understood by others - professionals, especially, but to a lesser extent people in general - as well as giving me an explanation for the scary mental and physical symptoms that these disorders can bring.

Sure, sometimes I feel marginalised by the label, but for the most part, it is simply a help, because without my label I would still be struggling to cope with a body and mind that seem to defy my concious thoughts and desires. With my label I can get help: medical, financial, social help. And knowing my label, I can study what has been learnt from the other people who have dealt with the same issues I have. I don't need to start from scratch, there are hundreds and thousands of others out there, very similar to me, and I can get support from them.

I have been living with bipolar and panic disorders for all of my adult life at least. It has been a very, very long and hard road. I've planned to kill myself; I've cut into my limbs; I've given up on hopes and dreams which I'll never be able to accomplish now. And you know what? The worst part of it was not the "label". It was the years before that as I struggled to cope, half-realising that I was different to most other people out in the world, but still expected to function in the same way, and having no idea of what I should do to manage my mental and physical symptoms.

This turned into a wall of text. Sorry!

 

[Elidibus]

My brother has down's syndrome. It's kept him parked at around the age of a seven years old all his life. Though he does have a job and has had a few. Little tasks like sorting things in packing boxes and setting up lunch trays for distribution to elderly people. But they paid.

My grandfather had Parkinson's and right before he passed he suffered a neurological episode where he lost his personality. I personally think it was locked-in syndrome because when I went to visit him, he did seem way out of it, except for this one time where he looked at me and started crying. And I could see in his eyes the same look he always gave me when he saw me. I was always his favorite grandson and we were super close. Though, to be honest, he was closer to me than I was to him if that makes any sense.

My grandma has Alzheimer's and severe dementia. Though, I did laugh when my mom told me she caught grandma cooking a pot of rice for one of her sons who is by now, over 60. The dementia kind of saved her life because, without it, she would've died shortly after grandad. Married for over 55 years. I take their lessons to heart in my own marriage.

Myself, I haven't been diagnosed with anything. But while taking Accutane I had a nervous breakdown in high school. At the time it sucked, but looking back, it was kinda cool. I never just...broke like that before. Interesting to learn about myself like that.