Mental Health

[RaphaelsRedemption]

I'm bipolar. I have been diagnosed with this for over a year now, and looking back over 2010, I realised that year was a huge learning curve for me, finding out what my condition was and how to live a semi-normal life despite it.

I'm in a very stable place now, due to as combination of supportive family and friends, medication and counselling, but I often find people do not understand what having a mental condition can mean, nor what to expect of people who suffer from a condition.

Without wanting to create a huge wall of text, I'd like to invite Escapists to contribute their own stories of mental health, any questions about the issue, or any advice for people in similar situations to yourselves.

I am not a counsellor, nor an expert on mental health, so I cannot diagnose someone's health, nor give more than the most basic advice. But I would love to hear from you!

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

..Mm, I am not sure if this counts but I am "Overly Sensitive". Means that I care way to much about how other people feeling and it's not based on if they call me names or hate me. I mean how they are feeling - Like if they are depressed or upset, it gets to me and I feel overly emotional about it even if I keep it inside..

Like I said, am not sure.. but I shall state that it can affect my heath cause when I am in a Relationship that of course, if my girlfriend is hurting in any way it gets to me like a sword through my Heart..

So it's not based on whether people like you, but rather on whether they in themselves are happy?

I suppose it's a blessing, as well as a curse. Empathy can be very hard to learn!

 

[emeraldrafael]

I've been told I was Distrubed but functional from a psychiatrist I had to go see.

Yeah. basically means I'm crazy but I dont need to be in a padded room. Gets me out of a lot more things then people would think.

 

[Cogwheel]

I've got a variety of minor mental issues, myself. Nothing serious, though apparently it'll worsen over time. I take some pills that, for the time being, keep me more or less sane. What can I say? Behchet's Syndrome is a barrel of fun.

I'm afraid I can't really give any sort of advice. That said, best of luck to everyone else.

 

[minarri]

I can't remember whether or not it's been added to the DSM as one syndrome yet (as opposed to "unrelated" anxiety, depression and so on), but I'm considered "sensory defensive" or a "highly sensitive person," depending who you ask. What it comes down to is that my brain evidently is inefficient at processing sensory stimuli and gets easily overwhelmed, which cascades into virtually every aspect of life.

I am especially bothered by auditory stimuli--it seems I'm bothered even by many things "normal" people don't notice, which I'm not proud of. I'm moderately to severely affected and wasn't diagnosed until I was 21, so I'd gone through that many years of being unsure who was crazier, me or everyone else in the world. My only real coping mechanism was withdrawing, and so I've always suffered from nearly crippling social anxiety and depression.

But in the three years since my diagnosis I have begun to make changes. I'm taking risks and adjusting my habits. I had a brief chance to work with some wonderful occupational therapists, which allowed me to begun to understand myself a bit more and I am now beginning to come to grips with myself. Things overwhelm me less often now and I'm getting better at dealing with day-to-day life. I'm still nowhere near the social level of what's to be considered normal for a 24-year-old woman but I hope I'll get there someday.

 

[Wardnath]

Depression.

It's bad enough that it's begun to interfere with my work.

I'm getting suicidal mental images (in quite graphic detail too), emotional numbness, weeping spells... the fucking works.

Edit: Pretty much the only reason I haven't attempted suicide yet is because... well, I don't really like pain (ironic, considering I have quite a high pain tolerance). That's about it, really, I would've been a self-harmer long ago were this not the case.

 

[smithy_2045]

I've had depression for the past 5 years. Back then I refused to do anything except play computer games and maybe twice a week go to school. If not for being naturally smart, I would've failed VCE (which I finished 2 years ago). Since then though, I've been slowly but steadily improving, and this past year I barely missed a day of uni, and made some new friends. None of which would've seemed possible if you'd asked me a year ago.

 

[Merkavar]

i am not sure if this is a mental health issue or just an annoying relative but i have a relative that just seems crazy. they will offer to do something then change their mind. i dont mean little things i mean offer to take you and your friends that are here from another country on her boat to see the NYE fireworks in sydney harbour and then back out at the very last minute.

and get in arguements and not talk to family members for days over little things. i dont think i can explain what its like to you guys that well but basically i would not be surprised if she was to be diagnosed with some sort of mental health issue.

but recently i heard a story that might actually explain why she is like she is. she was apparently very serious with a guy but he had to move to england or something but they kept in touch and i think she might have thought that when he got back they would get married or somthing along those lines. well anyway time passed and he was coming back here and asked her to pick him up at the airport. she went to pick him up and found that he had married someone in england and just never told her.

so maybe her being a bit crazy is explained.

but after reading you guys posts above i think my problem with my relative a very minor compared with some of the issues you guys are working through. keep up the good work.

 

[Dystopia]

I had PTSD which developed into major depressive disorder. That was 7 years ago. I see my GP regularly to make sure my medication is working (I am on 60mg of citalopram), and I see a cognitive behavioural therapist frequently.

I've also seen a mental health crisis team due to a suicide attempt, and a community mental health officer. None of them can help so I have been referred to a psychotherapist to address my 'past issues'.

It's a really shit existence.

 

[Murais]

This is a placeholder post. I'll write the rest later. I have to go to counseling in a few minutes.

 

[Astoria]

Well, I have suspected that I may have depression for a couple of years now but I've never been to a professional about it. I'm not very good at opening up to people. I just try to get by by talking to my friends about issues I may be having and letting loose every now and then. I say as long as you have the will to get through it and loving friends and family to support you, you can pull through.

 

[Boris Goodenough]

According to my friends: I have OCD, paranoia, and ADHD.
Not that I was diagnosed with any of that when I as the shrinks.

 

[therandombear]

Well according to my parents I have the so called Asperger syndrome.
Not officialy diagnosed with it, but the symptoms are there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

 

[Gnarynhar]

Severe OCD that got progressively worse until now where I'm pretty much housebound. I have to dress up in disposable protective gear before I can leave the house and certain words (like the names of the two most popular search engines- which makes using the net a minefield) can set me off, and I can't use anything unless it's come packaged and I can extract it using gloves so the outside of the packaging doesn't touch what's inside. (Shrinkwrapped items are a no-no).

My parents actually bought me a nice little granny flat out in the backyard so I have mobility.
I'm getting better at a glacial pace, but then my OCD isn't the type that responds to therapy, I've seen a number of psychologists to appease my mother and only gotten worse for it. But my current psychiatrist doesn't seem to irritate my OCD (or, 'the dragon' as he calls it. I live by it's rules, I'm safe under it's belly, the moment I try anything against though, I get stomped) and he's mainly interested in helping me cope with things the way they are, so I'm happy enough. I'm on a pension, I pay rent to my parents but not utilities, Mum takes care of groceries for me, and still cooks tea most nights for me, and I only have to leave the house every few months.

I do miss traveling, but all in all I'm in a happy little rut, somewhat socially isolated, but I have my laptop, a little house all to myself, and I get visits at the door from the dogs (although I can't touch them without gloves on, but one of our two dogs seems to get this and holds nice and still so I can pat him without worry).

I've had my down points and OCD got in the way of me completing my VCE (but then I was also extensively bullied), had a half-assed suicide attempt, tried lots of different therapies and switched onto a better medication. My life, well it's pretty pathetic, but I'm happy enough with things how they are now, and that's the part that matters to me.

 

[SsilverR]

the only thing i know about it is "just when you think you put the past behind you, it'll come swinging out of nowhere"

 

[CheesusCrust]

My mental health is the only part of me that is healthy, excluding lack of a personality.
I'm very weary of diagnosed mental conditions. I understand that mental diseases are real, but whenever I hear of someone diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder I always have a hint of doubt and that doctors are prescribing meds to people who don't actully need them.