There needs to be more help for people with Mental Illness

[freddyc]

I have attended AA meetings, many, but what always turned me off were the people that never went through anything in my opinion, to deserve to sit in that seat. Too many wine drinkers. My wife curses at me for that attitude. I once went to a meeting in the Bronx, NY, where I could actually relate to the "combatants" in the room. Then I went back to Westchester, and listened to housewives complain about the agony that drinking 5 glasses of wine caused their families. I am a snob, when it comes to self destructive behavior (LOL) I NEED a prison camp mentality. No bullshit, do it or fucking die by your own hand, or through illness caused by your drinking (which is the leading cause of death for an alcoholic) which is simply a slow form of suicide. I think that a Forum should be created on this site entitled Help Needed for My Head. I actually tried to start one yesterday, but I was so fucked up, I made it a sub topic in the Help section. Pretty funny. Go look, it still might be there. Funny shit. Seriously, I spend a lot of time on this site, we have the anonymity that is provided, why not get some help with our mental struggles? I just let everyone know my shit, and if that helped 1 person, excellent. Yessica, it is a great topic, and I hope it takes off, like it should. Peace out.

LOL.....yea sometimes it is hard to see that what one sees as shameful the next person laughs at. For a great and funny twist look for any talks by Bob E. He put out a lot of great stuff. Not even sure if he's still with us. If not R.I.P. Bob, you saved my ass many times. I know there is some available for free on the net..This is new just found it........The vulture on the headboard talk had me ROFLMAO so many times. (the link is healtalk, kind of shitty but all I could find in a pinch)

http://www.healtalk.com/public/38.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:ZerendipT/Robert_(Bob)_Earll

 

[Jimdamick]

LOL.....yea sometimes it is hard to see that what one sees as shameful the next person laughs at. For a great and funny twist look for any talks by Bob E. He put out a lot of great stuff. Not even sure if he's still with us. If not R.I.P. Bob, you saved my ass many times. I know there is some available for free on the net..This is new just found it........The vulture on the headboard talk had me ROFLMAO so many times. (the link is healtalk, kind of shitty but all I could find in a pinch)

http://www.healtalk.com/public/38.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:ZerendipT/Robert_(Bob)_Earll

thank you

 

[Grandpapy]

LOL.....yea sometimes it is hard to see that what one sees as shameful the next person laughs at. For a great and funny twist look for any talks by Bob E. He put out a lot of great stuff. Not even sure if he's still with us. If not R.I.P. Bob, you saved my ass many times. I know there is some available for free on the net..This is new just found it........The vulture on the headboard talk had me ROFLMAO so many times. (the link is healtalk, kind of shitty but all I could find in a pinch)

http://www.healtalk.com/public/38.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:ZerendipT/Robert_(Bob)_Earll

I like the one where a 50 yr old lady set a drink on her grand piano and left a ring in the finish. This is what it took for her to seek help. "It takes what it takes to get here". (got to love the high bottom drunks).

 

[The Hippy]

I hate to be the big downer but, I feel suicide will become more prevalent than it is now. Why?
Because look at the way this world and society are going. Getting worse seemingly daily imo.
War's, terrorism, terrible economy. new disease's, loss of faith in general. I'm quite surprised more people don't kill themselves actually.
Sad but I feel it's only going to grow as our world becomes harder to deal with and live in. People can only take so much.

 

[gb123]

an

I like the one where a 50 yr old lady set a drink on her grand piano and left a ring in the finish. This is what it took for her to seek help. "It takes what it takes to get here". (got to love the high bottom drunks).

an addict is an addict.

 

[Jimdamick]

an

an addict is an addict.

So, what is your point? Yea, there are addicts. On what? That is the fucking point. Some addictions will kill you, even sex. It is the same in the end. Misery and death from all addictions. None are good.

 

[gb123]

yup. thats my point.

 

[GrowRock]

Mental illness needs to lose its stigma. Only then will suicide not look so good as a last resort. I have lost family members and friends to suicide and battled since I was 15 with anxiety and depression I'm now 30 and am still battling some days are better then others. In these last 15 years I have tried 25 to 30 prescription pill/probalbly 5 to 10 herbal remedies ex 5htp ps-100 etc The health care system in our country is lacking and people with mental illness are treated like guine pigs or fall between the cracks due to monetary issues for big pharm and doctors who are MD's not even trained in mental illness. While you are on a waiting list for someone with actual training in mental illness.Then the pills start followed by the worst side effects known to man but when you feel that low you will try anything for relief. Then the withdraw symptoms start cause the doc is guessing and not everyone's the same. Cannabis jucing vaping smoking eating all work better than all of the pills I have tried. Please reach out to anyone you think might be suffering with mental illness who knows your jesture of kindness could be the thing that saves there life.


Peace

Ps thanks yessica great thread

 

[The Hippy]

From what little I know and have read on depression, it seems the pills people get are never helpful. Or do some people really get better? I seem to read more stuff like ' it almost killed me " or " I was fucked up worse than I was before taking them " or " those pills made useless and unable to function.
So is there any success treating depression with pharma pills? I get depressed, sad, pissed off, lazy and lethargic as well. But it would seem there isn't anywhere to go...just tough it out I do.

 

[VIANARCHRIS]

I was always too scared to call the hotline. In my mind, the police would be sent over like something out of a movie trying to bang the door down shouting "you have everything to live for". I know it's not the way it goes - but that's what I thought.

The anonymity of the internet came in handy though. I did join several suicide forums over the time. I don't really remember if or what I posted. It was just nice hearing you're not alone.

I had a psychiatrist that coddled me for years. In the end, it didn't really do me much good. I ended up becoming more insightful about myself kinda on my own. It took about 16 years, and I still think I'm fuckin nuts. But - at leas I feel a lot better admitting that I have problems. All my friends and family know now. It feels so much better.

This is a subject that affects me daily, and although I've shared some of my story here, it's not something I am usually comfortable talking about. Most of my family is oblivious to my depression, with the exception of my wife and adult children, and they only know what I choose to tell them. Over the past 7 or 8 years, as my depression worsened, I have mostly cut myself off from friends and family out of embarrassment,I guess. When I quit drinking ( 6 years on Oct.6!), I was diagnosed with chronic major depression as well as a host of other crap, and was put on a variety of SSRI's and NSAIDS...they made things worse and I still suffer effects 3 years after stopping. I was sent to see a shrink weekly for a few months...I may as well been talking to my dog.(Actually I do...best listener in the world!). I stopped seeing all doctors and taking any pharmaceuticals 3 years ago and decided to deal with it myself. It certainly hasn't been easy. My depression is due in large part from the chronic pain due to end-stage osteoarthritis in my knee and debilitating RA pain in my hands. Add the loss of quality of life and it's easy to understand the why. I just don't get the how. I am not stupid, I understand what causes my feelings sadness, anger and hopelessness, how then does my mind constantly override rational thought with thoughts of doom and/or suicide? This isn't an occasional occurrence, these thoughts are all day every day. I know I'm not going to act on them today or even this week...but if this is what the rest of my life looks like...?
So this where I'm at on the subject. Don't hate me!, it's just what I feel personally. I think suicide is the right choice for some people, and not just those who are terminally ill. We were not given a choice to be born but it is absolutely my right to decide I no longer want to live, for whatever reason. I agree suicide discussion needs to be a more approachable subject, and a persons choice to end their own life needs to be respected instead of stigmatized.

 

[Yessica...]

This is a subject that affects me daily, and although I've shared some of my story here, it's not something I am usually comfortable talking about. Most of my family is oblivious to my depression, with the exception of my wife and adult children, and they only know what I choose to tell them. Over the past 7 or 8 years, as my depression worsened, I have mostly cut myself off from friends and family out of embarrassment,I guess. When I quit drinking ( 6 years on Oct.6!), I was diagnosed with chronic major depression as well as a host of other crap, and was put on a variety of SSRI's and NSAIDS...they made things worse and I still suffer effects 3 years after stopping. I was sent to see a shrink weekly for a few months...I may as well been talking to my dog.(Actually I do...best listener in the world!). I stopped seeing all doctors and taking any pharmaceuticals 3 years ago and decided to deal with it myself. It certainly hasn't been easy. My depression is due in large part from the chronic pain due to end-stage osteoarthritis in my knee and debilitating RA pain in my hands. Add the loss of quality of life and it's easy to understand the why. I just don't get the how. I am not stupid, I understand what causes my feelings sadness, anger and hopelessness, how then does my mind constantly override rational thought with thoughts of doom and/or suicide? This isn't an occasional occurrence, these thoughts are all day every day. I know I'm not going to act on them today or even this week...but if this is what the rest of my life looks like...?
So this where I'm at on the subject. Don't hate me!, it's just what I feel personally. I think suicide is the right choice for some people, and not just those who are terminally ill. We were not given a choice to be born but it is absolutely my right to decide I no longer want to live, for whatever reason. I agree suicide discussion needs to be a more approachable subject, and a persons choice to end their own life needs to be respected instead of stigmatized.

This is so similar to the way I feel when I get depressed, it's kinda like I wrote it.

And recently, in talking to friends that have been having a hard time - it's pretty much across the board.

I have seen a lot of unhelpful psychiatrists, for sure. They were helpful in keeping me medicated, but not actually helping any of my issues or problems, in the long run. 16 years of therapy to end up basically at the same place I started.

Finally though, I found someone good. Helpful, and open to the fact that I am on MMJ and that it's working for me.

You seem, really insightful. I think as long as you're talking to someone (yourself and your dog included) then you're on the right track. Realizing that you are depressed, it sometimes the hardest part. Admitting it to other people - is that much more difficult.

I have different view of suicide, because I was so close to it so many fucking times. And I know now, after telling people how bad it really was - just how fucking devastated they all would have been if I had ever actually gone through with it. You're the only one that gets relief with suicide and everyone you leave behind are the ones who have to deal with it.

The way I feel about others committing suicide - is sad. Just plain sad. I'm not mad at them. I'm not angry that they chose that path. It just makes you so sad - because you feel like you could have helped them, if you had known...

Thank you for sharing this. Everytime I read something like this, it just makes me feel like I'm not so different "from the rest of them" after all. Thank you!

 

[leaffan]

This is a subject that affects me daily, and although I've shared some of my story here, it's not something I am usually comfortable talking about. Most of my family is oblivious to my depression, with the exception of my wife and adult children, and they only know what I choose to tell them. Over the past 7 or 8 years, as my depression worsened, I have mostly cut myself off from friends and family out of embarrassment,I guess. When I quit drinking ( 6 years on Oct.6!), I was diagnosed with chronic major depression as well as a host of other crap, and was put on a variety of SSRI's and NSAIDS...they made things worse and I still suffer effects 3 years after stopping. I was sent to see a shrink weekly for a few months...I may as well been talking to my dog.(Actually I do...best listener in the world!). I stopped seeing all doctors and taking any pharmaceuticals 3 years ago and decided to deal with it myself. It certainly hasn't been easy. My depression is due in large part from the chronic pain due to end-stage osteoarthritis in my knee and debilitating RA pain in my hands. Add the loss of quality of life and it's easy to understand the why. I just don't get the how. I am not stupid, I understand what causes my feelings sadness, anger and hopelessness, how then does my mind constantly override rational thought with thoughts of doom and/or suicide? This isn't an occasional occurrence, these thoughts are all day every day. I know I'm not going to act on them today or even this week...but if this is what the rest of my life looks like...?
So this where I'm at on the subject. Don't hate me!, it's just what I feel personally. I think suicide is the right choice for some people, and not just those who are terminally ill. We were not given a choice to be born but it is absolutely my right to decide I no longer want to live, for whatever reason. I agree suicide discussion needs to be a more approachable subject, and a persons choice to end their own life needs to be respected instead of stigmatized.

No hate brother...
That is some heavy shit.
Thanks for sharing, to all of the posters...thanks, it takes courage.
Jessica...this is what I was talking about earlier. Fantastic kiddo.

 

[Yessica...]

I have attended AA meetings, many, but what always turned me off were the people that never went through anything in my opinion, to deserve to sit in that seat. Too many wine drinkers. My wife curses at me for that attitude. I once went to a meeting in the Bronx, NY, where I could actually relate to the "combatants" in the room. Then I went back to Westchester, and listened to housewives complain about the agony that drinking 5 glasses of wine caused their families. I am a snob, when it comes to self destructive behavior (LOL) I NEED a prison camp mentality. No bullshit, do it or fucking die by your own hand, or through illness caused by your drinking (which is the leading cause of death for an alcoholic) which is simply a slow form of suicide. I think that a Forum should be created on this site entitled Help Needed for My Head. I actually tried to start one yesterday, but I was so fucked up, I made it a sub topic in the Help section. Pretty funny. Go look, it still might be there. Funny shit. Seriously, I spend a lot of time on this site, we have the anonymity that is provided, why not get some help with our mental struggles? I just let everyone know my shit, and if that helped 1 person, excellent. Yessica, it is a great topic, and I hope it takes off, like it should. Peace out.

I have been doing this with my friends, for years. I actually got really close to some people, because we would have "Mental Health chats" via Facebook messenger. It's just easier to type it, a lot of the time.

More recently, I have actually had LIVE mental health chats with friends (gasp). I always thought I was so different than everyone else. Turns out - quite a few people I know have been struggling, in silence.

 

[Yessica...]

Here's something. Because I have gone through a flux of sadness and happiness throughout my life. I noticed this the last time I flew.

When I'm depressed, and on a plane - I hope that plane crashes. I would have welcomed it.

I flew on Monday. The only thing I really wanted was to get to the ground so I could see the people I love and missed while I was away from them.

Depression is consuming. It's hard to think about anything else. But, I have started to realize - it's possibly one of the worst diseases out there. Because it's your mind. It fucks with your mind, and who you are, and how you feel. About everything.

I have no insight when I'm depressed. All I feel, is sadness, and nothing.

I'd like to think, that now - because I've started talking about it so much, because I'm seeing someone, and because I told everyone I know what to look for - that maybe the next time it starts, I won't feel so alone.

Fingers crossed...

 

[freddyc]

From what little I know and have read on depression, it seems the pills people get are never helpful. Or do some people really get better? I seem to read more stuff like ' it almost killed me " or " I was fucked up worse than I was before taking them " or " those pills made useless and unable to function.
So is there any success treating depression with pharma pills? I get depressed, sad, pissed off, lazy and lethargic as well. But it would seem there isn't anywhere to go...just tough it out I do.

Yes the problem appears to be that the pharma companies 'direct, coerce, bribe' the docs to prescribe their new wonder drug. But just remember............

 

[freddyc]

Life is about ups and downs, being sad, being hyper........being human. Now if these behaviours hinder ones ability to show up at the 'widget factory' and be a so-called 'productive'. The DSM-V has pretty well pathologized every aspect of the human experience so that the doc can 'write a scrip' and the Pharma companies can get richer.
It's time that the 'roots' of the issues are explored, it's cultural and societal, but easier to blame the individual rather than research and develop a strategy that may cost the governement/business to lose profits.

Like Gwen says.......life long customers is the goal of the companies. That's why they are so difficult at times to taper off.

 

[freddyc]

This is a subject that affects me daily, and although I've shared some of my story here, it's not something I am usually comfortable talking about. Most of my family is oblivious to my depression, with the exception of my wife and adult children, and they only know what I choose to tell them. Over the past 7 or 8 years, as my depression worsened, I have mostly cut myself off from friends and family out of embarrassment,I guess. When I quit drinking ( 6 years on Oct.6!), I was diagnosed with chronic major depression as well as a host of other crap, and was put on a variety of SSRI's and NSAIDS...they made things worse and I still suffer effects 3 years after stopping. I was sent to see a shrink weekly for a few months...I may as well been talking to my dog.(Actually I do...best listener in the world!). I stopped seeing all doctors and taking any pharmaceuticals 3 years ago and decided to deal with it myself. It certainly hasn't been easy. My depression is due in large part from the chronic pain due to end-stage osteoarthritis in my knee and debilitating RA pain in my hands. Add the loss of quality of life and it's easy to understand the why. I just don't get the how. I am not stupid, I understand what causes my feelings sadness, anger and hopelessness, how then does my mind constantly override rational thought with thoughts of doom and/or suicide? This isn't an occasional occurrence, these thoughts are all day every day. I know I'm not going to act on them today or even this week...but if this is what the rest of my life looks like...?
So this where I'm at on the subject. Don't hate me!, it's just what I feel personally. I think suicide is the right choice for some people, and not just those who are terminally ill. We were not given a choice to be born but it is absolutely my right to decide I no longer want to live, for whatever reason. I agree suicide discussion needs to be a more approachable subject, and a persons choice to end their own life needs to be respected instead of stigmatized.

Congrats on the sobriety, and the ability to stop the meds, it is not an easy road by any stretch of the imagination. My wish is your focus becomes the beauty in life and you live with peace........ Sometimes I forget to 'stop and smell the roses' become 'enveloped' by my disease. I wish these things for you, myself, and all who struggle with our own realities.

 

[GrowRock]

So true Fred yet so disgusting at the same time!!

 

[Jimdamick]

From what little I know and have read on depression, it seems the pills people get are never helpful. Or do some people really get better? I seem to read more stuff like ' it almost killed me " or " I was fucked up worse than I was before taking them " or " those pills made useless and unable to function.
So is there any success treating depression with pharma pills? I get depressed, sad, pissed off, lazy and lethargic as well. But it would seem there isn't anywhere to go...just tough it out I do.

Yes, prescribed medications help. It took me years though of trying different medications to find that magic bullet, but I did finally obtain a semblance of normalcy, though none are a complete cure for my mental plight. My side effects were that I no longer was able to compete in the sex marathons that I used to indulge in, but I accepted that, seeing as not taking them was a living hell, and my wife still loves me ( not so much when I am off my meds) If you even think that you have mental health issues, then you do. See a doctor, see if they can help you, do what they ask, and things will get better. Maybe not great, but better. Peace out

 

[VIANARCHRIS]

Congrats on the sobriety, and the ability to stop the meds, it is not an easy road by any stretch of the imagination. My wish is your focus becomes the beauty in life and you live with peace........ Sometimes I forget to 'stop and smell the roses' become 'enveloped' by my disease. I wish these things for you, myself, and all who struggle with our own realities.

Thank you for the well wishes. I try to remind myself to stop and smell the flowers all the time...when I do, it's very therapeutic!