Mental Health Awareness

I've had mental health problems most of my life, been on anti depressants, anti psychotics and tranquillisers for a fair amount of the time. I came off medication about fifteen years ago against doctors advice, and don't regret that decision, I was sick of relying on tablets and wanted to take it into my own hands. I have dark moments but just try and ride it out, it always passes.
I've had some really rough times over the years, but it peaked in late 1998, I had a psychotic breakdown and ended up in intensive care then spent two months heavily medicated on a psychiatric unit. At the time I was drinking heavily, taking way too many psychedelics and had an unhealthy obsession with Aleister Crowley... I completely lost the plot and thought I was in an occult battle with Peter Mandelson, and was getting monitored by Interpol and MI6 :D it was a seriously bleak time for me.
I just try and curb my obsessions and tread lightly through life nowadays, and don't take things too seriously... It helps :)
 
I am bipolar, and I have just got use to it. As mentioned above my lows are just not feeling anything or being motivated. With the highs I get a manic interest where OCD kicks in.

I haven't taken any medication for 20 years. I spent 10 years on Paroxetine, and the following Benzodiazepine's: Temazepam, Diazepam/Valium, Oxazepam, Nitrazepam, and Lorazepam.

I suffered Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, which was a nightmare.
 
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Sabre said:
I am bipolar, and I have just got use to it. As mentioned above my lows are just not feeling anything or being motivated. With the highs I get a manic interest where OCD kicks in.

I haven't taken any medication for 20 years. I spent 10 years on Paroxetine, and the following Benzodiazepine's: Temazepam, Diazepam/Valium, Oxazepam, Nitrazepam, and Lorazepam.

I suffered Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, which was a nightmare.
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Interesting! This sounds a bit like me.
I have not been diagnosed with anything, because as if yet I've not been to see a medical professional about what I go through. As most have alluded to, the British have been brought up to use Thier stiff upper lip to get through it.
However, that said, I kind of identify with the moments of feeling low and then the crazy bouts of obsessions. I've been like it all my life. If I got interested in an activity I'd have to get all the kit. Then after about 3 months never use it again. I've managed to curb that side of it now and just use Cycling and shaving as my return to obsessions. I love cycling but when I go through these low moments I have almost a phobia of having a heart attack, so any little ache, pain, discomfort triggers an immediate brain response of "Oh no your having a heart attack". Then I have to go through all the symptoms in my head quickly to convince myself it's just a bit of acid reflux, have some Rennie.
I know it sounds daft, but that's what happens. But after about a week or two I come out the other end and decide to get back on the bike. For the first 10 mins wondering if I'm gonna die and then getting over myself and enjoying the ride wishing I'd got our sooner coz that's actually what I needed.

Well that's enough of my input for this evening. It's been great to read all your points and experiences. Thanks for sharing.
 
*Trigger Warning*








tbh some of us use de blades not thinking much of it but I'm feeling very blessed to be around de blades as a whole as my mrs had to hide every potentially dangerous object from me as I was self harming and very suicidal

just goes to show sometimes in life we've been blessed but aren't able to see the blessing of what we have till it gone
 
Thank you for this thread and the sharing which ye gents have already posted. I, like many, have and still do experience severe mental health issues. Anxiety was first to rear it’s ugly head then came the depression when cycles of anxiety just kept on cycling around again and again and again…

I’m a recovering alcoholic with over 18 years sobriety but still acutely feel the deep shame over the pain and hurt I caused to those closest to me.

I’ll not go any deeper just now but I will say that I’m there with you all in empathy.

Hang in there,
Graeme
 
Gairdner said:
Thank you for this thread and the sharing which ye gents have already posted. I, like many, have and still do experience severe mental health issues. Anxiety was first to rear it’s ugly head then came the depression when cycles of anxiety just kept on cycling around again and again and again…

I’m a recovering alcoholic with over 18 years sobriety but still acutely feel the deep shame over the pain and hurt I caused to those closest to me.

I’ll not go any deeper just now but I will say that I’m there with you all in empathy.

Hang in there,
Graeme
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I've got GAD which stands for generalized anxiety disorder which tbh is awful, it's like one little thing will happen and you think of a million and one bad things and worst outcomes that can happen even if it's unrealistic and do I think being a deep thinker can be good but probably has been far worse for me as you tend to overthink the smallest of things
 
Ah you mean the dreaded Spirals of Doom? I suffer from that, didn't know it had a name with initials. Someone told me it's called catastrophising. I can have a minor concern, which in a matter of seconds has had a series of possible knock on effects or consequences which result in a chain reaction of worsening scenarios that eventually become all-encompassing ineluctable disaster. Before you know it a tiny thing can escalate in your mind to "well what's the point of carrying on?" which is quite an alarming overreaction that needs catching.

Luckily my Mrs is a bit more level headed and tells me when I've gone from probable to improbable to paranoid.

I blame it on having a vivid imagination, being brought up to avoid all risk, and then being told that if anything did happen, I probably wouldn't be able to cope.

Thanks dad. You beardy Braun electric using nobber!

Obviously the antidote was to take up motorcycles, martial arts and straight razors! But the thing is, those are all things that carry an element of risk, but one that you have partial control over and can therefore "dose" if that makes sense.
 
hotmetal said:
Ah you mean the dreaded Spirals of Doom? I suffer from that, didn't know it had a name with initials. Someone told me it's called catastrophising. I can have a minor concern, which in a matter of seconds has had a series of possible knock on effects or consequences which result in a chain reaction of worsening scenarios that eventually become all-encompassing ineluctable disaster. Before you know it a tiny thing can escalate in your mind to "well what's the point of carrying on?" which is quite an alarming overreaction that needs catching.

Luckily my Mrs is a bit more level headed and tells me when I've gone from probable to improbable to paranoid.

I blame it on having a vivid imagination, being brought up to avoid all risk, and then being told that if anything did happen, I probably wouldn't be able to cope.

Thanks dad. You beardy Braun electric using nobber!

Obviously the antidote was to take up motorcycles, martial arts and straight razors! But the thing is, those are all things that carry an element of risk, but one that you have partial control over and can therefore "dose" if that makes sense.
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tbh from what ive learnt i think the worst thing we could do to ourselves is isolate yourself,
being alone and over thinking can be really detrimental to your mental health

i went for specialist psychology the other day, ive had psychology before like DBT,
anyways it was like talking to a brick wall, the guy wasnt even conversing with me,
like i get as a medical professional you cant get too personal but you know there has to be some leeway?

proper pissed me off not gonna lie, like whats the point if they arent at least going to acknowledge your existence, like wtf lol
 
saj1985 said:
tbh from what ive learnt i think the worst thing we could do to ourselves is isolate yourself,
being alone and over thinking can be really detrimental to your mental health

i went for specialist psychology the other day, ive had psychology before like DBT,
anyways it was like talking to a brick wall, the guy wasnt even conversing with me,
like i get as a medical professional you cant get too personal but you know there has to be some leeway?

proper pissed me off not gonna lie, like whats the point if they arent at least going to acknowledge your existence, like wtf lol
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Man that sucks. Mental health provisions in the UK can be a crapshoot at the best of times, but I imagine with Covid and so many more people trying to access this, it's probably even more over subscribed. We do a good job to avoid political themes on the forum, but I really wish the government would spend a bit more money on mental health provisions.
saj1985 said:
tbh some of us use de blades not thinking much of it but I'm feeling very blessed to be around de blades as a whole as my mrs had to hide every potentially dangerous object from me as I was self harming and very suicidal

just goes to show sometimes in life we've been blessed but aren't able to see the blessing of what we have till it gone
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Fuck man. Hope you're feeling better today.

Gairdner said:
Thank you for this thread and the sharing which ye gents have already posted. I, like many, have and still do experience severe mental health issues. Anxiety was first to rear it’s ugly head then came the depression when cycles of anxiety just kept on cycling around again and again and again…

I’m a recovering alcoholic with over 18 years sobriety but still acutely feel the deep shame over the pain and hurt I caused to those closest to me.

I’ll not go any deeper just now but I will say that I’m there with you all in empathy.

Hang in there,
Graeme
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Fine work on getting to 18 years of sobriety. IMO, addiction and mental health issues go hand in hand, well I've had my issues with both and I see addiction to be a symptom of my mental health issues, and I imagine it may be for others as well.

Anxiety seems to be something which a few more people are beginning to mention in conversation, and I think that's a good thing.

hotmetal said:
Ah you mean the dreaded Spirals of Doom? I suffer from that, didn't know it had a name with initials. Someone told me it's called catastrophising.
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I didn't know about this term before, it's a good one.

****
Thanks to all who are posting their honest experiences, it takes great humility and strength to do so.
 
donnie_arko said:
Man that sucks. Mental health provisions in the UK can be a crapshoot at the best of times, but I imagine with Covid and so many more people trying to access this, it's probably even more over subscribed. We do a good job to avoid political themes on the forum, but I really wish the government would spend a bit more money on mental health provisions.
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I work in childrens services (fostering team). Pretty much all the kids I have worked with in past and present really need some form of therapy (play therapy) for them to deal with their past trauma / adverse experiences. There is a rather long, and somewhat unsuccessful, waiting list for them to access this therapeutic service but the local authority doesnt seem to have any in-house options. Some foster carers may be waiting months if not almost a year to get some form of consultation.
 
donnie_arko said:
Man that sucks. Mental health provisions in the UK can be a crapshoot at the best of times, but I imagine with Covid and so many more people trying to access this, it's probably even more over subscribed. We do a good job to avoid political themes on the forum, but I really wish the government would spend a bit more money on mental health provisions.

Fuck man. Hope you're feeling better today.



Fine work on getting to 18 years of sobriety. IMO, addiction and mental health issues go hand in hand, well I've had my issues with both and I see addiction to be a symptom of my mental health issues, and I imagine it may be for others as well.

Anxiety seems to be something which a few more people are beginning to mention in conversation, and I think that's a good thing.



I didn't know about this term before, it's a good one.

****
Thanks to all who are posting their honest experiences, it takes great humility and strength to do so.
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Tbh I think these Dr'sbe dishing out anti depressants and mental health meds far too easily, honestly I've felt like a guinea pig, just chucking pills at you in the hope, some anti depressants, anti psychotic or like anxiety med fixes it but reality is it just numbs down your emotions bit like putting a plaster on the issues instead of addressing it tbh
 
If you suffer from stress or anxiety, my clinical psychologist advised identify the cause and removing it. I haven't felt suicidal despair, boredom with life yes, so I no idea of a resolution for that.
 
So it's been a few weeks since I returned to this thread
How's everyone doing?
@Blademonkey how's the house thing looking?
This end of the year can get a little lonely especially when it's cold and dark. I just wanted to keep this thread going so those of us who have a rough time now and again can come on here and vent.
I'm feeling a lot better than I did last time. Still have moments but nowhere near as deep.
Ep safe guys.
 
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