Mental Illness Awareness and Support Thread

[bluecat*dancing]

Let;s see how we go.

[youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit]

I too wouldnt like it if anyone felt unwelcome to share their story or thoughts here..

I think I understand what greencat means by fraud..I guess its a question of degree.
I dont suffer from depression, but have had experience of quite desperate grief..I definitely was depressed, but time and experience and being courageous has helped me.

I dont feel better or more worthy than anyone else because I have been able to cope. Not for one minute.

I have learnt we are all on our own journeys..most importantly, I learnt that we are doing the best we can-even if,at times we can feel weak or as if we are standing still..

I am quite consciously trying to bring more kindness to interactions each day.

[sandypas]

I am lucky enough to not have a mental disorder but my daughter has bipolar and now my dil is suffering anxiety attacks.

I keep an eye out for anything that may help me help them.  My daughter is going fine - she has been on medication for 4 years and is well under control.  Thankfully she hasn't taken herself off them.

My dil has only been suffering the last 6 months and has had several severe anxiety attacks - once with me which was quite frightening.  I had to hold her and deep breathe with her to stop the hyper-ventillating.  She turns to me for help when needed as she

says I am the only one who seems to calm her.  She is now on medication but still has feelings of anxiety.

Can anyone with experience with anxiety advise if it does go away.  She has a 10 month old baby but her doctor doesn't think it is anything to do with childbirth/hormones.

Thanks for the thread bluecat - I think every family would have someone with a mental disorder.  People need to realise that mental disorders are just another type of illness - like diabetes, ms etc.

[bluecat*dancing]

The saying that "mental illness doesn't run in my family, it gallops" is true for me.

Is your DIL getting counselling for her anxiety? Mine doesn't go away and because it isn't specific, it is hard to put strategies in place. Hopefully, someone who has had success with their anxiety will come along and offer advice because  I know that there are those who have been able to control it.

I'm glad that your daughter is doing well. XXX

[bluecat*dancing]

The treatment for less severe cases saw the invention of an object that requires batteries and is now in common use. The word Hysteria comes from the Greek word,"Hyster" which translated means "Uterus".

[polksaladallie]

---

@darksideofthemoon wrote:

Here's an interesting fact, up until 1956 what we now call depression and other akin illnesses was, if it was a woman, and so often it was, called 'hysteria'.

The treatment was, when it became severe enough, a hysterectomy!  'The removal of histeria'... I wonder how many women were treated for this in this way?

Now at least this broard subject has varying names for the different aspects of mental illness and hysterectomies are not part of the cure.

PS  I bet it didn't cure a **bleep** thing!!

---

And after that period, people were zapped.  Those that received that "cure" were worse afterwards, and some are all but drooling in nursing homes now.  Be thankful that that treatment is not mandatory now.

[bluecat*dancing]

One of my fellow scribes - now in her 80's - was subjected to ECT after the birth of her first child because she was deemed to be "a bad mother". "Being a Bad Mother" is now called Post Natal Depression. Disgraceful what women were subjected to due to ignorance.

[ten*teeny*tiny*toes]

I'm glad you got the thread going Bluecat ♥

Some may remember me writing about my daughter on the other Mental Health thread.
I have to say that I got a lot of support, understanding and guidance there, so threads such as this can do a lot of good.
I wish I could say things are improved but sadly that's not the case.
Loving, living and caring for someone with mental ilnesss is indeed a tough gig, all consuming at times.
It impacts each and every member of the family and has caused us no end of despair.
But its not about us, it is so so so much harder for the sufferer. Fighting to just get through the day, living in constant turmoil and emotional distress and feeling like you have no control. I can only imagine....it has to be exhausting.

[bluecat*dancing]

ECT is still used for severe cases but is now done under general anaesthetic and is administered at a lower frequency and over a number of sessions. I've yet to speak to anyone who has benefited from it long term.

[bluecat*dancing]

Lots of big squishy hugs for you, Teeny Toes. XXX

[ten*teeny*tiny*toes]

Thanks bluecat