Do you need a Mental health check?

[Debbie]

We talk about checking our boobs, getting prostate exams, colonoscopies, weird, lumps, bumps checked out etc but why do we talk less about our mental health?


Is it fear? Shame? Uninformed?

Or if we don't talk about it then the pink polka dotted elephant in the room might go away?


Is there a history of mental illness in your family? Does it worry you that you might be genetically predisposed to becoming mentally unwell?

Are you ok?

I hope you are.

If you're not ok?

You aren't alone.

Reach out to your dr. Your family. Your friends. Life line.


Five signs your mental health is under strain


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11855880

 

[dolf]

Debbie, you are a genuinely good and decent person

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[Lancecastor]

Deb, why are crazy chicks always so good in bed?

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Generally speaking, a mental health eval is simple. DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU ARE, AND THE TIME/DATE.

But I'll wager its not a problem if you say youre Napoleon, Lady Gaga, or the Easter Bunny. Most here are empty suits but believe the costume is the man.

 

[hashtag46]

Given that (as I read somewhere) one in six americans are on antidepressants,

I don't think that there still is as much stigma surrounding depression nowadays, and people are generally good at asking their family doctor for help.
In fact, I think that, unlike Asian countries, they are even overdoing the depression bit in Western countries.

I think that the real stigma comes from being labelled as having "acopia" (for men) or personality problems (for women).
-- Just take a look in this forum: half of the people here are psychoanalysing or diagnosing each other as personality disordered, in a prejorative way.
-- Or let's say, for example that someone tells a wannabbee counseller friend that they struggle at work or with a toxic environment. What if, instead of letting the person offload or giving them advice on how to deal with those who bother them, that friend starts asking: "You keep complaining about Them. But what's Your role in this?"or "Does this happen to you often? Do you have a pattern of such behaviors"?

Plus pills aren't that expensive, whereas counselling is.

 

[Debbie]

I think everyone needs a mental health check at times.

I agree.

It's easy to tell yourself I'm just overtired. Or it's been a tough week.

We don't want to bothers others and we think we might be burdening them with our problems.




ty dolf.

lance, if I was a therapist I might ask you why are you so attractive to the so called crazy ones.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/austra...er-about-his-suicide-to-show-were-not-ashamed

"The wife of an Australian doctor who took his own life this month has written a letter to make others aware of how quickly depression can take hold of someone's life.

Dr Andrew Bryant, a gastroenterologist in Brisbane, husband and father to four children, died in his office last Thursday after battling depression."

 

[Jamiegeo]

"The wife of an Australian doctor who took his own life this month has written a letter to make others aware of how quickly depression can take hold of someone's life.

Dr Andrew Bryant, a gastroenterologist in Brisbane, husband and father to four children, died in his office last Thursday after battling depression."

Dr Bryant and his family are at the forefront of the unfortunate truth that there
Is no truly impartial and stigma free attitude towards life's 'mind matters'.
Those that treat and advise are all to often left on the battlefield without a support
Network other than their partners..
Its takes nothing but courage and compassion to ask someone: "How are you really?"

My thoughts go out to all that suffer the dreaded woes of mental stress and illness.
Like Debbie says: 'You are NEVER alone'.

 

[hashtag46]

I keep wondering why the nomber of people on antidepressants keeps rising.

Must be a multitude of factors.
But one of them might be because many jobs no longer offer satisfaction.
The culture changed from being seen as a valuable team member, to just another nomber on a payroll.
And with communities breaking down, even religion doesn't always offer a sense of meaning; it's sometimes treated like one of those social clubs.

 

[Greypowerful]

When I admitted I had a problem, I sought help. Part of that help was antidepressant medication.

I'm blessed not to need that medication any longer, according to my doctor. Vitamin D in the Winter, and a fundamental change in lifestyle enables a pretty contented man, today.

Another thing that's fundamentally different: with strength comes discernment - I don't need anyone's approval, so I'm immune, by & large, to the "judgy" crap that some spew.

Debbie, thanks for bringing an important issue to the fore. The whackjobs are such because they will not or cannot be self-aware enough to seek help.

Those of us who have survived Hell are stronger for it.

 

[dolf]

I keep wondering why the nomber of people on antidepressants keeps rising.

Must be a multitude of factors.
But one of them might be because many jobs no longer offer satisfaction.
The culture changed from being seen as a valuable team member, to just another nomber on a payroll.
And with communities breaking down, even religion doesn't always offer a sense of meaning; it's sometimes treated like one of those social clubs.

most jobs are indoors and non-physical. the first two recommendations for self help when feeling low are sunlight and exercise.

these days issues seem more long term. it's not ''if I just make it through the winter/war/famine...'' anymore, it's the prospect of the whole world being polluted, the knowledge of WMDs and constant global conflict, debt and employment issues than make the rest of your life (into old age and beyond) look unworkable, etc.

 

[lovetoread]

nah

i like the crazy in my head

 

[Jamiegeo]

nah

i like the crazy in my Head

Your auto corrects playing up, it mis spelt 'Bed'.

 

[hashtag46]

most jobs are indoors and non-physical.

1.the first two recommendations for self help when feeling low are sunlight and exercise.

2.these days issues seem more long term. it's not ''if I just make it through the winter/war/famine...'' anymore, it's the prospect of the whole world being polluted, the knowledge of WMDs and constant global conflict, debt and employment issues than make the rest of your life (into old age and beyond) look unworkable, etc.

1.Good points. Those are good for anyone who's feeling low, regardless of cause.


2.That too.

There are several types of depression, so to speak
- 1.one in which antidepressants are one of the musts
- 2.and the other type that only improves with other measures (take a kid who's feeling depressed because he's being bullied at school: changing schools or teaching him how to cope are the right way to go about it ).

I suspect that the person's doctor will be able to differentiate between the two and direct them to the appropriate treatments.
Nevertheless, I read somewhere that antidepressants are being currently over- prescribed, particularly in the States. That the nombers are almost doubling every few years.

I keep wondering why that is. Must be a combination of factors, among which:
-- Besides something in the fabric of modern society that might be making people feel more stressed or burnt out,
-- Could it be the Health Insurance system in the US?
That counselling isn't affordable, for example (I suspect). Therefore a lot of pressure put on family doctors to give people a more affordable fix?

 

[FGB]

I have the Tee shirt.

They claim I am sane.

Doctors.

Being sane is highly overrated.

Few people know what "Normal" is anyway.

Normal is a matter of opinion.

 

[dolf]

What I was trying to get at:

That there are two types of depression, so to speak:
1.one that gets better with medications or sunlight and other measures,
2.and the other type that only improves with other measures (take a kid who's feeling depressed because he's being bullied at school: changing schools or teaching him how to cope are the right way to go about it ).

I suspect that the person's doctor will be able to differentiate between the two and direct them to the appropriate treatments.
Nevertheless, I read somewhere that antidepressants are being currently over- prescribed, particularly in the States. That the nombers are almost dpubling every few years.

I keep wondering why that is. Must be a combination of factors, among which:
-- Besides something in the fabric of modern society that might be making people feel more stressed or burnt out,
-- Could it be the Health Insurance system in the US?
That counselling isn't affordable? Therefore a lot of pressure put on family doctors to give people a more affordable fix?

a natural, normal response of being miserable shitty situations... is that actually depression? I could be wrong, but I believe it's when the stress of bad circumstances has unbalanced the brain chemistry to the point where it doesn't pick up naturally as soon as the situation changes, that it's actually depression.

I recall a one time friend of mine, with a past history of mental health issues, going to the shrink to ask for inpatient care. the doc told him that he wasn't depressed, he was just fucking miserable because he was going through a divorce, and that they don't hospitalise people for normal emotions. the doc was absolutely right, and the guy pulled his shit together instantly.

however, you're absolutely right about pills being the cheap option.

...BUT, therapy often isn't actually helpful until the person has been on pills long enough to stabilise. it's hard to look at the issues clearly through fogged up glasses.

 

[hashtag46]

1.a natural, normal response of being miserable shitty situations... is that actually depression?
I could be wrong, but I believe it's when the stress of bad circumstances has unbalanced the brain chemistry to the point where it doesn't pick up naturally as soon as the situation changes, that it's actually depression.

I recall a one time friend of mine, with a past history of mental health issues, going to the shrink to ask for inpatient care. the doc told him that he wasn't depressed, he was just fucking miserable because he was going through a divorce, and that they don't hospitalise people for normal emotions. the doc was absolutely right, and the guy pulled his shit together instantly.

however, you're absolutely right about pills being the cheap option.

2....BUT, therapy often isn't actually helpful until the person has been on pills long enough to stabilise. it's hard to look at the issues clearly through fogged up glasses.

Good points.

 

[Worm]

When I was a child I lived with a schizophrenic who was paranoid about everything. Wouldn't take her medication because doctors wanted to hurt her. Would not let me take a shower or bath with the door closed because I could drown. Would not eat any food she did not prepare herself. The list goes on.

It was normal for me as I grew up in that house and didn't know better but looking back it was some scary shit. I wish I could have done something to help her

 

[BabblingBrooke]

There remains a huge stigma regarding mental health issues here in the States. I would love to see a societal shift in which these were viewed like any other illness/disease/injury. Pain killers are okay when you have a reason for the pain. Antibiotics are okay when you have a need for them. Why the shame on those who need antidepressants?

 

[FGB]

Originally Posted by dolf View Post
1.a natural, normal response of being miserable shitty situations... is that actually depression?
I could be wrong, but I believe it's when the stress of bad circumstances has unbalanced the brain chemistry to the point where it doesn't pick up naturally as soon as the situation changes, that it's actually depression.

I recall a one time friend of mine, with a past history of mental health issues, going to the shrink to ask for inpatient care. the doc told him that he wasn't depressed, he was just fucking miserable because he was going through a divorce, and that they don't hospitalise people for normal emotions. the doc was absolutely right, and the guy pulled his shit together instantly.

however, you're absolutely right about pills being the cheap option.

2....BUT, therapy often isn't actually helpful until the person has been on pills long enough to stabilise. it's hard to look at the issues clearly through fogged up glasses.

***********************************************************

Good points

Drugs only mask the problems. They do not go away. Unless they are caused by a chemical imbalance...

Many, many people do not realize why they are having trouble dealing with people, places, and things.

They have never developed the tools to deal with issues that cause them problems because they do not realize that they have a problem or the depth of them.

I remember going on a rant myself once about why where we NOT taught to handle some of of these things in intermediate and high school.

My life and education would have drastically changed if it had.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

I'd be willing to wager that I could go to a shrink today and tell her/him a few tales of my life and walk out with 2-3 scripts for anti-depressants. It's what shrinks do, sadly.


Yep "clinically" depressed.


I have found that depression has quite a difficult time hitting a moving target.


I did the drugs thing for a few months many years ago, and I haven't been on any of that shit since. Some of that crap will make you more suicidal than you were to start with

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Many, many people do not realize why they are having trouble dealing with people, places, and things.

They have never developed the tools to deal with issues that cause them problems because they do not realize that they have a problem or the depth of them.

To me, these seem to be caused by an over-concentration on oneself.

 

[Greypowerful]

At the risk of pontificating, the "culture of anger", manifested clearly i within the political threads here, promotes a finger-pointing mentality...

I'm not sure, but when healthcare is considered a natural extension of governance, mental and physical issues tend to merge a bit more.

De-stigmatisation is a natural outgrowth of this attitude, in my view.

 

[Greypowerful]

To me, these seem to be caused by an over-concentration on oneself.

And you expect everyone to get a Program, instantly?

Keep coming back....

 

[hashtag46]

So people discussed three cause of depression (or whatever we might call it):


1.Biological
The "chemical imbalance in the brain" thing

2.Personality
Related to either the person's personality, or the fact that the person lacks certain skills

3.Environmental
Like people trapped in a toxic environment or a terrible situatio. with no resolution in sight


Coming from a culture which is more communitarian/or collectivistic so to speak,
I enjoy focusing on and discussing more no.3
And I suspect that many other women do too

I noticed that australians and kiwis, whose culture is more individualistic, or men generally
focus more on no.2 and talk a lot about "one's need to accept personal responsibility" and so on.