General Chat

A note from me.

All of my friends know that I have suffered three major mental breakdowns in my life - so far!

One in 1979, one in 1996.

The last huge one was 2004. I had lost a brother in 2002 and in 2004 I lost 2 more brothers and my sister between May and September. I chose to move into my sister's house and nurse her at home until she passed away in her own bed.

I think anyone can understand why it was just all too much to cope with.

The last minor one was 6 years ago when youngest daughter had a devastating stroke aged 29.

I have never been ashamed of telling people, admitting I was in a psychiatric ward in 1979 and also I praised my GPs for their support in 1996, 2004 and 6 years ago.

My friends listened and didn't judge. none told me to 'pull myself together' (an impossibility when you are mentally in pieces). They put up with my tears, anger, self pity, sense of unfairness and all the other baggage that you pick up with a mental illness. They knew when I swapped lanes in the supermarket when I spotted them not to take it as a personal insult, I was truly protecting them from my angst.

I'm not posting this for pity (I don't need that) just a little understanding of ordinary people like me who have NO control over their mental health when a crisis hits.

I now laugh about some of the things I did and said and that's part of the therapy.

I am unique and so is everyone else. I'm still here and that is solely due to the unwavering support of my family and friends.

Please remember you too can make a big difference in the recovery of someone suffering from a mental health issue.

Sue
<3 <3

This isn't about the NHS Rollo, it's about how family and friends can help sufferers. If you want to rant please delete your comment and start another thread and do not spoil this one.

Supercrutch, I am so pleased you have such lovely and understanding family and friends. Many people who have not been touched with mental illness do not understand how devastating it is. xx

Sue, like you I had two serious mental breakdowns in the seventies. The professional help I received was amazing thank goodness as my family and ex did not give a jot. Somehow I pulled through <3

Sue <3

Such an important day <3 <3

Family and very very special friends ,patience,understanding,care ,love and
also respect ......are all needed

Nobody knows the life we have lived or living and ,we each have different
stories to tell. To know there is help and understanding , means more than
anyone will know while suffering from such an illness. There are struggles,ups
and plenty of downs but to know there is actually light and feel that light
At the end of a very dark tunnel makes you believe in others and also
ones own self........

Pass on the awareness.....and also that they are not alone.....

I thank very single person in my life ,those who supported me and those
who forgave me when deep in the embers of my illness

I too had a breakdown in 1996 when I tried to top myself with a massive overdose - failed obviously!!! I was diagnosed with clinical depression - such a surprise - not just to me but to my colleagues and boss who were all qualified psychiatric nurses at the hospital where I worked. Thing is, people with clinical depression usually keep a happy smiley face on all the time. I have no problem talking about it - although the people I talk to about seem to have a problem, but if you don't talk about it, then the stigma will never go away - I like to think it has gone away a bit, but not near enough as much as it should.

I keep taking the medication and I'm fine, I have a lovely GP and if I find myself "slipping" I up the dose, or if my pal asks me how much I'm taking, I know I'm on a downward spiral.

I had two weeks on the local psychiatric unit, which unfortunately was part of the unit on which I was working - this didn't help, as I knew all the staff and they knew me and it just didn't work, so one morning I just walked out of the place and walked home - a few miles, but I just had to get out of there - it wasn't for me.

I weathered the death of my lovely husband with no fall back and the estrangement of my only sister, so I don't think I'll go to the dark place again - fingers crossed anyway :-D

I was delighted to find that The Archers has been running a storyline involving Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

This is one that doctors rarely see but spend a lot of time and effort treating their families and other victims.

This time around I didn't think I was suffering from depression because I was not feeling despair. This time, of course, the abuse was not still coming thick and fast from the real cause of the problem.

Thank you for sharing your experiences, hopefully they will mean an awful lot when people read them even if they don't comment. Maybe they will remember how support helps a sufferer should they ever have a family member or friend who is in crisis.

It shouldn't have any stigma attached, we cannot suppress the illness, just learn how to cope and get through it.

Sue x

too right Sue - it should not be stigmatised but treated like any other illness!!