A-Z of mental health
Information and advice on a huge range of mental health topics
Online round up: people living with mental distress
Posted Friday 18 February 2011
One of the great things about the internet is that it is so easy to share stories with other people. One of the bad things about the 'net is that it can be really hard to find those stories – without surfing for hours on end. Here are a few blogs that you have told us about in the last few weeks:
- The anatomy of assault – Aliquant illustrates how suturing is done after prompted by her experiences in A&E with little or no anaesthetic
- Arbeit macht frei – Joanna discusses whether work really is good for you.
- Dealing with the black dog – a lawyer talks about her depression and the need for services.
- Hiding in plain sight – Cat describes her determination and experiences living with mental distress.
- This Week in Mentalists – Zarathustra has summarised their top picks including experiences on psychotherapy, psychiatrists and mentors and whether antidepressants affect fish.
Have you read any supportive blog posts recently? Share them in the comments below.
Taryn Ozorio, Mind Communications
3 Comments
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It was certainly interesting for me to read this post. Thank author for it. I like such topics and anything that is connected to this matter. I would like to read a bit more on this blog soon.
Whitny Swift -
As far back as childhood I remember the dark desolation, the panic and the lonliness. But how was I to know at that age why I could never sit and listen to a story or enjoy a hug, and couldn't make or keep any friends. School was a nightmare where my parents sent me every day to be bullied, segregated, laughed at, and taunted for being chubby and shy. I felt different to the other kids too, I didn't know why but I did, the other kids seemed to notice I was different too, a loner, an easy target. I failed to learn anything much, my day was filled with panick from start to finish, I had no room for information, I was only worried how I could get out of the front gates without the usual bullies waiting for me, so they could push, shove, trip, and shout abuse at me, and oh how those words still echo in my ears in the darkness of the night, even though I'm 45. There was'nt much comfort when I got home either, my parents had long since given up with me and I had become a silent piece of furniture that needed feeding by a self obsessed selfish mother. Dad was better but he was always at work. So I sat alone in my bedroom terrified of life. I soon dropped out of school, nobody noticed, not my parents, the teachers or the kids, I was the 'invisible', the last straw was when in PE they announced we were going to be doing PE with the boys, I can remember being almost physically sick at the thought, and oh the torment I would get because I had a rather large chest for my age-something I still hate about myself (talk to my face please)
When I was 14 I took the first of many overdoses that I was to take over the forthcoming years. After a week in hospital and a lovely chat with a psychologist who made no sense to me at all I went home. Nothing had changed.
Let me skip through just incase your bored with my ramblings. At 17 I got engaged, at 20 I got married, at 25 I got divorced. Then at almost 26 met someone else whom I went on to marry even though he was violent, abusive and controlling to whom I had my only child, after a few years we ended up in a womens refuge (me and my son), divorced by 30. at 30 I met a man 26 years older than me and moved in with him, for the first time I felt safe. That lasted 8 years and ended messily. Then I met a man 7 years younger than me and got married after 8months, he was abusive, lazy and adulterous openly. He also stole all my money and I ended up losing my home I owned. At 40 I was divorced. Then met a man I had a reasonable relationship with for 2 and a half years which I didnt marry! Now at 45 and alone.
All through this time it was littered with breakdowns and overdoses and I also managed to work in various jobs, all of which ended badly because of my struggle with mental health. Now I don't work, and I feel useless, although I know I can't work anymore I miss it. My last breakdown 3 years ago was so severe I nearly died of an overdose and was taken into a secure hospital. Since then I have battled to get myself help and to be taken seriously by the doctors. At 45 I have only just begun receiving talking therapy, and been refered to an organisation where I can get out and do some occupational therapy.
My feelings are that unless your sitting in a corner rocking backwards and forth muttering nonsense, stinking in last weeks clothes nobody will listen. I have been victim to having a bright and lively mind, to being eloquent and trying to keep up my appearances. My intelligence a curse. Why should i have been left to suffer as I have just because I can put into words what mental illness has meant to me.
Thank you for listening, I finally have found a voice.
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Hi Angie, Thanks for sharing your story with us. I'm really glad to hear that you are finally getting talking therapy and occupational therapy - I hope that they will have a positive effect. We're looking for volunteers to speak about their experiences with work and it sounds like you have struggled with it - if you're interested in speaking out about your story to raise awareness and hopefully change workplaces for the better please fill out our volunteer form: http://www.mind.org.uk/take_action/media_opportunities/opportunities_for_mind_week_2011
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