Why Is It Harder To Accept A Mental Health Issue Than A Physical One?

[PranK]

Yeah, nice note on the 'hyped up or erratic' - any odd behaviour can be a sign of trouble.

[Humbla]

lifes to short have to enjoy every second, my two lil girl doggys help me deal with

my daily life,love them to bits. :-)

[GTR-N1]

Before I get into nitty-gritty, perhaps it can be of assistance to outline what practitioners are out there...

when one needs to diagnose &/or talk.

* Psychiatrist - Medical degree + post grad. qualifications > Counsels and diagnoses and prescribes diets and drugs. Very few indeed (eg Dr Chris Reading who wrote a book on the genetics of Bipolar) can recall their biochemistry from 2nd yr Med and apply it to the patient's situation across the desk, Therapies, Monitors.

Medicare

* Psychologist - B.A. (Psych) or B.Sc. (Psych) + post grad. qualifications + Member of the PS (Aust) > Counsels, Psychological Temperament Testing, Psychometric Testing, Neuropsych. Testing, Intelligence Testing, Diagnoses, Therapies.

Health Funds or Quota of Sessions via Dr

* Psychopharmacologist - Psychomedical degree + post grad. qualifications > Counsels, Diagnoses what brain neurotransmitter imbalances exist through genetics, drugs, allergies and sensitivities, Tests involve quasi-psych tests, Usage of nutrients, abstensions and diets, Therapies

Medicare or selected Health Funds

* Endocrinologist - Medical degree + post grad. qualifications > Determines how sex hormones and prostaglandins can get out of balance and affect behaviour

Medicare

* Counsellor - Any qualification from TAFE or Uni that is Psych related + Member of the ACA > Counsels

selected Health Funds

* Hypnotherapist - Any qualification from a college or post grad from Macquarie Uni + Member of the ASCH or AHA > Counsels, Hypnosis therapy for disorders eg smoking, eating, fears, sleep, anxiety/depression (reactive type only)

selected Health Funds

* Psychotherapist - Any qualification that is Psych related, but not necessarily a member of any professional group > Counsels

no rebate

* Acupuncturist - Traditional Chinese Acupuncture qualifications where pulse tests can be administered (not symptom based) + Member of the AAA > Hormone imbalance therapy - more of a sexual hormone nature rather than brain hormone nature

selected Health Funds

* Herbalist/Naturopath - N.D. qualification from a college + Member of the ATMS > Diets, Herbs (eg Passiflora, St Johns Wort, Valerian, Withania), abstensions

selected Health Funds

* Personal Trainer - I'm not sure of what qualifications they have (so this line may be edited with your assistance) > Activity and Exercise based regimes to temporarily lift brain neurotransmitters or endorphins

selected Health Funds

[Birds]

Should point out that neither counsellors nor psychotherapists are legally required to possess qualifications or be affiliated with an industry body such as the ACA, though most will be. It is up to a client to check that people providing these services have qualifications that meet your satisfaction and most counsellors/psychotherapists who do will actively promote their qualifications or have them pinned up in their place of practice.

[GTR-N1]

Salient warnings indeed.

'Tis also relevant to now categorise the channels through which we can/have all offload/ed muck that has precipitated trauma, anxiety, depression, guilt, bewilderment, withdrawal and anguish.

1) Personal eg diary

2) Social

a) a person who can listen/reflect

b) a person who can absorb emotion and feed back logic

c) a person who can be trusted (and won't put your info in a dirt file)

d) a person who doesn't gossip

e) a person who has such an affinity with you that he/she finds it easy to confide in you too

3) Professional as per 2 posts above

4) Spiritual eg God through prayer, local priest

So there are choices.

[PranK]

Terry, might be worth putting that in another post and stickying ?

[GTR-N1]

Shall take that on board thanks Christian!

Genelle talked about her pet dogs.

Ever considered how these beloveds fill 2 a-e) above???

They listen and reflect. They can absorb emotion and spit out logic like, "It's ok. We'll get through this." They can be trusted. They don't gossip. And they have such a strong affinity that they take their problems to the one who they imprint on.

Ever thought that when we go out to choose a dog, (even a bird or perhaps a Burmese cat), they choose you just as much as you choose him(her)?

I find that riveting!

[PranK]

Ben (who has his own Facebook page) is the greatest listener I have.

Baci generally falls asleep just when I get started, so she's not that good for support, but she is just lovely to be around.

Terry, have removed the filters on 'god' now.

[Birds]

My rajab I'm going to miss those filters

[PranK]

My rajab I'm going to miss those filters

Haha! You'll just have to type them now.

[RBrennan25]

I was going to share a theory as to why these illnesses are maybe mistrusted or misinterpreted but as I can see that there are people who have been/currently are struggling with them I thought I'd share my story cos I've never really told many people even though I'm quite happy to talk about it.

I struggled for probably around 6 years or so as a teenager, nothing major really but worse than an average teenager, my home life was really bad. My parents were constantly fighting, verbally and physically, and I was always breaking it up, and I also went to a selective school where, in hindsight, I was basically bullied by the teachers because I was more focused on sport than school.

It all started to get gradually worse but I always had my big outlet being sport, specifically cricket and to a lesser extent rugby league, as I actually started to gain sponsorships and got to play for some very high representative teams for a 15/16 year old. Then out of something as innocuous as small hit to the side of the knee, I was out indefinitely. 2 torn ligaments, and all the cartilage torn out of my knee.

After a couple of months I got told I couldn't play anymore as I'd be in too much pain (and they were right haha) and I'd need a full replacement, which they wouldn't do on someone so young. About 2 weeks after that a county team from England rang me asking if I'd be interested in a 2 year scholarship program to play for them, which was pretty much my dream as it's what my grandfather did, and I had to say no, which was hard seeing as it's everything I'd worked for.

After that I isolated myself, started drinking heavily, especially once I turned 18 haha, basically all the cliched stuff.

But I had a good therapist and it took a few years, and I had to reconnect with my parents and things like that but I got through it. Also good friends helped

And I'm sure there are people here who think that it couldn't have been that bad and the like, but honestly playing sport was all I knew. I trained 4 days a week and played both days on the weekend. I didn't see myself capable of doing anything else with my life once it finished.

I also found that music really helped me. I taught myself guitar and piano and even ended up joining a few bands and touring and everything, but even just learning, it was something to concentrate on that could be really rewarding and kept me from over thinking. So maybe something like that can help other people?

[PranK]

Great post #@RBrennan25.

[Birds]

I'm surprised at the number of people coming out of the woodwork and openly posting about their histories. There must be more reading this section than usually post. Well done to all of you; I hope your stories encourage others to follow suit or at least see that there are ways out of the seemingly lightless tunnel.

Good thread, Christian! Now where is your sports car in your list of vehicles? Don't tell me you don't have one anymore, as that can't be good for mental health...

[PranK]

I'm surprised at the number of people coming out of the woodwork and openly posting about their histories. There must be more reading this section than usually post. Well done to all of you; I hope your stories encourage others to follow suit or at least see that there are ways out of the seemingly lightless tunnel.

Good thread, Christian! Now where is your sports car in your list of vehicles? Don't tell me you don't have one anymore, as that can't be good for mental health...

Obviously your vision is impaired as the TDI Passat is clearly listed there.

[Birds]

Forgive me, I forgot all about those winning Wheels' performance car of the year!

[L33SH]

Obviously your vision is impaired as the TDI Passat is clearly listed there.

It is, he is blind as fk

[RBrennan25]

I'm surprised at the number of people coming out of the woodwork and openly posting about their histories. There must be more reading this section than usually post. Well done to all of you; I hope your stories encourage others to follow suit or at least see that there are ways out of the seemingly lightless tunnel

Yeah mate that's exactly why I wanted to post something. Hopefully we can get to a stage some time soon where no one feels ashamed for putting their hand up and saying 'hey I'm really struggling I need some help'

[Kinkstaah]

I think a lot of the stigma around it can come from people who have gotten out of what they consider depression.

Myself included, I had my own dark days, and eventually I did get over them by myself, made the tough choices, and turned it all around without outside intervention. Everyone's misery is different and can't be directly compared, but I'm 33 and I've been divorced 7 years. 7 years ago, I distinctly recall walking along a ledge with arms outstretched on a windy day, seven floors up thinking it didn't really matter if I fell off or not.

But I got over it, and did it myself, moved back to Australia and started again. You come back from that and you think anything is possible, if you give zero farks and be yourself and whatever happens, happens. You have to really let go etc.

the problem with this though is that I find myself rather unsympathetic to those people who are sad, upset, depressed about something that either I've been through and survived, or something that wouldn't have fazed me much to begin with.

This is ultimately, completely unfair, but it's VERY hard to shake. I have a sister who has had 'problems' since she was about 14. She is 26 now. I still scoff, sneer, and regard her as weak, unable to get her shit together, like I did.

It's very pervasive. It feels accurate, too. It's unbelievably frustrating when you see people struggle with things you overcame.

It's like losing some intelligent friend to religion, (I say this not to offend Mr Terry), when you know they know better, how could someone previously intelligent get duped so bad. You can substitute religion to anything, though. A bad relationship with an abusive partner, falling in with a cult, or scientology, or some idiotic scam scamming them out of their money.

You feel like you're better than them cause you wouldn't fall for that or you've been through it and survived.

It's wrong, but I can see both sides of the story regarding opinions on mental health.

I know enough to walk away from people who have issues they need to overcome. I'm not helpful, I'll remove myself from their life mainly due to the fact I know they'll need to overcome it on their own terms. But shit, if you have any concerns at all - TALK TO SOMEONE. It is never shameful to ask for, or accept help.

That said, a girl I dated briefly (who was crazy, but not in the context of this discussion crazy) said that everyone, healthy or not, should have a shrink, or someone to talk to, before things get bad, so you have a decent sounding platform because people who are depressed can't see they're depressed. People who think they're fine, and happy, may change their tune when they get feedback. She said a lot of dumb shit that one, but that line stuck with me and I fully support it.

If you have a problem, talk to someone.

It will help. If you don't have a problem, try it anyway. Get a check-up.

[White GTS-T]

My depression got to the point that I wouldn't leave my room for weeks at a time. During a home visit from a team of specialist, who were recommending ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy), I had a physical breakdown. My heart rate skyrocketed, in an instant, my entire body was dripping with sweat, I was shaking, I couldn't breathe and was on the verge of blacking out. It wasn't until I was in the hospital, having showed these outwardly physical symptoms, that those around me fully comprehended what I was really going through.

[ARTZ]

I love how everybody has totally not even touched on my story about mentally ill children and have continued crying about their depression...

Most of these stories sound to me like my own....nothing but drug and alcohol abuse induced depression from people with a sense of entitlement...

The world doesn't owe you shit, you owe it to the world to make it a better place...And this is why people tell you to harden up...Because its not easy trying to make it a better place, its full of scumbags..many of which will try to sell you sunshine in a bag or a bottle.

But if its not working for you just remember, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result