Living with mental illness, daily struggles and triumphs

DHH

DHH

Member
Location
SE Wisconsin
Went to the gym this morning which always makes me feel that I’ve accomplished something. It’s easy to be anonymous there.

Bright sunshine now after a snowy morning. Sunshine always helps.

A neighbor called and invited me to lunch on the 24th, we’ll see. The anxiety building up to it is never worth the event itself.

How are you doing today?
 

I
DHH said:
Went to the gym this morning which always makes me feel that I’ve accomplished something. It’s easy to be anonymous there.

Bright sunshine now after a snowy morning. Sunshine always helps.

A neighbor called and invited me to lunch on the 24th, we’ll see. The anxiety building up to it is never worth the event itself.

How are you doing today?
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I, too, get anxious when invited somewhere. I guess I try not to focus on it as much and also do some meditation to relax. Sometimes it helps and sometimes not.
 

DHH said:
Thanks for the tip about meditation. That’s the kind of thing I’m hoping we can share. Too often I think I’m the only one dealing with stuff like this.
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If I can add to the meditation tip, you may already know this, but you don't necessarily have to be sitting still to do it. I find it much easier to focus my mind on meditative imagery and breathing if I'm doing something else with my body, e.g. walking, stretching.
 
Medusa said:
If I can add to the meditation tip, you may already know this, but you don't necessarily have to be sitting still to do it. I find it much easier to focus my mind on meditative imagery and breathing if I'm doing something else with my body, e.g. walking, stretching.
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That makes sense. I remember a sense of calm while walking my dog. I could just relax and just enjoy it. Haven’t had that since she passed.
 
DHH said:
Thanks for the tip about meditation. That’s the kind of thing I’m hoping we can share. Too often I think I’m the only one dealing with stuff like this.
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Have you read through the threads in this Mental Health section? I think you'll find a variety of mental health issues members have been dealing with. The conversations take place within each thread. I'm sure you'd be welcome to join in the "conversations". If you don't find topics that suit your needs, you're always free to start your own threads.
 
I was diagnosed with Bi polar and major depression years ago. 12 suicide attempts, several inpatient stays and a few days in a coma after almost succeeding. Medication was useless as I used them for suicide attempts. Mindfulness helps, but the only thing really that helps me is staying to myself. Every doctor said I had to be social but I went against that and doing fine now. Mental health professionals treat mental health with one size fits all, cookie cutter solutions. (Plus, they won't have patients if people stop going). Everyone is different and I had to find what works for me. I hope everything works out for you. I know how painful it is.

Been almost ten years now since I needed to see a doctor.
 
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OneEyedDiva said:
Have you read through the threads in this Mental Health section? I think you'll find a variety of mental health issues members have been dealing with. The conversations take place within each thread. I'm sure you'd be welcome to join in the "conversations". If you don't find topics that suit your needs, you're always free to start your own threads.
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What I saw was a lot of happiness memes. My point is…never min….

Have a happy day. All we have to do is pet a puppy. We also need to take the advice of people who know all about everything and will write essays to prove it.
 
I think the point responders want to make is that they (we) are still here…and getting by by getting by. Everyone who has clinical depression or other mental health problems wins by surviving…even if that is all that happens on a daily basis. Many of the folks here (if not most) have some experience with mental illness. Sharing gets us through. Chill bro…
 
I don’t have any mental health issues going on, but I have had men come to me and telling me they are feeling anxious, some will get short of breath or the opposite where they are hyperventilating and I have seen men faint from hyperventilating. They don’t want a medical discharge, so the Marines do offer programs to get the men back on track, so to speak. Some are successful and some are not.

I have been told by a really good psychiatrist that a lot of men just need to talk about their problems. Just doing that helps a lot according to him. I have tried that on a few men and I have been able to calm them down just by talking. He said group sessions are good for those that are just working with being anxious.
 
Oldeagle66 said:
Everyone is different and I had to find what works for me.
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That’s the answer.

None of us know how depression or mental illness effects other people and it’s not fair or healthy to play the my problem is worse than your problem game.

If it’s real for you, it’s real.

I experienced my own version of depression during my school and working years, I was able to accept it and make friends with it as a part of
my every day life.

Interestingly, it pretty much disappeared into the background when I stopped working and was able to limit my contact with people.

Being an introvert and needing quiet time alone to heal and recharge is real for me and many others.
 
Oldeagle66 said:
I was diagnosed with Bi polar and major depression years ago. 12 suicide attempts, several inpatient stays and a few days in a coma after almost succeeding. Medication was useless as I used them for suicide attempts. Mindfulness helps, but the only thing really that helps me is staying to myself. Every doctor said I had to be social but I went against that and doing fine now. Mental health professionals treat mental health with one size fits all, cookie cutter solutions. (Plus, they won't have patients if people stop going). Everyone is different and I had to find what works for me. I hope everything works out for you. I know how painful it is.

Been almost ten years now since I needed to see a doctor.
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I identify with your post very strongly, @Oldeagle66. I struggled with depression for years, mostly situational but exacerbated, I'm sure, by a genetic predisposition. We moved multiple times, which didn't help because I had to keep finding new therapists/psychiatrists, plus it was hard to maintain a consistent social support system (and family wasn't supportive).

After decades of unhelpful therapy and medication, I finally just stopped everything. I tapered myself off my depression meds nearly 3 years ago and have been fine ever since (well, for the most part. I'd be lying if I said I never struggle).

I'm not saying therapy and meds don't help depression. They do. But in my own experience, yes, too many mental health professionals take a cookie-cutter approach. Of course, many of them are overburdened.

In my opinion, the entire U.S. mental health system needs an almost total overhaul, but that's a topic for a different thread.

Hang in here, @DHH. I'm sending you a hug.
 
Oldeagle66 said:
I was diagnosed with Bi polar and major depression years ago. 12 suicide attempts, several inpatient stays and a few days in a coma after almost succeeding. Medication was useless as I used them for suicide attempts. Mindfulness helps, but the only thing really that helps me is staying to myself. Every doctor said I had to be social but I went against that and doing fine now. Mental health professionals treat mental health with one size fits all, cookie cutter solutions. (Plus, they won't have patients if people stop going). Everyone is different and I had to find what works for me. I hope everything works out for you. I know how painful it is.

Been almost ten years now since I needed to see a doctor.
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I'm glad you found your path to peace OE66. And I'm glad you found us here on SF. I have a grandson who is bi-polar and he stays in a state of depression a lot. It doesn't help that he can work now due to health issues, including the constant pain of fibromyalgia. He was diagnosed when he was young and has always said that medications did not help him. He made a half a*sed attempt at suicide once (that I know of) and went into in patient programs twice. Problem with those is they're only for two weeks and don't really help much.

He is such a kind, sweet young man. It hurts me to see his pain (via his FB posts) and hear about it, but I don't know how to help, other than be loving, give him things to laugh about and listen when he chooses to talk about his feelings. He often does "ghost" us because like you, he probably prefers to be alone. Yet, he wants a wife so badly, but hasn't found a suitable woman. I worry that while he's alone, he's wallowing in what causes him pain. I pray daily that he doesn't do anything to harm himself or others.
 
Oldeagle66 said:
I was diagnosed with Bi polar and major depression years ago. 12 suicide attempts, several inpatient stays and a few days in a coma after almost succeeding. Medication was useless as I used them for suicide attempts. Mindfulness helps, but the only thing really that helps me is staying to myself. Every doctor said I had to be social but I went against that and doing fine now. Mental health professionals treat mental health with one size fits all, cookie cutter solutions. (Plus, they won't have patients if people stop going). Everyone is different and I had to find what works for me. I hope everything works out for you. I know how painful it is.

Been almost ten years now since I needed to see a doctor.
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Glad you're still with us Oldeagle.
 

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