Mental Illness -
 

This is a spin-off from the Robin Williams thread - -

One of the hardest parts of dealing with mental illness (which is a VERY broad term - right up there with cancer - for being non-specific)

Is that so many people that need treatment won't admit that they need help.

And if they do admit they need help, many can't afford it or know where to go.

And - many "treatments" really don't work all that well - one has to be willing to do a lot of trials to find something that works. Also, some treatments do more harm than good.

How does one "test" for these things? I don't think it shows up like diabetes or anemia does with a lab test.

I don't know the answer.

It does seem that highly intelligent, talented people seem more prone to mental disturbances than "ordinary" folks.

Way back when - some religions believed that mental illness was called by demons.

These are opinions. More are welcome.

It is time to put away our judgement and support these people that are coping or have coped with this disease. Until society understands, many will continue to suffer in silence.

It amazes me that folks with a visible problem,or one that involves a non- brain body part, are given support and sympathy. Brain illnesses are hidden,denied,not talked about...but every bit as devastating.

All mental illnesses are tough, especially the PTSD our returning veterans are suffering. I have a son who served twice in Afghanistan and received no physical injuries (for which I'm thankful), but the problems he's had with PTSD are horrible. He has been hospitalized at least 7-8 times. Thankfully, right now he is doing well.

I have lived with chronic depression and anxiety for almost my whole life (I had symptoms as a child that are associated with mental illness). I've been hospitalized twice, been suicidal once, and have had a whole lot of questions as to whether life is worth living. After many kinds of treatment I am fairly stable now. I also began developing chronic pain 30 years ago which has resulted in many trips to the doctor, two surgeries, and two more coming eventually.

I would take the physical pain in a heartbeat over the mental and emotional pain I experienced for many years. Physical pain can be seen by others, and most people are always willing to give you a little emotional support for it. But you can't tell anyone that your brain hurts so badly you'd almost be willing to give up all the people you love just to have it stop. Can you imagine how much physical pain you'd have to be in to be willing to lose your life to stop it? That's what deep depression does to a person, and some people get to where it's too much.

I grieve for Robin William's family - he himself is at peace. And I pray for everyone who has this illness, and for the people who care for them.

Margaret Ford
I hope it was okay to share this much. I'll try to mostly talk about quilting!

Bearisgray - thanks for calling me highly intelligent and talented!

Thanks for this topic. Seems like we are making slow progress in getting rid of the stigma of mental illness and in making affordable help available. Remember way back when this was Rosalynn Carter's issue. (I'm not meaning to start a political discussion). My brother killed himself almost 12 years ago and he was a very successful clinical psychologist. He kept his deepest pain hidden from us. And like Robin Williams he was a quick wit and very funny (not meaning he was that talented of course) but lots was unknown to us. I spoke with him almost every day and we did email at least once a day. He did a good job of covering up and it is my great sadness that I couldn't help him and have lost him. So I have a clue as to Mr Williams' family's pain and others too.

I believe Francie has nailed the issue - these are not 'visible' problems. It's so much easier to have compassion and empathy and understanding when you can see the broken leg, not so much the broken heart.

I have a friend (really - it's a friend) who has been suffering from a very severe depression for a number of years now. I encourage her at every opportunity to seek help. The reasons for her depression are very valid but it's devastating for her nonetheless. I want to see this woman want to live a fulfilling life again. Her husband is not overly supportive of her seeking treatment. The costs involved are a very real part of his lack of support. I sometimes get so frustrated by her depression I just don't know what to do. I wish I knew better what to do to help her beyond listening and encouraging her to seek treatment.

Thanks, Stitchnripper for sharing your experience. My brother committed suicide 6 1/2 years ago due to profound depression. His wife, an RN, at his insistence, promised to not tell us, his family. So I never had any idea he was struggling with depression. My family and I discovered, after his death that he repeatedly refused to get any kind of help or treatment, saying he didn't want to be a 'zombie.' For that, I hold him responsible. I hold her responsible for not getting some kind of help/intervention.

I really feel for Robin Williams' family. I know all too well how they feel. It's a very unique kind of loss; nothing quite like it and unless someone has had a friend or family member kill themselves, in my experience, they don't truly understand. It was really difficult for me to talk about with others. I had people ask morbid questions which was none of their business and felt like I was being stabbed in the heart all over again.

Thanks for listening - - - -

I lived with cronic depression and anxiety for years. At age 22 I sought help at the mental health clinic.
there was a 6 month waiting list, so the girl at the counter said if i was sucidial, i could get in that afternoon. (they kept the afternoon open for 'crazy people') so that's what i had to do. Got alot of slack from my family when they found out a few years later. called me every name in the book from retart tolunatic. (they were a big part of the problem). when my sister's wife turned out to be depressed, everyone said it was o.k. and sympathized with her. there is a terrible stigma attached to it. wheni tried to explain that if i needed a heart pill, it would be o.k. but my mom kept on insisting i was just a crazy raving lunatic to be depressed. Thankfully, i' don't need ssi's anymore and don't really suffer from it anymore. Could that have beenwhy i used to jump out 2nd story windows when i was 5???

People, if you feel you might be depressed, do something about it before it's to late.

Which might help explain a lot of the events that have taken place - - - -

How long would one have to wait for a mammogram? to get one's teeth fixed? to get chest pain looked at?

(Assuming one has health insurance or private funding!!!)

The stigma and silence surrounding mental health issues is beginning to lift. Talking about the issues and people getting educated is more common. We all need to "be there" for each other, listen, support, and learn that debilitating depression is not something most of us have experienced or truly can appreciate in terms of it's total grip on the person. Nothing about it is rational or logical. That doesn't mean there isn't hope and help out there, and hopefully we all can be instrumental in helping someone through the worst ordeal imaginable and again get to enjoy life.

This is such a timely topic for me and my extended family. We are currently in the process of trying to have my sister civilly committed. This has been such a heart wrenching journey. She is currently hospitalized, (has been since end of June) but may be released shortly depending on the judge's findings. She doesn't/can't/won't accept that she is ill. She is a danger to herself, is homeless, jobless, and paranoid. For a wide variety of reasons no one in the family is in a position to take her in, and getting help for someone who does not want help is incredibly difficult. I agree about the stigma part being hard for some people...one of my brothers doesn't want anyone to know, and another brother won't tell his wife! Sometimes, I see that "look" in her eyes, and wonder how terrified and confused she must be. Kudos to all who have had the courage to seek help, aren't ashamed or embarrassed, and have embraced help and treatment, sometimes at great personal cost! Mavis...thank you for your insight and thoughts!

Mental illness is all around us. This is not to say that anyone who doesn't fit our perceived norm is ill. Some times its no more than a temporary loss of self confidence or strength. When I lost my second husband I was convinced I was an unfit mother. My own sister has dealt with so much loss in her life she has given up and now turns a deaf ear to all her family about her strange behaviours. My hubby's ex is such a manic hoarder her daughter hires cleaning company once a year to purge and clean her house.
All these people hold/held responsible jobs and did them well. You can see nothing wrong unless they are willing to admit to their unhappiness. My own sister refuses counselling as she doesn't want to open her Pandora's Box.
A suicidal person is like an injured animal who crawls away and hides. Some alcoholics are similar.
There is so much disconnect in our society. I'm convinced all the electronic gadgets haven't made it better if not worse. We are mammals and need face to face relationships.
There is no simple formula. I try to keep my Friends, friends. Family is a one time, if not long relationship. Just be there, listen and love, no matter how painful.
I'm off this afternoon to an infrequent luncheon with 2 women who I've' been to Hell and back with, my life's journey and theirs, over the last 40 years. And I come home to a not perfect life, glad to be alive.

I have a beloved niece who suffers from schizophrenia. It has been a lifelong struggle for her and for her family. She would take meds until she felt better and believe she was well and then stop the meds and then regress again. She was in and out of independent living situations, could not keep a job, wanted to be a movie star, a rock singer, etc. etc. She has finally landed in an assisted living place where she seems to get along pretty well. They supervise her meds and see that she eats and they go places and do things that she seems to enjoy. She is more stable than she has ever been and the other people who live there are kind of like family to her. She communicates with her son and the communications are sensible. We rejoice for the peace she has finally gotten from this horrible disease.

Treatment is so hard to figure out! My sis-in-law was diagnosed with mental illness. The first week the Dr. prescribed a powerful medicine. The next week the Dr. doubled the med. Two weeks later the Dr. doubled the med again! My SIL went off the rails! She has not recovered from all the damage the med caused. I am still angry at the Dr. for the damage done!

I think it's hard for those who have never experienced true depression to appreciate what it does to you. The "snap out of it" response that you so often get prove that. Like so many others, I've been there, done that - been on "that floor" in the hospital....and over the years since i have thankfully learned to recognize the symptoms when they first start and take action, so have been "ok". It makes my heart sick to think of all the people out there who are in that dark place with no one to help.
For those of you ladies here who have been there too....you are SURVIVORS in every possible way.

One of my guild members suffers from depression. Her DD and grands live out of state and she lives alone so no one but her friends to notice when she gets withdrawn. She won't take her medication as she says she doesn't need it. We can't force her to take it. When she does take it she is happy and fun to be around. She feels great so quits taking it. No way to get her to understand she has to take it everyday. Her Drs have told her, her friends have told her, her daughter won't be around her with her ups and downs because she won't take her meds as needed and she won't go visit her daughter because she says she makes her take her pills when she doesn't need them. It's very frustrating to see her go down over and over. After awhile it gets to be it's her own fault and that is the danger.

I want to remind you that he was an alcoholic and drug user. Depression goes with this.

Thanks Bearisgray

So many sides to this coin...Manic Depression is one of the most horrible illnesses anyone can go through....the manic side is genius, pure unadulterated genius...ideas and talent flowing so strong and fast it's like heaven on earth, the high of all highs..Then it cycles and it is this emptiness not earthly problems we all face that sends someone into the depths of hell and blackness...they become addicted to drugs and alcohol trying to duplicate the highs but it doesn't work...

My dad had this form and it was scary growing up never knowing which side would be there. There is a tv series that is hard to watch but I find very compelling having dealt with this. It is "Black Box"...If you can be open and non judgmental of her you can gain valuable insight.

I too suffered from depression most of my life...until of all things a neurosurgeon did some blood tests. Don't think anyone before had ever checked the B-12 levels in my blood...Somehow my body doesn't produce the enzyme needed to convert it...I started taking the shots because that is the only way of absorbing it and I have been depression free for the last several years...sure I get, mad, sad and all the other emotions but not the dark side as it was before. Our mdr in this country is set too low for B-12...ours is 180 min...in Japan it is 600...quite a difference. Won't work for everyone but sure worth a simple blood test to see.

My heart goes out to all those who suffer....the ones with the illnesses and the ones who love them...

"Way back when - some religions believed that mental illness was called by demons. " - wish it WAS, way back when - I just watched a documentary on the Cheshire (CT) murders - the young man who did them was brought up in a religious family and was prevented from getting treatment by mental health professionals - his family was going to "pray it away" I guess.

Where is the line between being able to "recover" (or cope?) on one's own and needing help/medication/supervision to manage to survive?

To compare mental illness (again - this is such a vague term) to diabetes -
For a while, and for some, changing diet and lifestyle can keep the disease under control. No one can see it from the outside. But help is usually easy to get and many people are willing to admit they are diabetics. For some, it's a straight line from being diagnosed to insulin dependency. Many people realize that they need the insulin to keep going and if they stop taking it, they will be in trouble. Also, there are tests to determine where one is at in keeping one's diabetes under control.

Why is there such a leap to comprehending that some forms of depression, for example, may operate a bit like diabetes? there is something operating wrong in the person's system that needs assistance to be stabilized.

"Snapping out of it" - "Get a grip on yourself" - "What do you have to be depressed about?" do not address the problem or do a thing to make it better for those that are in need of more help.

I agree that "personal life styles" can and do affect whatever other conditions we may have - which includes our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual being.

Depression is horrible. A couple years ago, I was very depressed, and didn't know why. I have a wonderful husband, two loving adult children and a beautiful grandchild. I felt useless, had thought of suicide. I would cry at the drop of a hat. My daughter didn't want to "deal with the drama". She has since become a psychiatric nurse, and has apologized for not understanding. My depression, believe it or not, was caused by my thyroid being way out of whack. I had taken pills for years, always had my blood work done, no problems. However, when I finally decided to see my doctor last summer and actually tell him how I was feeling mentally, he ordered lab work and my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was 19. Normal should be no higher than 4. We are working on getting it back within the normal range. Had lab work this morning so very anxious to see the results. It's a slow process adjusting thyroid meds, but once doc increased my thyroid med, I started feeling "normal" very soon. My heart goes out to patients and families dealing with this problem.

Are you saying depression comes from alcohol and drug use, or that substance abuse comes from depression?l Remember he was "clean" for almost 20 years ... and still battled depression during that time. Robin was an extremely complex character, like John Belushi, both battling their dark sides their entire lives..

My father's second oldest sister was institutionalized a couple times after she was married and had her 2 children. They put her through so many treatments; twice the one's where they jolt your body with electricity to shock it out of you. She was totally abused throughout her life. She left her husband and brought her daughter with her to live and help take care of my father's parents. She could do nothing right. She worked full time and took care of her daughter and my grandparents and my uncle and his son lived with my grandparents also. She took a lot of abuse from everyone. When my other aunts and uncles came over they were very critical about how things were. Food was not good enough, laundry wasn't done right, just she did nothing right according to everyone else. Her saving grace was her faith and her job. She was in walking distance of her job and her church was just right across thestreet fromher job. She went to church on her lunch hour to take communion during the different seasons. She was a launderer at a hospital. That was a lot of heavy work, the laundry could not touch the floors. Anyway, she did all that and came home and did the same thing all over again. I saw how hard she worked by staying over night a couple times. She turned the basement into an apartment. I told my dad and mom everything I saw and how she was treated and how my uncle and his son treated her and my cousin. After that let me tell you things changed. My father went ballistic and started telling everyone they were going to help or keep their mouths shut. We started having them spend the weekends with us and going up to the lake. She still went through Hades throughout the years. Her son thought she gave up on him. He joined the navy when he was 16 and then blamed her for everything. Her husband had so many affairs in front of her it was pathetic with the old bitty across the street. Didn't mean to ramble but she told me she was thankful for the few nights I spent because no one would listen to her but for once they listened to a 9 year old who got to spend some quality time with a special aunt. She was also a very talented needle worker, knitting, crochet, and quilting. She did everything by hand and my mother was thrilled with some of the doilies she made for my mother. She had many bouts of depression. My father talked to her priest once to try to get her some help. The priest said to get her out of the hole she was living in and she would get better. My father help my cousin with a deposit on an apartment and moved them both into it. She later ended up in a health center where she could leave overnight but had to be back the next day. When I got off work on a Saturday in the summer, I would pick her up in my Chevette then go to McD's and eat our meal during the hour long drive to the lake. She passed away a couple years after being in the center but she said she had her best years there. She had rules but was never told she wasn't good enough. She had her crafts and taught them to some of the employees. She had severe depression because of all the abuse she went through, emotional and a lot of verbal. She was a diabetic and my mother saw to it she didn't have to worry about her diet. We all went on diabetic diets when Aunt Catherine came to visit! Didn't hurt a bit. Had one aunt (her sister) that I asked my dad if she was possessed by demons. That one chased her husband down the street with a butcher knife. Now she was definitely had a problem. I just feel if you could just look at their past and see how and why they've come to the level of severe depression, I'm sure came from their child hood. Some one has said something that stuck in their psyche like just the right amount of epoxy glue that just can't come lose.

I come from a long line of manic/depressive people. Most of them until my generation were out of control alcoholics, my generation understood that there was a genetic component to the problem, and have found treatment that works. I do have one (out of the six siblings) that refuses to believe he has a problem, and the fallout in his life is quite dramatic. Mental illness can be a birth defect, or caused by trauma, or life experience. For some stupid reason, humans have decided that these kinds of problems should carry some kind of stigma. I hope it is just misunderstanding of it and not fear of the sufferers, I know that there is help available, but until the insurance community stops being able to decide what "one size fits all treatment"/ works for everyone, the problems will continue. Treating mental illness is a multi-approach science, until we stop trying to fix everyone with assembly line medicine, mental illness will continue to plague humans. I am very thankful for the doctors (plural) that have helped me out of the dark. I spent years unable to cope with the world because I was told that I was the problem, not that there might be a solution. Encouraging people to seek help, is my way of paying back the fates that led me to treatment. Life is great now, even with the occasional down day, anything is better than where I was. If you are getting help, please be patient. It took a while to find the MEDS that work for me, but I stuck with it, and now I am doing very well. I wish you all well and healthy.

I have suffered with depression all my life. Fortunately I have never been self-destructive, but undiagnosed and untreated bi-polar disease (aka manic-depressive) takes a lot of energy to live with. I was properly diagnosed 10 years ago and have been happily taking the right combination of drugs, keeping me "normal" as possible. By the way, when we were younger (30-50) my older sister's answer to my depressive episodes were "get over it. How bad can it be?". She's now 72 and I'm 68. She still thinks you can "out-think" mental illness. No wonder some of us are depressed! HA HA

NJQuilter: I think you are doing a marvelous job of being the friend she needs! Depression is like being on a tread mil you can't get get off of....[or a fast moving merry go round].no stopping place until you get help. In my deepest depression I turned to the book of Psalms in the old testament, but I also saw a dr. until hubby's insurance ran out.

I have a son with mental illness. He lives on the street; I have tried many times to help him by getting him to come here to live. He will have none of it. He likes his lifestyle and even though it hurts me terribly, I have finally learned that I have to accept that.

Hugs to you, IBQUILTIN. It is tough to be a parent of a mentally ill child. I know only too well. It is the toughest job I have ever had.

I grew up during the 50's in a town with a state mental hospital. A few teens were treated there and attended school with us. We accepted them at lunch and felt bad for them because they couldn't be with their families during the week. The hospital used to have cows that the adult patients cared for, fields that they tended, and had other jobs that helped create a community. When patients were deemed well enough to go into the outside world, employers would be sought and a job provided. My dad hired a man from the hospital who was a hard worker and took good care of himself. His treatment, therefore, was effective and my dad always treated him with respect.
My grandmother had electric shock treatment there, so I know about that. She elected to have it...she knew something was wrong with her and was hoping it would help. It did, but it's not something we have to do now or want to do, because there are meds that are much more effective and not as hard on the body.
We need to take the stigma away from mental health diseases. They are diseases and we need to work as hard for cures/helps with them as we do with the physical diseases.

Even though Robin WIlliams was clean for awhile, he was STILL an alcoholic and drug addict. they fight this demon every day even if they are sober at the time. this too can cause depression, and depression can cause Alcoholism and drug use as an escape from the real world.

Depression, whether situational or chronic, is just as frustrating for the person suffering from it as it is for those around them. Those who don't suffer from it don't understand it and they just want their loved ones to stop hurting and be "Happy" again. It's just not that easy. Some meds work, some meds don't. Some work for a while and then stop. Therapy and counseling can be helpful along with medications but each persons treatment is as individual as they are. Most people suffering from depression do so in silence. They feel there is shame in being mentally ill. Sometimes it takes all the strength you can muster just to breathe.

The Huffington Post shared this video and I swear it is the best explanation in the world, especially for those that have loved ones who suffer from depression and don't know how to help them.

http://www.upworthy.com/in-response-...-heard?c=huf1?

Coop ah, electroshock therapy is alive and well in this country and others. Nowadays it's much less electricity and it's carefully guided to the correct part of the brain. The patient has a sedative and usually does much better after the treatment. I've been trying to talk my psychiatrist into letting me get it, as my dad had it several times during his life and it helped a lot each time. In the US it seems they only give it to people deemed pretty hopeless.

And the medical research profession is working on devices or implants that will provide gentle electrical currents to the brain to keep whatever part of the brain is not functioning normally (whatever that is) calm. I don't know if 'calm' is the right word to use to describe it, but I think about it as keeping the brain from going to extreme highs or lows.

Of course, when/if these treatment options become available, many people will refuse them because their beliefs and illness will not allow them to accept them.

Very sad.

I really feel for people with PTSD and depression. Most of the time we do not know what they are going through. I do know during past wars our men have suffered with PTSD but no one knew what it was or why they were not able to do their military jobs. I still remember in the movie "Patton" how he treated the soldier with what they called "war nerves". Patton ordered him back to work. Today our military is understanding that some men/woman have issues with what their service is doing to them. I hope we all will become more understanding of PTSD and all mental illness. Remember not only our military members show PTSD, but anyone can.

I worked in a State office for 17 years where we tried to find jobs for the disabled. The chief complaint from the mentally ill people was that the meds made them tired/sleepy/unable to concentrate and they couldn't function, therefore they would not take them consistently. We called doctor's offices and asked if their meds could be adjusted and were basically told we were not doctors and we got nowhere with that. So most of them took the meds for a while until they felt better and then the side effects caused them to stop taking the meds and they were right back where they started, unable to function well at home, let alone trying to work. Wish I knew the answers but even the doctors seem to be divided on what treatment works.

Forgive the disjointedness of this post...it's running through my head and out my keyboard....I'm wondering if part of the problem with the illness/depression is the person is being "jumped on" or treated like a child..."Just take your meds and get over it". What if a real dialogue was started..adult to adult...where you ask..."I know you are having a difficult time...What is it about the medication that is giving you a problem?" Then continue by offering to help research side effects with them and get the person to focus on something positive to do about it. Little by Little... We say we don't know what to do but I think we treat this illness differently. Perhaps by using the same approach that is used so effectively here on the quilting board to solve difficult problems with quilting might help...Lots offer support from having the same problem...more offer research articles...lots of people for support...same principle I think...easier to take help offered when someone is truly being a friend. Listening and hand holding is really good if you are truly listening not thinking about what's for dinner...there are clues you just have to hear them and ask lots of questions... Get them to give you a picture..."What does it feel like when that happens". It is easy to get sucked down into someone's depression unless you go into it with a positive attitude...look up together the stats on how many people have that particular diagnosis..etc. Anyway you get the picture...And keep looking for doctor that listens too..Know the problems with the drugs they are being given and insist they listen and offer whatever research you have come up with...Too many times we expect doctors to solve our problems when we need to HELP THEM RESEARCH.