The ‘Two Masks’ of Mental Illness: Depression vs Stability

I thought I might perhaps (ought to) post something today. I met with my new Counselor today, the "Intake" session. I cried twice, and afterward couldn't remember at first what the two reasons were. Did I block the issues out THAT well? Funny that I can recall generalities of situations in my life, enough to bring back the feelings, and then after the info is needed, it runs back to the deep recesses on my memory again. I found this article and it's got some good insight. If you've never dealt with depression before, you might learn a little bit of what it's like. Have a great tomorrow! I'm hoping to have a better one.


The ‘Two Masks’ of Mental Illness: Depression vs Stability


There's a little "widget" I have on this blog, it's down toward the bottom right of the posts, and it's a little dog. Looks like a Yellow Lab. His being trapped in that box, all alone, and I never stop and play with him, saddens me. I guess today's diagnosis was spot on. (Little joke there. Very little)

Time for some honesty about unemployment and mental illness

This is from across the pond, but really, is it any different from your community?  I think "well, it's hard for everyone to find work", then I'm plagued by my own self-assessment: is it maybe just my perspective? Is there something I'm doing or saying that prevents me from being a candidate for work?

AM I JUST DEFECTIVE?

29 January 2013 | 10:00 AM

Jane Harris

As anyone who watched last night's Panorama will know, the current work programme is, ironically, not working for people  with mental illness. Neither did the Pathways to work programme that preceded it. Nor the New Deal for Disabled People that came before that.

Why? Because none of these programmes were honest about unemployment and mental illness. The reality is that it's a classic ''wicked problem'', with many different causes. We need to address all the causes to really solve it.

People do need individual support, training and career advice. Many mental health conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar start in people's early teens. It's not easy to fully engage in education if you're dealing with a mental health problem. So some extra training and vocational support later in life can really help.

But supporting individuals and providing training won't solve the problem on its own. People also need enough healthcare to treat both the symptoms and the causes of mental health problems. And that's just not happening - last year, the independent Schizophrenia Commission found that only a minority of people get all the treatments recommended by the health watchdog NICE.
If you left someone with diabetes without medication or dialysis, you wouldn't expect them to be able to work. But we are failing to provide both decent medication and cost-effective psychological therapies to people with mental illness and then asking them to go out and look for jobs.
Even if miraculously someone gets healthcare and appropriate vocational support, there is still the issue of employers' attitudes. It is a huge step forward that people no longer have to declare  mental health conditions on application forms, thanks to years of campaigning by Rethink Mental Illness members and staff.
But that doesn't mean that all employers understand what reasonable adjustments are in the workplace. How many employers would accept that someone needs to come in late everyday because anti-psychotics are making them drowsy in the morning? How many would let someone leave  early once a week for a CBT session?
That doesn't mean we should give up. Finding something meaningful to do with your life, paid or unpaid, is an important part of recovery. It's too important a problem for us to walk away. Sadly, as the MP Anne Begg said in last night's programme, the longer people are left without the help they need, the less likely they are to find that meaningful occupation we all deserve.
We need action on all fronts - now.
Do you want to add your voice to our campaigning? Join us today.

Check out www.bringchange2mind.org and www.nami.org for more info, closer to home. 

The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us. #CSLewis
\o/

My experience, strength (?) and hope...

Ok, while I'm thinking about the insurance headaches, the medical professionals' (Occasional overall, I suppose, but WAY too often in my experience) condescension and overall suspicions of anyone who  *USED TO* abuse drugs. And, for the record, can I just mention that if I wanted to get ahold of drugs, I'd surely not be stupid enough to admit UP FRONT that I used to have a problem, now would I? AND while I'm venting, I never wanted LEGAL drugs, ANYWAY!!
Where was I? Oh, Insurance.
I'm quite certain that they give you a nonfunctional/wrong phone number and BROKEN website URL, in the hopes that you'll DIE before you find a way to get ahold of them. I've thought about this before, in dealing with various Government departments, and I'm not even a little bit persuaded otherwise.
Call me crazy if you want, but I'm just biding my time before I can get the Hell outta Dodge. If you see me on fb, you probably know what I mean.

God bless you and I pray you have all the health and blessings that you can handle.  :)

In between myself.

Ok, I guess we can be open, here, right? Well, ok, I'LL go first. Soon after Christmas, I ran out of antidepressants, and was unable to refill, as we had a couple more weeks until the new (YAY!) insurance was to begin coverage. SO, I think you may see where this is leading. Yeah, it's always interesting when I go to this place in me. Similarly to the last time I recall this happening, (I probably took myself off that time, but not certain) I felt like I could relate a lot to Jeremiah, who was known as "The Weeping Prophet". I'm reminded of how it's said that the life of a Prophet is a lonely one (Not a real "people pleasing" kinda gig, you know). As a person with a family that depends on me to function as much as possible, it's hard to think that God would want me to be like that all the time. Then again...? So, I'm here, in this in-between space. Not wanting to say much more b/c I'm aware of my vulnerability, moreso than usual.
Have you ever been in this place, or in a close relationship with someone who was? Please tell me more...
I asked the Big Guy if he'd be willing to do a guest-post sometime, to share what this time for me, is like for HIM. I know it's not pleasant at all. Daily life with a Woman OF A Certain AGE has to be difficult enough, right?!
AnTway, I hope you are well, warm, and fed. This Too Shall Pass.
Blessings and thanks for reading.

why moms are heroes.

This is something I'll need to re-read. Never felt like I got the "Super Mom" gift. It's not often that words are put together to describe even half of what it's like, when you do your very best...and get the pay-off.  I've had my times when I know I went above & beyond, but in general, I've never thought this applied to me. But I'll bet your eyes will be wet, too, after you read this, sweet mamas.

why moms are heroes.

Mental Illness: Do Not Diagnose Yourself (pt.1)

Greetings and salutations! I've been reluctant to do any writing this past couple of weeks, primarily because I've been transitioning, and I'm not sure how lucid my thoughts are coming. Today the packet came in the mail saying that we are once again insured, and so I'm very hopeful that chemical balances will become more balanced soon.  (LOL Did you see how I did that? Totally caught it after I'd written it all. SO WITTY when somewhat....whacked.) And this morning I woke up with the eye infection trying to come back & hacking up great stuff. So, yeah, it's getting pretty REAL up in here. This too Shall Pass. Here's some good info for us to keep in mind as we go out there, today.

Mental Illness: Do Not Diagnose Yourself (pt.1)

I've gotta vent.

Ok, we live on the VERY outskirts of a pretty small town.
Intentionally, when we moved from the last place we lived, we chose the farthest place we could find and afford, from other people. It's not that we're anti-social, really. Day-to-day, the Big Guy and I, we're really pretty sociable. Our temperaments and our personalities are such that we enjoy people.
That being said, we also crave time away from others. I don't feel bad about that, since Jesus, Himself, took time apart from the world and even His disciples, occasionally. I have studied psychology and Child Development, Abnormal Behavior, and a little bit of a handful of other topics. I feel fairly familiar with the Bible, which I'm quite certain keeps me from acting out in various situations...I guess my point is, I'm not unaware of the ways that people learn, grow, and choose to react and respond to things that happen to and  around them. We all do what we think is best, given what we've been taught, and/or learned on our own. Right?
If this isn't the case, then, the only conclusion I'm willing to draw, right now, is that there are a LOT of people who are SO stupid, ignorant, and/or SELF-centered that they don't deserve to exist around the rest of life. Here's why I'm ranting: about 3 months ago, someone dumped 4 kittens outside our place. Yes, there is a barn w/in a few hundred feet, but that doesn't mean AT ALL that these tiny frightened babies are going to A, make it that far w/o getting hit by a vehicle; B, find anything to EAT there, if the do make it that far; or C, that they won't be maimed or worse by the other wilder animals that live nearby. AND, this is the 4th time in  the (less than) 2 years we've been here, that this has happened. Yesterday, ANOTHER, younger little furbaby showed up. ADORABLE. SOOOO friggin' cute.
And, just so you know, we're already over our allotted amount of feline roommates, b/c we thought the (3rd)  one was PREGNANT right before the big freeze last year, so we took her in.
The one good thing I can say at this point is that the newest baby is friendly enough that we might be able to grab it & take it to the local shelter. The last batch were already terrified of humans when the wonderful people dumped them, so we're unable to get ahold of them aside from a tiny pet while they're eating. Miraculously they've been healthy so far...but what about when they start breeding? There's a Tom cat that the neighbor lady keeps outside during the day, and he's certain to start getting with the little baby girl cats as they mature.
It breaks my hear that so much of humanity has come to the conclusion that animals are disposable. It's not surprising, of course. Human babies are completely disposable, so why would animals be treated as if they had any value?
So, I'm pissed at everyone who drops off their unwanted animals. It's not like there aren't SEVERAL animal shelters nearby. I hate stupid people. Sure, I'm stupid in my own ways, and in the past I've been VERY stupid. I understand now how people might have hated me. I just feel so powerless to do anything to right this continual wrong.