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FINALLY reached out!

ja96Contributor06 Sept 2023, 7:13 pm AEST

FINALLY reached out!

Last week I took the biggest step of my life and spoke to my GP about my mental health. I got given a survey and my scores came back extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress. I finally did what I needed to do in the last 10 years. I was prescribed medication and got a referral to see a therapist.

what got me down was that I ended up in hospital last night and once I told them I was on medication for my mental health I felt like I got treated differently. Why should we get treated differently just because we are struggling and need medication to help us? I feel like there’s still a stigma around mental health and it’s not fair.

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In response to: FINALLY reached out!

In-comeCasual Contributor06 Sept 2023, 8:59 pm AEST

Re: FINALLY reached out!

Dear ja96,

first of all - congratulations for reaching out and for taking the first steps to look after yourself. I am sorry to hear of your not so nice experience in the hospital and for being exposed to that thing we call 'stigma'. It's no fair, I agree. If only they could see what it meant to you to actually reach out, finally - after 10 years! If only they could be a bit more curious about your experience.

Never the less, I feel you've done the right thing in reaching out. Stigma will not leave our midst anytime soon, but please do not let it bring you down.

It takes courage to finally reach out!

In response to: Re: FINALLY reached out!

tymeModerator06 Sept 2023, 9:19 pm AEST

Re: FINALLY reached out!

Hey @ja96 , I believe the post above from @In-come was for you!

I also wanted to chime in and say, "Well Done" for reaching out! You deserve it.

As for medication, I hear you about the stigma. Unfortunately, the stigma lingers especially for particular types of conditions. At the same time, it is great to see movement in some parts whereby taking medication is beginning to be normalised.

To be honest, how many people AREN'T taking meds?

In response to: Re: FINALLY reached out!

ja96Contributor07 Sept 2023, 8:24 am AEST

Re: FINALLY reached out!

@In-come thank you 😊

They questioned why I was taking the medication which I can understand but telling every person was a bit confronting and I just got the feeling that they thought I was imagining my symptoms because of my situation which was disheartening.

I’m very happy I took the step, and now I wish I did it sooner.

In response to: Re: FINALLY reached out!

ja96Contributor07 Sept 2023, 8:29 am AEST

Re: FINALLY reached out!

@tyme thank you 😊

I’m so glad I finally got the help I needed, both myself and my family deserve to live better lives and not be held back because of my mental health.

that was my thinking as well, a lot of people don’t take meds and are unfortunately suffering in silence. I even heard a Dr question why so many young people are presenting with mental health conditions and us “older generations” aren’t. It made me sad for everyone suffering.

In response to: FINALLY reached out!

GlistenSenior Contributor07 Sept 2023, 8:31 am AEST

Re: FINALLY reached out!

👏🏼 WONDERFUL BRILLIANT 🎉 You did GREAT things for yourself 😊

In response to: FINALLY reached out!

BoppaSenior Contributor07 Sept 2023, 9:55 am AEST

Re: FINALLY reached out!

@ja96well done for taking the big step and i hope you can find your good place again now that you have started the journey.

The stigma is real and sucks but the more we speak out and the more comfortable we become with our mental illness the easier it becomes to bring those stigmatizing us back down to earth.

Good luck.

In response to: Re: FINALLY reached out!

Leonie1Senior Contributor07 Sept 2023, 10:57 am AEST

Re: FINALLY reached out!

Me. I refuse to take meds anymore. I used to take anti depressants but it was basically so I could to tolerate the intolerable. I chose to stay away from people that make me miserable instead.

In response to: Re: FINALLY reached out!

Leonie1Senior Contributor07 Sept 2023, 10:58 am AEST

Re: FINALLY reached out!

You're brave 💜

In response to: Re: FINALLY reached out!

Leonie1Senior Contributor07 Sept 2023, 11:01 am AEST

Re: FINALLY reached out!

We live in very I'm uncertain times. I think everyone is slightly depressed. Many people self medicate with alcohol and that's acceptable 😢

In response to: Re: FINALLY reached out!

ja96Contributor07 Sept 2023, 6:34 pm AEST

Re: FINALLY reached out!

@Leonie1 oh 100% I used to self medicate with alcohol and I’m so glad I stopped drinking as much as I used to a few years ago.
I was very scared about starting meds but so far so good thankfully. You know what’s best for you. It’s sad how many people can make us miserable isn’t it?

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