It is interesting how our stories differ @kenny66
My GP wrote on my last mental health plan that I had schizoaffective because I thought it fitted, but wanted me to stop being dependent on counselling. Nothing has been targeted in my "treatment". Early on I was interested in meditation, primal and the personal growth movement, rather than pathology. It was enough to stop me going too crazy then I met husband Since then I became much more desperate but parenting meant I had to cope, regardless of feelings.
Mostly I have driven my treatment or therapy style. I visited my sister's psych after her death in 1986. He thought she would have survived if she had stayed in the private system. I took that wisdom to heart and applied it to myself, though I have respect for public MH workers, I was lucky to be able to be proactive.
Funny you should mention epilepsy. My biological daughter fainted a bit as a teenager and had some petit mal seizures when turning 20. For about 5 years we were very worried, on that front with her, but it has stopped being a problem.
Your focus on treatment is healthy and practical. I have noticed co-morbidity enter into the discourse a lot. For me I see people as having a spectrum of many traits, sometimes contradictory elements, but all with varied histories.
When a young MH worker enquired of me re my son: "have you noticed anything unusual or bizarre?" I cracked up .. its all been unusual and bizarre. I dont have a clue what is normal.
The presence or absence of hope makes a lot of difference. I saw that my sister had so mych to live for. She was young, getting educated and beautiful .. but she could not see it .. our inner and outer worlds ..
I just got home from choir. The main person who talked to me was a psychiatrist .. so nothing has changed except that this was in a social setting not a mental health setting. We get along great on a host if issues.
Artificially creating hope does not seem to work ...
