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Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

33cRioliContributor06 Oct 2015, 10:11 pm AEDT

Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

Hi I'm Kate and have just joined this site. Have just finished watching the 8.30pm ABC Mental As program "Changing Minds" and was very moved. I could relate so much to almost evryone in the ward. I have been diagnosed both Bipolar and Schizoaffective (depending on which Doctor's opinion) along with a personality disorder. I am 45 now and had my first major manic and psychotic episode at 25; have been on antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, anti depressants and anti anxiety medication ever since.

I haven't worked in over 4 years due to being bullied at my last part time office job, which I walked out on in 2011. Most of my jobs have been blue collar as these are more plentiful when I can only manage 15-20 hours a week due to stress.

I've never had any meaningful romantic relationships due to a fear of getting close to others. I've had a lot of friends reject me when I got sick in my 20's. If I was no longer outrageous and partying (read: manic and controlling moods with alcohol) then apparently I wasn't any fun any more. So I isolated, got depressed and drank at home alone instead. This went on for 12 years and I stacked on the weight; went in and out of hospital and life was shit. Things improved a bit nearly 3 years ago when I managed to stop drinking; AA has helped me. I've met a lot of nice people who also have a mental illness in AA. I now have a little dog I got from a shelter and she is great company. It's taken a while but life is looking a bit better now.

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In response to: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

33cRioliContributor11 Oct 2015, 11:52 am AEDT

Re: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

Hi Elissa,

I hear you loud and clear; workplace bullying is such a toxic and morally wrong practise which is allowed to go on in so many workplaces. I really feel for you that you were affected in such a bad way. My way of coping was to drink everyday which didn't help at all. I found in my old workplace that I felt helpless to protest about my bully as she had been there longer than me and was highly valued in our department. It also didn't help that due to my anxiety I took a lot of sick days: never a way to endear yourself to co-workers or management. Feeling alienated with no support, I resigned. It was definitely a positive move. Toxic workplaces are not good for ANYONE, let alone those of us with mental health issue.

I hope your break is allowing you the respite and perspective you deserve. Best of luck with working through the depressive/panic episodes; not easy. And yes, dog therapy can't be spoken about highly enough!

Hope you can keep putting one foot in front the other; hugs back to you.

Kate 🙂 (and Flossy)

In response to: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

33cRioliContributor11 Oct 2015, 12:00 pm AEDT

Re: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

Hi AlienBP2,

That sounds like rather a fun psychotic episode! The sun as a friend; I like it. Mine are usually along the lines of people are sinister and out to get me. Sometimes I see a flash of light and think it's God. Once I thought I was the next Dali Lama; that was interesting. 🙂

In response to: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

33cRioliContributor11 Oct 2015, 12:11 pm AEDT

Re: Just watched Changing Lives and could relate so much!!

Hi Justanother47yo,

Meds changes suck. I went to hospital for one in July and felt a whole spectrum of emotion; horrible. Can I just say that for me; by SEptember I was starting to feel the benefit of the new med, and now feel a whole lot better. Went from feeling suicidal in June to functioning the best I have in 2 years. I hope you feel better soon.

BTW Arlo is adorable! He sounds as mischevous as my Flossy. She won't eat her flea/worm chew either so I mash it up and mix it with her food. She is also partial to retrieving shoes from my closet and making me chase her till I give her a treat! Flossy hates baths as well, but goes apeshit when I dry her off and she goes running around the house (usually rolls on my doona).

Thanks for writing,

33cRioli.

In response to: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

PeppiPattySenior Contributor12 Oct 2015, 6:28 am AEDT

Re: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

Honey
I can't really message .... It's second week
But my message to you is that you are helping me so much
Aren't we two the luckiest wif Flossy and Arlo ! Arlo is ..... Feeling pleased with himself tonight !
Do you know whether our dogs can eat cheese?

In response to: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

PeppiPattySenior Contributor12 Oct 2015, 6:32 am AEDT

Re: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

Hi @Elissa

How are you ? I'm struggling wif no sleep .... But just writing to say hello 💐🌸🌷🌺🐔🎸🎭🐧🎹🍒🍓🌺🌷🐴🍁💐🐎🏡🌸💥🎉🎀🎁

In response to: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

ElissaCasual Contributor12 Oct 2015, 9:23 am AEDT

Re: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

Hey beautiful 🌼 i hope you eventually found some peace last night. I too couldn't sleep last night. By morning I was so panicked that I was sick. I'm out now, but totally exhausted and it is only 9:30 😔. I today brings some light and joy for you🌷🌿🌴🌳🍏🌱🌼💐🍁🍄🌰🍀🌴🌹🌹🌲🌳🌺🌾🍃🌿🍃🍂🍁🌷🌱

In response to: Re: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

33cRioliContributor12 Oct 2015, 11:12 am AEDT

Re: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

Hey @PeppiPatty I'm glad to help in any way. Regarding cheese for small dogs: any dairy is generally NOT good; last time I gave Flossy cheese she ended up with runny poo and I had to take her to the vet. Also off the doggy menu is anything sweet or salty. I've taken Floss to the vet a handful of times all due to me giving her human food. My advice: stick to dog food/raw meat/some veg. Rice is ok too.

In response to: Re: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

Unknown userMember12 Oct 2015, 5:14 pm AEDT

Re: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

Hi @33cRioli @Elissa @PeppiPatty @AlienBP2, it seems there are a few different opinions about the ABC's Mental As coverage. You might like to check out these two conversations:

http://saneforums.org/t5/Our-experience-stories/Concerned-about-last-nights-ABC-programme-quot-Changing-Minds/m-p/36350/highlight/true#M5918

http://saneforums.org/t5/Enjoying-time-with-others/ABC-s-Mental-As/m-p/37513/highlight/true#M3279

And please join us for Topic Tuesday tomorrow night from 7-9pm where we'll be talking about mental health in the media. @Jenni_H, ex-ABC journalist and the current coordinator of SANE's Stigma Watch program, will be joining us from 7pm-9pm. It would be great to have your input! Here is the link:

http://saneforums.org/t5/Special-Events/Topic-Tuesday-13-10-The-media-and-mental-health/m-p/36930#M1126

In response to: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

AlienBP2Senior Contributor12 Oct 2015, 7:03 pm AEDT

Re: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

Ha ha...I'm the next Dali Lama ,,, that's why it can't be you....lol

In response to: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

PeppiPattySenior Contributor12 Oct 2015, 10:33 pm AEDT

Re: Just watched Changing Minds and could relate so much!!

Arlo loves chocolate ...... He Loves cheese and ..... Doritos chips ! They are off the menu ! Thanks for that @33cRioli ! How is Flossy ?

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