Dialogue with Sane forum Forumites

@PeppiPatty gotta say I don't remember the first thought or first step actually. It was a long time ago.

Hi @PeppiPatty,

It was an amazing coincidence that the social worker happened to be walking past when my mum and I were struggling out in the street that night. In that case the support did just drop from the sky. In other instances, with mental health professionals for example, I have actively sought support. The process there with has always been to go to a GP first to ask for a referral.

In my earlier years I did actively seek support from mental health professionals but only when things got completely out of hand and at a major crisis point. Over time, with a bit more experience of ongoing illness, I have kept in more regular contact with the support available through the health system.

Not sure if this answers your question about accepting support but it's what came to mind in response.

Hope your Sunday has been enjoyable, mate.

Hi @PeppiPatty of course I've made many mistakes over the years, but I was more referring to traumatic events that happened. I was so affected by PTSD and depression even in my teens that it's hard to remember who helped in that period. There was also frequent fighting between my parents and very strong religious stuff. I guess discovering Venturers in my early teens and then rowing up to state level in my last couple of years at school really helped me escape the problems. I saw many counsellors and social workers and a psychologist or two over the years, but I think the work I did with them didn't help as much as it might have because of (now proven and accepted and on my records) adverse reactions to the myriad of antidepressants that were tried.

Looking back over more recent times there are 3 family members who support me long distance (one in particular) and one really close friend here who I can share anything with and is very entertaining company, taking my focus off constant health managment.

Also, even though it was traumatic in ways, the last time I was in hospital in 2009 getting taken off problematic meds and onto better ones and getting an accurate diagnosis has really helped. The support of psychiatrist, psychologist and a good GP has been really good this year.

My post and one other just disappeared. Wondering what happened.

Thanks @Former-Member

Just hoping I didn't inadvertently upset someone.