Living with depression is debilitating!!!!!

Sandy, another crazy idea, gather all the posts on this forum, excluding names and publish a book about the facts, thoughts and feeling of people suffering the effects of a MI.

Ohh alright stupid idea, worth a thought.

loopy.

@Loopy

Not crazy idea at all. Brilliant idea!

Also @Alessandra1992 with the funding & broad distribution too.

So here's my contribution to this "crazy" (GOOD) idea: I've been mulling over what I've read on the forum and had this idea for an anthology of autobiographical MI stories called Recognising Our Journeys.

So many people I know, on & off forum, who suffer from MI need that connection and sharing with others to help them piece together & really behold their own journey. We need to recognise our journey to see our own strength and beauty, Others need to recognise that they are amazing journeys, and this could educate people about what MI is like.

What do you all think? @BatGuano @kenny66 @Rick @ivana @Maude @Neb @Chris and everyone else (sorry I'm so tired my brain is semi-functional!)?

So I think I'd better link this whole idea into the good ideas thread!

Kind regards,

Kristin

Maude, to start we need a consensus of oppinion. Maybe a new thread established to gather the nays and yays in relation to this idea. As to using names probably our sudinems as on the form would suffice. Any takers.

loopy

Hi fairy fox

just read your 1st post . i would firstly like to congratulate you on identifying the things that you have experienced in your life and the factors thta have or may have contributed to the way you are feeling today.

in my experience if you can stop and identify what has happened in your life that has contributed to depression then that is a great 1st start. Because you will be able to move forward ab over come any obsticales thayt come into your path.

We cant keep dwelling on the negative things that have happened to us but we are able to find a way to help with over coming the pain , anger, hurtful feelings of these situations.

We will never forget what has happened in our lifes out brain just does not work that way but i belive we can re program the way we think and manage it. this is something i have been doing my self!!!!!

Findingthe medication that best suits u. yes u may have ti try a few different brands/types but there is one out there that will help, talk to some one usually a stranger is good like a counceller or pysciatrist this too u may need to see more then one till u find the one u r comfortable talking to.

Do something - find your hobby, find a job u have an interest in , keep busy, try to make new friends and push urself to be out going to mingle . this is also from my own personal experience my anxiety used to take over majorly but as much as my heart and pulse is racing i my brain is stronger and i ush thru it in a social/public scene.

i hope i have been able to shead some light as i am new to this forum and as much as i feel i need help i know i will be able to learn from others too

🙂

Heather, in my way of thinking you have just started saying some of thje things that should not be said to a MI sufferer. Paragraph six would ednter into the top twenty things not to say to a MI sufferer. Thjat is not a critism of you just your ideas. i respectfully suggest you read the thread things not to say to a MI sufferer.

9. Just push through it

Hearing this makes me want to hit my head against a wall. This goes along with #3 “Everyone gets tired/ headaches/ back pain/ insert symptom, just push through it.” The problem with this statement is the underlying assumption that a person with a chronic illness is not already pushing themselves.

Have you tried ____

… the paleo diet, acupuncture, super magic moon crystals, this weird new therapy that I heard about one time but know nothing about? Unless you are a medical professional and/or a person with a chronic illness has asked for your advice, please keep it to yourself. I haven’t tried super magic moon crystals and I will admit that I made those up, but I have tried just about everything else including alternative and new treatments.

13. It’s all in your head/ you’re just stressed/ depressed/ anxious

14. You need to get out more

• You wouldn’t be bipolar if you didn’t take all those meds
• Your diet [eating wheat, dairy, etc.] is causing your mental illness
• You wouldn’t be depressed if you exercised more
• Your mental illness is “all in your head”
• Your bipolar is made up by your psychiatrist
• Mental illness is your punishment for not being Christian (or not being faithful enough)

Yes, it’s not just hurtful to tell someone that their mental illness is their fault; it’s pretty much unconscionable because you are kicking a person when they are down. Believe me, the person with the mental illness already feels bad enough about being sick without you adding the extra pressure that somehow they’ve brought it on themselves. And also believe this – every person with a mental illness has also gone through a point when they have blamed themselves and you heaping more scorn upon them just takes them back to a time of self-blame in their lives, and they don’t need to be there.

So instead of judging a person with a mental illness and suggesting that they are not doing everything in their power to get better (which most of us are) how about you try some compassion? Like the same compassion you would show a person with cancer? Everyone knows the horrors of that illness and the treatment for that illness and believe me, mental illness can be every bit as much of a horror show so how about saying, “That must be very difficult for you.” It’s not exactly the Gettysburg address, but it shows that you’re listening, not judging and acknowledging our realities. And that’s all we really want.

(PS: if you really want to help you could try, “Is there anything I can do to help?” We would really appreciate that too.) Everthing quoted apart from First para and last line, I am not that smart.

I am sorry I do go on a bit but thats because I have an uncontrollable MI.

Regards

loopy

Maude and everybody, using real names not only shows that we are not ashamed because we have a MI but adds credence to our stories and experiences. When I recorded my interview with the ABC I was asked if it was OK to use my name, I said what is the point to the story if my name is not mentioned.

loopy

Ok, here's another kind-of-idea.

Couple years back now SBS aired a series called 'Tales From A Suitcase'. There were 2 books that were print form with the same name from SBS.

So what if ABC or SBS made a feature for Mental Health Week. Yeah, right, the cutbacks from the present government... slight problem there.

Anonymity could be conserved by using the nicknames we have in this Forum. And having a Muppet speak on camera for each person.

What would you choose as spokes-muppet, people? An established character or a custom job?

Hi batguano,

i like this idea, my spokes-muppet would have to be a custom job, as it would have to look like the green hornets sidekick LOL

But i do like this idea, a very good way of staying anonymous, but still getting the story, the lived expierence out there for others to realise that they are not alone in what they are going through.

Cudos for the idea

Kato