Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.

47,612Members
1,358,869Posts
1,400,000Visitors

Learning to live (and be myself) again

eudemonismSenior Contributor06 May 2019, 2:30 pm AEST

Learning to live (and be myself) again

I've been through some major highs and lows since i recieved my diagnosis. And by highs and lows i mean stages of good and bad health. Stages of working and unemployment. Bouts of depression and anxiety on a daily basis....I've had all sorts of stuff going on basically.

...

285 replies

131 - 140 of 285

1...13 14 15...29

In response to: Learning to live (and be myself) again

MDTSenior Contributor08 Sept 2019, 10:09 am AEST

Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

I sometimes feel the same Eude @eudemonism

Especially when it comes to meds. The MHS in Aus is not perfect but it's a lot better than many countries

Personally I think it over medicalises our conditions without any room for counsel or therapy. The belief that meds and meds alone will change things is not entirely correct.

Most evidence for SSRI effectiveness is with people who are in a position to actually make a change they need. The SSRI is a booster. A friend of mine is now on MOAIs. That has side effects and they are an older medicine. I'm worried for her health.

I think you have some insight into the things here Eude.

I always ask myself what can I do in the short term to improve the situation. If anything at all.

Can you do similar? What can you do now today to alleviate that thing causing you're issues?

It's radical acceptance therapy.

In response to: Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

eudemonismSenior Contributor08 Sept 2019, 10:15 am AEST

Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

Good questions @MDT and some interesting points.

I think what is needed for myself to acquire good mh independently and without meds or support is out of my abilities to achieve . So it don't really leave me with another option.

Just before i was thinking about searching externally for care verse providing self care. I've just realised that searching for care externally is usually a huge let down and very draining . We're all sort of feathering our own nest in other words.

In response to: Learning to live (and be myself) again

eudemonismSenior Contributor08 Sept 2019, 11:31 am AEST

Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

@Appleblossom

Yea . It's like I'm afraid to take care of myself. Because i run the risk of damaging the egos of other people.

What you said the other day really hit home with me . You'd worked out why you were afraid to speak your mind and tell the truth .

In response to: Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

MDTSenior Contributor08 Sept 2019, 12:02 pm AEST

Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

Yeah true @eudemonism

We are feathering our own nests. That's a good image.

Sometimes we need help from others and other times it must be self directed.

I am of the opinion that we must do both.

Perhaps yo are now at a point where you want to spread out and manage things yourself independently?

This is sort of where I am at. There is only so much help others can provide up to a point where we must be the ones to instigate the change needed.

The MHS is there for us if we need it. Over time we eventually learn to live independently of it. It's then at that point the MHS is essentially a form of insurance rather than what it was.. A shopping centre maybe?

In response to: Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

eudemonismSenior Contributor08 Sept 2019, 2:08 pm AEST

Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

@MDT

Yea you're right . We need both self care and also care from others.

Just don't wanna be stuck in the seeking external care mode forever. For a couple reasons. It's being taken advantage of . It's directed toward where they want it to go . And it's not enabling myself to provide myself with proper self care and not allowing my condition to get to a point where I'm breaking free from the whole cycle.

However consider . Once when i winged about the huge fluctuations in mood and well-being . Which are enduced by the 28 day depot injection . The reply was. Schizophrenics go through these phases naturally any way. So it is was essentially putting a huge block on myself being able to find treatment methods which maintain my stability. Hence trapping me into their idea of care.

In response to: Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

MDTSenior Contributor08 Sept 2019, 2:17 pm AEST

Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

That's why I've been through 5 psychologists @eudemonism

It took me ages to get someone that actually worked and understood me. I have no intention of changing them now.

The system itself doesn't allow for this degree of change - MHCP gives us 10 sessions with anyone. Usually one session isn't enough to actually determine if the specialist is going to be useful for us.

I am a big believer in self management. Figuring out what you actually want from a healthcare provider is important before you actually go and see one. My current psych was recommended by my gp (Which is bulk billed to medicare reasonably cheaply) so it's no out of pocket expense. Seeing GPs for referrals can cost money too. Some GPs are rip offs.... Disgraceful behaviour actually.

My P doc is a good man though. He doesn't see me regularly because he knows I don't need constant check ins and can manage things better. But if it goes worse then that's when I check in. I guess it's a balancing act.

I'm really only reliant on myself and the resources I have collected over six years of mental health. This includes therapy, tips and tricks, management, self care, exercise, sleep, diet etc. Once I attempt to help all of those things develop in my own life then I can start worrying about tackling the actual cause of my MH

I believe my MH is caused by early childhood experiences (negative and positive) and also growing up around evangelical religion at my school and social life growing up in adolescence. It was not a good influence but in some ways it was. It's bad to try and rehash what's happened already. I don't do it too much anymore and I used to. IT would make things worse.

Anyway I am rambling a bit.

How old are you Eude? I forget.

In response to: Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

eudemonismSenior Contributor08 Sept 2019, 3:06 pm AEST

Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

@MDT

Early thirties won't give exact number just so i don't jeopardise my anonymity

In response to: Learning to live (and be myself) again

Sophia1Senior Contributor09 Sept 2019, 10:02 pm AEST

Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

Hello @eudemonism

Sorry that I have not got back to you sooner...

my health and that of even more of my friends has deteriorated..

learning of news of friends diagnoses has exacerbated my health...

I have been undergoing medication change for sleeping tablets and now have had other medication increased..

Not pleasant in the least...this you know only too well experiencing the side effects of medication along with your own emotional upheavals..

for now...it is what it is...

You asked a question which I am sorry I cannot remember other than the word "normal"....

short answer..

I have erased that word from my diction....no such thing...no such animal...purely a measurement ...judgement by whom with what qualification? have they walked in your shoes? no?

Listen to your heart....look at what you observe...what grabs your attention...focus and listen....

forget the busy media world....whilst you are taking time out from it..

whilst listening...seeing..hearing...notice what is happening within you...your breathing...what do you see...what do you feel...hold onto all of what you observe and feel...that is the start of your answer....

It is not easy as we are not conditioned to think or behave this way in our society...other cultures are more aware...more astute...more self aware...

we can start and gain comfort from these beginnings...

then we can start to grow as ourselves..

then we can start to ask questions...

then we can start to make informed decisions...

then we can start to realise that we are...."not normal" we are ourselves...

then we continue...

to learn.,..

always learning.

dear Eude 💚

In response to: Re: Learning to live (and be myself) again

eudemonismSenior Contributor10 Sept 2019, 5:54 pm AEST