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Now ye’re talking - to someone with mental illness

  • 25-07-2018 10:22am
    #1
    Boards.ie Employee Posts: 12,597 ✭✭✭✭✭Boards.ie: Niamh
    Boards.ie Community Manager


    Good morning everyone. We have a new AMA for you today and I think it's one that lots of people will relate to in small or large parts on the subject of mental illness. Our guest describes himself and his experience here:
    I was quite a successful person in middle management in my late twenties. In my early thirties I started to develop depression. Things went downhill fast in my work life although I managed to finish a degree while I was off work and gain Part-time employment which later turned into a full time gig. Thankfully my job has health insurance as I had a resurgence of depression about three years ago to the point of attempting suicide. Through some great inpatient care I’m recovering well and have since learned I am co-morbid with ADHD. I’m on a small pharmacy of drugs each with it’s good and bad points.

    I’d be delighted to share my experiences with you of mental illness, how it effects those around you, care and medication and anything else you’d like to ask. However if you are in crisis talk to someone urgently on 116 123.


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Comments

  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    Thanks for letting me do this. It's been something I've wanted to do for a while. Fire away with any questions!


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,789 ✭✭✭rizzee


    I don't have any questions, just want to say fair play for doing this and good luck in the future!


  • Registered Users Posts: 594 ✭✭✭The_Pretender


    What're your thoughts on medication? I've thought of talking to a doctor about it for during particularly bad bouts of anxiety however I'd see it as a major step backwards and would be afraid of trying to get back off it.

    Thanks for doing this by the way.


  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    What're your thoughts on medication? I've thought of talking to a doctor about it for during particularly bad bouts of anxiety however I'd see it as a major step backwards and would be afraid of trying to get back off it.

    Thanks for doing this by the way.

    Without wanting to overstate it I'd be dead without the medication. While trying to get my medication right they tried one of the older tri-cyclic anti-depressants it taught me two things. Firstly fair play to anyone with anxiety - it gave me anxiety to the point of being terrified to get out of bed. Secondly it showed me we've come on hugely from even a few years ago. In regards to steps forward or backwards, I'm not sure I'd classify it as either. It's just something you may, or may not, need.

    The short term treatment for anxiety is benzos but they are highly addictive and you would only (if ever) be put on them for a short period. Most of the drugs used now, at least for depression are not open to abuse. The withdrawal can be pretty bad, but not in an addicted sense and following medical advice is key here. I have a habit of 'going off my meds' and cold turkey'd several (non-working) anti-depressants prescribed by the GP with some fairly nasty withdrawal symptoms.

    The problem you'll have with GPs is they are not specialists and there will be a lot of "try this for six weeks let me know how you get on". Stick with it they will hit across the right medication.

    Although I'm fairly convinced medication is the way to go a holistic approach including coping strategies is also very helpful. During my time in hospital they taught us to sort of observe our emotional state in a detached manner. It really helped along with other coping strategies like 'radical acceptance' of situations you can't change. They did a lot of other bits too but those were the ones that 'resonated' with me. For other people it can be something else.

    If you can get some intensive short term help that's my suggestion. There seemed to be more people in for anxiety than depression and they seemed to really benefit form a few weeks day patient care.


  • Registered Users Posts: 18,081 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    Has any form of dependence resulted from your past depression? Say, needing a drink after a bad day?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 11,881 ✭✭✭✭GBX


    Fair play to doing this. Best wishes with the future.


  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    JCX BXC wrote: »
    Has any form of dependence resulted from your past depression? Say, needing a drink after a bad day?

    Oddly enough not substance but sex. Sex addiction became a major issue and still is to a degree. That was my coping mechanism. Although I like a drink and it was a hard thing for many people to give up. Very few of the medications used should be combined with alcohol, but there we all were on a Monday talking about how we'd at least had a glass of wine over the weekend.

    I'm off the booze six weeks now after a recent relapse of depression, and don't really miss it. Odd that I never gave it up before, but the I think we're all a bit blaze about how powerful alcohol really is.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Regional East Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 11,920 Mod ✭✭✭✭miamee


    What does being co-morbid mean, I haven't heard that term before? How does ADHD affect you, does it interfere with work for example and make things more difficult or does the medication you are on deal with the symptoms enough that it doesn't bother you?


  • Registered Users Posts: 336 ✭✭firstlight


    Like said above,fair play for opening up about your experiences

    I was always a person who did not believe in depression or mental health issues,Now over the last several years i believe i am suffering with some form of it myself,either depression or anxiety
    I can see what would have caused it over the years and i never actually got my feelings of my chest
    I am going to try go to the doctors and see what options are out there for me

    Cheers


  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    miamee wrote: »
    What does being co-morbid mean, I haven't heard that term before? How does ADHD affect you, does it interfere with work for example and make things more difficult or does the medication you are on deal with the symptoms enough that it doesn't bother you?

    Sorry just means with. It was the term used by the Psychiatrist I probably shouldn't be using terms like that as I don't want anyone to think I have any medical insights what so ever just what's worked and not worked for me.

    Pre-medication I worked in a fairly hectic environment so fliting form one task to another, delegating a half done job etc. wasn't an issue. It was a real issue, especially as it is a much more junior role, in my current job. I'd speak out of turn, get really agitated, couldn't focus etc. I'm on Conserta which is long release Ritalin with top ups of instant release Ritalin. It really helps but it's not a cure-all unfortunately.

    I still get agitated now and again but the Ritalin calms me down and means that I can concentrate. Some stimulants like Ritalin work very differently in people with ADHD than they do with 'normal' people. So I don't get superpowers just a regular 'normal' level of concentration and not being distracted by everything going on around me. I still find it hard, but not impossible to do boring everyday tasks which was a major problem before. Now I know none of us like doing the washing up, but I used to find it almost tear inducingly frustrating, never really got that - that was off before I got diagnosed.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 719 ✭✭✭Gwen Cooper


    Hi, thank you for doing this AMA. I also suffer from mental health issues and it's very important to fight the stigma and to talk about these issues.

    I've had my boyfriend telling me that I should go for a run to feel better. At that time I didn't even have enough energy to turn on the other side in bed or to have a shower, and he insisted that if I go for a little run now, I will feel much better. He also told me to "just get over" my anxiety attacks, saying that I can't be possibly stressing out about such little things as using a different entrance to Tesco than I have planned to use.

    I think he has a better understanding of my struggles now and is being supportive.

    My question for you: Did you have someone close to you who didn't entirely understand how mental health works and insisted on you doing something that you knew won't help? If so, what was the most ridiculous advice you got?

    Best of luck in your recovery ;)


  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    firstlight wrote: »
    Like said above,fair play for opening up about your experiences

    I was always a person who did not believe in depression or mental health issues,Now over the last several years i believe i am suffering with some form of it myself,either depression or anxiety
    I can see what would have caused it over the years and i never actually got my feelings of my chest
    I am going to try go to the doctors and see what options are out there for me

    Cheers

    I was EXACTLY the same. Pffft people with depression, they're just a bit sad, have a drink/sleep/pour some cold water on your face and get on with it. It wasn't until I got crippling depression that I understood.

    I really hope you find some relief. I put off going and getting properly sorted for years, it's a massive regret and has really held me back in life.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,020 ✭✭✭Gorgeousgeorge


    any side effects to being on so much medication, do you think you could function without it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,301 ✭✭✭✭gerrybbadd


    Did you find any funny or strange side effects from taking the medication?

    Fair play for speaking out on this. The stigma around mental health is improving, and it's people like you that are helping to break down those walls, and make it ok for it to be talked about.

    I've recently finished up with medication, after being on for 12 months. Not gonna hijack your AMA though, just wanted to wish you well, and throw out that question for you


  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    Hi, thank you for doing this AMA. I also suffer from mental health issues and it's very important to fight the stigma and to talk about these issues.

    I've had my boyfriend telling me that I should go for a run to feel better. At that time I didn't even have enough energy to turn on the other side in bed or to have a shower, and he insisted that if I go for a little run now, I will feel much better. He also told me to "just get over" my anxiety attacks, saying that I can't be possibly stressing out about such little things as using a different entrance to Tesco than I have planned to use.

    I think he has a better understanding of my struggles now and is being supportive.

    My question for you: Did you have someone close to you who didn't entirely understand how mental health works and insisted on you doing something that you knew won't help? If so, what was the most ridiculous advice you got?

    Best of luck in your recovery ;)

    I hear you! Go for a run is my favourite. Exercise is good for depression and yes being forced out into the garden, or for a walk up the shops probably does more good than harm many people don't seem to get you can't, no matter what is going on, get out of bed. There were times when the place could have been on fire and I'm not sure I would have moved.

    My wife has been very supportive overall but had moments when the patience just ran out. It happens. I knew when I was really bad by not caring. But when she had a sense of humour failure when I was in a delicate spot it would really set me back. Don't get me wrong she has been fantastic overall but we're all human at the end of the day.


  • Registered Users Posts: 719 ✭✭✭Gwen Cooper


    I hear you! Go for a run is my favourite. Exercise is good for depression and yes being forced out into the garden, or for a walk up the shops probably does more good than harm many people don't seem to get you can't, no matter what is going on, get out of bed. There were times when the place could have been on fire and I'm not sure I would have moved.

    My wife has been very supportive overall but had moments when the patience just ran out. It happens. I knew when I was really bad by not caring. But when she had a sense of humour failure when I was in a delicate spot it would really set me back. Don't get me wrong she has been fantastic overall but we're all human at the end of the day.

    Thanks for the response! Glad you have your wife supporting you. I'm sure it's very hard on her too, so there will be always ups and some downs, but I have no doubt that you will make it through and the whole thing will just be something in your past.

    Best of luck with everything, maybe we will meet somewhere jogging when we're feeling sad! :D


  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    any side effects to being on so much medication, do you think you could function without it.

    Recently due to anorgasmia I went off the main SSRI I was on. SSRI's mess with your sex drive big time. I felt worse than I have in a long time so load of side effects but I wouldn't go off the stuff! Some of the medication I take is purely to fight the side effects of some of the other stuff, recently I started on buspirone to fight the side effects of the SSRI. They were very reluctant to put me on it as one of the side effects is sexual fantasies - not great with sex addiction.

    The weirdest listed - I kid you not, it's in the leaflet: Spontaneous orgasm by yawning. :D
    gerrybbadd wrote: »
    Did you find any funny or strange side effects from taking the medication?

    Fair play for speaking out on this. The stigma around mental health is improving, and it's people like you that are helping to break down those walls, and make it ok for it to be talked about.

    I've recently finished up with medication, after being on for 12 months. Not gonna hijack your AMA though, just wanted to wish you well, and throw out that question for you

    Thank you! Stigma is a major issue and I almost enjoy the seat shuffling when you tell someone you've been in hospital for it. I do it because the reaction would be so different if it was a broken leg and it shouldn't be. It's an illness plain and simple and we should be able to talk about it. Perhaps not as frankly as an anonymous AMA allows but in general terms.

    As for side effects see above and the dreaded brain zaps when coming off various SSRIs. I'm really glad to hear you're off medication. I was hoping to come off after about 12 months but I've been told it will be at least two years. It's important to point out that you do eventually come off this stuff!


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,001 ✭✭✭handlemaster


    Thanks for letting me do this. It's been something I've wanted to do for a while. Fire away with any questions!


    No questions.. good on you for doing this. Keep the head up.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,968 ✭✭✭McCrack


    Do you any alcohol/substance misuse history?

    What is your view on cannabis and mental health?


  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    McCrack wrote: »
    Do you any alcohol/substance misuse history?

    What is your view on cannabis and mental health?

    No real misuse history, a little OTT with booze now and again especially when I was younger. I think cannabis is potentially disastrous to mental health. From what I can gather (no expert here) but the plant contains both the poison and the cure as it where and the strains that people want have more and more of the poison and less and less of the cure. I'm not putting that very well and I'm sure I'll annoy the stoners with that remark!

    However I don't believe prohibition is the answer. Education is key. Personally I'd never touch the stuff, apart form that one time in Amsterdam, flippin' tourist that I am. I's probably put it on the same level as alcohol. Probably fine in moderation, disastrous if abused/used regularly.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,298 ✭✭✭santana75


    At what point did you realize that you needed to be hospitalized? And what was your experience of being in the Psych ward or a psych hospital?


  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    santana75 wrote: »
    At what point did you realize that you needed to be hospitalized? And what was your experience of being in the Psych ward or a psych hospital?

    I actually ended up there almost by accident. I phoned for an out patient appointment and ended up in the day hospital as is was covered by my health insurance and out patient wasn't. This just happened to coincide with me being really bad. I had two further stints at the same hospital along with ongoing out patient care.

    Where I was, was excellent, very small number of patients, lots of amazing staff. I hear I was very lucky. Although not bad I know people were trying to get transferred from other facilities to where I was when there was room.

    The support of having other people around, going through the same thing was invaluable.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,106 ✭✭✭PlaneSpeeking


    Were you ever told not to disclose your illness ?

    I wouldn't say I suffered mental illness per se - but I have Generalised Anxiety Disorder and take SSRIs periodically, plus around 20 years ago about 4 years after the mother passed away, I was hit by a bit of a relapse and given Prozac.

    At the time I also had a workplace accident and my medical records were needed. The union advised on refusing these as on them was the above "blip".

    I am not ashamed of the minor mental health crises I have had, the SSRIs are as openly taken as the current prescription for painkillers for a hip issue.

    I'm just curious as to whether you felt others wanted you not to discuss it ?

    I add my thanks at doing this and my heartfelt wishes for continuing good health.


  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    Were you ever told not to disclose your illness ?

    I wouldn't say I suffered mental illness per se - but I have Generalised Anxiety Disorder and take SSRIs periodically, plus around 20 years ago about 4 years after the mother passed away, I was hit by a bit of a relapse and given Prozac.

    At the time I also had a workplace accident and my medical records were needed. The union advised on refusing these as on them was the above "blip".

    I am not ashamed of the minor mental health crises I have had, the SSRIs are as openly taken as the current prescription for painkillers for a hip issue.

    I'm just curious as to whether you felt others wanted you not to discuss it ?

    I add my thanks at doing this and my heartfelt wishes for continuing good health.

    I've had to hide it quite recently in fact. I was applying for a public job and the declaration is phrased in such a way as I could avoid disclosing it, or I've no doubt I would not have been considered.

    I'm glad to hear you don't consider SSRIs a stigma, I feel the same way.

    As for friends and family, no one has ever said they didn't want me to discuss it. I feel I've been quite lucky there.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,106 ✭✭✭PlaneSpeeking


    I've had to hide it quite recently in fact. I was applying for a public job and the declaration is phrased in such a way as I could avoid disclosing it, or I've no doubt I would not have been considered.

    I'm glad to hear you don't consider SSRIs a stigma, I feel the same way.

    As for friends and family, no one has ever said they didn't want me to discuss it. I feel I've been quite lucky there.

    Agreed, my best friend says (to me only) - "are you having one of your mad moments ?" if I'm having a wobble but by God he's seen me through a lot.

    Good to talk to you, best wishes.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,974 ✭✭✭Bredabe


    Just a comment related to what you said about alcohol and pot, I know ppl with depressive type conditions who have a worsening of their symptoms if they are tired or have caffeine. Triggers can be so individual and ppl need to be aware that they can be the very things they take for granted.


    Thanks for doing this, it cant be easy for you, but will be very helpful for ppl seeing it in a public forum.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,363 ✭✭✭recyclops


    Hi there, First of all well done for talking about it, Mental health is something that has touched my own life and from seeing it first hand its something that can manifest itself and take over before you know it.

    But to my question and you dont need to answer if you dont want too.

    Do you find that with the culture change in mental health awareness and that the rise in cases ( especially in the formative years secondary school etc ) is overly represented and potentially taken advantage of or an actual representation of the amount of mental health cases we have in the country?

    also do you feel that the rise can also be down to social media?


  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    recyclops wrote: »
    Hi there, First of all well done for talking about it, Mental health is something that has touched my own life and from seeing it first hand its something that can manifest itself and take over before you know it.

    But to my question and you dont need to answer if you dont want too.

    Do you find that with the culture change in mental health awareness and that the rise in cases ( especially in the formative years secondary school etc ) is overly represented and potentially taken advantage of or an actual representation of the amount of mental health cases we have in the country?

    also do you feel that the rise can also be down to social media?

    I think we're willing to admit it more and willing to engage with it at a much earlier time. I do think that we're starting to see a sort of collolary to something like minor aches and pains. Previously you just but up with say backache, now we do something about it. Do all cases of backache lead to something serious - no, and that's something we should be careful of, there is a healthy level of stress after all. However I think it's good we're on the look out for these things and try and nip them in the bud.


    Not entirely sure I answered your question there sorry! If not please feel free to probe! :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,375 ✭✭✭Sin City


    Do you find counselors deeming and not really equipped to deal with real mental health issues?

    Also were you able to function normally before treatment ..... or did you just breakdown and could not do anything


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  • Company Representative Posts: 42 Verified rep I'm recovering from mental illness, AMA


    Sin City wrote: »
    Do you find counselors deeming and not really equipped to deal with real mental health issues?

    Also were you able to function normally before treatment ..... or did you just breakdown and could not do anything

    The counsellor I had/have was a male psychiatric nurse. He was absolutely fantastic. I could open up to him about things I wouldn't have been able to with a female although the nurses were all fantastic. Some of the other disciplines where a little more fluffy, occupational health and the social workers were good but their strategies weren't for me. It was mainly group work so we kinda helped each other in a guided way.

    Met some fantastic people there.


    I soldiered on for a good few years just 'coping'. My last bout was a proper breakdown where I was eventually unable to do anything. That had happened before but only for short periods of time. This last 'episode' was almost a year long.


This discussion has been closed.
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