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21-07-2016 11:10 AM
21-07-2016 11:10 AM
Experience of having a mental illness
In hospital I have had doctors try to discharge me when I was seriously unwell.
I have had family members and friends completely abandon me.
I have been bullied and harassed at work and discriminated against and very little has been done to help me.
I feel there is still very little support for people with a mental illness. Unless your in hospital, and I mean a private hospital (the public hospitals are dreadful), there is virtually no support. Seeing your doctor for 30 minutes once a fortnight doesn't help on a day to day basis.
I've had a huge amount of trouble getting the medication right. I've nearly lost my job over it because of the time I have had to have off.
I think there needs to be a lot more research into mental health, in particular medications to make the science more exact.
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21-07-2016 04:14 PM
21-07-2016 04:14 PM
Re: Experience of having a mental illness
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21-07-2016 05:52 PM
21-07-2016 05:52 PM
Re: Experience of having a mental illness
Thanks for your kind message. I think I am missing attending a support group. That's what I really enjoyed when I was in hospital - the group therapy classes. So beneficial. The only problem is there is no bipolar support group where I live. There is only one group for mental health and the leader of that group stalked me in hospital so not exactly an option.
Thanks for reading my 'whinge' anyway. Things I needed to get off my chest. Nice to know someone listened/read.
Best wishes to you 🙂
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21-07-2016 06:01 PM
21-07-2016 06:01 PM
Re: Experience of having a mental illness
Hi @Bipolar2016, welcome to the Forums. I wish your experience was an isolated one but we hear similar stories quite often in the SANE Help Centre. It's very hard for people to build up the right support and treatment team. And there can be so many disapointments along the way through the treatment by those trusted like family and colleagues.
I'm really sorry to hear that you've had such a rough time. You've done very well to stay employed. That's a genuine accomplishment. And I completely agree - we need to know more and we need to do better.
I hope you find some good support and company here in the Forums. There are people here who really get it.
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21-07-2016 06:08 PM
21-07-2016 06:08 PM
Re: Experience of having a mental illness
Kind regards
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23-07-2016 12:00 AM
23-07-2016 12:00 AM
Re: Experience of having a mental illness
Hi @Bipolar2016. I am new here too and saw the ad on TV as well. I find when I am travelling rough, that just having someone to talk to helps me. I have learnt to take advantage of what is available to get the support I need. It is like anything, you will get people who are comforting and others who you just don't feel comforted by. One of the services I have used is ACSO, (sorry, not sure what that stands for off hand). I was able to phone the other day to talk to someone, but when I called the woman who was to talk to me was on a phone call, and I was told she would call me back - she never did. Too bad if I was suicidal. The next day I called back and spoke to a guy who I did feel comforted by and I told him about how I was promised a phone call but that they didn't call back. He actually spoke to the person who failed to call me back and she phoned me apologising over and over - I accepted her apology, but she kept apologising, and in the end she aggravated me, and after speaking with her, I realized that I did not like talking to her - nothing annoys me more than when they come out with all the cliche's. Anyway, I am no expert, but people are going to be helpful and some not so helpful. Surround yourself with people who do not judge you, who are gentle, warm and accepting - avoid stressful people and stressful situations. I love to laugh, and the funniest person I know, is myself, so I can have a good time by myself. I hope you find the right support and know that coming here will be a safe place any time you need to talk.
Regards
Aphrodite
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23-07-2016 12:15 AM
23-07-2016 12:15 AM
Re: Experience of having a mental illness
Hi @Bipolar2016
I am glad you found us - and I would like to take this chance to welcome you to the website - I have been here a few months and I have found it extremely helpful
And you have had some good replies as well
I was misdiagnsed with bipolar disdorder in 1987 - actually - I was in a bad grieving pattern after the death of my son - I would hold everything together only to come apart and fall into a heap - I did not have family support - and this was the problem
Still - I do know what it is like to have one's emotions bouncing back and forth between extremes - and the way people treated me - and bereaved parents find this - people avoid us - whatever the disorder is - or they come on quick with the cliches as @Aphrodite said and I really hate cliches - and I hate like mad being told to have a nice cup of tea - I can hardly bear this - I hate tea - and even so - how can a cup of tea help when one way or another the world is coming apart
So there is a lot of discrimination and people can find themselves very lonely - and whatever we have is not catching - but the world can be a lonely place after all that -
It's good you have found us - I hope you can stay around and keep posting - for me having an on-line community is really helpful and I enjoy it - it helps a lot
I hope this can prove the same for you
Decadian
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23-07-2016 07:07 AM
23-07-2016 07:07 AM
Re: Experience of having a mental illness
Hang in there