A Depressive With a Megaphone

Hi All! This is a reply to an email I sent a helpline (they also provide email responses). It took them 5 days to reply HOWEVER I think their response was thought about in detail. I can only assume that they prioritise severe cases with less severe ones, giving thought to replies rather than rushing. I was VERY impressed by their response. Even though I've done CBT in the past I feel their response reminded me about some area I could improve on. Here is the email I sent them: Hi I often get extremely traumatic emotions arise, seemingly for no reason, i.e. they can surface for several hours even when I'm in a safe place. I also have no obvious thoughts that accompany these emotions that can be helped using CBT techniques. I merely have to 'ride the storm' often for several hours until the severe trauma eases, often through exhaustion of being unable to asleep, at this stage I will sleep and in the morning the emotions have reduced a bit.  The emotio...

This is the reply from the GP practice manager (I CC'ed him on the email to Nick Ramsay MP, who has an interest in mental health issues) " Sorry to hear how your current situation has developed.  Dr ------ will, ----------------------------- return to work beginning on the 29th October.  If you wish to wait until then to progress your situation it may be more beneficial than having to begin again with another Partner. The situation with mental health services is dreadful, particularly in Monmouthshire where it seems we may have been penalised due to the high level of service and facilities that we had historically. The Practice has offered the local team [Community Mental Health Team] an office within the surgery to encourage closer working links, we are yet to find out whether this offer will be taken up. Dr ---------- appointment are not yet available to be booked as we want to wait until nearer the time of her return so as not to have to cancel appointments-------------...

Hi All! I have realised a 'strange' phenomenon which I can inarticulately call 'When I open up, you open up'. I've found that in the last few weeks I've totally opened up to people about my mental health (not in a completely Marvin the Android / offload all my stuff on to you type way) and I've found that almost everyone has then admitted to some of their mental health issues! I'm starting to feel like a customs official (border patrol official) asking "Have you anything to declare?". This has been very liberating for me and I think for them. We have a long way to go though as some people are still saying "...but please don't tell anyone". However not so many people. I forgot to say that I spoke to an MP's office a week ago regarding the stress of modern society and how I feel it effects people and generates a lot of mental health. He has just called me back while waiting for his train. He was very supportive and said ...

It is no longer a tenable position to believe that it is only the individual that must change when they have depression. The American post-modernist myth is that the individual can COMPLETELY control and change their life to how they want it. Sadly this denies reality. We of course DO have a fair bit of control and things that we can change about ourselves, however there is a limit. I have 'worked' on myself over the years: yoga tai chi assertiveness training cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) person-centred therapy accupuncture chinese medicine mindfulness meditation exercising three times a week gardening walking in nature decluttering getting rid of toxic friends buddhism studying psychology and reading hundreds of research papers going to ashrams iridology healthy diets learning about boundaries becoming a better communicator learning to be less defensive etc etc etc The list goes on and on and on. I have really looked at myself for over 20 ...

Hi I want to thank all my wonderful friend and family for helping me through my struggles. Some examples: 1. I felt suicidal so two friends visited late at night (even though they were exhausted and dealing with their own hardships) to provide comfort. They possibly saved my life! 2. Another friend invited me round as she knew I needed company. 3. One friend in particular has given so much to helping me and others, and she really is a saviour! Words cannot describe the kindness in this woman's heart! It is beyond words! 4. My mum and dad for supporting me so much over the years. They are amazing. 5. My older brother for understanding my situation and showing great empathy for something he hasn't directly experienced. 6. My mental health advocate who sometimes works until 1.30 in the morning helping people! And who has spent hours talking with me. 7. Thanks to all the people fighting stigma regarding mental health. This includes celebrities like Stephen Fry, Ruby Wax...

Below is an email I sent to Nick Ramsay (MP). It is a brutally honest 'from the heart' email! No tact or editing! As the message is so important. I cc'ed a few friends, my mental health advocate and my GP practise manager!!! I now look forward to waiting to see whether people like Nick will rise to the challenge of helping people like 'us'. ----------------------------------------------------- Hi Nick First of all I have cc'ed my mental health advocate (D------ -------) and my GP practise manager. Note that I am speaking the truth and not editing it here. I feel exposing the truth is the only way to get support for me and others. Warning the truth may hurt but it needs to be out there!!! I was told by my mental health advocate  D------ ------- , that you have an interest in mental health. I suffer from mental health myself and I know a lot of other people also that have suffered in this way. Over the last 20 years I have been met with comple...

Last night a friend came round and suggested that all mental health issues can be fixed by eating raw food. I felt quite angry about such a patronising piece of advice. I agreed with her that diet IS important. I asked her why some people I know eat complete junk but a very happy go lucky people. Like any 'new age' bullshitter she made excuses for these 'exceptions'. I advised her to write to Time Magazine and tell them the great news that she has found a cure for all mental health, I said that maybe she could win the Nobel Prize while also appearing on the front of Time Magazine. I told her also that in the last twenty years of depression and anxiety I've had lots of people tell me their 'cures'. A lot of people believe that just because a method 'works' for them and their bosses wife that it will work for everyone (talk about a lack of critical thinking!). She also said that the brain was simple as it was made of simple chemicals. Really!? I ...