h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi,

I have read this artical over and over again, I myself suffer with the term ""Mental Health"" to some say I'm Mental, I'm a freak, some even say pull yourself together, chin up, those type of sayings don't help a person that has/suffers with some kind of Mental Health, it just drives them further in that dark hole, that they can't seem to get out of, myself am suffering from Mental Health issues and have done for quite sometime from my early 20's, I have been on that many types of tablets/pills/medication and to this day I'm still on them, I've seen all the quacks/councelling/CPN nurse and seems no one can help me out, I had a really bad breakdown that I took to drink and was an alcoholic for many years (I no longer drink) I also tried comminting suicide twice that I was in and out of hospital. And now for the past 3years I also suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Desorder) They say more woman than men suffer with these symtoms, well I'm male, they say its in our genes past on in familys (That part must be true as my Mother, Dad and sister also suffer) I also have a brother who does not seem to show he has Mental Health issues. I have depresion, anxioty, also very bad panic attacks that it stops me from going out, as I don't like showing myself up when I have an attack, so I stop in where I'm in my own comfort zone, my panics seem to be more frequant since when the nights have drawn in, I loathe crowds so I avoid crowded spaces. Ever since I had the break down I feel like I'm stuck in time I look in the mirror my face still looks the same back then, but I'm getting older soon I'll be in my 40's people look at me and say "NO WAY" I even get asked for ID, I can't remember when I was 25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32 I was on some quite strong medication back then, it feels like I've been in a coma but the world is passing me by hence my screen name "LifesTooShort" I sometimes loose my rag on here people don't understand me, my world seems far differant to me than a normal persons.. Why do people suffer from Mental Health? I've tried making friends on here, I just don't know how too, I've tried in the real world, I don't have, I don't have family as such, And it was bad enough coming to terms coming out as been gay. I can't type no more. 23rd November 2009 at 17:20
Dale.

don't worry- things will get better!

On another note regarding the Mental Health Act, is it true that people's benefits go up if they get sectioned???- I heard this from a colleague, and didn't beleve it!

this may lead to unscrupulous people wanting the mental health act to detain them!!!

is the symptom of seeing people in a mirror, who are not there a symptom of a mental illness? if so, what is this called?

mental health diagnoses are late in coming- thankfully your GP is more than capable of diagnosing + treating depression!!! In fact, you can see your GP a lot more than those doctors in secondary care!!!

Unfortunately some GPs can even refer to a consultant psychiatrist- -it goes to a counsellor who triages it to an appropriate person (usually back to the GP)

Seen at least 3-4 people with mild-moderate depression today!!! - this is worrying, as I'm finding it more + more common!!

Why doesn;t the government do something like improve access to counsellors!!! (ours turns up 1-2/monthly!!!)