One of the main anxieties I suffer is pains in the chest and sometimes I feel I cannot focus my eyes especially when I am stressed or over anxious.
Now I am in my sixties, just had my sixty fourth birthday I was watching Dr Finlay on the television set in the fiftys I think it brought me back to my old GP, who had even been with and assisted in my Birth He was of the old school and was a highly practical man who understood the human body and all its problems.
In those days mental health problems were a real problem, it was not really understood in those two decades and the medications were not as effective as now. If we worked we had to be careful that we did not loose our jobs and also had to be watchful against bullying by those mentally stable work friends!!.
Many would loose their jobs if it was found out that we were ill and most of us would bight our nails like there was no tomorrow, sadly I still have that problem and cannot see me stop now chewing down to the quick.
My old GP was quite understanding of my problem and would try and talk to be about it, The main problem in those days was that there was no real chance of seeing a CPN it was down to hospital and you saw a psychaiatrist (Sorry for spelling) and if that happened it was very difficult not to let your employer know so the GP was very loath to send you down that pathway as many could loose their jobs with just a sniff of mental illness. So all had to be approached very carefully.
My GP at that time would say if you had all the problems with your health from pains here and there and all associated problems He would be unable too treat me, it was good I felt that way as with all my aches and pains I would be a hopeless case, At least you know you are still alive. and I can give you something to deaden all your mental worries. Mind tell no-one what you are taking, they will all want some.
He was a very good GP although from before the 1900s and I suppose would be very shocked to know what Society offers those with mental illness. So we all need to understand we are lucky that many with these conditions can work and live a quality of life that was not allowed fifty years ago.
Most of us now are treatable, and will not be banged out with medications known as mothers little helpers.
Also it was very unusual for a man heaven forbid to have such a problem. Pull yourself around and be a man you would be told even in our own families. No quarter would be given to those with a sensitive nature, that many of us had.
BOB