I have been inspired by James Middleton's account of dealing with his mental illness,and its no secret that i have battled with mental health all my life,and thank God it is no longer something you dont talk about.James accredits his dogs for the reason he is still here,and for that i concur.
I wont go into how i've battled my demons,but usually for most of us it stems from childhood,and i do have close friends who have gone through,and are still going through the same,and we share an understanding.Mental illness does not mean you are crazy,it means you have struggled for far to long,some of the most accomplished in the arts and scientific fields have suffered with depression and anxiety,it cover all genre and race.
During this hideous time we are living through,the aloneness compounds what many are feeling,even those without underlying health issues are suffering and need our support. Coronavirus has exposed us to the unknown,something non of us have experienced before,and even a few words of care,even from a distance,can mean the world to many.
I am fortunate that i have had tremendous support from the local health team,even during this pandemic i have weekly video discussions with their associates,and their help is invaluable.
I always manage to put on a brave face,even when i am hurting.
For me, during troubled times and good times, my dogs have been my constant....I would go so far as to say that I owe my life to my 4 legged family
Dogs don’t just change lives...they save lives.
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secrets22
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What a very thought provoking post secrets. As you say mental health issues hold no boundaries and can affect anyone at any time.
Our youngest son suffers depression and addiction so has moved back home for now. He’s not so isolated now but hasn’t managed to find any work yet although he’s been trying.
I think animals are such brilliant companions and yes, lifesavers. They have to be cared for, loved, exercised, fed etc. so they help focus the mind. I’m pleased you have such wonderful companions and are well supported.
sassy59 thankyou for your kind words,and i feel concern for your son as mental illness in a male was once frowned on,but i believe males now suffer with depression much more than females,and far more take their own life.Its tough to see a loved one struggling,and my thoughts are with you,its far from easy.xx
Thank you for your kind, supportive reply. I really do appreciate it. I’m just pleased our son is here now rather than on his own and we’re keeping a close eye on him. I just wish he could find a job.
Wishing you well. Xxx😘
Hi secrets22.
This is such a lovely supportive and heartfelt post, and you are absolutely right about how many people hide their inner feelings, and yet we can all suffer degrees of mental health disorders.
It's encouraging that we can now talk about this, just as we have learned to open up about physical diseases. I remember how, once, it was not the thing to do to admit to having cancer, for example.
I don't mind saying in the slightest that I fought and won a battle with clinical depression some years ago, and it went on for literally years. For some it is a life-long condition which needs to be managed, not cured.
Even when you say you manage to 'put a brave face on things', it's important to remember that many people we come into contact with each day, are doing that, but that underlying it is despair. That's how suicide happens.
There's absolutely no shame in depression. It doesn't mean you are weak, or that you can't cope as others do. It's not 'feeling fed up' and of no help being told to 'snap out of it'.
Really august people such as our current royals and Sir Winston Churchill suffered from it. I remember reading that Churchill referred to his as his 'black dog'.
Thanks again, so much, for posting this. It will help support many people who are feeling as you have felt.
Thankyou so much for your much valued thoughts,and people should not be fearful in expressing their innermost thoughts of depression,it is not weakness ,it is the scourge of the age and has overtaken many other serious illnesses.
And as you say,it is managing this cruel illness,even if no cure.
thankyou.x
Cats are lifesavers as well!
Last month when I heard about the local lockdowns I had become ever so upset over cancelled events and one of my friends had said to me not to be afraid of reaching out to the doctors if I couldn't cope and not to be afraid to use them when I need them and how they are there to help those in psychological distress as well as the physically unwell.
I am OK now as time has gone by but those things had felt like a smack in the face when I first heard them but what I can do is turn the disappointments over the cancelled things into appointments by looking at what new things have come up due to the disappointment and go from there.
In a couple of weeks its my birthday and I had wanted to have gone away for the weekend but it won't be possible now and I was disappointed when I first found out but now I have decided to turn it into an appointment and use it as an opportunity to visit a Lebanese restaurant I have wanted to try for ages and be thankful we won't have to wear those wretched masks as we would have if the weekend away had gone ahead whilst out and about and we have saved money as well by not going.
When these disappointments strike they always feel like the end of the world but what you can do is turn them into appointments!
Good for you, Catgirl, in turning your disappointments into new opportunities.
Years ago, when my daughter was very small, I had to share her with her dad on holidays. With no nearby relatives, I early decided that I had two choices: could grieve and hold a pity party for myself or could find ways to reward and "party" on my own.
I chose the latter and have become very adept at celebrating alone holidays. Special meals with candles & wine; watching a favorite movie; binging on a novel read; getting lost in a hobby...etc
Disappointments come to us all. How we choose to adapt to them is up to us.
Animals are real life savers on so many levels , they have helped me through many a trauma both physically and mentally . ‘Its good to talk ‘ is such a perfect sentence , so many males feel still they must not show emotion , yet it is so vitally important to seek help . You express it all perfectly secrets22 . I have had cats , dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs , and each one has been the perfect companion . My one remaining cat has been a lifeline for my palliative husband and myself during these present times . May your dogs long be your life companions x
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