December 27, 2005
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Depression Part 5
I had a friend who was experiencing depression. He needed help but struggled to ask for it. I think part of his problem was he was afraid of what others would think. I think the other part of his problem was that he had a hard time admitting he needed help with anything. But finally I think his greatest problem was that he didn’t know he really had a problem. He actually didn’t get help until he was found rolled up in a ball in the corner of his room.
I think that those who suffer from any type of problem like depression or some other type of illness struggle to figure out how big their problem really is. By its very nature a mental illness issue would be difficult to identify. A person who struggles with the problem is having a hard time deciding if there is even a problem at all. So they continue to struggle through not asking for help. For some reason, people struggle to admit they have a problem that may be going on in their brain. A cut on the arm is so much easier to think about objectively. It is either infected or it is not. It is either bleeding or it is not.
How do you know when you need help with a mental illness?
Comments (118)
FIRST!
When you struggle to cope with everyday life, feel sad all the time, anxiety-ridden, etcetera.
pretty much what jennifer said.
I think its very difficult for someone to find that out for themselves.. usually a 3rd party would need to intervene for something of this nature.
im depressed i didnt get first
peace max
When you feel like your gonna fall over the edge of a big cliff.
Hmm. Well I’ve pretty much figured out for myself that I have OCD, and I haven’t really taken any real steps to keep it under control. If I had a mental illness such as depression, I’m sure I would know if I had it, but I very seriously doubt I would try to get help or even bring it to someone else’s attention. I have a very hard time dealing with percieved weaknesses, so until it got extremely bad, I would probably put on my normal face and continue as I usually do. I’m great at hiding things and pretending they don’t exist (even when I know they do).
-Hil
wait. i lied. im not done. its also when something wonderful is taken away from you. and its like…horrible. i was kicked out the schools musical cause of grades and it devestated me. and then i got depressed.
I know i need help, i’ve needed it for almost 3 years, i’ve been a cutter or self abuser since i was about 4, but i can’t admit it to my parents because they believe that “people with mental disorders, are messed up and there is nothing really wrong with them” i also suffer from obsesssive compulsive disorder but ther’s no way i can get help, i just wish i could, but then again, i don’t know if i really want to stop cutting, it’s become so much a part of me
katie
wohoo top 10!
When you have no joy in life.
When everything is a chore.
When you are withdrawn from the people and things you once enjoyed.
When you isolate more and more.
When you cry everyday and don’t know why.
((( GRANDMA HUGS )))
Lori
Constant feeling of helplessness.
i think it’s hard for people to kno if they actually have a mental disease or if they’re just feeling blue. i guess it depends on the individual and if the depression doesn’t seem to go away then they should get checked to see if it’s something more serious.
When you start giving in and listening to the other voices inside yourself.
Shut up! I’m talking.
That’s definitely a circumstantial thing … depending on SO many things.
I dealt with depression … big time. I got to a point where I was so far down … the only place I could look was up … that’s when I knew I needed some help.
Some people never know. I figured mine out because i knew i wasn’t acting like myself.
when you are hurting yourself or others.
when you are more sad than happy.
when you actually start to believe you have no way out.
There was a TV special on depression and one woman summed it up pretty well: “You need help when you feel as if there are no solutions to your problems.” People who are depressed feel as if they can’t solve their problems, and dig themselves into holes. Some people commit suicide because that is the only solution they can think of.
Trust me, you KNOW. You just have to be strong enough to ask for help. But you KNOW when it is time.
i think this is a very interesting subject. i was thinkin about this very thing on my way home on christmas day. i was thinking…is it normal for me to cry in the car and not be able to put my finger on it? how do you know when u’re emotions aren’t normal? and i started thinking about how hard it is to define depression…and what upsets some people, may not be upsetting at all for others. i think for each person its totally a different set of answers.
I think the bottom line is that if you can’t function in the the life you have made for yourself, then you need to take a good hard look at your situation.
If those around you are able to tell that you do.
My mother wasn’t diagnosed with bi-polar (aka. manic depressant disorder) until she was 41 or 42, and she had it all her life. It really explained a lot of her personality with me growing up with I found out. But she won’t TELL anyone, and that’s weird to me. I know and my Dad knows, but she won’t tell any of her other children or anyone else.
Great subject to talk about, by the way.
When the darkness gets so great that you can’t see any light anymore.
just stopping by cuz I see a lot of my subs, sub to you…….
Mental illness is tough, it’s hard to tell where the person ends and the illness begins. I have twin neices that are bi-polar. I’ve been there with them/for them, visited the pscyh. ward(awful awful places) and just try to support.
Depression is tough – I’ve battled it myself….it’s hard to pick yourself up and it’s ok to ask for help.
With depression, you might know it, but it’s hard to take any steps, you don’t see a way out. Or you keep thinking it’s your fault. It’s hard for others to know if you are depressed. My husband says he can’t tell. I don’t think he pays attention really. People have this idea that if you are depressed you don’t get out of bed or get dressed and stuff and that’s not true, I guess I am functional even when I am depressed, so with my husband only home in the evenings with all the chaos and stuff, he doesn’t know. Or so he says.
when you are crying 3/4 of the day and you often think of suicide
RYC: Thank your for your prayers for my sister-in-law. I updated again…. she got out of the hospital, but doctors still don’t know what is wrong. Hope you had a Merry Christmas, and have a Happy New Year!!!!!!
probably when you’ve realized that you can’t keep struggling and you get fed up enough with there not being enough. it’s not really something you can exactly know when to diagnose because mental illness is so delicate that it often gets overlooked if you’re good at hiding it… but otherwisethere’s no clear moment until the breakdown.
Thats such a hard question…It seems by nature we try to avoid diagnosing the problem because, we are afraid what complications will arise. We’re afraid of what other people will think, and how their lives will be changed. Its stepping out of your comfort zone into a whole new world. Its a very frightening thing…
For me personally, I always had to deal with whatever came up in my life privately. I had to keep it to myself, solve it, and get over it and move onto the next thing. So asking for help with a personal problem would be…Terrifying, and unthinkable.
I’ve battled depression of sorts…But I never considered it a actual, God-to-honest problem.
Great points. I completely agree that one reason people (well, at least me) fail or choose not to recognize emotional and mental illness is because it is not tangible and can not be evaluated objectively. But when to ask for help? I believe it’s when your problems become a focal point and all else dims in relavence.
When you can no longer distract yourself away from your problems. And when your problems begin affecting your physical health – blood pressure, respiration, everything that keeps us alive and healthy.
when i started cutting.
If it starts affecting your life, if you consistently do things you wouldn’t do normally, like avoiding people and only listening to or reading depressing things….
I think another problem with depression is that those who have it hate the state that they’re in, but also don’t want to get out of it. A small part of them wants to hold on to it…almost like a martyr syndrome. They don’t know how to be truly joyful and, in a way, are even afraid of joy. Depression becomes their very lifestyle–something that is incredibly hard to change. They see those around them who have no struggle with depression and almost hate them for it.
I’m sure this doesn’t hold true for all people with depression, but all of the people who I have known.
That’s an interesting question.
In other types of situations, whether it be getting a bandaid for the cut on that person’s arm, or reaching something high or heavy, one would usually try to do so themselves. When the person sees that he or she cannot, then they ask for help. (Generally.)
When functioning normally, people surround themselves with people that make them feel good, not bad. So, people use other people to make themselves happy.
When someone isn’t happy, they should go to these people to change that. Whenever they feel the need. But just like the cut on the person’s arm, they won’t go for help until they feel they can’t handle it on their own.
Therefore, the time is whenever mentally ill person feels like they need the support of others. That’s a primary reason why people surround themselves with other people. Unfortunately that is not what someone who is mentally ill often does. People in that condition tend to avoid seeking help, because they refuse to admit that they need help, even though they know they do. They would bleed to death from the cut on their arm rather than ask for something to stem the bleeding.
So I think that it’s not an issue necessarily of knowing when to get help, as normally you would go to friends and family for happiness regardless of whether you think you are suffering from a mental illness, but knowing that you should, and acting on that knowledge.
I know when I feel as if I am heading nowhere in my path of life, or when I feel a great figurative hole in my mind.
No idea. I think a 3rd party might be necessary to tell you to get help. if its been the way you’ve lived your entire life, how can you know what “normal” is?
i have depression. and not in the way that i just feel bad sometimes, so i only THINK i have depression. no. i actually have it. i take medication for it. i go to psychologists for it. and psychiatrists.
you know when you have depression if you honestly feel down (suicidal, drained, listless) more than you feel happy. if your own insecurities are changing the way that you interact with people, or that the way you feel affects the overall quality of life. usually other people notice a change in your behavior before you do. many people with depression also have other disorders. OCD, anxiety, panic attacks..etc.
most insurances pay for psychologists. i recommend that anyone experiencing any of the above problems should seek help.
It’s different for different people. Like you said, the hardest part is admitting that you need help. I’m the type of person that doesn’t like to reach out to others for help. Once I did, I got help and learned more about depression. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Not getting help is what you should be ashamed of. Education is the key, not only for yourself, but also for your friends and family.
I don’t think you can diagnose yourself. You need other people to point it out and get help for you.
mental illness is so broad….DSMIII had homosexuality as a mental illness now it isn’t. see how it changes so quickly.
how does depression start? … a lot of the time, if not all of the time, they don’t have Jesus.
I was medicated for a bit under a year for depression until I just decided on my own to stop… I was on Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, and some others.
So, of course, I know from experience what personally triggered my need to get help. But, it depends on the individual, really.
But in general, I’d say that if one cries for what seems like no reason, feels as if not living would be better than life, or doesn’t feel any satisfaction in the things that he or she used to enjoy, he or she should probably seek help.
when you look around and you realize you’ve been living in the darkness for so long, you forgot what the light looks like. Sometimes, you need someone else to tell you and help you get through it too. If you’ve got friends or someone to support you, REALLY support you. I hope your friend is able to get through it….i’ll pray for them.
my husband is clinically depressed. i usually have to give him a heads up to go back to the doctor.
when you start thinking of ways to kill yourself…
personally I would try to fix it myself and not admit to other’s that i have a problem. it’s too exposing. admitting your anything less than what people already see you as. how to know when to help? i think you’d have to know the person very well otherwise you won’t have a clue until you find them curled up into a ball in the corner of a room.
It can be very hard to know for sure because it is your brain that is affected which can affect your logic and reasoning faculties.
My first experience with depression was when my marriage was in rough water and the only thing I knew that was wrong with me is that I was having trouble sleeping. I went to the doc for something to help me sleep and after questioning me about the reason for my problem, he put me on anti-depressants and sent me to a therapist.
The anti-depressants allowed me to stay married and sort of float above my problems, but in the end, my pastor and close friend had to talk to me and wake me up to the fact that things weren’t going to get better in my marriage and that the time had come to end it.
I think some people may never be aware that they are suffering from mental illness unless someone seriously confronts them about their behavior.
L,r
When it’s not just hard but physically/emotionally painful to get out of bed, leave the house, conduct normal activities… it’s time to call in the calvary, despite the guilt, despite the fear. Psychiatric disorders suck.
When you push the ones you love away, that’s when you need them the most.
usually it takes someone else to realize the need for help… by then it’s usually too late.
better late, than never.
it helps when you open up at times..but i found out through my own experiences of depressive states that sometimes it also helps just keeping it all in..some people are capable of that and it doesn’t deter them from what they have to do in their lives..
you know you’re ill mentally if you’re always down in the dumps no matter what happens..suicidal tendencies start arising too..
by the way, i am classified 5150 (suicidal) in my record..yeah, i’ve been through it..victim of my own destruction inside myself..
There is so much more to depression and mental illness then crying and suicide. so much more. I work at a Community Mental Health organization and see consumers all the time that aren’t crying. I think that third party intervention is crucial, but sometimes “mental illness” is an easy way to write off bad attitudes, lack of motivation and other lifestyle choices. My dad is bi-polar and has OCD and frequently claims that he does things like beat my mom or steal from my sisters because he has a mental illness.
I think the best way of knowing is to have a trusted family member suggest you be evaluated.
I have said it before, but I will say it again. There is a world of difference between honest-to-God clinical depression and just feeling down or melancholy. From the comments on this page it looks to me like these people actually know what clinical depression is:
nerdygirly
Emjay1
gypsygrace
brandilovezyou
al_jameela
I would have to talk to the others to find out for sure.
It is like being in a trap. You are miserable, but can’t figure a way out. Suicide isn’t especially attractive, but to continue under the cloud of darkness seems like more than you can bear. You can’t explain exactly how or why you feel bad necessarily, and you often will avoid others because they want to know what is wrong and you can’t put it into words other than to describe it as a horrible feeling. You may cry uncontrollably.
People who have never experienced it can’t understand it. There is nothing in a person’s frame of reference from past experiences that can be used to convey the correct meaning to anyone else. You look to the future and all you can see are the worst possible outcomes for your life and the lives of your loved ones. Nothing but gloom.
L,r
take some kind of test, but there are really obvious signs like harming oneself, and things that would impede someone from everyday activity.
Wow that is a hard question for a lot of people. I think, in a counseling opinion, that if it is affecting your life in anyway then you need to go in and at least be evaluated. It was hard for me to decide to seek help when I got depressed during my divorce. I was mostly just proud, had the whole I know all this stuff, I can help myself. Ummmmm………….nope. I finally just gave it up and went in. Now I am glad that I did. I don’t know where I would be without my Dr. and medication. I know that I will eventually be able to get of the A.D. and stop the counseling but until then it helps.
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas. Hugs-TA
When everyone around you tells you so. I have 2 members of my family that should both be on medication for depression, yet they both are in denial so the whole family suffers for it.
Hi Dan you have a very interesting profile. It has alot of helpful tips and is good to read when you are bored and you also learn a few things. Oh and i have a question can you tell me where you got that layout cause i like it very much~
mmm…there are more mental illnesses than depression, but I think to a certain point, unless you’ve been affected since you were little you know that you’re sinking into something a little less than normal…As for when you need help, I think sometimes that’s hard to tell. There comes a point when you know you need it, but whether or not you can ask someone is another thing. I agree though with what you said, but defining a problem like a cut on the arm is easier to accept. A cut on the arm is from an outside source, and can be healed, and you can see it heal. A hurt in your head is inside yourself and is a lot scarier. You’ve suddenly become something else and everything you think about is affected by that illness. Being hurt outside is a lot easier to fix sometimes. Oh, broken arm, cast it. Oh, bleeding toe, bandage it. A mental illness is so much more difficult! Oh sad all the time and sometimes happy, afraid of the future, feeling out of control? Hmmm…I think that part of the reason people don’t get help when they’re feeling as if they’re losing control is because they don’t know what would help, or how to begin. Sure you could always tell someone, but how do you know that person would be able to help you? You might just have people start thinking you’re crazy when you’re already feeling like that yourself, and nobody can figure out whats wrong.
Thank you very much for your post!
When you can’t lead a normal life or you isolate yourself from the real world.
When life ceases to exist and thoughts of self annihilation creep in.
when you suddenly realize that you are no longer able to truly function, when you realize that yeah you can eat, you can live, you can breathe, but beyond that everything is empty, that is a time when you know there is a problem.
hmmm….good question. I have no idea.
How in the HELL do you guys get to his blog so fast? I swear I was here less than thirty minutes ago, and there’s already 60 some odd comments here!!
when you give up on yourself and stop caring about the people who love you, when you stop doing anything at all, i had a friend who was depressed too and it was really hard on our relationship, no one could help her if she didnt want to get help herself, im glad she did though
If what you are struggling with inside is spilling over on the outside, you probably need help. You need to at least mention it to someone you trust. Another person can tell you whether it is something everybody struggles with or if you should seek professional help to fight it.
When you realise that it will be better if you communicate.
Thank you!
*bows*
I appreciate your comment.
When you can’t seem to shake it. When you don’t even waqnt to get up in the morning … when you hate living … when you see no way out.
ryc: I am already off … had a short day … don’t go back to the 3rd … we just found out that they are going to fumigate. Yippie!!!
I’m very sorry to hear this. They will be in my prayers. {{HUGGS}}
when the voices tell you crayons are best stored in the urethra.
thankies for the comment on my site! when you are thinking of suicide or self-mutilation, when you start to lose hope
ryc: OK … just let me know when ever you get off of vacation.
RYC – hahah, well you helped by making me smile…sorry about having a female post…lol
anyway
thinking of suicide may be a tip off
are you having withdrawls?
I agree with sugarblue2. There is a major difference between mild depression and severe depression and only those that have experienced severe depression know how wide the gap is. Depression is so much more than self-mutilation. Depression is so much more than suicidal thoughts. I have had major depression/anxiety and borderline personality disorder since before I can remember. I saw it in myself and everyone else saw it in me. However, in my case, sadness and confusion was all I’d ever known and I begin to think that was just the way I was.
Most commenters are focusing on depression. However, you asked “How do you know when you need help with a mental illness?” The truth is, there are countless mental illnesses with their own level of ability to identify. It depends on a variety of factors, many of which you already answered when describing your friend.
When it interferes with your daily life.
When it starts to impair any functioning. If it causes problems with relationships at home, at work, or anywhere else, then it’s time to treat it.
This is relative. What some people consider abnormal can be perfectly fine.
When it becomes a problem with everyday life, i.e. sad all the time, can’t get things done, neglecting important needs, is when it should be labled as a problem that needs help.
Yeah … it is just the joy stick that you plug into the TV … you don’t need a console. The version I got was “Classic Arcade” … it has Pac Man and Astroids (to name a few) the video games we used to play int he 80′s.
That can be really hard, especially for a child or teenager whose parent/s consider something like depression simply a bid for attention and make the situation worse by not recognizing a real health problem and labeling the child a troublemaker in the process. It can be hard, too when a spouse does the same thing. Or even a person’s friends.
When I broke into tears at a routine physical. I didn’t realize how bad it was until I got better…
Whenever life becomes overwhelming.
When it negatively affects your everyday life and the people around you…
I hope you had a nice Christmas!!! Houston must be nice right now.
I’m so mad I missed your post where you wrote the letter to the Democrats…I have been MIA on xanga for the past few days. But I liked your letter….although I disagree on Gore and/or Kerry running again. You know I love Kerry but I think his image was tarnished from the last race. However, I do agree that Democrats are squandering what could be a very advantageous situation for them right now…the president has such a low approval rating, yet the Democrats are not stepping up. It is so frustrating. Anyway, this has nothing to do with the present topic so I will stop heh. =)
well … not quite … it has Galazian … I know Galaga is better!!! It also has Bosconian which is kind of has the same theme. It has Pac Man … Rally-X and Dig Dug too.
you can still come challenge me though.
Being mentaly ill myself, your first reaction is to say it will go away its just a low period or I have the blues.. But then it doesn’t go away. You feel hopeless, lethargic,helpless,sad, abandoned and it takes your life away as you used to know it.
I have depression and severe anxiety.A constant battle.I hope anyone with these feelings seeks help.
Thats a hard thing, but it is the first step in recovery.
As for your post below about Fredericks, I see no reason the husband shouldnt go in with the wife or without. You might like to give your opinion in something she chooses or buy something for her yourself.
Peace and Love:)
When the ceiling starts tasting like fur and worms sing in Hebrew?
oh wait, that’s — nevermind…
(we certainly are an expert bunch)
Good question, many good answers here. I probably wouldn’t allow myself to believe I was suffering until way late in the game.
Tim
good question since i’ve dealt with clinical depression myself as well as others I know. You eloquently explained the #1 reason why most depressed people don’t get help. For me, it took good friends to suggest it. I started alienating others by my moods. I started developing a co-dependent relationship with addictions such as drinking and smoking. I think it was harder for me because I was borderline depressed..I was never rolled up in a ball…so I always felt i’m not ‘that’ drastic. Either cases, should always ALWAYS get help. I promote talking to others about problems. Release the stigmas!!!!!
Oh, If you’re interested, gimme a shout – I got good news that has nothing to do w/ gecko – -just purchased a package- the complete Narnia (7) and another collection of CSL –Mere,Screwtape,Prob Pain and Great Divorce for $55 –ON CD AUDIO!
ryc: good pts. i will include them in my response. thanks.
Like you mentioned, people don’t realize when they have a mental problem. It is the nature of the beast. People’s last option is medication because society has given it a negative connotation (crazy pills). Sometimes MDD (depression) can be caused situationally or by a chemical imbalance in the braing (receptor / hormonal malfunction). It is important that we as humans realize that we cannot take care of things on our own. We do not stand alone. If you find yourself feeling down on an everyday basis and can’t figure out why, chances are you have depression; you need help. If you feel like you are a failure and seek help by using street drugs or harming your self and others, chances are, you need help. There is nothing wrong with reaching out and asking for help. We are all human and by default, we are not perfect. It is easy to find the problem but hard to change it; change begins with the recognition of the problem and the search for the solution. I have taken Zanax due to having panic attacks and sever anxiety. I used to think it was normal to feel like crawling out of my skin and being scared all of the time (I have had severe GAD for a decade) and till now I realize that no, it is not normal. The only one that can make a change is me. Situational depression can be minimized by the increase number of buffers (things to fall back on when one aspect in your life fails), for example: hobbies, hanging out w/ friends, family, church, etc. The more buffers one has the less chance one will fall into situational depression.
It is important for people to realize that they are not alone, over 75% of the population has experienced some type of depression and half of those have seeked help and have benefited greatly from it. I am one of them, and I dont’ regret it. You only live once…. choose to live… not to die alive.
Much love,
Pam.
if you are not feeling like youreslf.
maybe extra sad, mad, happy.
any emotion gone overboard.
<3
It’s hard to distinguish personal depression from ‘the blues’… but I think with most sufferers, they reach a point. Something just does’nt feel right. If they’re lucky, they’ve read about it or seen someone else with the same problems and recognized their state as unusual. I believe that most of the time, it’s when the suicidal thoughts set in.
This is why I think awareness of mental illness should be spread more. It’s important for people to be able to pinpoint depression, anxiety disorders, etc.- just as important as any other physical illness.
When things get so bad that you just can’t do it alone anymore…
My problem has been just the opposite. No one really gives a shit; all they know is that they’re ”inconvenienced”. Just today a person who has been a friend of mine for over 40 years – a doctor no less – told me that he was “disappointed” in me, and that I should “figure something out” because I was like a “soap opera with the same old plot”. The implication was that he was getting ready to change the channel.
So much for understanding and compassion. Fuck all of you. Excuse me for taking up space in your world.
You know you need help when you withdraw from friends and family and stay in bed or alone you dont know you need help when its stuff like schizophrenia and you just got it like the guy in its a beautiful mind he was brilliant but his illness confused his reality with his delusions he was smart enough to figure it out and believe his loved ones when he realized that one of his delusions of a young girl lasted for years but she never seemed to get older
some people don’t exhibit depression by being down, especially if they are under medication that have side effects one of the side effects could be making them talkative or jittery
I know of two people that killed themselves and it was disturbing to me since I always thought of myself as sensitive and able to pick up on stuff like this
One killed himself because he was gay and was having an affair with his sister’s husband and the other is the daughter of a former neighbor of mine she was pretty and always made up, always in an upbeat mood who would’ve guessed she was under medication and she overdosed on the medication
When nothing is sweet or fun or entertaining any more and you just wish you would be hit by a bus.
Then, once you embrace your mental illness, you say, “I’m mentally ill. So fuck off and leave me alone or I’ll go mental on you!”
i didn’t know. spent 3 months in heavy depression before any one else realized it.
when its affecting you/ preventing you with everyday life activities.
I think a telltale sign of depression is when you’re ashamed to look people in the face. Mine wasn’t a physical shame, but shame that the other person might be able to see through me and know, in spite of the grin and giggle, just how messed up I was. I used to look at everyone square in the eye — I was confident. Now? Not so much.
But I deal on a daily basis… Literally one day at a time. I look at the bright side, however minimal it may be on any given day. For those of you who can relate, the mantra that keeps me going: “What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” xo
When I start seeing dead people.
I decided to get help when I spent 80% of the day crying. I never got out of bed before 3:00 PM. I would sleep through my alarm and sometimes I’d sleep nearly 24 hours. When I no longer saw my future and I couldn’t see my way out of the blackness I was in. When the only thing I thought about was dying, but I knew the truth was I only wanted my pain to end. I knew I needed help when nothing I tried on my own would make me feel numb.
I think people just have to hit rock bottom before they ask for help.
Erika
When daily tasks become difficult to do, grooming slacks off, sleeping a lot, concentration/focus vague, becomes less social, loses interest in all previous hobbies, etc.
I know I need help when I can’t get out of bed to do simple things like shower or go to class. When I start to think of suicide, especially when I start writing a suicide note inside my head. When I think that going off my meds would be a good idea no matter what the reason. When I purposely cause myself physical harm. When I start wondering what the point of life is and decide that death (not necessarily by suicide) is the best way to deal with my problems.
Knowing that you need help is a lot easier than going to actually get the help. And the worst part is that there is no immediate fix for mental illness. Pills can take weeks to reach the full effect though you may feel a difference within a few days. Therapy can take years. It’s very easy to get frustrated and give up on getting help. And when you start thinking of giving up on the help, you definitely need the help.
I think a 3rd party has to assess, because sufferers of mental illness do not always see or admit they have a problem (for example some schizophrenics, anorexics etc)
I know I need help when I cry a lot, don’t want to see anyone of my friends or family at all, and sleep most of the day and night for more than 2 days at a time. Usually all of these things start to happen at once and then I also start to feel seriously suicidal and think about what I can take or do to dissapear or make myself sick or die.
That is when I know I need help.
-Onebear
it’s sad to know that even if you offer your help by simply just being there, you get turned down and shunned away. What’s even harder is that, death is inevitable, the faster you pick yourself up and move on, the greater your love for the person becomes. Open up and talk to people who are all willing to listen and help you.
Dont ask me, I think mental health professionals use my life story in their education & training.
One may never know that he or she need help with a mental illness nor will they ever know until someone may point it out to them. But the ONE THING that can help with anything is GOD. He is the ultimate comforter and friend. If it weren’t for GOD I would have not made it this far in life. I have been struggling with things for so long and it’s because of GOD and his infailing love and grace that I pull through.
Have a Blessed day.
One love, One God, One Way,
Bree
I think, as you’ve said, that’s part of the problem with mental ilness’ like depression. People aren’t sure, and why would you want to admit you’re depressed? so they don’t. And that’s the main problem. Like take me for instance, I’m not depressed, but I’m sure that going to a shrink would be beneficial to my life style, but I don’t go to a shrink. Many people are like me in that sense… did you know that like 75% of people should be getting therapy, and only like 3% of those people are?
When your unable to cope with everyday life!
When the deppression lasts more than 6 months and is interfering with other aspects of your life (getting in the way of you doing work or your friendships/relationships). That’s the more clinical answer.
I suffer from depression and possibly bipolar. I knew about the depression but never thought and then denied the bipolar….. It sucks….. Meds and therapy help though….the stigma of having a mental illness stinks people sometimes judge you without getting to know you…..
just browsing through xangas.want to be friends?please comment me back.
…im scaring myself.
i think i need help now O.O
…but just because i fit into the categories most people said doesnt make me insane, right?
well, actually i know im insane, and need help.
but from my point of view -
i really dont want help. im fine on my own.
what can a psychologist do, anyway?
no words can heal insanity.
a cut on the arm is indeed much easier to think about.
and it releases endorphins [sp?], which makes people feel real.
and i dont want any stupid pills. as i said, im better off on my own.
::nods::
besides, im waaaaay too young to be thought of as insane.
too bad i am.
im a genocidal, suicidal freak!
wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
I didn’t deal with my year+ depression
Someone saved me from it
Maybe everyone needs a savior from their troubles
I dont think most people are strong enough to pull themselves out of trouble
Not anymore anyways
~Loyd~
wen the symptomz match..
I have a mental problem that is manifesting itself more and more the closer my wedding gets. Only it is hard for me to admit it because every man has this mental disorder, but most people you talk to these days won’t say it is bad at all. Every man’s “battle” is, unfortunately, becoming a popular one to loose, therefore it is hard to tell it is even going on most of the time. How did I know when I needed help with it? When it started to take the purity of my relationship with my fiance away.
no idea
I think it’s hard to admit that you have one. How can you find help with it when you’re not even sure if you have it? It’s embarassing to your integrity and you would rather pretend it doesn’t exist at all than have to deal with such serious problems.