accepting the truth

[mary0510]

I'm finally coming around to admitting I have a mental disorder. from the looks of it, I'm bipolar, but that's just from looking it up online. I am having a real hard time admitting this to myself (I feel too proud to go to doctors) but the time is nigh. I need to see a professional but I don't know where to start. should I just ask around, look them up? I don't know! just the thought gets my head spinning. any methods to tone things down between me and my husband would be swell. he's been getting the blunt end of this whole things. thank you!

[jtom92]

i didnt know where to turn when this started a year ago either.  if your in college(like me) then go to your counseling center.  if your not go to your docotor and ask them to recommend a pysciatrist

[budjaytx]

I'm 53 years old and have been ducking a diagnosis for years, too.  I've been had opportunities through court ordered screenings but always try to downplay or minimize my symptoms.  For almost the past 10 years I've self treated off & on with alcohol.  Now I have a decent small business and a great wife.  If you are young don't put yourself through years of misery.  I've had one failed relationship after another and very little success in the workplace. I have a family history of mental illness; my father is manic-depressive and I watched my grandfather suffer through depression and anxiety compounded by alcohol and prescription narcotic abuse compounded my emphysema.  When my current bout of anxiety started up in June (set off by a short separation from my wife of 3 years) I decided that there is no way I could put her or myself through this the rest of our lives.  Only yesterday I made the decision to go to the doctor.  I just started the prescription this morning.  His diagnosis is depression and general, anxiety disorder, though I suspect my problems may run much deeper.  Please do something quickly for the people around you now and those in your future.

[budjaytx]

Oh see there I was so focused on my own issues I didn't answer your question.  I just hope you have insurance.  We don't luckily our Dr is cheap and gave me a generic prescription.  I'm just starting the process myself.  I have slim resources so I'm going to go through the VA application process which will take 2 or 3 months.  I don't know whats available in your area but here we do have county operated Mental Health Centers.  Also United Way Operates "First Call Help" which is a general referral service. Good luck to you and get help fast. Luckily for me my wife presence mitigates my symptoms or her absence worsens them, perhaps.  Sadly she's gone this time for four months. But it gives me the perfect opportunity to do something instead of putting it off another 30 years.

[spitfireatme]

It feels really great on here to feel people be a bit more human. I don't have any pride against going to doctors; maybe in my anxiety or paranoia I just don't trust them to make good decisions and like to self-teach myself solutions to my problems, as far as mental stuff goes.

This is a good reminder to me that we still need to break the stigma attached to mental disorders and illness. I would certainly still say that you should do your own research. The medical model of "illness" is a bit diseased. I love naturalnews.com for health and wellness ideas. I think a LOT of mental illness is just due to how we're living today, etc.!

Another thing, though: Since when were normal emotions "medical problems"? Maybe you just get super happy and super sad. I'm pretty anti-medication except for serious cases. I think that the problems I deal with are probably best dealt with through other means than just medicating!