Mind - Own Experience (£15 Raised so far)

[zaF]

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[DainMK]

Attitudes towards mental health have changed a lot in the last couple of decades, but there's still a lot more that needs to be done.

1 in 4 people experience mental health problems in the UK, and I don't have a problem admitting that I am one of those 4. I have wrestled with depression, and even ended up making mistakes that lead to spending time in a 'unit'. But I'm not ashamed. Nobody should be. It's not something you can chose, it's not something you can 'snap out of'. But millions have to deal with these issues, often in silence because they fear the reactions they will get. This attitude has to change.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/ - These guys are leading the way when it comes to changing attitudes about mental health. They tackle discrimination, and seek to end the stigma of mental health issues. They are run by the guys at Mind (http://www.mind.org.uk/), so any money donated to zaF's charity will help them too.

This is a serious subject, that deserves to be talked about openly. More people suffer than you might think. But it's not all doom and gloom. For a light-hearted, but very good description of these issues, and how they affect us, I give you the wonderful Ruby Wax

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I may have mental health issues, but I'd rather shine the light on them than hide away and pretend it's not something that affects me.

 

[blaze1981]

Hi everyone, I didn't know that this forum section even existed until today. But I feel that I should make a post here to support something that has impacted my life in a huge way.

I've never really told anybody here about things that go on in my personal life, but if it helps raise even the smallest amount of money then it is worth it. I'm not going to go into detail because it would take forever.

Back when I started highschool I started having panic attacks, however at the time I had no idea what they were. I was too scared to tell anyone incase they thought I was crazy, and this went on for a long while.

It eventually progressed to the point where I couldn't go to school anymore because I kept having panic attacks. Around the time I stopped attending school I started to get dark thoughts and constant low mood. I shut myself away from everyone because I thought I was going insane.

Eventually I got diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Depression. 

It was the last few years where things got out of control for me. I started suffering badly with Health Anxiety, every day I would convince myself that I had a different illness and I would get all of the physical symptoms associated with the illness due to panicking and having constant anxiety. 

This eventually lead to me not being able to / forgetting how to eat food due to constant discomfort in my throat. I physically couldn't do it no matter how hard I tried, I was sent for all kinds of tests and in the end they said it was my anxiety.

I spent a year on a liquid diet, most of that time in hospital. A mental illness had made me physically ill. 

I was 15/16 at the time, 6 foot tall and I weighed under 6 stone.

Thankfully with the right help I have managed to somewhat recover. I still suffer with it daily but I have the help I need to get through day to day life.

I understand it may be hard for people who haven't gone through this to understand how this is possible, but it is. And I can safely say I wouldn't still be alive today if I hadn't of got the help I needed. Which is why I am making this post.

Nobody should have to go through mental illness alone. It's something that very few people understand, and its crucial that people get the help they need.

Mind are a charity that help people understand what is happening to them, and give them advice on how to seek treatment.

Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/alukmind/

Now part of the ALUK Charity page: https://www.justgiving.com/teams/AltisLifeUK

Also, this is was extremely hard for me to post and is very personal. The only reason I did it is so that hopefully it raises money and helps others in the same situation find the light at the end of the tunnel.

If you don't understand all I ask is that you dont take the piss. 

Thanks.

i feel your pain zaf , i to started to suffer with panic attacks in my mid twenties, didnt have a clue what was happening to me but i was almost certain it was a serious illness, after a million tests i was told i  suffer with health anxiety probably bought on by my wild partying days of my early 20,s where nothing was off the menu on our crazy nights out.

These days it has become easier to control but ill never forget those first 2 years where my life was literaly a misery , it cost me a 10 year relationship my ex moved 200 hundred miles away with my 3 children it really was the darkest time of my life from which i thought there was no return. But i can say things do get better i now have a new partner a few hundred new children and life couldnt be better , and i to urge anyone who suffers with any kind of mental disorder to seek help , i tried to do it alone and it nearly ended me 

 

[zaF]

Thank you to the anonymous person who donated £10