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  #1  
Old 03-11-2020, 12:49 AM
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Allan_L (Allan)
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Why I've Been off the radar for a while

I just packed the scope away after its first outing in probably 13 months.

Took a while to remember how it all goes together.

I've had some mental health issues that have stopped me even wanting to use the scope, but with appropriate treatment and support I'm starting to feel my old self again. I didn't realise how real this sickness can be. I'll be a lot more sympathetic to sufferers in future. Unfortunately the medication can be just as debilitating as the disease. Hopefully won't fall into that black hole again.

My message is Don't feel embarrassed asking for help, the alternative is unspeakable.

On a brighter note, even though the skies were far from ideal, I got some nice views of Mars tonight.

Stay safe, Look up!
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  #2  
Old 03-11-2020, 03:17 AM
glend (Glen)
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Sorry to hear that Al. PM sent.
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  #3  
Old 03-11-2020, 07:17 AM
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Good to hear that things are on the improve. Get BEST soon.

Best
JA
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  #4  
Old 03-11-2020, 07:50 AM
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sheeny (Al)
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Glad to hear you have it under control Al.


I too have had the black dog, and I agree, until you've had it, you have no idea what it's like. The hardest battle to win is the one over your own mind!


Look after yourself mate.


Al.
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  #5  
Old 03-11-2020, 10:46 AM
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FlashDrive (Poppy)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sheeny View Post

The hardest battle to win is the one over your own mind!

Look after yourself mate.

Al.
How true Sheeny ....stay well Allan_L
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  #6  
Old 03-11-2020, 12:49 PM
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Great to see you back and feeling well again Allan!

I have a question that I could easily google, except that much of the info I’d find there is written by people with uni degrees and not much experience. So better to ask here I think.

That said, I’m not wishing to sound trite, stoopid or in any way disrespectful to those who have had or still do have these issues. If anyone takes offence, please just ask the mods to remove this post.

These are my questions...

1-So how does an individual first suspect they may be suffering a mental health issue?

2-Does it build up over time and arrive at some sort of spectacular crescendo at which point it becomes starkly obvious?

3-Does it affect people who are marching on with a perfectly successful and happy life?

4-Is the onset brought about by some personal catastrophe such as financial ruin or a death in the family etc?

I’ll leave it there and hopefully people with experience can just pass their thoughts. Once again, if anyone is peeved by my questions, please just ask that it be deleted and no hard feelings. I’m just genuinely interested to know more about this in a real world environment, and I know from this and past threads that there are many on here who have fallen prey to this one way or another.

Kindest regards to all...

Last edited by PCH; 03-11-2020 at 02:52 PM.
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  #7  
Old 03-11-2020, 02:31 PM
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Brave move Allan, good on ya mate, stay well and safe.

Leon
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  #8  
Old 03-11-2020, 03:59 PM
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barx1963 (Malcolm)
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Paul
All good questions, and discussion on these matters is a good thing. I will answer based on my personal experience:
1-So how does an individual first suspect they may be suffering a mental health issue?For me, it was reading about others experience and realising "that sound familiar". Thinking back over 40 years and seeing what I had done and things I had struggled with since teenage years.

2-Does it build up over time and arrive at some sort of spectacular crescendo at which point it becomes starkly obvious? Maybe, maybe not. I think it was always there, bubbling below the surface and becoming obvious every few years.

3-Does it affect people who are marching on with a perfectly successful and happy life? YES!!

4-Is the onset brought about by some personal catastrophe such as financial ruin or a death in the family etc? No, but any stressful events can make it more obvious.

Malcolm

Quote:
Originally Posted by PCH View Post
Great to see you back and feeling well again Allan!

I have a question that I could easily google, except that much of the info I’d find there is written by people with uni degrees and not much experience. So better to ask here I think.

That said, I’m not wishing to sound trite, stoopid or in any way disrespectful to those who have had or still do have these issues. If anyone takes offence, please just ask the mods to remove this post.

These are my questions...

1-So how does an individual first suspect they may be suffering a mental health issue?

2-Does it build up over time and arrive at some sort of spectacular crescendo at which point it becomes starkly obvious?

3-Does it affect people who are marching on with a perfectly successful and happy life?

4-Is the onset brought about by some personal catastrophe such as financial ruin or a death in the family etc?

I’ll leave it there and hopefully people with experience can just pass their thoughts. Once again, if anyone is peeved by my questions, please just ask that it be deleted and no hard feelings. I’m just genuinely interested to know more about this in a real world environment, and I know from this and past threads that there are many on here who have fallen prey to this one way or another.

Kindest regards to all...
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  #9  
Old 03-11-2020, 04:11 PM
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sheeny (Al)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PCH View Post
These are my questions...

1-So how does an individual first suspect they may be suffering a mental health issue?

2-Does it build up over time and arrive at some sort of spectacular crescendo at which point it becomes starkly obvious?

3-Does it affect people who are marching on with a perfectly successful and happy life?

4-Is the onset brought about by some personal catastrophe such as financial ruin or a death in the family etc?

I’ll leave it there and hopefully people with experience can just pass their thoughts. Once again, if anyone is peeved by my questions, please just ask that it be deleted and no hard feelings. I’m just genuinely interested to know more about this in a real world environment, and I know from this and past threads that there are many on here who have fallen prey to this one way or another.

Kindest regards to all...

Everyone is different, and each time you get it may be different.


1. First signs? Maybe not sleeping well, anxiousness, stress, depression, lack of happiness (rather then sadness), lack of motivation, irritability, lack of appetite, etc.


2. It certainly can build up over time.


3. Yes. Stress, anxiety and depression are closely linked. Most recently, I was quite happily "marching on", but a relatively minor stressor (should've been anyway) triggered me into very high stress levels, and dragged the anxiety and depression out of the locker for company. For a couple of years I've persevered with the stress, but it's only since I've bitten the bullet and retired that things are heading back to more normal. I've just recently started to notice how well I'm sleeping - and it's been months since I stopped work, and probably 10 years or more since I've slept this well.


4. Big trauma or loss can certainly trigger it. I went through that when we divorced and I was jettisoned from my own family (that's how it felt!). With the right treatment, these events CAN BE recovered from relatively quickly - 9 weeks in my case. The situation I was most recently in with work related stress, certainly comes on more slowly, and takes longer to recover from.


Some people are more disposed to it than others, but I don't think anyone can really be sure they won't suffer from anxiety, depression, or some other mental illness - it can literally happen to anyone.


I'm obviously happy to talk about it. If anyone else needs someone to talk to about it, feel free.


Al.

Last edited by sheeny; 03-11-2020 at 04:17 PM. Reason: typo
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  #10  
Old 03-11-2020, 04:37 PM
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Al (sheeny) and Malcolm,

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

To Allan (the OP), it wasn’t my intention to take over your thread. I just wanted to learn more about this condition. Hopefully you’re ok with people sharing their experiences here?
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  #11  
Old 03-11-2020, 04:49 PM
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GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)
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anxiety and depression in my case presented together
luckily in my case i had a GP who prescribed the correct dose and type of medication for both conditions
BE TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOUR DOCTOR when asked for your symptoms
if you have thoughts of self harm - say so
if medication is not effective - go back to your doctor
a good doctor will want to check on you anyway
don't expect a "quick fix"

geoff
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  #12  
Old 03-11-2020, 05:44 PM
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Having watched my father suffer immensely mentally and physically trying to assist his unfortunately very psychologically ill wife, please also be cognizant of the carers. It has worn him down so much over the preceding 15 years that he himself is now needing treatment for depression and quite simply, mental exhaustion.

My step-mother suffers Munchausen's Disorder (ranges from a false inability to use hands or do any work, through to a self-induced chronic cough that has caused bone breaks and inducing syptoms with certain medications like prednosone abuse), extreme manic-depression, anxiety and panic attacks - an absolutely horrible situation to be in and to care for.

I am glad to read many here are being properly cared for, and brave enough to expose it.
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  #13  
Old 03-11-2020, 06:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl View Post
anxiety and depression in my case presented together
luckily in my case i had a GP who prescribed the correct dose and type of medication for both conditions
BE TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOUR DOCTOR when asked for your symptoms
if you have thoughts of self harm - say so
if medication is not effective - go back to your doctor
a good doctor will want to check on you anyway
don't expect a "quick fix"

geoff
Geoff, did something in particular happen to cause those two to present at the same time, or did it just ‘happen’?
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  #14  
Old 03-11-2020, 07:47 PM
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Glad to hear you’re feeling better and back in the saddle of life, Allan (and Geoff).

Having experienced this through a close friend, it is certainly real, and it’s good to see mental health is getting a bit more air time these days...
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  #15  
Old 03-11-2020, 08:31 PM
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GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)
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Paul

my problem related to a protracted fight with local council over the establishment of a backpacker hostel next door to us

corrupt officials allowing changes in zoning/ existing use regulations.

geoff
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  #16  
Old 03-11-2020, 08:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl View Post
Paul

my problem related to a protracted fight with local council over the establishment of a backpacker hostel next door to us

corrupt officials allowing changes in zoning/ existing use regulations.

geoff
Jeepers Geoff, I take your point. Those joints don’t come with a terrific reputation hey!
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  #17  
Old 03-11-2020, 10:16 PM
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Allan_L (Allan)
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In my case, very sudden unexpected, all good one day happy no worries, next day severely sick feeling in pit of stomach, huge flight or fight overpowering feeling with no way to shed it, then got worse by the hour. I was unprepared for the immense physical impact, like being hit by a boulder.
Lost interest in everything (food, exercise, sex, hobbies, life) would shake uncontrollably.
By this time I knew I needed help.

It is an odd feeling, when you are confronted with your own mortality, every other thing falls away and shows itself as folly and inconsequential.
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  #18  
Old 03-11-2020, 10:42 PM
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GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)
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very hard for you Al when you can't pin point a cause

geoff
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  #19  
Old 04-11-2020, 01:22 AM
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wavelandscott (Scott)
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I am so glad you got help and that you shared this post. Mental health is often a silent battle people fight...especially men. That you had the courage and empathy (and all of those who have chimed in with similar stories) is incredibly important.

Having family members impacted with mental health challenges myself I have experienced the toll that they can take when left untreated.

Thanks again for sharing and reminding us all of the importance of getting treatment and help when needed.
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  #20  
Old 06-11-2020, 03:59 AM
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madbadgalaxyman (Robert)
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There is a fine line, and a shifting one, between a real illness of the mind, and just the ordinary stress and anxiety and upset and sadness of daily life.( which can in itself be hard to take)

I think that the illness starts when a person feels really really bad, psychologically, but there may be no ongoing reason (as distinct from the existence of a precipitating event) for them to continue feeling really bad, and they feel trapped in an adverse psychological state that they can neither control or repair.

Depression, in particular, is a continuum (in this, it may differ from psychosis, as a person may flip between having disordered thoughts, and delusions, and having normal cognition), ranging from mild feelings of apathy/low-energy and low mood which are not easily controllable by the sufferer , through to a most upsetting and agonizing psychological state from which there can seem to be no escape.

Medication is not always the best option for mild mental problems, for instance there have been studies that show that virtually any intervention or ameliorative action has a beneficial effect when it comes to treating mild-to-moderate depression. ( But this commentary does not apply to the treatment of severe prolonged depression that cannot be controlled by the person who suffers it)

Last edited by madbadgalaxyman; 06-11-2020 at 04:13 AM.
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