More you might like
Tribute to Robin Williams
Tribute to Robin Williams
When his face flashed across the TV screen, I knew that he was gone, but for a minute or two I told myself “It isn’t true”. Then the CNN newscaster announced that he was “sorry to have to report this” but Robin Williams was dead. I felt empty and alone. How could this loving genius be gone? I knew that he had battled substance abuse and depression for most of his life – I guess I just didn’t want to believe that someone who could be that funny could be so sad. I called my husband in tears to tell him what had happened. Then I parked myself in front of the TV as details of Robin’s suicide were divulged. I kept thinking – “…if I had known I could have called you”, “…if you had just said something we could have intervened”. But then I thought about how hard he had struggled, how he never gave up. I know how tempting it is to hurt yourself, even if it’s just a cut on your arm.
The Other Side of Madness – A tribute to Robin Williams
The Other Side of Madness – A tribute to Robin Williams
“I think I know what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they’re not listening still.
Perhaps they never will…
For they could not love you,
But still your love was true.
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night,
You took your life, as lovers often do.
But I could have told you, Robin,
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you.”
Paraphrased from: Don McLean - Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)
I was devastated to hear the news on his death, but not shocked. For those of us who also struggle to keep our minds at peace, this is a reality we know only too well. For me, there is just overwhelming sadness for the loss of someone who had so much left to give. My pain is first and foremost for his family and the knowledge of the very long and pain filled journey ahead of them. It is never good to be left behind. So there is tremendous sadness for all of us whom have also been left behind.
Conquering Mental Illness
Yes, I was hospitalized three times for Post Partum Psychosis (PPP) after my daughter’s birth. After I read about Robin Williams’ tragic death yesterday, I wanted to do something positive as a sort of tribute to him and all of us suffering from mental illness. First of all, rest in Peace acting genius. There is hope, for me, for you. As I write this, my daughter is playing with a jar of olive oil, and I have friends coming over for a homemade spa day. In the depths of my paranoia and delusions 11 months ago, I could barely believe that I would live another moment, let alone we’d be enjoying this peaceful afternoon. I felt like Edna Pontellier in The Awakening. Dealing with PPP is sometimes like treading freezing water. I chose to be voluntarily admitted to the hospital all three times.
My family (especially my Captain Husband - who visited me in the hospital every night with our Snuggly Daughter) and friends (especially my Spiritual Friend - who flew from California on a red eye with her young child) stepped up to take care of all of us. Yes, I chose to take medication, and still breastfeed. For a couple weeks I participated to the best of my ability in a Partial Hospitalization program. Next I walked next door for my Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program three days a week. I am a proud graduate of BHIOP’s program, and still go to my talented psychiatrist-psychotherapist. Now I take a lower dose of medications, exercise, and pray everyday. Since I’m stable, perhaps by Christmas, my psychiatrist and I will decide I don’t need the medication anymore! After that, I’ll see her every couple of months, then every year or so. And since I’m praying, know that you, who are reading this, are in my prayers.
Incarceration is the Only Mental Health “System” Here.
A response to well intentioned Mental Health Reform Act of 2015
Aloha. Here in “paradise” our mental health treatment problem is lack of access to any inpatient mental health/dual diagnosis treatment. There are at least two major problems, specifically, severe shortage of inpatient treatment services, lack of funding for those services that exist (basically revolving door) and the courts’ interpretation of laws that defer to pts civil rights not to be treated. This also serves the Judiciary which would have to finance treatment if the Courts did mandate it.
Our rural location (a neighbor island) has a public hospital that has closed 7 of its behavioral health beds this year due to funding and staff shortages. The remaining beds are only “acute” beds that are open are for the right “type” of mental health acute admission, specifically, those would be available for a normally medication compliant person who knows they need to be stabilized and who won’t cause undue disruption, specifically NOT someone disruptive and actively in need of detox.
Admission even to acute beds is voluntary. State law only permits a 24 hour or 48 hour hold at the most. After that folks can write a letter requesting discharge and return into harm’s way.
My Mental Health Story
Hi,
I would like to share my mental health history to enable others to seek help and not give up hope. My start of mental health issues started when I was about 17 years old. I had OCD like symptoms and was given medication. I also had anxiety which was treated the same way. Some years later I was told I had attention deficit disorder . By now I was frustrated with all the diagnoses and was frustrated. Some years later while switching meds I spent 16 weeks in 2 mental hospitals.
I became a Christian soon after all this and prayed for relief of symptoms. I haven’t felt better but I try to help others who are struggling with similar conditions. I am recently divorced and have 2 great sons ages 13 and 17.
I am available to help those who need help. I am not a health care professional but I am intuitive and maybe can direct you.
God bless all
Gary kleiner
Mental Health: Don’t beware…BE AWARE AND CARE!!!
Hello. We all can live a great, purposeful life managing Bipolar Condition or any mental health situations.
The social stigma of mental illness used to bother me to no end…and contribute to my problems! I’m over that now, but I prefer to call it Bipolar Condition vs. “Disorder”. I also prefer to discuss Mental Health vs. “Illness”.
My story in general:
Matthew’s Mental Health Poems (continued)
Poem 21
NO RIGHTS NOW SECTIONED MENTAL HEALTH
I have been Sectioned under the Mental Health Act,
for wanting to seriously Harm my Wife,
having played Online Ouija Boards for the last 6 Weeks.
There was no room in the Local Psychiatric Hospital,
So I spent around 20 Hours in a local Police Station Prison Cell.
I was lucky my Cell door was open for ages
And somebody sat down by the door.
I then agreed it could be shut, thus saving costs.
“Help, Help, I feel very cloustophobic”
“Taking Your Morning Medication is not Allowed.
Twice I was allowed into the Exercise outdoor area.
The Police looked after me very well saying “You should not be here”.
3 People immediately Sectioned me Under the Mental Health Act
And the nearest Hospital bed was 200 Miles away.
Imagine the cost of taking me there in an Ambulance!
It is a Private Hospital, but stayed there for free,
75-80% of the Patients are NHS.
Evil Among Us: Changing the Mental Health Conversation
This is more of an opinion piece than my story but still worth the read if you ask me. “Evil Among Us: Changing the Mental Health Conversation.”
As a writer with bipolar disorder I’m always looking for opportunities to change the conversation about mental health in our society. I haven’t necessarily always thought this way though. In fact, prior to my diagnosis I viewed and talked about mental health in the same way many still do today. I never really believed those with mental health issues could bring anything to society. I didn’t think they could contribute like everyone else. I discriminated against those with mental health issues because of the negative stigma and stereotypes I held.
Now that I’m on the other side I’ve more than realized that was the completely wrong perspective to take on mental health. This being the case I set out to try and clear up this common misconception. I did this by trying to change the conversation about mental health by focusing on what contributions go unnoticed within society from us. Especially when talking about art, music, writing and anything else dealing with creativity. However it seems this conversation somehow always gets lost in the dark dialogue about mental health.
Abuse and Mental Health Care
“Abuse and Mental Health Care”
Abuse hurts! It can cause not only physical but worse psychological damage to someone who already suffers from a psychiatric illness. When it comes from mental health workers at places where patients are required to be inpatient we should be all the more appauled.
My name is Benjamin Brokaw and for eleven years now I’ve suffered terribly from mental illness. Whats worse is I’ve been abused because of it by those in positions that should be helping people with these types of problems. My hope in telling you my story is that it will raise awareness of the abuse, both physical and verbal, that occurs at many psychiatric hospitals
For a long time, I have thought about going public with my Bipolar Disorder. At first, I was worried about the stigma. Then, I realized that’s the very reason to talk about mental health issues: the only way to fight the stigma, is to talk openly about mental illness. This video gives a brief history of my struggle with Bipolar Disorder, I was diagnosed eight months ago and am happy to be alive and feel stable today. As today is Mental Health Awareness Day, take a minute to think about people who, everyday battle mental illness - and those who have unfortunately lost that battle.