A thread for people to learn some more about mental illness

And that there are markers in the urine of sufferers. The only mental illness will physical manifestations.

falconbird I have found GransNet to be invaluable to my ability to cope with the loneliness of widowhood. Being able to communicate with other people who understand, has literally saved my sanity. There has even been occasions when I have laughed out loud........ something I thought I'd never do again.

I read, years ago now, that schizophrenia is the only mental illness regarded in the psychiatric profession, as true madness. I wonder if that still stands today.

Many moving stories bravely told but I wonder if anyone has actually learned anything about mental illness – or just about depression which seems the main focus – that they didn't already know. Just curious.

I was on Valium for three years. They came after Librium. I think in the end they were making my panic attacks worse. I came off them (very slowly) because I wanted to have another child. I so thank God for today's ssri's.

Sherry? I'd be the opposite of euphoric....., violently I'll!

And when we've had a good "chat" we can go onto another site and cheer ourselves up with lighter subjects - perfect.

I was prescribed Diazapam when my DH died. It was supposed to be short term but because of other stresses that rapidly followed, serious family fallouts, moving house, debts to settle, I was on it for two years.

Over the two years I slowly weaned myself of it and now have been Diazapam free for over two months. It wasn't easy and I had nightmares and one or two wobbly moments.

I think talking like this on Gransnet is worth ten minutes at the doctors. Talking and writing therapies all very much in favour at the moment so GsNet is providing a great outlet.

Such a wealth of experience to read about, it's marvelous and much cheaper than going to a private Counsellor. They are getting very expensive. Last I heard counsellors were charging £40 an hour.

I don't think I'd be comatose after six sherries, but I'd probably be drunk. So perhaps I should have said 'intoxicated' not 'euphoric'...

I was prescribed low dose Valium as a sleeping pill when doing night duty., it certainly worked!Temazepam (Mogadon) was another common sleeping tablet; it became a popular street drug frequently flogged by grannies in the 70's for a bit of extra cash

Streuth! If one Valium tablet felt like having about 6 sherries, I wouldn't be euphoric either. I'd be comatose.

In the 60s, my mother was suffering from depression (menopause, relocation from her home area, emptying nest) and the doctor gave her some tablets, now long obsolete. Unfortunately he didn't tell her that cheese should not be eaten while taking this medication and she got much worse. I was away at Uni at the time and my sisters and father had to cope with this situation. Eventually she got off those tablets and recovered completely although she was always a worrier.

I didn't feel euphoric at all - I was just grateful that little tablet calmed me down enough to make it to the shops and back.

The first one felt wonderful, like having about 6 sherries

Valium are/were tranquilisers rather than anti-depressants though. I was prescribed them about 30 years ago for panic attacks and they certainly worked! I only took them as and when though, not regularly.

A friend who'd been prescribed valium for anxiety however was on them for many years and found it extremely difficult to come off them completely.

So to everyone who needs some tlc - [tlc] and

not to assume that you know someone's background and then attack
Ariadne, I did feel 'under attack' (not on here) because I said that not everyone felt they could share their experiences on the forums, which, after all, are out on the web for all the world to see.

but we musn't forget Valium - mothers little helpers - caused misery for millions
You are right, Anniebach, we have experience of someone in the family being prescribed these long-term and I am sure they have caused long-term problems.
I was prescribed them many years ago - wonderful little pills in the short-term and helped me through a depression due to circumstances beyond my control at the time. However, although very depressed and extremely stressed and sad, I wasn't suffering from clinical depression (at least I don't think so) and decided I wasn't going to take them any longer. I am so glad I didn't continue with them.
Some anti-depressants have had very unfortunate reported side effects.

Two wonderful and heartfelt poems on this thread. Well done, Mishap and Grannyknot. So thought-provoking. Thank you both.

I've just read this thread in its entirety and I thank you all for being so open and honest on here. It is truly enlightening.

Good point Ariadne we have doctors, dentists, other health care professionals, social workers, legal experts, experienced counsellors for all sorts of traumas-bereavement, marital problems, stress , employment issues, also psychologists, and for all I know retired pilots. There is a wealth of experience of all walks of life among our members as well as the university of hard knocks if only we realised!

Some people on GN have much more training and qualifications (and experience) than we might realise. But compassion can't be acquired on prescription, can it?

Always better to check the facts first, as we should in the case of mental health problems, and not to assume that you know someone's background and then attack.

I just want to add to this thread, in light of another one, that no matter how much knowledge people acquire about this subject, that that should not stop someone seeing a doctor in the first instance, or advising someone to seek medical help.
At the end of the day, most of us have not had medical training or enough mental health training in this area.

grannyknot your mother sounds wonderfully eccentric and having three babies under 5 must have taken its toll on her and her hormonal system.

To all of you coping in your various ways and for staying strong