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Thanks for your posts on this..I?m guilty of suffering from poor mental health for many years mainly after serving lots of years in the armed forces.At one time I have had suicidal ideation and much varied treatments.its hard to explain but something can trigger me then I?m off on a battle of trying to stay with it all..I?m a big strong looking fairly fit man for my age but I just wish my mind was..hope you all understand me..thanks everyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Albionic68
Boinggasmic, I have every sympathy with your situation as those who have served in the military must have experienced situations that the rest of us cannot even imagine. You and your kind need all the support and help that you can be given and to be honest I do not think that enough is being done in this area. I wish you all the best for the future.
I understand only too well. I have CPTSD which for me was being in a war zone as a child from the womb to the age of 3 when the courts took me off my mother. It has been discovered that a lot of Vietnam war vets actually had CPTSD and joined the forces to get away from home only to then get PTSD on duty. It has been found since neuro imaging technology that children who have suffered abuse at home have the same parts of the brain light up as a soldier in combat. The same effects from being overwhelmed. CPTSD which is a complex form of PTSD is complex because the abuse doesn’t come from an enemy, it comes from who was supposed to be primary caregivers, so effectively should have been on the same side. A friend and not a foe. This has complicated dynamics and huge trust issues. In the brilliant book “The body keeps the score” by Bessel van der kolk he noticed how wartime Vets came alive when they talked to those who served with them. Other than that when they came for therapy they often shut down. War time like childhood trauma puts people constantly on “high alert” so you often only feel “alive” in dangerous situations. These are normal reactions to abnormal traumatic situations. This is my life now. Trying to understand this stuff. The psychological effects from trauma can be all encompassing and leave you feeling very isolated, and misunderstood. Many soldiers when they return from active duty feel lost. Many child abuse survivors feel the same. I would recommend reading The body keeps the score if you haven’t already but it’s recommended that you have a qualified therapist available just in case it triggers you. Me personally, I cried through most of it because for the first time ever I felt understood. Bessel is a psychiatrist who 100% cares for and understands trauma survivors. All the best with caring for your health, be kind to yourself and if you feel lousy allow yourself the time and space to feel lousy. You’ve effectively emotionally speaking been hit at speed by a ten tonne truck.Quote:
Originally Posted by boinggazmic
What a brilliant thread this is, it's all relatable isn't it - coming alive only when in the company of others who have endured the same lived experiences I think is a connection thing, an outpouring of the mind because someone else truly understands what you're going through.
Mental health (a sense of wellbeing, inner peace, calm) is different to mental illness, which tends to have a far greater detrimental impact and is often managed with medication or therapy or both. I think it's a seismic learning of our time and if we can teach our children better on behaviours they can then understand their impact on others and of others on themselves.
Wish you guys well.
It is really important that issues around mental health (a vast spectrum) are, at last, being more properly discussed and recognised. The greater the understanding, the better.
Making a similar comparison with autism again, there was a time when some on the spectrum were dismissed as "rude", "retarded" or, at best, "odd" . When I was researching aspergers when we first suspected our youngest may have it, it was quite shocking to discover how many people now in their 50s (and sometimes younger) had ended up needlessly in institutions or borstals because of a lack of understanding. Not too dis-similar to the lack of understanding and cultural dismissal of the "shell shock" suffered by so many of those returning from the horrors of the Great War. I clearly remember stories of family members who had life long problems resulting from this.
Guess the causes of mental health issues are as varied as the impact they can have. Some may be down to genetic issues or chemical in-balances, others -the majority, I suspect- down to traumatic experiences. The latter might include growing up in an environment with abusive family members, being the victim of violence, experiencing the horrors of combat or constantly working under stressful circumstances. I'm sure the list is pretty big.
A common coping strategy for human beings that helps them adapt to survive seems to be that of compatmentalization. Put the traumatic events, whatever they are, in a box and try your best to hide it away somewhere in the back of your mind and move on. Certainly don't go back and open the box and re-visit it. As 68 so succinctly pointed out though, the problem is that everyone's box can only hold so much and that the strength of the chains around that box holding everything in will also vary greatly between individuals. There is no "one size fits all" and the addition of the tiniest straw can sometimes break the camel's back.
Veterans are well known for not wanting to talk about some of the experiences they went through (and I'm old enough to have known some who served in the Great War as well as WW2 including a next door neighbour I grew up next to who was a POW in Burma) and, if they do, it is normally only to other veterans who went through similar and so may understand better. The rules of ordinary civilian life do not apply to warfare and you can only properly emphasize if you have shared experiences.
I don't pretend to have a lot of knowledge in this area, but I would have thought that, alongside medication or things like CBT, some kind of counselling would be the most beneficial when it comes to tackling the root causes of many mental health issues. Talking things through, to try and gain a better understanding and perspective of traumatic events, would seem a better way of at least getting on the path towards some sort of healing and acceptance if not closure. Bottling things up and not facing up to past events may work short term but doesn't seem a sustainable-nor healthy-course of action.
The important thing, I suppose, is for everyone to be made a little more knowledgeable on the subject so that they can then better both recognize and support those in need rather than the dismissive attitude too prevalent of the past.
I think, however, that one of the drivers behind the original post of this thread relates to the growing number of people (particularly younger people) who use "mental health issues" too much as an excuse for them not wanting to do something. In the workplace, I have known some younger staff go off with "stress" for example if they feel they are being asked to do too much and feel they are being "bullied" or in a "toxic environment". As a union rep, I know the workplace and I know the people and 99% of the time I know such accusations to be false and that the individual's concerned are simply deflecting their own performance issues. Not too different from a case I have known where one individual consistently tried to play the race card when the reality was that he was being legitimately challenged on his performance issues and didn't like it. These individuals do a great dis-service to those in genuine need at a time when mental health services are at their most stretched.
PS I know this subject is of particular relevance to yourself Boingy, but good to see you posting back on here. Hope you are OK. I will certainly check out the book you recommended too btw.
Thanks Omeg, Im just keeping a safe distance. My world is so small now that I find I only have space for those who understand. Yes, The body keeps the score is a turning point in the effects of trauma understanding. Ive had the pleasure of talking to Bessel on trauma panels that I was invited to due to my time with my child abuse and rape charity I set up which sadly is no more. Id spent so much time in dark places that I just couldnt face it any more. Occasionally I get contacted to speak with someone who needs support but again that has to be if I can at that moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Omegstrat6
I feel that many of today’s mental issues are the result of problems caused by social media, especially regarding the younger generation. If someone is upset by what is said to or about them then do not participate. I realise that I am of the generation who have not been brought up with social media outlets but it does seem a simple answer to me. If someone wants to disrespect me they have to do it to my face, now that is a different ball game. Those people who do it via a keyboard are cowards and will not do it face to face. Therefore, if you are not on these outlets you will not receive the insults and abuse. A simple remedy to my mind.
I participate regularly on this forum but if I was on the receiving end of continual abuse then I would cease to post on here. Differing opinions are fine, as long as they are aired in a respectful manner.
Your second paragraph, spot on Leics. Your first one is a huge topic on it own!Quote:
Originally Posted by Leicesterbaggie
There is no doubting the benefits that the internet has brought, particularly in regard to increasing access to and sharing information. But it also has its down sides where it can be used too easily for dangerous and unsavoury acts whether that be to spread propaganda, "fake news", hatred and conspiracy theories or aid criminal activities. Same old debate around policing v freedom of speech but Social Media is a major route into all the above and the consequences of this can be quite alarming.
I don't use Facebook, ti k tok, Twitter (as was) etc, not just because of the above but also because I cannot abide the tide of inane posts or proliferation of self-gratifying "selfies". I'm sure, that in moderation, they can be a useful means of communication but one issue is the addictive nature of them and the other is the ease in which people can slip into being keyboard warriors who can bully or be deliberately offensive.
Reliance on such remote technology where texting replaces physically speaking to some-one either face to face or over a phone or video link is definitely leading to an erosion in communication skills, especially within the younger generations who use such technology far more than previous ones. They find it harder to deal with confrontation for example or read body language and their inter-personal skills can be poor. A generalization certainly as not all younger people can be criticised for this, but enough to make the point valid.