Quote Originally Posted by pass_and_move View Post
Think you've raised some excellent and honest points there Animal. Being open to discussion on one's feelings is always deserving of respect and can prove helpful or relatable to anybody else who's suffering with mental health problems.

It was somewhat a taboo subject for gentlemen to be open about back in the 80s. The 80s was a tough decade for this town with the miners strike, pit closures, high unemployment, job losses, big debts etc. A lot of pressure and upheaval, hardships on an unprecedented level in modern day terms. I would imagine mental health was off the scale but not exposed which must've made life extremely difficult for most people but especially men who were generally the providers and in most cases became unable to provide thanks to the collapse of an industry. Homes and families under tremendous pressure. Dark times for many and an unbelievable struggle during the strike going so long without pay.

Folk showed a mental fortitude unparalleled to this day. Did the seige mentality and sheer determination override mental health? Were peoples mentalities stronger back then? Are we guilty in today's world of overreacting too quickly and putting mental health at the forefront in a bid to show no resilience within ourselves? Is mental health something that's become properly recognised because the heavyweight champion of the world suffers/suffered a mental health condition?

Personally speaking, my mental health hasn't been great in these last few years to say the least. It is difficult to live with and each day presents another challenge. There's a side to me which wants to get on with it and fight on through without creating a fuss or feeling self indulgent. There's also another side that wants to quit on things some days and stew in my pyss which isn't nice at all. Recognising when these feelings happen or are imminent is the key to handling and containing a more pragmatic approach towards dealing with my mental state and not allowing it to consume me.
Yeah good post Pass. I've now watched the Miners' Strike series -well worth the watch as you said. Although I lived through it,as a 20 year old, I'd forgotten how bad it got. I suppose that as time passes we move on and put the bad bits to the back of our memories.