Mental Illness
Together We Can Make A Difference
Welcome
Welcome to Mental Health Matters UK. I’m guessing if you’ve stumbled across this website then either you know someone who is affected by a mental illness – or maybe it is you that is suffering...
There are many websites about mental illnesses, and although some can be invaluable resources, sometimes the endless amount of information can become overwhelming. As a person who suffers from mental illnesses myself, I didn’t want to create another site that would just contain facts, figures and depressing statistics, I simply wanted to create a website which is friendly, resourceful, helpful, and most all - personal and from the heart.
My Story
Mental illness has affected me terribly for most of my life, and I have struggled with issues like
Depression, General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) as well as off -shooting condtions such as Insomnia, Stress, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. For many long years I struggled with these conditions not realising what I had or what these conditions were - I had no idea what was happening to me and for a long time I felt very alone, lost and confused. Living with mental illness literally tore my world apart. It ruthlessly destroyed my relationships, friendships, work life, social life, self esteem, health… it nearly completly broke me... but now I am now learning how to control my illness - instead of letting it control me. I'm learning to live life again - instead of just 'enduring' it. And even though I may never be 100% recovered, or ever be completely free from mental illness, I'm learning to accept myself, and be happy with who I am and what I have. I am a work in progress, working hard to become better and stronger each day and I hope by sharing my experiences, I can help someone else - even if its just one person in some way...
Am I Crazy?
Having a mental illness does not mean that you are 'mental’ ‘mad’ or ‘crazy.’ Mental illness is a part of life, just as physical illness is a part of life. Just as out bodies can become ill, so can our minds. But because mental illnesses are not as easy to see, sufferers don’t always get the help and support that they need. No one is going to say you’re a ‘freak’ because you have fallen ill with a flu, or become unwell. Thereis no discrimination or judgement when we suffer physically. However, because mental illness is a ‘invisible illness’ people can often be less sympathetic and sadly quicker to judge. The taboo surrounding mental illness can make sufferers feel ashamed about thier illness, when really they shouldnt have to feel this way.
When I first realised I had mental health issues, I was worried that people would think I was crazy, and I tried to hide my illness away as best as I could. On the outside I wore a 'happy go lucky face' but inside was a complety different story. Someone once described it as ‘on the outside I may look okay, but inside I’m screaming.’ That was a pretty accurate description of how I felt for a very long time. I felt alone and tried to hide how I felt, but now I realise there are millions of others who are also suffering in a simliar way - and there is no shame in having a mental illness - its only a shame if we don't do anything about it.
Mental illness has the potential to affect sufferers lives in so many ways... just like how a disease can spread - mental illness can esculate out of control, poisoning relationships, health, body, mind... but the good news is we can fight back! We can find ways and techniques to ward off the damage mental illness threatens to do, and reclaim our health, our mental wellbeing - and our lives. In this website I would like to share with you the different things that helped me... in the hope that perhaps it may somehow help you too.
Lets Help Each Other
Finally, I would like to share with you a story which I came across on http://www.healing-anxiety.com which really struck a chord with me and highlights brilliantly how much we can help eachother... if only we are willing to just take the leap and try! (I have adapted the story slightly to reflect my own experiences, but the origional can be found on the healing-anxiety website if you would like to read it).
"A woman fell in to quicksand and was struggling to get out. The more she struggled, the deeper she sank. Along came a doctor and threw some medicine down to the woman. The woman took the pills and felt a bit happier, but she was still stuck in the quicksand.
Next a physiatrist came along and started talking to the woman and analysing her problem.. ‘You are stuck’ the physiatrist concluded. ‘Yes I know that’ snapped the woman ‘but how do I get out?’ The physiatrist replied ‘if we explore your past, and discuss your issues, maybe you can get out of the quicksand.’ So the woman tried to face her issues and she started to understand herself more, but she was still stuck in the quicksand…(and sinking deeper).
Then a religious leader passed by. He started praying and giving his blessings...the woman in the sand started feeling a lovely sense of peace... but she was still stuck in the sand and still sinking.
A stranger walked by and in sheer desparation the woman cried for help. But the stranger told her to stop being weak and just pull herself together and get out of the sand. The woman mustered all her strength to break free from the sand, but the more she struggled, the deeper she sank.
The womans family and friends had by now heard that their loved one was trapped in the deadly quicksand so they hurried to the scene and shouted encouragement to the woman and tried to help her out. But even thier efforts were'nt enough and the woman was still sinking further...
Just then, an ordinary man meandered along.... and leaped into the quicksand. ‘What are you doing?!!' yelled the woman, 'Are you mad?!! Why would you voluntarily jump into this death trap?’
The man replied, ‘I fell into this sand before and struggled just like you...
"I know the way out - let me help you"
Website Contents...
I really do hope this website will help you in some way and below is a overview of some of the issues and topics that I have explored surrounding mental health. Many of the issues, I will have personal experiece of, others I'm sure you yourself or someone you know will have experiences of... Click on the link to go to the page!
Anxiety Disorders
- Agoraphobia
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Panic Disorders
- Phobias
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Social Phobia
- General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Depression
- Major/ Clinical Depression
- Other Types of Depression
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Help For Depression
- Treatment
- Not Alone
Related Conditions
- Alopeica
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Insomnia
- Self Harm
- Stress
- PMDD
More
- Support for Friends and Family
- Mental Illness and Relationships
- Mental Illness and The Work Place
- Different Types of Therapy and Counselling
- Natural Remedies
- Alternative Treatments
- Mood Food
- Fun Excercise
- Be Inspired
- Enjoy Life
- Get Creative
- Poetry
- Hope
- Faith
- Love
Anxiety Disorders
- Agoraphobia
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Panic Disorders
- Phobias
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Social Phobia
- General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Depression
- Major/ Clinical Depression
- Other Types of Depression
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Help For Depression
- Treatment
- Not Alone
Related Conditions
- Alopeica
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Insomnia
- Self Harm
- Stress
- PMDD
More
- Support for Friends and Family
- Mental Illness and Relationships
- Mental Illness and The Work Place
- Different Types of Therapy and Counselling
- Natural Remedies
- Alternative Treatments
- Mood Food
- Fun Excercise
- Be Inspired
- Enjoy Life
- Get Creative
- Poetry
- Hope
- Faith
- Love
Contact Me
Feel free to share your experiences, thoughts and stories on the discussion forum, or if you would like to contact me, my email address is: [email protected]