Why is Mental Health still Taboo to discuss?

[Brynhilde]

It should not be taboo, but I am a believer that many people cause their mental illness through the way they live their lives. There certainly is a definite genetic link for many forms of mental illness, but diet and lifestyle are extremely important factors in managing ones mood and perspective. One thing that makes me sick to my stomach is when I see people boasting over getting certain foods for tremendous deals when they contain disasterous chemicals like msg (aka autolysed yeast extract aka yeast extract) or aspertame, or even the `safer`junk foods full of salt or sugars. You are what you eat folks.

Technology also limits our face to face time with love ones, and this also often limits our time spent ourdoors breathing fresh air and getting sunlight for vitamin D (a VERY important substance for warding off the seasonal blues, not to mention many other diseases).

We are a drugged up society, and its sad how many people live their lives dependant upon consumerism or chemicals to make them happy or content. This is not meant to be a blow at smartcanucks at all...this website helps people save money on lots of healthy foods too, but I am challeging all smartcanuckers to get outside more in 2012, and grow some veggies in their own yards or balconies. This is not only thrifty, but will also yield self satisfaction and physical exercise.

IT

Mental illness is not caused or prevented by going outside or modifying diets... and to assume that people here don't already get out more or eat healthy is a really bad assumption to make.

As for the drugged up society comment, I'm pro very cognitive behavioural therapy/psychotherapy BUT I recognize the access to this alternative method of treatment is limited due to financial reasons. Using medicine for treatment or maintenance of a mental illness is a personal choice, sometimes inevitable one though and I respect that. If someone finds a treatment that works for them, they should stick to it.

[toban]

I think that part of it is due to the fact it's not a visible affliction. People can't see it so it's hard to imagine.
Plus there has been a perception in mediveal times of illness being the work of the devil or possession by demons.

Certainly a lot of people are uncomfortable about talking about mental health. I still hear people saying things like " well, she should just pull herself together" or " if he got out more, he wouldn't be depressed".

I agree with what you said.

I think some people don't understand or are scared. Some may understand once the mental illness is discussed and others may not. There are also people who are just plain judgmental. True it's not shown on the inside and the people who go through it suffer on the inside.

I've had bouts of depression and have been diagnosed with PTSD. Most people assume PTSD is with military personal. I've been through so much of abuse in my life. Childhood and domestic which resulted in PTSD.

Not too many people know. Why? I've been afraid of judgment. I told a friend a few years ago and she looked at me like I was a weirdo. Since then we haven't talked much and when she does it's like she talks to me differently.

I'm starting to feel a bit more comfortable saying I have PTSD. I'm realizing it's not my fault I have it. It's due to past circumstances and what others did to me to cause it. I've had some therapy treatment for it.

[lecale]

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[Murren]

I have to disagree. I think certainly some forms of mental illness (depression for example) can certainly be linked to your aforementioned reasons (grief, loss, abuse, chronic pain, unbearable stresses, social isolation), but diet and exercise are immensely powerful factors in mental and physical resiliance. Over the past 50 years the 3 main ways our society has changed is through technology, chemicals and our workload stress factors. All can lead to over eating, being less physically active, and toxic soups full of endocrine altering chemicals. If even just one gland in the human body is affected it can throw the entire body into overload trying to ballance things out. Stress is the number one killer by far.

Both doctors and patients also often refuse to take the alternative routes of recovery including diet and exercise. Is it any surprise that overweight people often have health concerns that limit their mobility and cause painfull repurcussions due to pressure on joints, bones, or ligaments? Or is it any surprise that somebody whom becomes a workaholic doesnt have time to relax and suffers high blood pressure or has anxiety issues? Yes, I am sure prescriptions have their importance and they certainly are one important tool for doctors. But not the only one. I have loved ones that have become guinea pigs of big pharma, and no medication seems to work for the long term. It is not fun knowing that you need to take a pill every day so you can "feel normal". And normal changes once you are on a new pill, and voila, so does your perspectives.

Anyways, just my 2 cents from working with and in the health industry. Consider all lifestyle options along with your doctors advice. It has worked for me.

IT

I have to disagree with this comment. I tried to deal with this illness unmedicated for 28 years. By the time the diagnosis came I lost track of the number of times I tried to commit suicide just to make the pain go away. I do psychotherapy. I know that exercise helps and I walk every day. I watch what I eat because MSG and all of it's wonderful affiliates wreak havoc on my body. I CAN'T go one day with out medication. If I do, I am taking the chance of sending myself down into this deep dark hole. I am not willing to put my self or my family though that EVER. My disease is CHEMICAL. A chemical imbalance in my brain. I was born this way. I have immediate family members who have the same diagnosis. I have even had a Naturopath tell me that my illness cannot be controlled with out medication. So I have tried the "Natural Way". I even have a friend who does breathing therapy will me.

I take great offence to comments like yours. Yes there are people who can deal with depression by adjusting diet etc. It is wonderful that it works for them. But it is comments like yours that make people AFRAID to talk about it. I am NOT AFRAID and I will never be AFRAID to share my story.

[CanadianBella]

It should not be taboo, but I am a believer that many people cause their mental illness through the way they live their lives. There certainly is a definite genetic link for many forms of mental illness, but diet and lifestyle are extremely important factors in managing ones mood and perspective. One thing that makes me sick to my stomach is when I see people boasting over getting certain foods for tremendous deals when they contain disasterous chemicals like msg (aka autolysed yeast extract aka yeast extract) or aspertame, or even the `safer`junk foods full of salt or sugars. You are what you eat folks.

Technology also limits our face to face time with love ones, and this also often limits our time spent ourdoors breathing fresh air and getting sunlight for vitamin D (a VERY important substance for warding off the seasonal blues, not to mention many other diseases).

We are a drugged up society, and its sad how many people live their lives dependant upon consumerism or chemicals to make them happy or content. This is not meant to be a blow at smartcanucks at all...this website helps people save money on lots of healthy foods too, but I am challeging all smartcanuckers to get outside more in 2012, and grow some veggies in their own yards or balconies. This is not only thrifty, but will also yield self satisfaction and physical exercise.

IT

Eating a carrot stick wont help anyone get over their depression. It's FAR beyond taking a jog or eating a salad.

When you feel down, and ugly, and useless, the first thing in someones head is NOT to go outside and socialize. Most people don't want the world to see them suffer, because people (excuse) like you who will judge them!


Regular things for 'normal' people are NOT easy for people with mental illness, and people should be more understanding and not so quick to judge.

ETA ; As Murren said, I agree, I take offence to your comments also.
*just my 2 cents *

[Darth Penguin]

I've had bouts of depression and have been diagnosed with PTSD. Most people assume PTSD is with military personal. I've been through so much of abuse in my life. Childhood and domestic which resulted in PTSD.

I was lucky enough to grow up with WWI and WWII vets in my family. Both military and civilian vets. Neither side could comprehend how hard the other side had suffered.

As an observer, I could see how both groups suffered but found it hard to explain the difference even after 60/20 yrs...

Abuse is abuse..it shouldn't matter if it it's a multi-national war or a person -on-person assult . Both are hienous crimes..to any person who is affected.

Hugs to you, toban..I hope you will never ever stop posting to show others how they can face and overcome what happened to both you and them.

I wish you and people who have suffered like you all the best. You are brave...never forget that...

[Darth Penguin]

It should not be taboo, but I am a believer that many people cause their mental illness through the way they live their lives. There certainly is a definite genetic link for many forms of mental illness, but diet and lifestyle are extremely important factors in managing ones mood and perspective. One thing that makes me sick to my stomach is when I see people boasting over getting certain foods for tremendous deals when they contain disasterous chemicals like msg (aka autolysed yeast extract aka yeast extract) or aspertame, or even the `safer`junk foods full of salt or sugars. You are what you eat folks.

Technology also limits our face to face time with love ones, and this also often limits our time spent ourdoors breathing fresh air and getting sunlight for vitamin D (a VERY important substance for warding off the seasonal blues, not to mention many other diseases).

We are a drugged up society, and its sad how many people live their lives dependant upon consumerism or chemicals to make them happy or content. This is not meant to be a blow at smartcanucks at all...this website helps people save money on lots of healthy foods too, but I am challeging all smartcanuckers to get outside more in 2012, and grow some veggies in their own yards or balconies. This is not only thrifty, but will also yield self satisfaction and physical exercise.

IT

How quaint....let's blame the victims....

[CanadianBella]

Now this I can speak to because I have done both pills and therapy:

Therapy: If you want to ruin your day, I mean the full day, pick therapy. Don't plan anything for tomorrow, either. I found therapy to be a really moist experience with a headache hangover. Nights before, I wouldn't sleep because I knew I'd be talking about it tomorrow. By the end of the day I'd be wrecked every which way. It does work over time. Pretty much not an enjoyable experience and you'd better make sure whoever lives with you is willing to accept a regularly-scheduled, sobbing mass of jelly. NB: They have coupons in the magazines in the waiting rooms, but the guys in the white jackets are on you pretty quick if you start waving around a pair of scissors.

Drugs: Pick drugs knowing your teenage kid can't sell them for squat on the street, because nobody wants to feel that bad on purpose. Part of the problem is there is a huge mass of neurons in the gut; the other big pile of neurons in your body is your brain. When you take a pill, it goes all over. So there is no such thing as an antidepressant that hits the brain that does not hit the gut. So either your expelling compressed carbon, or well, ...just expelling. Anything more is TMI. Physically you can become ravenous, anorexic, sedate, anxious...it all depends on you, the dose, and the drug. These drugs are just not a delight. However, they do work, and in some cases and for some people's health profiles they are a better pick than therapy. If someone is just destroyed, drugs would be a good pick. If you say no then they'll just threaten you with the jumper cables.

I agree so much with this. Therapy was horrible. I'd rather just have a good chat with my best friend and i'd feel 100x better then going to therapy. I'd go in there feeling somewhat ok and come out crying and a big mess, and feel down and out for the next couple days. It's a horrible 'hangover'.

I couldn't take the medications they tried. They tried me on a good 5-6 different ones. Everything from prozac to some tranquilizer sedative thing. I either slept 20 hours a day, had to go to the doctor after calling tele-health for allergic reaction, one I felt like a zombie and NOTHING bothered me. Wanted to steal my tv? sure..let me help you! But most of them were too strong for me (even at lowest dose) so I just stopped them all together.

[poppleton]

People can look "whole" on the outside, yet suffer terribly on the inside from mental anguish, or chronic pain.
If someone looks "whole" but is not functioning, it can be hard for others to wrap their minds around.

Can't you just suck it up? What did you do to yourself? Why are you afflicted? Is this for real? Your faith is too weak! How did this happen? It's not going to happen to me, is it, because obviously you've done something in your past to cause this!...it doesn't matter if you have broken physically or mentally, people question the validity of your suffering.

...
The gift we receive from suffering is that we become more compassionate people. I can't change the world, but I can support others better.

Well put, locale! Although I personally have not dealt with mental illness, I know many who have and still do. And I have a rare "invisible illness" that not only robs me of being able to do pretty much anything, but it's also one that most doctors have never heard of (let alone non-medical folks). It is very challenging to deal with something everyday that no one else can see. I've often said to my DH that I think it would actually be easier to be permanently confined to a wheelchair than to to deal with what I currently do.

But to be fair, it truly is difficult to understand if you've never been there or walked closely alongside someone who has. In order to understand, great effort needs to be taken, and I think it ends up being scary and uncomfortable so most people don't make the effort.

BUT, as lecale mentioned, battling illness can make you stronger and bless you with empathy you'd be hard pressed to find elsewhere

[greentires4me]

ask my mom she believes I am making my mental illness all up....its old world ideas to push everything under the rug...the rug might have dead bodies under there...its all bumpy...becareful where ya step...

[CanadianBella]

ask my mom she believes I am making my mental illness all up....its old world ideas to push everything under the rug...the rug might have dead bodies under there...its all bumpy...becareful where ya step...

[itsjustmebub]

I dealt with very severe anxiety attacks for quite a while ...
I wrote a little piece on the 1st one I had here in the tea room:
THE FIRST: a small glimpse into my life

Thankfully i have a very supportive group of friends, however not everyone is so lucky

[sheetsofemptycanvas]

I have a child with mental health problems and I've heard it all... in fact, the first pediatrician I took him to about my ADHD suspicions suggested I take parenting classes to learn how to discipline him properly!! So many times I've heard "If that were my child he would never act that way" or "you just need to put your foot down" or "you need to show him who's boss"... it's NOT about the way I parent him, it's NOT about discipline. He has a mental problem that causes him to act the way he does. Without medication he is a threat to himself as well as others. With meds, we can have a relationship that we never could without and I don't worry about him hurting himself or the rest of us. Meds have been a godsend for us!

Of course, the medication is only part of his treatment process. We are also doing therapy and counseling. It's a struggle every day.

What I find sickening is the amount of time it takes to have a mental illness diagnosed. If you go to the ER with an injury you get into the Dr. right away... but a mental illness? You're looking at years and years. It's took me years to get the ADHD diagnosis, and although the psychiatrist has said he has a co-morbid disorder (meaning he has other problems) he has not yet determined what, and we are on another year to 2 year waiting list.

I feel for anyone that is going through this, whether for themselves or for their children or other family members.

[itsjustmebub]

Telling someone with a Mental health issue things like 'Cheer up. Get over it. Move forward', is like telling a blind person 'Just look harder.

So True

If you don't talk you Can't Learn

VERY TRUE!

I've been to the darkness and have survived long enough to have found my way out...which is one of the reasons I'm happy to be so much older now...you WILL find your way through this and into the sunshine, Hon!!! I'm only a PM away if you need me....

And Lynn let me just say once again that you always helped me keep my head up high in my darkest hour and I you for it

[lecale]

sheets I had a heartbreaking talk with a mom the other day (who has a son with intellectual difficulties)

She had gone to her son's school and found that he had a desk full of toys. She never sent him to school with a toy in his backpack

The teacher told her, I don't give a hoot what he's doing back there as long as he is not disturbing the class

When you are doing as much as you can for your child it is maddening to think that the people that are supposed to help you in this have given up right off the bat