electricdriver78 said:It’s all pretty sad, really.
The way people view mental health is still stuck in a dark age.
I honestly can't believe people still use terms like "crazy" to describe someone struggling with mental illness.😕 👎
It is depressing. Even worse, some supposedly "intelligent" people claim you don't need a doctor—whether it's a psychologist or a psychiatrist—or medication.
According to recent data, depression is becoming a massive issue, affecting maybe 4 or 5 out of every 100 Americans.
Maybe those people who insist you don't need help are actually the ones driving everyone else toward a breakdown?
Those cynical, aggressive types can make life incredibly difficult for people who are just hardworking, disciplined, and a bit more reserved.
Back in 1990, I was working an office job as a dispatcher. I had three computers in front of me, about twenty vehicles under my control via radio, and three phones—one of which was tied to seven different foremen (who rarely even answered after four rings). I found myself subconsciously counting the seconds until the next ring would go off, simply because their office was just a few feet away from mine.
While those jerks stood by the door smoking, I had people waiting on work orders, orders for parts, people calling from their cars... and the phone just kept ringing.
How much can one person take? Just look at any government office;
watch how they talk to people while you're sitting there waiting in line or dealing with bureaucracy elsewhere.
I tried letting them know the workload was too much, but it fell on deaf ears with my manager. It went on for a year until one morning, I simply couldn't get out of bed.
I took four months of leave, but I couldn't recover. At the time, nobody realized it wasn't just stress, panic attacks, and depression;
it was also the sheer fear of the workplace itself.
I haven't worked since then—that was 14 years ago. After my leave, I was relieved to see a Neurologist, who eventually referred me to a psychiatrist... whom I still see every six weeks.
To be honest, I wanted to be physically ill. It took three or six months of convincing before I accepted that I was mentally ill, dealing with a chemical imbalance, and needed medication that I’ll likely take for the rest of my life.
So, if you aren't feeling right, please don't wait until you're completely broken like I did. You might never be the same person again.
Around my 50th birthday, I was let go from my job because I was deemed unfit for the role.
I received a $100,000 settlement for damages, but that didn't mean I could access my pension immediately; I had to wait two years per the law.
P.S. My doctor is a primary care physician, a psychiatrist, and a licensed psychologist all in one. I feel very lucky to have found such an experienced professional (she actually immigrated from Holland as a child). She sees us privately, and our sessions with my wife last about an hour and a half. She doesn't charge extra beyond what the government covers, which is only about 70% of the actual cost.
Sorry for the long post.
👋 👋
🙂 😉 😎
