Has anyone recovered from mental illness?

Metatron

Metatron

Metatron

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Has anyone here recovered from mental illness? How much better are you: completely better or are there still some problems? How long did it take you to recover and what was the solution in the end? I'm mainly interested in depression or anxiety.

Thanks.
 
I've had diagnosed anxiety for years but never took medication for it. I've never really recovered from anxiety, but it's gone from having good days and bad days to having only a few bad days a month.

Recovery depends on what type of anxiety the person has, as you probably know there's lots of different categories.
 
I know people who have gotten over diagnosed anxiety or depression who are now living normal lifes and doing well for themselves
 
I had a mate kill himself, think he was a bit cuckoo - decent chap tho.

I had a gf threaten to kill herself once - rushed over and found she just wanted attention. Broke up eventually because that's what young couples do. She's had a couple of suicide attempts since, and is now drugged up on god-knows-what.

I like to think it's not me making them nuts - but who knows!

I've had plenty of anxiety before - but I wouldn't call it major problem.
 
how do they diagnose depression? (serious question) i was what i'd call down in the dumps a couple of weeks after being made redundant and had zero enthusiasm for anything and did consider going to see someone to see if i was depressed (i didn't) because i thought i was overreacting and am a heck of a lot better now, it just took time and a lot of kicking myself up the arse! it's not a place i'd want to go again in a hurry and if that was just me feeling low, i don't know how on earth i'd cope with a proper case of depression.
 
Unfortunately my mum's mental health deteriorated this time two years ago and we've been on a rollercoaster ride ever since. She ended up having ECT :( Will try to post something about it tomorrow, been a long day.
 
What maustin said, I had a ton of testing done for 'other illnesses'. Brain scans and stuff. They thought I might have temporal (sp?) lobe epilepsy so likely why I had all the scans and stuff. Doubt they'd do that for depression or anxiety.

At the ECT post above. Hope all goes well with your mum. I knew a girl that it basically saved her life, she finally got out of hospital after 2 years after having it. I'm sure you know all about it, so I'll not go on about it.
 
Metatron said:
recovered from mental illness / depression or anxiety.
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in a word... no

Some people learn to cope with it, but it never leaves them.
Mostly that's what medication for depression is all about - enabling the sufferer to cope through the worst whilst they learn to manage their condition with stuff like cognitive behavioural therapy. That's when medication should stop - it's a crutch, not a long term panacea to the problem.
Much of the time there's a massive dislocation of responsibility that has to be overcome. But I'll say this: if people don't want to get better, then no amount of help or sympathy will be appreciated, in fact it will often result in them attacking those who try and help - by that I don't necessarily mean a physical assault, but verbal, emotional, psychological aggression directed outwards at anyone but themselves.
But it all depends on the person and the severity of their condition.
Also worth saying; any help on the nhs will take years on a waiting list for diagnosis and treatment, in the mean time medication is given, often long term because there's nothing else available. Unless you can afford private treatment or are deemed a danger to yourself or others you're pretty much left to get on with it.
 
I've not suffered from depression, but developed quite serious anxiety disorders a couple of years ago. I'd had varying levels of OCD for many years and had 5-ish years of hyperchondria, then through work-related stress I suddenly nose-dived.

Started having regular panic attacks, chronic fatigue which would see me struggle to stand and incredibly high levels of OCD. I ended up quitting my job and moving back in with the parents. I was prescribed a couple of things, but felt that if I was able to overcome the issues naturally, then if I ever slipped back into a state of high anxiety I'd be mentally equipped to sort myself out again.

I do remember feeling that there was absolutely no way I'd ever recover from it, but 6 months after it all happened I was back on my feet :) its totally achievable, just need good fortune, application and a bit of a break

Edit - was also in the fortunate position to take advantage of private treatment as well
 
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I don't think you ever fully recover from mental illness. Like a wound that's healed, it will leave scar-tissue and a slight discolouration.

I'd like to say I've recovered myself. I can't ever be quite sure though, which is fun. I'm either almost recovered, or a lot worse; it's hard to tell.
 
batsy said:
Unfortunately my mum's mental health deteriorated this time two years ago and we've been on a rollercoaster ride ever since. She ended up having ECT :( Will try to post something about it tomorrow, been a long day.
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Sorry to hear that.

toshj: Sorry to hear about your problems but glad it seems to be going better. :)
 
Not yet still have serious depression and anxiety, and most probably bi polar in some way (doc thinks but never actually diagnosed), but i caused it myself so its all my fault!, hoping i can get back to my normal life some point this year but i doubt it.

Nearly everything prescribed is awful and makes things worse for me, only thing that helped a bit from the docs was mirtazapine but currently i speak to a trained worker about my problems and not taking any meds as i dont like em.

Hope any others here suffering from anything similar get better soon :)
 
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