how did you manage or overcome your mental illness?

Question

OCD
anxiety attacks
etc...

Answer 1

I dumped her.

Sigh....I just couldn't leave it as a joke answer.

Most mental illness in the US consists of one or more of three illnesses. Anxiety disorders, depression and eating disorders. All three of these can be effectively treated. However, there is a very big problem in that the mental health community is filled to the brim with hucksters and opportunists calling themselves various versions of therapist, psychotherapist, councilor etc.

I have a masters degree in Clinical Psychology. I know what is going on in the field from the inside. If you want to get well, you need to seek out a qualified doctor to help you. The only ones who can help you, hold the title of Licensed Clinical Psychologist (in some states, the doctors who help children can also use the term Licensed Developmental Psychologist). These two terms are legally defined and state licensed. In order to not go to jail for using this to refer to yourself, you need to have a doctorate. Specifically, you need to have either a PhD in Clinical Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology, from one of only a handful of accredited universities (for every student in one of these programs, upwards of 1000 to 3000 cannot get in, which is the source of all the non-qualified hucksters). Anyhow, you then have to do a special series of internships that trains you to treat mental illness and sit for a state's licensure exam. Then apply for licensure.

These are the people trained to treat you correctly and pretty much the only ones who will succeed in helping you get well. That is the bottom line. The rest are untrained, wannabe losers who skirt the law using various undefined but clinical sounding terms to refer to themselves. But the bottom line is that they don't know what they are doing (I have direct experience working with this rogues gallery of *** clowns and when I say this, I really mean it). Mostly they exploit people who desperately need help doing all sorts of goofy ****. Avoid them.

Instead, find yourself a Licensed Clinical Psychologist near you and enter treatment. One caveat is that eating disorders are alot more difficult and time consuming to treat (however, most people respond to correct treatment). Doctors who treat these tend to specialize in it. So look for an eating disorders practice of someone who is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist if you have anorexia, bulimia etc. The same goes for disorders of children. These are treated by specialists and many of them use the legally defined term of Licensed Developmental Psychologist in those states that offer this option.

Also, if you need medication for your specific type of mental illness, a psychiatrist is the correct professional to handle this for you. A psychiatrist is an MD that specializes in this. I mention this because there is a big, BIG problem with general practitioner Md's prescribing these medications and, although this is within their scope of practice, they do not have the specialized knowledge, training and experience to do this correctly. Many problems result. If you need meds, SEE A PSYCHIATRIST. Usually, your Licensed Clinical Psychologist will send you to someone specific.

One last thing (another issue I have alot of experience with in a treatment setting).....drug use. I am not sure of the current understanding of use of illegal drugs as a cause of mental illness. When I last checked, the entire field was in total denial about this. However, I worked inpatient community mental health for many years. And I will tell you this. Almost ALL of the mentally ill people I treated, were only mentally ill because of drug use. Use of drugs CAUSED them to become mentally ill. The number one drug causing this was pot. Not because other drugs aren't worse than it (they most definitely are) but because pot is 1) dangerous and 2) much more widely used than other drugs. One of the many ways is destroys your health is it causes you to become mentally ill....as in you develop a serious, specific, diagnosable mental illness. This isn't limited to depression, anxiety disorders etc. (there is a hell of alot of THAT) but I saw many people with bipolar, schizophrenia and seizure disorders because of their use of pot. Getting these patients to stop using drugs was the most effective method of treating their mental illness. Unfortunately, the field is in denial about this and often the doctor won't even ask about this if you aren't an obvious junky.

But, based on what I know, there is a very high probability, that, if you are asking a question like this, you use drugs and drugs are the cause of your mental illness. Because of that, I will also tell you that the possibility of overcoming your mental illness is zero unless you completely stop using drugs. But, the other side of that coin is that, stopping the use of drugs will TREMENDOUSLY improve the mental illness and be a major leap forward therapeutically. Seek out treatment and right off at the start, tell the doctor that you do drugs, which drugs, how often and how much and tell him that you know that drugs are a major cause of mental illness and you want assistance eliminating drugs from your life because you want to be free of your mental illness. It's unfortunate that you must raise this therapeutic issue with the doctor instead of the other way around but, there it is. You have to do it. If you won't, then you might as well take another puff and go back to being afraid to step outside your house or go barf in the toilet again or whatever you do. Because there is nothing anyone can do to help you.

Answer 2

Not really. I have a mental illness that is caused by a bad behavior. But it does not mean that it cannot be overcome. I've been working on my condition for a few years now and the further I go, I'm getting better and yes my behavior is improving and will probably be the best as years go by. A character defect does not meen that you have a mental illness. If you have this diagnosis, a doctor would have told you. So don't believe everything of what people may think or say about you. Because it may cause more harm than good. Hope this helps you out.

Answer 3

the first thing you need to remember is that mental illness is no different than any other illness, just because you cant "see" it doesn't mean that it is something you can control, or that it is your fault. depending on just how badly you suffer from this, there are medications to help, also, counselling, and educating yourself are very important steps. learn to recognize the warning signs of an "attack"...there will be some, but you need to pay close attention. once you figure this out, then you will need a "plan". like if you are in a mall, and you feel an attack coming on? get to a "safe" place, sit down in a quiet area, or leave if you must. the only person who can help you...is you. believe me, you might feel that mental illness means that you are weak, but its not true! people who suffer from this are some of the strongest people anywhere, remember, we all have stresses and things to do in life, but someone with an illness has even more going on... this makes them stronger, and most often they have quicker responses when thinking on their feet, they have to.EDUCATION/MEDICATION/POSITIVE-SELF TALK/PLANNING.

Answer 4

Stopped using it as a crutch. Put down all the meds, quit making appointments in hopes that some guy with a nice office can help you, and get out and live a little. What you fail to realize is that life is where you are, and so only you can fix it. Don't want - get. Don't dream... do. YOU have one shot at it, and its yours for the taking. Start living.

Answer 5

Medication and to look at life in the respect that worry is to waste time and make you sick. Change things you can change and don't worry about things you can't change and accept them and move on with life. Advice from an optimist.

Answer 6

See site below for great stories on this! Tells lots of practical advice-- some from MDs and some from government.

Answer 7

Paxil got me to the point where I could focus on living and fixing my problems. I learned how to manage my anxiety, and now I'm off the paxil. I think finding happiness is the most important thing. And learning who you are.

Answer 8

Panic attacks were prompted my $$ issues. Controlled my debts the attacks went away. Good Luck with yours.

Answer 9

you have to endure it. it doesnt cure overnight it takes time but you have to be optimistic that you are going to get healed. you will only heal if you try and put the effort in.

Answer 10

you can go to therapy, meds, ect. you can also talk to people join clubs, and talk to people you feel comfortable with , try something new, go somewhere new, encouage yourself,"train" yourself, and take your mind of of it. also study the illness.