[Redway]

We've obviously come a long way but mental health's still got quite some stigma attached to it. Do you have any personal or family experience with mental illness?

[Dominic]

I've experienced mental issues and I still experience them now.

[AnnieK]

I am currently coming off ads....and have stopped.cold turkey which is possibly not the best. My doctor put me on them after my mum was diagnosed with cancer and died within 4 weeks, in december 2014. I didnt cope too well initially but the tablets helped.

However...I never wanted to be.on them long term and recently ran out and so have not renewed my prescription. I feel ok mentally but the withdrawal is pretty awful. Shakey, sickness but the absolute worse is the brain zaps. Weirdest feeling ever.

Amyway,am hoping once off the overwhelming sadness doesn't return. Am exercising like mad to combat the serotonin withdrawal but will see.if.it helps

[Littlegreen]

I've been on anti-depressants for a few years and I've had an eating disorder in the past.

I've battled stigma towards mental illness most of my life, I've experienced it from teachers and doctors, sadly it's still not widely (though they say it is) encouraged as a topic of conversation, so problems always occur.

Originally Posted by AnnieK

I am currently coming off ads....and have stopped.cold turkey which is possibly not the best. My doctor put me on them after my mum was diagnosed with cancer and died within 4 weeks, in december 2014. I didnt cope too well initially but the tablets helped.

However...I never wanted to be.on them long term and recently ran out and so have not renewed my prescription. I feel ok mentally but the withdrawal is pretty awful. Shakey, sickness but the absolute worse is the brain zaps. Weirdest feeling ever.

Amyway,am hoping once off the overwhelming sadness doesn't return. Am exercising like mad to combat the serotonin withdrawal but will see.if.it helps

I could never be as brave as you, keep strong. Hope things work out.

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Littlegreen

I've been on anti-depressants for a few years and I've had an eating disorder in the past.

I've battled stigma towards mental illness most of my life, I've experienced it from teachers and doctors, sadly it's still not widely (though they say it is) encouraged as a topic of conversation, so problems always occur.



I could never be as brave as you, keep strong. Hope things work out.

Thanks LG. I have struggled with anxiety for years but always managed to hide it behind quite a tough exterior but that crumbled after losing my rock. I dont.really think anti depressants were really the answer for me as I was grieving and.not.really depressed but my doc had prescribed them more or less before I sat down. I have been on a 20mg dose and so have been told the wd will be over in around 3 weeks. Don't want to go back so will get through it.

[hijaxers]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

I am currently coming off ads....and have stopped.cold turkey which is possibly not the best. My doctor put me on them after my mum was diagnosed with cancer and died within 4 weeks, in december 2014. I didnt cope too well initially but the tablets helped.

However...I never wanted to be.on them long term and recently ran out and so have not renewed my prescription. I feel ok mentally but the withdrawal is pretty awful. Shakey, sickness but the absolute worse is the brain zaps. Weirdest feeling ever.

Amyway,am hoping once off the overwhelming sadness doesn't return. Am exercising like mad to combat the serotonin withdrawal but will see.if.it helps

The brain zaps you experienced i also had and told my doctor it was like being sizzled , i weaned myself off but the 'brain zaps' continued for at least 18 mths after i had completely come off them, its such a horrid feeling a bit like being electrocuted and mine would shoot straight up my arm to my brain ! It does lessen and go eventually but this is one of the reasons they are so hard to get off of.

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by hijaxers

The brain zaps you experienced i also had and told my doctor it was like being sizzled , i weaned myself off but the 'brain zaps' continued for at least 18 mths after i had completely come off them, its such a horrid feeling a bit like being electrocuted and mine would shoot straight up my arm to my brain ! It does lessen and go eventually but this is one of the reasons they are so hard to get off of.

Thanks hijaxers....I can cope with them ...they just take me by surprise sometimes. Weirdest feeling....

[Lostie!]

Social anxiety has always been a bit of an issue for me but I've been told a few times by people that they'd never have known if I didn't tell them so I seem to manage it relatively well nowadays.

[Denver]

I had a period of depression a few years back

[Cal.]

My sister has social anxiety.

[y.winter]

I've suffered from depression and had a few panic attacks during my military service. Since then things have been better. I have never been to a psychotherapist or something like that.

[Dominic]

How are y'all so open and sharing it to the whole forum I can't even tell my closest friends.

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Dominic

How are y'all so open and sharing it to the whole forum I can't even tell my closest friends.

That's part of the problem. People don't talk openly. I have always been totally upfront....and it helps. On the other hand you are pretty anonymous on here so if you have problems getting them out on here may help? People will generally give you the benefit.of their experience and you kind of realise that other people have been or are going through similar things.

You can always.pm me if you ever need to chat...

[Dominic]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

That's part of the problem. People don't talk openly. I have always been totally upfront....and it helps. On the other hand you are pretty anonymous on here so if you have problems getting them out on here may help? People will generally give you the benefit.of their experience and you kind of realise that other people have been or are going through similar things.

You can always.pm me if you ever need to chat...

I suppose that's true, maybe opening up is better. And of course

[VanessaFeltz.]

I have a bit of a social anxiety specially when i have to present something in front of people

I also suffered from depression in the past

[LukeB]

My Nan had bipolar (i said had because she died) and it was difficult at times when i was around her.

One of my friends had depression who sadly committed suicide, she was called selfish by ignorant people.

[Greg!]

I have weird periods of anxiety, like I can be completely fine but the next second have a panic attack in Tesco

[Dominic]

I experience periods of anxiety similarly like Greg said, extreme social anxiety in public and stress/depression.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Greg!

I have weird periods of anxiety, like I can be completely fine but the next second have a panic attack in Tesco

can you explain in detail what happens?

[Greg!]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

can you explain in detail what happens?

I start to feel extremely nervous, paranoid and sweaty and want to get out of the room as soon as possible

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Greg!

I start to feel extremely nervous, paranoid and sweaty and want to get out of the room as soon as possible

Are you sure that's not linked to agoraphobia?

[Greg!]

Originally Posted by Redway

Are you sure that's not linked to agoraphobia?

Maybe actually. I've never really thought of that before. I've never went to a doctor about it or anything so I'm not diagnosed but I always assumed it was anxiety of some sort

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Redway

Are you sure that's not linked to agoraphobia?

Its a classic anxiety symptom to be honest. Speak to anyone who suffers from anxiety and about 85% will tell you they have suffered an attack in a shop. Its strange but a common symptom.

[Littlegreen]

A couple of examples of the stigma I was referring to:

When I wasn't eating properly and my weight was plummeting, I was having heart palpitations and basically a walking zombie. My mum dragged me to the doctors and do you know what the doctor said... "well he needed to lose some weight anyway".

In school when I was being physically/mentally bullied by a few people I was in a meeting with the deputy head, I explained I wasn't very confident and needed the teachers to step in because it was getting really bad. They told me to put myself in a metaphorical box - think of the bullies as being outside the box and you are in it...

- as a thirteen year old to be told that was a complete kick in the teeth.

[Babayaro.]

(no but those things happen to me as well sometimes)