Posted by Larry Hoover on November 22, 2003, at 13:57:48
In reply to thank you, Lar, posted by Jai on November 22, 2003, at 8:06:58
> > > > Environmental toxicologist.
> > > >
> > > Wow, that's even more incredible than I thought !
> >
> > Why so?
>
> In my observation the marriage of a scientist and the environment is sweet. That you had choosen that direction shows your generosity that continues today.Ya, well...
> > Classic nervous breakdown. In a relatively brief period of time, I lost my academic world, my home, my life savings, my wife and kids, my health, my dad was near death, my eldest son was being investigated for a brain tumour (turned out to be migraines)....a tad too much stress.
> >
> >
> You definitely had much too much on your plate.Do you think?
> My partner's mental breakdown began with his 2 1/2 year old son's untimely death. Sometimes these life experiences precipitate a breakdown sometimes they accompany a breakdown that was coming anyway.
I think the distinction is moot.
> My mothers family of 7 children there were only 4 that made it to old age. Of the 3 who died much too young, one (he was the oldest) was a celebrated brilliant doctor and in his thirties became Bipolar and took his own life. Of the 4 that lived: 2 were alcoholics 2 bipolar. The two Bipolars were in my life since my birth. My mom and her brother.
I have 100% incidence in my male bloodline, both mood disorder and substance abuse.
> I have never liked anything but the truth. The truth is sometimes hard for people to take when it's so painful to hear.
Yes, I almost totally agree. There is one exception. There are those who say they will speak with brutal honesty, but they get off on the brutality, not the honesty.
> I was very careful not to burden others with my life struggles. Sometimes it was just too much and spilled over out of my control, I just could not contain it. People weren't all that exicted to hear about mental breakdowns: really they cringed and turned away.
I think it's a primal fear. That it can strike anyone.
> I am not afraid to hear about mental illness or look directly at what it's all about. I have my theories about mental illnesses. Sometimes I wished I had become a doctor....
It's never too late.
> I had the impression way back in the 1950's that it had something to do with diet and chemicals.
Factors, certainly. IMHO, an interaction between genetic influences and environmental stressors. Not one or the other, both at the same time.
> > You seem so kind and considerate to everyone who posts, so you must have this_____ under control...
> >
> My mother was not kind or considerate within her life & illnesses. So I appreicate kindness when I see it.My mom, the same. Birds of a feather?
> > Thank you. I manage, but I'm not well, ya know?
> I guessed you might be having a hard time but when you chat on these babble topics you appear so healthy... Honestly I don't know how you are not well?It feels like my breakdown was literally that. Something seems permanently altered. I am a different man than I was before. I simply do not have the capacity or endurance that I once had. Nothing at all like it, in fact.
> If you care to share I would love to hear. I hope I am not being too much. I am totally sincere.
Current diagnoses include: treatment-resistant major depression, dysthymia (so-called double depression), chronic fatigue syndrome, acute PTSD, chronic PTSD, chronic insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome. I don't quite meet the criteria for fibromyalgia, but my doctor calls it that anyway. Others, too.
I have stabilized my mood, without medication, via nutritional supplements. I manage the others with conceptualizations such as a daily assessment of my energy budget, and similar. I'm doing much better than I was, but I am not yet well. The trend is upwards, but it is two steps forward, one step back.
> Thanks Lar, for being so up front with me.
You're welcome.
> You don't have to answer my questions if you don't want to. I will totally accept what ever you want to do.
> JaiWell, I guess you know by now how I handled the questions, eh?
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:282544
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031113/msgs/282544.html