Posted by deirdrehbrt on December 7, 2003, at 22:12:47
In reply to Re: confused » lisa1000, posted by sarita0001 on December 7, 2003, at 19:12:03
Hi Lisa.
Thank you for explaining your situation a bit further. I understand now, your confused feelings. I think that you can see here that there are people who will hear you without thinking you stupid. You are a real person, with a real problem, and other real people are capable of listening and sympathizing.
I am not a mental health professional; I can't make a diagnosis. What I can do is to tell you that I have had similar issues. I didn't even know that I was sick until very late in life. I found that I had been compensating for my symptoms to the point where I didn't know I had them. Even when I was seeing a therapist during a divorce, I thought I was just down because of the stresses of the divorce, and my daughter's illness.
I did hit bottom. I did make an attempt to take my life. I have had six hospitalizations. Do you want to know what I've learned?
I learned that true friends, best friends, will not laugh at you, or think you stupid when you tell them that something is troubling you.
I learned that there are professionals who will treat you with respect. They know a great deal about what people can feel, and they know how to either help you with those feelings if something is amiss, or they can reassure you if they are normal.
I learned that even if I have a mental illness, the general public won't know or care unless 'I' tell them. My face didn't turn green, my nose didn't get longer, I'm not compelled to wear a strait-jacket. I look, sound, and act the same as I did before being diagnosed with mental illness.
My point is this: If you are suffering, please don't suffer alone. You are important, and your feelings are important. You deserve to feel well, and people will not think badly of you if you ask for help.
I do hope that you find someone to talk to, and that you start feeling better.
Dee.
poster:deirdrehbrt
thread:287185
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031207/msgs/287562.html