Having been a mental health consumer for twenty plus years, I consider myself a mental health survivor as well. The single best piece of advice I can give to anyone who is seeking help or already navigating the mental health system is that you must advocate for yourself. Anyone incapable of doing so would be very fortunate to have a caring advocate who knows them well and has their best interests at heart.
Please do not expect to rely solely on medication – it is not magic, but an integral part of what should be a holistic approach to optimizing your health. Every aspect of your life from what you eat to the work you do affects you, so it is crucial to examine and evaluate all those areas. If you hate your job, eat junk food to comfort yourself, park yourself on the couch engaged with electronic devices and isolate yourself from others, you have guaranteed yourself a difficult, slow recovery. If you desire wellness, be prepared to be a partner in the therapeutic process. You know your mind and body best.
For me, changes that have been crucial and life altering are numerous. Daily fresh air, sunshine (and the vitamin D that is crucial for we who live in northern Canada) and exercise have been essential. Changing what I eat has resulted in huge improvement, as has those with whom I socialize. My family and friends are a vital source of joy and connection; those who have stuck with me through the worst of my illness and been kind enough and patient enough to see worth and potential in me and still love me are gems.
Having a good rapport with a therapist or psychiatrist is essential; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! After ten years with the first psychiatrist I met with, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I told acquaintances I was changing doctors. Some, giving me an invisible pat on the head, counselled me to stay with him! Incredible, as he was no longer aware of what medications I was taking. At one point he had me on seven psychiatric medications. Personal experience has taught me that this is irresponsible – there is no way to discern which drug is having therapeutic effects or causing side effects.
Since quitting that doctor I have been to several different therapists. Being fortunate to now have an excellent talk therapist is further evidence that rapport is important as is what therapies they use. Not only that, my experience has taught me that psychiatrists should stick to prescribing and leave talk therapy to others. Hour-long talk sessions with shrink number one weren’t helpful.
Medications can pull you up to the surface when you have been drowning in depression, but they come with other issues, the worst of which are side effects. Every person’s biochemistry is individual, so what works for person one might do nothing for person two who may experience intolerable side effects. Most of us have heard American TV drug ads where a person with a cheery voice lists the side effects. The voice stays upbeat through “side effects may include thirst, dry mouth, skin rashes, weight gain, increased thoughts of suicide or death.” Seriously, you think to yourself, why would I want to take that stuff?
Side effects are no laughing matter and can cause much misery. My personal favourites are weight gain and sexual side effects. How would that work for you, doc? I am already in a shaky relationship, have gained weight and sure as hell don’t feel attractive. So please explain what good it will do for me to gain weight and lose interest in sex and/or be unable to climax?
My favourite cartoon shows a bald, obese man holding his new bottle of pills as the pharmacist says “Side effects include weight loss, clear skin, a full head of hair, multiple job offers, abs of steel, loving companionship, sparkling personality…” If only that were true!
Educate yourself, make certain that your doctor, psychiatrist, therapist, pharmacist and anyone else involved in your treatment listens to what you say and hears your questions. Lobby politicians who wish to cut funding for social programs.
For more information go to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s website. The Mental Health/Addictions clinic in St. Albert is at 30 Sir Winston Churchill; their phone number is 780-342-1410. The crisis line number is 780-342-7777. You will be connected to someone who will talk to you and if it seems necessary a team will come to your home. Should you need to be seen by a doctor, they will take you to a hospital. These good people have saved my life.
Deberah Kearns is a St. Albert resident. Mental Health Week in Canada runs from May 6 to 12.
