Like Charlotte, the editor of this fabulous site, I have a favourite mental health quote: “Recovery is about building a meaningful and satisfying life, as defined by the person themselves, whether or not there are on-going or recurring...
Anonymous
22nd June 2011
I was moved to tears by Charlotte's latest blog on Friday and I promised her I would open up fully about what it's like to experience an "acute psychotic episode" -- the worst kind of nervous breakdown -- which happened to me 8...
Anonymous
27th June 2011
If you've read my previous blog, you may have spotted a couple of images of BBC TV Centre and Big AM Manchester's former studios at Salford Quays, where I was a journalist and bulletin editor/newsreader.  A few people have asked me...
Anonymous
2nd July 2011
I dedicate this to my friend going through the same issues as my former mental health worker:   So lonely for female companionship was I At a time I was so low It was all I could do not to die   My young mental health worker caught my eye...
Anonymous
9th July 2011
Living with Trauma I am a veteran and suffer from PTSD. I will not to dwell long on the events that lead to my PTSD. It was 38 years this month that I start my 18 month tour of N Ireland. My family came with me to Omagh for the tour. Like...
11th July 2011
When a veteran first goes to his Doctor with what he thinks is depression. He get ask a number of questions. He gives the Doctor the answers. Most times it is long hours at work or another problem that is talked about. The veteran does raise his...
13th July 2011
The symptoms and treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder may be difficult to pinpoint. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and it doesn't just affect soldiers at war. Anyone who has experienced or witnessed a very distressing event outside of...
15th July 2011
Recovery from psychosis by CBT - my story I was feeling quite low on the day Charlotte commissioned this video so although I smiled with my voice I did not with my face. This is how people who've mainly worked in radio often are anyway: we...
Anonymous
15th July 2011
If you have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), there’s a good chance you may be struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction. It has been reported British troops suffering from PTSD have been abusing alcohol to cope with anxiety and...
22nd July 2011
Striking a balance In the news this week it was reported that we look after our homes a great deal more than we look after our bodies. I agree, and I would add that we tend to pay more attention to our bodies than we do to our minds. Back in...
22nd July 2011
It’s not that commonly known outside psychiatry that medication designed to make you better from psychosis actually starts off by making you worse.  These are known as “paradoxical symptoms or side effects” and in my case the...
Anonymous
23rd July 2011
It’s rare that I have to seek permissions before writing a blog but I wanted to post today about Creative Support and Community Restart – the two organisations which have played the biggest role in helping me regain my independence and...
Anonymous
31st July 2011
Veterans and the Justice System The inquiry made by the Howard League for Penal Reform into former Armed Service personnel in prison was launched on Armistice Day 2009. The inquiry was established with the remit of discovering why so many ex-...
31st July 2011
Guilt and Veterans The word "trauma" is derived from the Greek word meaning "wound." Just as a physical wound from combat can cause suffering in the body, a psychological trauma can cause suffering in the mind and soul....
1st August 2011
So here I go, my first blog for Mental Healthy. As I sit here writing away, I felt it would only be fair you should know a little about me. That way you can understand where I am coming from when I write blogs in the future. After all we all have...
3rd August 2011
Lonestar - Amazed Suicidal and Paranoid Ideation I have touched upon my suicidal and paranoid thoughts in previous blogs, and a couple of weeks ago I had strong suicidal thoughts again and am still suffering mild ones this weekend and I wanted...
Anonymous
7th August 2011
Research has shown that having severe nightmares is an indicator of vulnerability to potentially developing psychosis and psychotic episodes (1).  In my case, I have always had vivid dreams and nightmares, but the really terrifying ones such as...
Anonymous
14th August 2011
Several years after my crash and lots of severe depression I realised that I needed something that was going to make me fit to return to society. Something that would give me self confidence, something that would help me feel good about myself,...
20th August 2011
My parents were due to make an international flight as I spent September 11th 2001 on a day off work as a broadcast journalist and, as I listened to BBC Radio 5 Live in my car out in the middle of the countryside, I heard the first terrible news...
Anonymous
11th September 2011
If you've just received the Mental Healthy newsletter and missed my regular blog entry within it -- I'll share a secret with you.   I'm in diazepam withdrawal ... AGAIN!    For 8 years now psychiatrists have been...
Anonymous
30th September 2011
The Brick wall Just when you think you’re doing all right you turn a corner slap bang into a brick wall.   My brick wall is panic attacks they strike out of the blue, without any warning.  They reach a peak within 10 minutes, and...
3rd October 2011
What type of calendar do you have hung on the wall? One of those you can put events on or is it one with just dates on? There are many reasons why I don’t hang a calendar on my wall as dates are one of my triggers to my nightmare world....
17th October 2011
'Twas broad daylight in Wintertime. The sun was shining.   There was snow on high ground still, and pretty it looked too. Christmas had been quite an ordeal that year -- I thought all the Santa-themed presents were sex toys and...
Anonymous
20th December 2011
The Crisis Team that wouldn't admit me or hospitalise me when compulsively suicidal ... The junior psychiatrist who asked me, in front of my mum, why I didn't want to kill myself or her ... The support worker who pulled out a knife on me and...
Anonymous
4th March 2012
I have always known I am a little different to other people.    I am a little awkward socially -- I have some close friends but not a wide circle outside of the mental health field.     I have immense problems...
Anonymous
7th April 2012
Childhood early warning signs of mild paranoia I first suffered from very mild paranoia when I was at primary school - as a class we watched a children's TV sci-fi  drama in which, towards the end, a character pointed a device with a...
Anonymous
21st May 2012
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