When I was 9 our family dr sent me to the mayo clinic. Had terrible migraines, an ulcer and had lost weight ( SA abuse was going on from neighboring man) they wanted me to see a child psychiatrist but my father wouldn't hear of it. This was the 60's and one simply did not see shrinks

Next encounter was as a freshman at the U. One night I took off and walked miles away and was standing on a bridge when a cop pulled me off. He drove me back to campus and told me to see the counselors. The next day I went and they basically told me think happy thoughts and you will feel better , this was in the 70's

Next up a friend convinced me all my problems were due to alcohol and to go to treatment with her. They gave me an mmpi and then wanted to hospitization me based on my score, I lied though my teeth and left.

I was 27 and My husband put my in the emergency room and I got 17 stitches in my head and couldn't hear for almost a month. They gave me a psychologist number to call, I was finally ready and saw him. He diganoised me with MMD and PTSD, after years of mis-managed meds it was changed to BP and PTSD

I do wonder what my life would have been like if I'd gotten help at any of the previous encounters?