How long have you suffered from mental health symptoms?

I'm working on removing mental health stigmas and I often come across articles that state mental illness is not considered neurodivergent because people with mental illness can get "better" I've also read that with "proper medication, social support, and counseling" a person with mental illness can be considered "average"

I personally think this adds to the stigma of severe mental illness/disorders. Some mental disorders do not respond to medication at all and there are likely countless individuals who have autism that are labeled mentally ill because autism isn't really diagnosed in adulthood so there are people that missed the window of diagnosis prior to the discovery/treatment of autism.

I for one have been suffering for 17 years straight from BPD I've been told by therapists that I likely have autism but that I would rarely obtain an autism diagnosis due to my age (34). I've been in therapy almost the entire 17 years and I still have severe symptoms that keep me from holding down employment or relationships. The way I perceive the world is not the same as a neurotypical / average person. I've participated in DBT, CBT, and do yoga, mediation, and exercise. This is just who I am and I'm not accepted for who I am because I'm mentally ill and "I can get better. " I'm constantly being pushed to do better and I'm just not really buying into it anymore.

I would like to provide a PSA on my social media platforms about the length of time some people have suffered from symptoms to put it into perspective.

If you don't mind sharing your diagnosis and symptoms and the length of time you've been in therapy and suffering. How much meds help your symptoms / do meds make you feel "average" And if you feel you would consider yourself "average" or "neurotypical" and why.

I remember having bad anxiety from a very young age. In first grade, my stomach would be in knots about things like lost pencils. The depression came around 12 when I moved to a new state and had to start middle school with a lot of cliquish kids who looked down on me because I was late to develop physically and also smarter than all of them.

I got diagnosed at 14 and have been on medication ever since (over 25 years). However, major depressive disorder is a chronic condition that can only be treated but not cured.

I do not consider myself average or neurotypical. I do believe I'm on the autism spectrum, but like you have not been diagnosed. I did well in school, and autism was not diagnosed much when I was a kid in the 80s and 90s. I don't have sensory issues and am an extrovert, but I have a very hard time reading non-verbal social cues.

Autism diagnoses in adulthood are not as common, but they are possible. I've been considering trying to get one, even though my psychiatrist doesn't think there's any point.

Thank you for sharing I think your situation goes along with my point that many mental health disorders are lifelong it's not temporary but it feels the world often sees us as temporarily "ill" because medication and therapy exist.

I also thought of trying to get a diagnosis of autism, but my therapist pretty much said the same thing. I probably won't be able to find someone who is willing to diagnose an adult. She has unofficially diagnosed me with autism but that doesn't do much to help my employment situation where I'm still just an overly sensitive degenerate.

I agree, most mental health disorders are lifelong, not temporary.

8-9 years constant for me. GAD, severe depression, ocd, cptsd and many chronic illnesses.

I’m not sure how long have the symptoms and can never be neurotypical since have a learning disorder with verbal IQ significantly higher than performance IQ. It’s possible my symptoms can improve though.

It seems like a diagnosis of autism as an adult is possible and will need to interview your parents to find out symptoms when you were a child developing.

It's unfortunate that this is not as easy as it sounds, first you would need a parent that is alive and of sound mind. Second, you need a psychiatrist who has the education in diagnosing women with ASD (most use the male diagnosis criteria) many people living in rural areas do not have more than one or two psychiatrists near by. And lastly, as I've experienced and downandloney have been discouraged by our therapists from exploring the diagnosis and you need a referral for an adult autism diagnosis.

I do believe it's being discussed more but obtaining the diagnosis or even finding someone willing to assess you are still very real difficulties women are facing.

That does make it difficult to get a diagnosis, do you feel like you have the symptoms of autism.

I would say I’ve had some form of MI since early childhood. A lot
of the feelings of anxiety etc.. were part of the normal maturation
process. BUT , my symptoms and feelings of awkwardness and low
self esteem and little worth were magnified beyond what would be
considered normal.

I feel that moodyblue, I think I've had mental health issues since around 7th grade. The first time I was sent to a psych was when I was around 16 but at that point, you're too young for most diagnoses so they shipped me off with Paxil and called it a day.

Yeah, I do, especially sensory issues I struggle with loud noises and visual/physical movement. It's hard for me to go grocery shopping or even just ride in a car I get car sick every time from the movement and the rapid visual surroundings. I very rarely leave my house anymore my fiance does all the shopping and prior to us living together, I used grocery delivery services and took public transportation I don't like driving or riding but it's easier for me to ride on a subway or bus because I can close my eyes and wear headphones and there is a little less sporadic physical movement compared to a car.

I really feel like I was without mental health issues until a suffered trauma that set me on a path of dealing with PTSD, including severe depression and anxiety. These symptoms sort of become a serious issue starting in my 20s, but while I suffered a great deal internally, I was always very high functioning - got my college degree, started my career, long-term marriage, children, etc.

So, I'm one of those, that wouldn't have been recognized at all as having mental health issues by most people watching me function. But internally, I was a mess. I was hospitalized for depression and suicide over a dozen times in my 40s.

But about the time I hit my 50s, I had been through a decade of intensive therapy, responded well, made major changes in my thinking and behaviors, and have not needed therapy or medications now for over 10 years.

Am I cured? Pretty much. I still have to keep an eye on the PTSD. For instance, with the recent death of my husband to Covid, I've had to very deliberately work on some symptoms that cropped up again. I still keep a watch on my depression symptoms, etc. But the difference now is that I am able to see those issues; I know what I need to do to work through them, and I don't find them rising to anywhere near the level they were earlier in my life.

I think there are different types of mental health issues. Some people have lifelong problems that aren't consistently responsive to treatment, or are more long-term disabilities that require a lifetime of focus and treatment. Others have short, very reactive short-term mental health problems that are responsive to brief therapy and sometimes just time. Mine were somewhere in the middle, requiring more than just brief treatment, but responsive to treatment given the right therapist, etc.

I clearly remember having feelings of depression when I was 4 years old. By the time I was 8 or 9 I struggled with depression, terrible anxiety, and miserable health anxiety. My high school years were actually better; I was quite stable. By my mid-20's the depression and anxiety came back full-force.

I first heard voices at 7-8. My moods always been a liability. I started to have really bad "migraines" and "growing pains" all throughout childhood. My eating was challenging by the time I was 12 I was bulimic and a cutter. I started occasional drug use and sexually by 13. I was threatened with therapy but my family really had no clue what was going on. My grades we're **** and I spent all my time in my room. I was always in in school suspension, By 16 my family and I were fighting too much (paranoia, thought broadcasting) I moved out scared they were going to find out everything. I stayed out of their house and away from them for about a year. Then I moved back in and promptly dropped out of highschool.

At the GED school I was dx with depression and eating disorder. I still had behavioral issues to. I got my GED and went to live in the dorms. Where I spiralled out of control. I almost got kicked out of the dorms for underage drinking on a dry campus. I met my husband and we had a great connection. We moved in together.

That's when he would come home find me laying in bed or hiding in the closet because I felt people were breaking in. He still couldn't get me to therapy. Then we had our son. Things got worse I started locking myself in the bathroom crying withdrawing but he still couldn't get me to go to the Dr. Then we moved.

My eating disorder was out of control and I couldn't find help for it because I wasn't underweight. On a camping trip I flipped out broke a mirror and self harmed with it. Still couldn't find or be convinced to seek help. We got married and moved. Throughout this whole time we'd spend times homeless.

Cue 2 weeks in bed. Husband threatened to divorce me if I didn't see a Dr. So cue clueless PCP. Started antidepressants still struggling with food. Scary thoughts of rage came to me. Quickly blamed the meds and went off them. PCP left.

New PCP. Got into an argument with him that I didn't need ADs dx'd me with bipolar 2 sent me to a psychiatrist after meds left me flat.

Bad pdoc. Couldn't figure out what was wrong with me and dx'd me with everything kept throwing meds at me. I gave up.

2 years later husband is put on leave for bp. I get paranoid that he's trying to hospitalize me. So i get a t. So they can be on my side. Evaluatior calls old pdoc. Convinced I need hospitalization. Instead I walk out with BP lable, meds and a therapist. Those 2ish years were spent convincing me to stay on meds and me refusing an AP. End dx. Mood disorder nos and personality disorder nos. Moved again

Family trip. I was psychotic the whole time and no one knew.

Dx'd bp1, paranoid personality disorder. Started a low dose AP. Found out my eating disorder voices and "migraines" went away. Changed pdocs dx bp2, psychosis, and general anxiety. Took a break from dealing with mental health. Evaluated again as Sza, anxiety.

As far as med. They help but enough to do simple things like be on my own for 30 min. Order things online but I still can't answer my door when alone, cook more then simple meals,I still have massive mood swings. But I'm not at the level that hospitalization would be an option like it has been since I was a child.

I remember experiencing severe anxiety since I was 4 years old...

I'm in a similar boat. I have schizoaffective (10 years strong) and likely ADHD (idk, lifelong?) too, but since that wasn't caught in childhood I'll probably never get help for it despite the fact that even when the sza is stable I'm still a general wreck.. I've developed an eating disorder over the past year that hasn't really been addressed yet (other that my therapist telling me to eat ****ing yougurt and I'll be OK).

Wow, I actually think about this somewhat regularly.
I remember disassociating as far back as three years old.
I started group therapy when I was in first or second grade and had an outside counsellor from middle school through graduation. My first trip to the hospital was when I was nineteen. Between middle school and 19 I had at least two sudo diagnoses, as you cannot properly diagnose a child. My first two were passive aggressive and antisocial. I got a diagnosis of severe depression when in hospital for first time.
I am hoping that I have broken the cycle of abuse and trauma. I also know that the boundaries I have put in place have been extremely helpful in reducing my stress levels; therefore reducing depression and anxiety, as well as any potentially more severe symptoms like delusions or hallucinations.

I had suicidal thoughts as a teen, 14 to be exact same age my son died of suicide. I knew my parents would be devastated so I suffered in silence. I was diagnosed psychophrenic age 32, than schizoaffective, now bipolar with psychosis

I respond well to meds. Basically take them to avoid psychosis i could care less about mania or depression. i usually push through depression manic makes me a risk taker and more creative. but psychosis ruins my life.

I remember I was showing signs of trauma as a small boy. Also very shy, and I remember feeling nauseated a lot. Later in my teens, I felt inferior to everyone and could see I was quite paranoid, always felt watched, nauseous, and I was secretly worried I was going to die from cancer: went to the doctors twice. I've exhibited symptoms of poor mental health my whole life.

Basically kept it to myself and 'coped' until aged 29 when I admitted myself to alcohol and drug rehab. And there, a new chapter began.

I'm pretty sure I had an anxiety disorder even as a child.


Re the original question, I'm hesitant to use the word "suffered" with my own mental health stuff. It just sounds so negative.

I was pretty stable for most of high school too, albeit, quite a negative thinker.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitto Wow, I actually think about this somewhat regularly. I remember disassociating as far back as three years old. I started group therapy when I was in first or second grade and had an outside counsellor from middle school through graduation. My first trip to the hospital was when I was nineteen. Between middle school and 19 I had at least two sudo diagnoses, as you cannot properly diagnose a child. My first two were passive aggressive and antisocial. I got a diagnosis of severe depression when in hospital for first time. I am hoping that I have broken the cycle of abuse and trauma. I also know that the boundaries I have put in place have been extremely helpful in reducing my stress levels; therefore reducing depression and anxiety, as well as any potentially more severe symptoms like delusions or hallucinations.

For far too long and something has to give. I am glad that I have gotten busy living but maybe it is not quite enough.

This (what *I* bolded) is interesting and I can see how saying "you can get better" can add to stigma of mental illness.

At the same time, I am working on my own recovery. I've been working on it diligently for years and I feel I am only finally getting the hang of it. Which I'm grateful for. I can see how I may have a privilege in a sense, in that...I have access to good therapy, and my meds are working well for me.

Every thing was fine in my life. Got my degrees, had my computer engineering career for 15 years. My career defined who I was. When aerospace industry crashed & I couldn't get a job when I was 42, I had a breakdown that got worse rather than better with a PDOC & therapy. I didn't understand what all was going on but was diagnosed with major depression & major anxiety & ended up on disability after I have no idea how many suicide attempts. The most miserable 13 years of my life, topped off by a trauma & several bouts with anorexia where I ended up in the medical hospital.

Fast forward to leaving my marriage after 33 years & moving across the country to start a new life on a little farm I bought in the country when I was 54. I settled in & all the depression & anxiety pretty much went away. I found a wonderful therapist I did an intensive 2 years of group DBT & had her as my private T also. Learned skills that made me even more functional but that also pointed out that I had grown up with dysfunctional parents & some of my coping skills didn't work around functional people I had made good friends with after moving. It also pointed out how totally dysfunctional my husband was & still is even now divorced. It was hard to learn that I didn't have to fight to survive in my life any more & I could actually have a peaceful life.

In my case what I had experienced was situational depression & anxiety that no one recognized or helped me recognize when I was living in it. Meds only caused horrible reactions in my body & the therapy was useless there. Only leaving the situation/marriage & not having the mental health issues actually follow me but could be finally worked through & understood proved it was a situational condition. Life is now even better than it ever was & I am much more functional at 68 than I ever was before because I have learned new ways of dealing with issues & reinforced those that had been working. I also don't have the dysfunctional people pounding at me on a daily basis so when I run into issues I have quiet recovery time to analyze what I experience & what I need to do to resolve issues. I am seriously more functional at my age than ever before in my life & so thankful for the wonderful T I have had & all the wonderful people now in my life & finally feel free