[RunningEagleRuns]

I'm talking people who have lived with Schizophrenia or Bipolar or Depression for 10 + years.

1. Does it get better?

2. What has helped the most?

3. If you could give any advice to someone living with a mental illness what would it be?

4. Has medicine helped?

5. What has been the toughest part about having a mental illness?

6. Do you hate mental hospitals?

7. What has been the best way to get through a mental hospital visit?

8. Do you have a job?

9. How do you hold a job?

Thank you.

[faerie_moon_x]

Even though I was diagnosed at 30, I have been living with bipolar possibly since childhood. At least since 11 or 12 for sure, but maybe longer.

1. Does it get better? The illness part, I think, is getting worse. My ability to understand what I'm going through is getting better. I'm scared and nervous about this yet also hopeful. But, be aware that I'm not in any type of treatment.

2. What has helped the most? The things that helps the most is to educate myself about my illess, to embrace what is happening to me, and to be proactive whenever I'm able. Denial is the worst thing and the most destructive thing. Awareness is the key to wellness.

3. If you could give any advice to someone living with a mental illness what would it be? You are still you and not your illness. Your life isn't ruined because you have a disease. But, you must be active in your own wellness and not expect any knights and shinning armor to come rescuing you when things get bad. (That includes meds.)

4. Has medicine helped? Lithium helps me at low doses in a way with my moods. But, I haven't really been medicated enough to answer this otherwise.

5. What has been the toughest part about having a mental illness? The fact that 98% of the time, the people in your life could care less that you are ill and don't even believe it. More often than not, they won't be there for you. So, if you have someone who is there for you it is a blessing and not something everyone has in their life.

6. Do you hate mental hospitals? I've never been to one.

7. What has been the best way to get through a mental hospital visit? n/a

8. Do you have a job? Yes, I work full time 40 hours a week.

9. How do you hold a job? Willpower. Learning to hide what I'm going through. Remembering that you can't trust people to tell them if you are struggling. Unfortunately the work place is the worst place to share anything about yourself, even to get help you deserve.

[Atypical_Disaster]

nevermind... sorry... shouldn't have posted.

[lil-angel-wings]

1. Does it get better? It can with proper medications and treatment. You have to be 100% honest though and learn how to trust those you seek to help you. Mine is one that has worsened over the years though as I have not been med compliant and have had way to many life stressors (trauma)

2. What has helped the most? God/Medication

3. If you could give any advice to someone living with a mental illness what would it be? Be your own advocate or find some one you trust 100% to be one for you. You know your self better then anyone, so you have to speak up when it comes to meds and treatment to what is really working and what is not.

4. Has medicine helped? Yes when taken properly, But side affects can be a deterrent so again be your own advocate and tell your doctor when it is not beneficial because of the affects or Versa Visea

5. What has been the toughest part about having a mental illness? People do not understand and treat you different once they find out.

6. Do you hate mental hospitals? Yes... they can be like jail and even worse. But there have been a few times that it has been the only place where I felt like I fit in.

7. What has been the best way to get through a mental hospital visit? Do what ever they say so you can get out. No truly follow your treatment plan and take a part in putting it together. Also try to trust them, even if its only a job to them.

8. Do you have a job? I worked full time until 2011 and could no longer fake my way through it. after 25 years of faking it I finally broke completely and now have days I can barley get through.

9. How do you hold a job? I acted like nothing was wrong and luckily I was in my department pretty much alone every day except for customers who would not be there long so I did not have to get to know them, and I could just be me.

[RunningEagleRuns]

Thanks for the responses. They were very interesting to read.

[newtus]

im almost there.

7-8 years in.

almost. there.