Breaking the silence

Media request: Professional women sought to speak about their depression

JOURNALIST Diana Best has posted the following request on Facebook:

 

I’m currently looking for case studies of three professional women aged 20-45 who have suffered from depression.

 

The piece will be in an upmarket women’s magazine and will help highlight how widespread depression is, and how it really can happen to anybody.

 

They would ideally be named, although we can change names if people would prefer to remain anonymous.

 

The hidden costs of bulimia

By Lyn Jenkins

OFTEN, those who haven't had bulimia, or cared for someone who has, (and frankly some who have) think that this disease is all about appearance.

Don't Mind Me

 Thanks to Judith Haire for taking the time to share her story with us here and tell us about the book she has written about her experiences...

I'm 54 and at the age of 37 I experienced an acute psychotic episode which saw me hospitalised for six months. I was catatonic, mute and refused all food and drink for the first eleven days so I had to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act. 

The consultant told my parents he was saving my life rather than my sanity. I had six treatments of electro-convulsive therapy while sectioned. 

I'd grown up in a dysfunctional family and at the age of fourteen my grandmother died and I was not allowed to go to her funeral. I became depressed and, as a grief response, started to hear voices.

Without my knowledge, my mother arranged an appointment for me at the Child Guidance Clinic and one morning, when I thought my father was driving me to school, I was taken there against my will.

I was too frightened to reveal what was really going on at home and so was my mother so I was medicated and labelled a psychiatric case.

Journey through depression - Rita's story

Here Rita speaks about her experiences of severe depression as an older woman, her treatment through medication and ECT, her route to recovery and what she can now achieve.

Journey through depression

What a difference a year makes

By New Mummy

I DIDN'T realise how hard this post was going to be to write when I started it.

I’m not ashamed of suffering with depression but it’s not something I shout about either. I’ve had "blah" days (sometimes weeks or months) for as long as I can remember.

I think they started in my early teens but I can’t really be sure.

I would lock myself away in my room reading or listening to music and hide away from the world, people just thought I was being a typical teenager and left me to it.

A view of the election - and an appeal for contact - from inside a psychiatric ward

Patients resident in mental hospitals may now register to vote, unless they have been detained under certain sections of the Mental Health Act 1983 or are convicted offenders.

(Source: Electoral Commission guidelines)

DID you know that? No, nor me.

I never imagined for a minute people weren't previously allowed to vote because of a mental health condition. Shows what I know.

Media request: Have you had problems with travel insurance?

JOURNALIST Carrie Dunn is looking for people who may be able to help with an article for the International Travel Insurance Journal.

She says:

I'm writing a piece about the problems of getting travel insurance if you declare a mental health condition. I'm also discussing the issues of relocating for work and the support your employer should offer you. If you would like to share an anecdote (anonymously of course), I'd love to hear from you.

Please contact Carrie carrie.dunn[at]gmail.com if you would like to help.

'How my friends and family react to mental illness' in video

HAVING written about how I felt mental illness has affected my friendships over the years, I was very interested in this lady's story.

It brings a lump to my throat and is well worth a look.

Bulimia: A vicious and dangerous cycle, by Insomniac Mummy

DIETS -- we love to hate them, but for many women, they can be a trigger for much deeper issues, writes InsomniacMummy.

During my late teens and early 20s  I suffered with bulimia.

The details aren’t pretty.

I was a slave to a starve, binge and purge cycle. I’d starve for days on end then binge eat until I had to make myself physically sick. Often eating in private as I didn’t want to be seen eating. Then came the release of the purge. The false feeling of control and power it gave me kept me locked in the perpetual cycle.

Massive thanks for nominating us in the MADs blog awards

NOW what can we make of the title of these blog awards? MADs stands for Mums and Dads!

Thank you to anyone who nominated us in the Most Inspirational Blogger category. We really weren't expecting it. That's why we limited our "plugging" activity to mentioning Got Your Hands Full and Have a Lovely Time. As you can see to the top right hand corner of this blog.

We've highlighted various aspects of how parents can be affected by mental health problems and welcomed guest contributions from some wonderful parent bloggers. Here are some of the relevant posts:

Mummy, what's the black dog? How do you explain mental illness to children?

Paranoia and post-natal depression

A schizophrenic mother writes: "I'm just like you"

Post-natal depression in mums of twins, triplets and more

It wasn't my day to go, most of all I have hope