Hi folks
I'm KRY and have just joined. I'm hoping to be able to make some meaningful contributions by sharing my personal experiences with depression and anxiety, and as a carer/supporter for my sibling who has been struggling with mental health for several years now.
In high school I had one close friend attempt to take her life and diagnosed with BPD, another close friend diagnosed with schizophrenia. I first felt that something was not right with myself in my late teens, but rationalised that whatever I was feeling was just teen hormones and dismissed whatever I felt as being nothing as serious as my friends. It wasn't until several years later in my final years of university that I sought professional help.
I'm doing much much better with managing my depression and anxiety these days. I would say that since high school, I've always had a good awareness of mental health and conditions, but not how it applied to me.
Last year, something scarier than all the hopelessness, loneliness and sense of overwhelm I felt at my worst happened... My sibling self-harmed in an attempt to escape their mental struggles. For all my personal experience, being my sibling's confidante and general awareness of various mental health conditions, none of that prepared me for this. My sibling is doing better now and I continue to be part of their immediate support group.
Looking back, I wish:
1. I had a friendly adult I could trust and talk to in high school, so it could be identified earlier that I needed help.
2. I had found out earlier about all the free and credible resources available, so I didn't feel so helpless or vulnerable/ashamed to ask.
3. I was part of a community that withheld judgement and could empathise and/or understand my struggles and confusion.
4. I was able to attend a seminar/forum/expo with my family so I could educate them earlier on mental health and remove stigmatism.
5. Understood my rights especially in regards to privacy/confidentiality, so I didn't have to feel pressured to tell the GP everything I told my psychologist, then feel vulnerable and judged in order to get a new script.
I'm looking forward to checking out the different threads and helping the community.
