Sick of feeling as though I'm worthless.

[Debzmites]

I've been going through a legal process due to my mental health and have realized how irrelevant I am. No mental health people will stand up for me, no one listens to me I'm irrelevant, it's driving me crazy. I keep thinking what do I have to do to have a voice? Become a Psychologist? Am so tired of feeling like a failure. Any advice?

[white knight]

Hi Debz, welcome

I relate. Its a little Like the book. Movie, "the one who flew over the cookoos nest".

The real struggle for us with MI is separating fact and fiction. Eg are they not responding due to me having depression or would they respond that way if I didn't?

My one long time girlfriend had drinking issues. When drunk she turned into a demon. We'd argue, she'd ring my psych, he'd change my meds and side with her. It gets scary when you realise they could put me in a ward!!!

Going through legal issues would test anyone and some of the problems of being ignored could well be common. Best to discuss these things with others, friends, etc to get a wide range of views.

And above all with legal issues be patient. On that score google Topic: Supermarket shelves- beyondblue

It will explain how hard it is to get patience. But we can't rush the " bench"...

Tony WK

[PatT]

Hi Debzmites,

I, and many other people certainly know what it's like to feel disempowered as a result of mental illness. It's debilitating in so many ways and there are so many things that perpetuate it. But it's often the mental illness that is the source of disempowerment, not the disempowerment as causing the mental illness. It's also true that there are some therapists that really don't have a vested interest in their patients and it can often be a case of finding one that actually does care.

I'd say a lot of your mental anguish at the moment is caught up in these legal proceedings and I'm sure things will improve as they pass. Can I ask what they're about or would you prefer not to disclose?

[Debzmites]

Thanks Tony, that was a very good read! I will have a talk to my Psychiatrist next week!

Pat - I applied to 6 Universities for remission of HECS debt, 4 gave full refunds and I'm now taking 2 to the Administration Tribunal with the help of a lawyer. It's so demoralising, it's as though I'm irrelevant and no one listens to me, the psychs won't help and trying to tell the lawyer how much I'm struggling to cope with this mentally is a waste of time, they're only interested in legal aspects. It will be over soon, I just need to stay strong.

[BballJ]

Hi Debzmites,

Firstly, welcome to the forums.

You nailed it on the head at the end, need to remain strong... unfortunately mental health issues are still widely overlooked by many people and it doesn't gather the respect and time it deserves in my opinion. I can see the legal issues especially when dealing with money can trigger your mental health issues to flare up majorly.

Speak to your psych about them however are you not finding your psych is making you comfortable when talking to him/her? When I speak to my psych I feel she genuinely cares about my issues and helps the recovery process, if not, may be worth looking into another psych?

My best for you,

Jay

[Debzmites]

Thanks Jay. I have a lot of difficulty talking to my Psychiatrist, he just doesn't say anything, recently I got frustrated and asked if he had anything to contribute, he asked if I had questions, which annoyed me, so much so that when I was struggling with the will to live in November I didn't even talk to him, I didn't see the point in talking about the depths of my darkness if he will just sit there and look at me. I ended up in hospital for 3 weeks a week after that day. I don't want to be told what to do but I want to feel as though the person I'm talking to is listening and interacting, responding, suggestions, pointing things out etc.