What is your biggest (non mental health condition) achievement?

[MarkJT]

Was watching, "The Voice" last night and there was a young lass who didn't leave the house for two years because of panic attacks, how here she is on National TV singing in front of four judges.

I sat back and thought that even if no one turns around and picks her, she has already won - what a brilliant achievement that was.

What is your biggest achievement?

Mine is overcoming PTSD and functioning quite well but the mental health conditions aside, I would have to say completing my first marathon. A pure punishment of the mind and body and I completed this in the early days of my recovery when i was quite wounded and struggling.

To be able to push myself to complete it gave me a massive burst of confidence that I can overcome the PTSD beast and get on with life.

Mark

[Quercus]

Ah Fiasco 😊 I could have written that post. I don't think I've ever met anyone before who got it. Most people just think I'm nuts (or joking).

[Fiasco]

Absolutely, Mark.

i had a miscarriage when I was 25, after we'd been trying for a year, and was told not to worry as a quarter of all pregnancies end that way and there was nothing wrong. After 3 more years of trying, every single month wondering if my body was capable of doing it and then being disappointed - almost drove myself mad. Finally, doctors took is seriously and we went down the ivf road. We were told we'd never be able to have kids naturally, and my husband struggled with the fact that it was 'his fault'. It was a really hard time. No need to go into ivf, but it's not super pleasant. Hormonal stuff really messes with your mind. Anyway, after more issues and disappointments and me getting extremely unwell physically from being hyper stimulated (too many hormones), it finally happened. And when my daughter was born, I felt for the first time like I was doing what I was meant to be doing. Like I had figured out the meaning of life. It was amazing. We had scares along the way through that pregnancy, and because I'm only 4 foot 11, it took its toll on my little body. But I did it. And she is perfect. I never knew true love til I met her. And then, after our rainbow baby, I fell pregnant naturally, against the odds, and had another daughter. These two girls are honestly my reason for living. Even when I don't want to live for myself, I will fight to live for them.

[Fiasco]

Yep Quercus, you and I have some very marked similarities. It's strange but nice to hear that something you've always felt alone about has actually been experienced by someone else.

[MarkJT]

Fiasco and Quercus, I am just such a massive advocate of taking positives out of negatives and you two have displayed that in a massive way.

That is just so cool that you are driving despite the walls that were put up in front of you. Love it and agree hugely that even though you feel very much alone, you can almost guarantee that there is someone else walking in the same shoes as you are.

Fiasco, so happy for you that you got to experience having kids. Fortunately for me, my wife and i didn't have any troubles but i have mates that are very similar to you and saw the stress on them. Just so pleased that you see now what you life is. Well done and well done to your hubby as well.

Mark.

[Croix]

Dear Mark~
Thank you for this thread. It gives me and others a chance to see the good in things.

My achievement requires a bit of background, it may seem sad but it's not really.

My first wife had a physical deficiency that made her life very hard. In her mid 20’s medication became available that let her lead a near-normal life. Unfortunately it had long–term side effects that were progressive and very far reaching. My wife took the prescriptions anyway, knowing that and reaped great benefit.

Many years later matters caught up with her and she was admitted to hospital with massive symptoms caused by that drug. At the time her doctor confided in me he thought she had less than a year to live. This was confirmed elsewhere.

My wife would not accept this and looked forward to the day she would be released and go home better. This was the comfort and hope that got her through great physical pain and privation.

For 9 months, until she passed away, I visited every her in the hospital day and stayed as long as possible, then in the evening I’d ring her again.

All that time I kept up a cheerful face and enthusiastically discussed her plans for her return home.

Croix

[MarkJT]

Croix, to be able to put a smile on someone's face when they are facing the end of their lives, there are not to many more powerful things that a human being can do.

Yes it is a sad story but i can see the huge achievement this was for you. No doubt it would have been incredibly difficult to go through but you did it and i congratulate you for doing that.

Kind of lost for words now as that is just such a powerful thing to do, speechless.

Mark.

[startingnew]

one of my greatest achievements was getting my HSC and also now just completed a course in medical terminology and PASSED with 80%

[Fiasco]

Croix, I don't know what to say, except to agree that that is a wonderful achievement. I hope you have many beautiful memories of your wife that make you smile. It would have taken so much out of you to keep up that cheery act for her sake, when you must have been feeling so anguished. I can't imagine. I hope you had immense support, or if you didn't, that you have been able to come to terms with everything.

[monkey_magic]

Croix thanks for guiding me to this thread, best thread ever. Mark ,thanks for starting it,im feeling inspired.

I'll list a few things:

*becoming a fitness instructor/ personal trainer

*overcoming dark times( breakup,friends death,homelessness,other losses)

* deciding to come back after a near death experience ( fighting for it). This experience actually changed my whole belief system & outlook on life.

*staying alive in some of the most adverse circumstances.

* losing 15 kgs

*supporting a homeless man by sleeping with him on a mattress sacrificing my cleanliness - smelt like him the whole next day

* giving many many ppl hugs for support

[Guest_128]

Croix,

it sounds like we have been through similar things other then mental health. I hear your pain but I also hear your soul. Lucky to of had that time.

Later