It was my desire to reduce the fear and sense of ... - Our Community

GLIMPSES [pic] By Artist Paul D Robertson - www.pauldrobertson.com A compilation of uncensored real life experiences with Mental Illness
Foreword
This series of works about mental illnesses are an illuminating insight
into the life of those with a mental illness. The personal experiences
depicted within are an excellent example of the reasons why we should
publish them. Stories of hallucinations, standing on top of cars wondering
what it is all about, are the deep seated feelings that have to be
expressed publicly by those with a mental illness because if they are not
people don't know what it is like. Mental illness is no different from any other illness. It has symptoms and
it can be treated and managed. The difference is the mind is altered,
changed to not think within the normal paradigms that exist in our society.
Strange behaviour it treated as strange rather than as an illness. Many
people in our society suffer or are affected by mental illness. More than
people realise. Unless people tell their story, the truth of the suffering
and experiences will never be known. We cannot let the story be told by
those who haven't had the experience. We cannot let it be left to those in
the media or government. They have to come from the people who know like
the ones who have told their stories here. Assoc. Prof. Neil Cole
Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre Bipolar Survivor
Playwright Page Index
5 Introduction
6 Georgia Van Cuylenberg's Story Anorexia Nervosa Consumer 11 Nicci Wall's Story Bipolar Consumer
25 Michael Francis' Story Bipolar Consumer
30 For the Love Of Rob Depression (Suicide) Carer
33 Janelle Reeve's Story Bipolar Consumer
39 Ian Reeve's Story Bipolar Carer
42 Claire's Story Bipolar (Suicide) Carer
45 Andrew's Story Bipolar Consumer
68 Sandy Jeff's Story Schizophrenia Consumer
77 Paul Robertson's Story Bipolar Consumer
86 Janet Duffus' Story Anorexia Nervosa Consumer
90 Nathan Bell's Story Bipolar Consumer
96 Black Swan's Story PTSD & Bipolar Consumer
103 Michael Nanai's Story Schizophrenia Consumer
109 David Guthrie's Story Schizophrenia Consumer
111 Evan Bichara's Story Schizophrenia Consumer
114 Ingrid Hindell's Story Depression Consumer
121 Craig Hamilton's Story Bipolar & Depression Consumer
123 Yvette Geljon's Story Borderline Personality
Consumer
125 Sylvia Zuzowska's Story Bipolar Consumer
126 Lizzie's Story Schizoeffective/Bipolar
Consumer
131 Darren Dorey's Story Depression Consumer
136 William Tyler's Story Consumer
139 Barbara Doogue's Story Depression & PTSD Consumer
142 Richard McLean Schizophrenia Consumer
147 Russell Mile's Story Depression Consumer
150 Ela Simon's Story Bipolar Carer
160 Natasha Simon's Story Bipolar Consumer
164 Kiri Dicken's Story Anxiety Consumer
168 Anonymous Story Bipolar Consumer
170 Paul's ECT Diary Bipolar Consumer
177 Vicki's Story Depression Consumer
178 Samantha J's Story Bipolar Consumer
188 Greg Battin's Story Bipolar Consumer
191 BlueSkyLady Bipolar Consumer
196 Bevan Sallaway's Story Bipolar Consumer
199 Anon Depression Consumer
201 Jan Hackney's Story Anxiety Consumer
203 Ben's Story Anorexia Nervosa Consumer
207 Courtney's Story Obsessive Compulsive Consumer
212 Christopher Pescud's Story Schizophrenia Consumer
216 DH's Story Depression Consumer
221 Anon Anorexia Nervosa Carer
227 Jean Winter's Story Bipolar Carer
232 Julie D's Story Anxiety & PTSD Consumer
238 Kelly Dunn's Story Psychosis Consumer
256 Raija's Story Schizophrenia Consumer
260 Anon Anorexia Nervosa Carer
268 Carmen's Story Schizophrenia Consumer
278 Geoff Allen's Story Schizophrenia Consumer
284 RJPW's Story Consumer
291 Joanna's Story BPD Consumer
297 Kate Blackmore's Story Schizoaffective Bipolar
Consumer
302 Bob Perry Story Schizophrenia Consumer
305 Kristy Mounsey's Story Bipolar Consumer Page Index
311 Caro's Story Borderline Personality
Consumer
314 Yvonne's Story Bipolar Consumer
318 Andrew's Story Bipolar Consumer
322 David Buchanan's Story Depression Consumer
325 Mike Griffith's Story
333 Useful Contacts Youth Consumers & Carers
334 Useful Contacts Consumers
339 Useful Contacts Carers Introduction
Since I was diagnosed as having Bipolar Affective Disorder in November 2001
I have had the good fortune to meet and work with a multitude of people who
have a mental illness. These people are far from the stereotypical mentally
ill portrayed by the media and sensationalised in film. These people work,
own businesses, run companies, are highly trained and/or qualified,
exceptional artists, volunteers; they raise families, socialise and all the
other things so called 'normal' people do. For that is what we are,
'normal' people, with a treatable, but not curable illness; similar to
other illnesses caused by a chemical imbalance such as Diabetes,
Hypertension and Hyper/Hypo-Thyroidism. It was through my desire to reduce the fear and sense of isolation
associated with diagnosis for sufferers and their loved ones, as well as
increasing awareness and reducing stigma surrounding mental illness, that
the goal of producing an uncensored and accurate glimpse into the lives of
those with a mental illness was put into action. All who have contributed to this book did so in hope that their story will
help others with a mental illness, their families and friends, by
benefiting from the 'real life experiences', encouraging better
communication and acceptance of mental illness within their immediate
circle; most of all recognising that they are not alone in this endless
struggle. Some contributions were written in the midst of an 'episode' where the
writers perception is askew and their ability to articulate their thoughts
are diminished, disjointed and inconsistent; therefore their stories may
seem hard to understand or follow due to the irregular thought patterns.
Where this occurs, I ask that you do not try to understand at the time of
reading but take on board that what is being shared, accurately reflects
what the person is experiencing at that point in time. There are far more people with a diagnosed mental illness than is
acknowledged in society and I would not be exaggerating if I said every
third person I speak with has a relative or friend with a mental illness.
With many of us choosing to 'come out', society will learn of the many
positive contributions we make to society and this will inturn reduce the
stigma surrounding mental illnesses. There are some wonderful books available to increase understanding of the
manifestations of these illnesses. These are of particular importance to
families and friends of those with a mental illness. Knowing the danger
signs as they begin to appear can be the difference between a full-blown
episode and a little bump on the charts. But more importantly, they assist
our ability to recognise the signs leading up to a suicide attempt. If you know where to look, support networks are available to assist or
refer you to other appropriate organisations/groups and many have
recommended reading lists. For your benefit the larger organisations are
listed at the back of the book, so that you do not encounter the circular
attempts to find assistance as I, and many others have encountered when
first diagnosed. If you would like to tell your story to help increase awareness send it to
c/o 43 Browallia Dr Rose Park 3214, or forwalls@xi.com.au, the more people
we can touch with our stories, the better. I wish you well on your path to insight, education and recovery. Nicci Wall
Georgia's Story I was diagnosed - if you could call it that - as having an eating disorder
in 1996 when I was 14 years old and in year 9. This meant I had to get
weighed every week and my parents got me to see a psychiatrist immediately.
I dreaded both these visits every week - I felt like I was up for judgment
and assessment and that - in hindsight - was very damaging on my mental
state and perception of myself. In the following years this diagnosis
progressed to anorexia nervosa. I never ever learnt to like the medical
visits but my sessions with my psychiatrist became a safe haven as I looked
to him for an answer and the help, which I now know he would never be able
to give me. Today I would consider my diagnosis to be that I suffer from
disordered eating but no longer possess the anorexic demons that can
manifest into seriously harmful behaviour. I learnt to identify every part