All of us have our fair share of troubles. So, when things become just too tough to bear, should we then seek some help, help of a medical kind ? If so, which is best ?

In some cases our GP will refer us for Psychiatric assessment and subsequent therapy. In the hope a better skilled clinician will provide more specialist care that will assist us to deal with our problems more effectively.

How many of us have sought such (radical) treatment ? I have for one.

Some years ago, I was referred to the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service (VVCS), ostensibily for counselling ! I attended there a couple of times a month, for an hour, for nearly two years. It was a Veteran specific group. We were a small batch of about five or six blokes at any one time.

While there, it was determined that I attend the 'Live In' PTSD programme, at the Repatriation Hospital, funded by the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

I managed to get sufficient sick leave from a compassionate and sympathetic police department. There were many Veterans in the job at that time.

Mainly, the medico's were a cross section of Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers and a few other specialist Doctors, including a Pharmacist. The programme was for a six weeks duration, with weekly follow-up's for another six weeks, as out-patients.

The benefits I received, were truly marvellous. I was taught so much about how to deal with my own personal issues, aggression, anger, drinking, intolerance, leading a healthier life-style etc. etc. But then, I'm a very boring person, so enough.

My message... If you have problems, problems of a kind, that seem to swamp or overwhelm you totally. Seek help.

It's no longer macho or overtly masculine, to remain mute and stoic. Stoicism is merely stupidity. In the coppers we had all manner of epithets for Psychiatrists - 'trick cyclists' etc etc etc. ?

For me at least, I reckon they're pretty good ! Give 'em a go if your need it ?

Psychiatry is little more than a source of comfort, empathy and motivation, yet it's extremely effective. The human engagement of non-predatory-practitioners is infinitely better for the depressed and disaffected than impersonal drugs. The analysand soon comes to realise that there is no "normal" and that it's a struggle for all of us to attain a "healthy" state of mind.
I don't think we should denigrate stoicism though, which has its place. For me the best cure is an old one--exercising the body. Putting the body through its paces, taking the focus off the mind--which so readily obsesses--is liberating and exhilarating.
The cultured mind is as much a curse as a source of fascination.

yes if you got a problem..SEEK HELP
but we are EXPERT at denial..deneying we even..'have..a problem'

YET>>we are the best position to judge..things like SELF harm
yet the decision as to what is best..FOR you ..to do for you..THATS TAKEN*..from you..immediatly

often cruelly hurtfully COMPLETLY
with every thing you do..being looked at as SYMPTOM
when in the end..its weighted against that as communicated,,by the victim

there is a simple rule..if they hurt other..
police have authority to act..to protect potential victim..or damage to assets..not just poor busy bodies/sensatives complaining/complaint

often redacted before trial

or family disputes..or stealing kids
you know if one member has a problem..THE WHOLE FAMILY needs the remedy..[there is no cure*..at best half way..or someone is taking away more than they give.

O sung WU, what a wonderful post.

You are a brave man to admit you needed help and you went out and sorted out some help for yourself.

If more men would just read stories like yours and gain the inspiration to seek help for their mental health issues, then I am sure their world would be a better place.

I too sought help as you did, and am glad to say I received excellent care and am now much happier.

Thank you for your story.

Cheers,
Suse.

its funny how the topic reminds me of an advert i saw on tv yesterday

blah blah blahh..see your family docter
in the backgound..distress..the advert is advising people..to go give docters income
so docters can sell the product left by the rep
[and get a nice bonus kickback from big pharma..getting billions of govt subsidy

adverse reactions to perscribed drug..the cause of 1 in 100 hospitalisations..1 in ten resulting in death

adverse reactions..and big legal drug dealers
advertising go to the quack..buy our subsidised by govt drug

just like the tamiflue scam..that needed the un PLUTOCRATS>>declaring a pandemic,..and govt contracts globally went live

we got wharehouse of expired poisen..tamillflew..in govt storage
costing billions globally..and phychiatry is even lower..

for the good it does..it does just as much bad or worse
old people druged into a passive zombie state

yeah a drug war on a plant
its great mate

78%//of police WORK*..is booze related
percribed legalised halusinatory drugs no worry
give a pill.. to your hyper active kid..

ie acid.
like the hippy girls used on the civilised hippy boys
PERSCFRIBED..by a docter..by symptom signifying a bias hate fear or peer based past judgments..that sought to limit lifes infinate variability...

conformity
in time you will all do as your told
or we will docile you..civil ise you..via your water
food drink airs an senses..

and make you cool..by spraying toxic aluminium
or flueride..or mercurised silver metal into your soft tissue..to maske you docile feel tired get sick..[the last 65 pure tassmanian ab-ororigonal..were genocided..in one generation..overr seen by just 6 docters

medicin/laws..we will lord it over you
with spin..poor media substandard education expensive acces to info..communication with TRUE peers..

govt represents..who

by wehat right does govt take away a mans freedumbs
if he is hurting no one and no thing

..just let them be..protect them..
like god wants us to protect our broithers..the beasts

no victim..no crime

OUG, what are you on about.?

Did anyone above mention taking drugs?
Even if they did, if the drugs helped them to restore themselves to a more 'normal' state, then where is the harm in that?

Have you ever taken antibiotics?
If you have, then you can thank the scientists for developing these medicines that have saved millions of lives.
The same can be said for the mental health medications that have made such a difference to so many people.

If you have never suffered from a serious mental health issue then you really have no idea...