Terry Said:

I'm Worried About My Mental Health ... Do I Have A Mental Disorder, And Is My Mother A Child Abuser?

We Answered:

Hi Ruth

Well first off some of what your saying sounds familar to me. At one point in my life i experienced an overwhelming depression as well as strong thoughts of suicide and friendlessness. In all honesty I think you need to talk about this with someone. It makes everything seem worse when it it just one thing on top of another, so breaking it down and looking at each part of the problem will make it far less overwhelming. I would definitely express this to your mom, and see if you can find someone to talk with, maybe a school counselor or therapist. Sometimes ppl hate hearing that but it can help so much to understand everything.

About the arm clinching, I am no doctor but everyone deals with extreme stress in a different way, for example my eye used to twitch when i was going through something similar to yours. Don't put too much worry on that, the body deals with things differently. Just talk this out with someone close, even a doctor. Expressing how you feel is the first step to finding a happier you : )

Monica Said:

mental health disorders?

We Answered:

I don't have what you stated but I do have my share of mental problems.I'm 46 years old and have been dx with Depression, psychosis, PTSD, I hear voices and anxiety. Depression for about 8 years and the rest for 4 1/2 years. I also just hit the one year marker for getting off drugs.

Let me just say that life is getting better and I plan on getting my smile back. I have worked long and hard to get back to where I am and though it's still very rough at times, I will do it.

Now what it's like or was like living with me. In the beginning when all the symptoms came out I hid them from everyone. I isolated when ever I could and stayed away from friends and family. When things got so bad I moved in with family, not because of money, because of fear. My family thought I was struggling and never knew until years later. Now I'm off drugs and in therapy for my mental problems and they(my family) are ecucated on what life is like for me. I think that is the most important thing for people who live with someone struggling with a mental problem. Because you can't see it,it's not like if someone has a broken arm.

They tell me it's hard sometimes for them and I see it and understand this. I still isolate even now. They encourage me to a point and back off when they see I need them to. Although were all human and may not see eye to eye all the time. Since I live under there roof I still have to respect them even though I'm old enough to makeup my own mind. At times I welcome there thoughts and views because sometimes it's to hard for me to know I'm making the right choices.

So be good to yourself, join a support group for family and care givers and take one day at a time. If your not doing good your no help to your child.

Take care and don't give up!

Joe Said:

Are mental health labels often times placed on the poor segments of society in order to keep them in check?

We Answered:

I dont think it is took keep them in check. But there are more people in the poor segments on society that have mental health lables put on them. I work with a lot of the poor people and homeless people at Church Under the Bridge. And beacause of their situations and them not being able to receive the proper care, nutrition or anything else they need, they have more problems. People who have the exact same problems has them but have the means to take care of it wont get the same lable as the poor people because the poor people cant afford the meds or the doctors. And the ones that are free to them are usually not the best doctors. At least that is how it is in my town.

Betty Said:

what causes children mental health disorders?

We Answered:

Normally unstable upbringings withour any love. Children need to be able to express them selves in a happy environment and be able to talk about their feelings and emotions. Not be able to do this causes a child to hold everything in and leads to further problems.

Lucy Said:

Too many children on the mental health forms?

We Answered:

To be honest with you as a more mature member of Answers I do not believe half of what is written here. Youngsters seem to jump on the current bandwagon. When Stacey in Eastenders had bipolar the site was full of it, now she's gone it's stopped. It's the same with teenage pregnancies, some of the questions asked are so stupid we just know it's not real. Young people with nothing to do see others questions and make something up just to get answers. There have been times when I have been able to help, but most times I just take it as fiction.