T,
I share this DREAM with you, while right now it does seem like a dream I know it is possible! I commend you on informing everyone about the mth of Oct and specifically today being a day that has been set aside for the mentally ill. I have attended mtgs with the DMDA (depressive/manic depressive assoc) and am a subscriber to thier newsletter they put out called Mood Points. Through it I learned a long time ago that this mth was named for those of us who suffer and alot of us in silence with one of the mental disorders/illnesses.
Thankyou again for Beyond Blue, your dedication to getting the word out, for giving us all a place to come and share. I admire you and appreciate all that you do.
Hugs, Mary Anne

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre yesterday launched a new mental health campaign, aimed at helping to erase the stigma of mental illness and provide funds for research and treatment. Right now 1 in 5 people are suffering from a mental illness, 1 in 3 will suffer at some time in their lifetimes and the current stigma that exists makes it difficult for many to seek the treatment that they so desperately need.
To combat this stigma, Sunnybrook has developed the Let’s Face This – Confront the Stigma of Mental Illness campaign, a unique approach to advocacy and fundraising that we hope you will support. The centerpiece of this campaign is the Letsfacethis.ca, an interactive website providing information about depression and anxiety disorders, treatment options and a fundraising component. Building on the impact of social media like Facebook and MySpace, http://www.letsfacethis.ca allows people to upload their photo and personal message to the ever-growing ‘Tree of Support’. As more faces are added the “Tree” will grow, symbolizing growing awareness, education, fundraising and hope for those suffering from mental illness.
At Sunnybrook we boast one of the preeminent Neurosciences Programs in the country. Our Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program is making great progress in clinical care and research; inventing the future of mental health care every day. As one of the first programs in North America to study and treat co-occurring depression and anxiety in people, this team is making strides beyond our doors. Advances that are improving access to treatment and giving other care providers the tools to accurately diagnose and effectively treat people. But, they could do so much more.

Therese thanks for helping make that dream a reality for some of ud by giveing us a place to express how we fill. the best to you.

EXCELLENT! ! ! This is a keeper which I will put in a special place in the archives of my heart,which you touched. Your the best.
Thank you and thank God for your talent.
Lillian

I too sufer severe depression but I know I also have bi-polar but no dr, will listen to me. I attempted several suicides in my life thank the good Lord it wasn’t my time. I have 3 boys thinking what would they feel if I did succeed. I appreciate everyone on this web site my prayers are with all of you.
cherrie

Thank you so much for the insight on Bi-polar and depression. I am bi-polar and my family freaks out every time I say the word. It is nice to be able to express my feelings and not be critized by anyone. Thank you so much for this article.

I share your dream of not getting fired due to having Bi-Polar Depression. I worked in retail for 5 years and I worked at some department stores anywhere from 6 months to 2 1/2 years before they found out that I had BPD and they found some lame excuse for them to fire me. People in my own family have called me crazy,loopy,nuts and sometimes I just want to cry because these are the people I should be able to turn to when things are rough and get some support but instead of support they get in a critical,non-caring,non-supportive moods and tell me to snap out of it that life is rough and I should be grateful for what I have and not always wish for something better. My own husband sometimes wishes that I would have more intiamite with him but sometimes I don’t feel like it because I am depressed and other times I don’t feel like it because of the medication side effect of lost libido. I am afraid to make new friends because I am afraid that when they find out I have BPD they might not be my friend anymore. I told a childhood friend and she doesn’t talk to me anymore. I have to see a theripist to keep my marriage from ending because of all the marrital problems steming from my mental illness. I have seen her already and I am doing the work so I hope this will save my marriage. That is my other dream. The final dream is to have a job that I love and that won’t make me want to quit because everyone is treating me like I have something contagious when all I have is mental illness.

I have a dream and that is one day they will find the right medications for Bipolar in such I suffer. I also hope and wish there will be more awareness and support groups for the indivdiual as well as for the family. My Illness is making my family descructive. The kids don’t understand they are to young and my husabnd says he does and that he has reasearched it and knows all about it. He does not that when he is emotionally and verbally abusing me about it really hurts and only makes it worse and my self-esteem whats left of it. I have asked him to come to my Dr. appointment so that he can explain it but won’t.
God Bless everyone who is suffering from Mental Illness and remember there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

I suffer from depression and this article came at a much needed time. I have good days and bad. My doctor and I have found a drug that seems to work better than all the others that I have tried. Its called Pristiq. I can function normally without feeling like I am “drugged”.
My husband and kids have been very supportive, but aren’t sure what they can do to help. My other family doesn’t believe in depression. They think its all in my head.
I’m slowly getting back to the point where I enjoy doing the things I used to love. Its often hard to be in public places where there is a large crowd. Through much prayer and love I’m going to get better. And my hope is one day the world won’t look as us as “freaks” and instead realize that we are human beings fighting an illness like others that may have diabetes, arthritis, etc.
May God bless all those who are walking in our shoes!!

i was curious why the woman who goes by the name of “cherrie” is having a hard time getting a doctor to believe that she is ill. i am sure she can reach a mental heath organization that could lead her to a local clinic.

my mum has depsssion too. its good to know that other people are going through the same things. Im a young carer which is really gud. Its helped me understand more about mums condition. Thankyou for this article because it is so true and from the heart!!

WOW! This really touched me. As I suffer with Bipolar disorder and depression also and these have been my dreams too! The medication trial and error I have done time and time again. I really suffered through this in 2007 and went all year with a bad out come. I not only delt with people and their neg. out look on mental health, but I also gained 100lbs. which really made my self esteem dwindle to nothing on top of everything alse. I am still today trying to except the changes in my life over that medication. It amazes me every time I read u’r blogs as to how much I can relate to them. At least I am not the only one with these feelings and problems. Thanks so much for sharing! God bless all who suffer with deppression and BPD and I pray for all those who are in trial and error with their meds..

A very uplifting message. I am a health professional that has suffered BiPolar illness for many, many years now and I’m ashamed to admit this to my staff and fellow department heads.I’m now jobless and have spent time in jail while the doctors continue to experiment with their drug cocktails on me.
Sometimes I don’t understand what’s happening to me.I hope to one day see that light at the end of the tunnel.
Seacaptain

I have a friend who is bi-polar. She will not stay on her meds and there is no family member to take care of her. Is there a care facility which will help take care of her?

I am a very lucky person. I have sufferred from depression since the age of 11, although they didn’t know what it was back then. I have been able to live a fairly normal life with the aid of medications, but seeing a psychotherapist for “talk therapy” and validation has helped me so much, I don’t think I’d be doing as well with ONLY medication. I don’t care too much who knows I have this disease, as I feel good about myself today. I also suffered from terrible panic attacks for years, but have learned tecniques to handle them before they spin out of control. I strongly urge everyone with a mental illness to seek a loving and caring professional to talk to, it helps so much. And you are all in my prayers every day.

I LOVED your message “I Have A Dream” I, too suffer with BiPolar Disorder. I was diagnosed in 1993. I have been through many, many drug trails. And many, many hospital stays. My Husband is the Best thing that has ever happened to me. He has stood by me through good and bad. And there have been many bad times. We have 2 daughters and I am really afraid for them, that they may get this horrible disease. But I know now that we can help them. I have been “stable” for over a year now and I wake up looking forward to the day ahead instead of dreading it. Thanks to my Husband, medicines, good Doctor, and Good theripst, who work with me all the time. Don’t give up, accept it, and get on with your life. You are worth it!!! Thanks, Donna

GOD BLESS THE PERSON WHOM EXPRESSED THIS MATTER SO WELL. YOUR DREAM IS BEAUTIFUL.

I share this dream. We need to make it happen.

Therese,
I always enjoy and get so much out of your blogs but this one especially hit home. I absolutely agree with and can relate to everything you said. What really got me is the part about whispering “Zoloft” to the pharmacist. I’m one of those people that takes a special “cocktail” of meds for depression and I so hate it after my pdoc visit when I have to hand that prescription to the pharmacist. I don’t usually have to say anything out loud but I always feel like they’re looking at me like “Wow, you’re really bad off!” I’m sure they’re not really thinking that but I shouldn’t feel embarassed anyway. I thank God for those meds as they help me lead a stable life. I also pray that this stigma will soon go away.

I absolutely loved your “I have a dream!” because that is the same dream I have. I was diagnosed with BiPolar, but now its clinical depression plus an Anxiety and PTST disorder. Sometimes I get embarrased about asking for my scripts at the pharmacy by the name of the medication. Not anymore. It is apart of me, not all of me. And yes I have days wondering if I am heading back to the “black hole!!” That is why I take medication, have a therapist and attend 12-step Al-Anon. Without this support system I would be lost. Taking medication for a mental disability is no different then taking insulin shots for Diabetes etc…So, HAPPY MENTAL HEALTH WEEK to those of us who are working to help get rid of that stigma, help people who are experiencing hard times with their mental disablility and just plain do not care what other people think.

The bipolar “I have a dream” is beautiful, and expresses the fears, humiliations and sadness that had been part of my life for so long. I have been stable for about seven years now, without hospitalization, but definitely still in need of medication. Just praying and practicing “good soldiering” so I won’t slide into another hospitalization post-menopause.
I am so grateful to have been able to work throughout these episodes, and especially for the support of my husband for the last 10 years. He constantly reminded me that I am capable, and provided every support possible for me to concentrate on my work in spite of depression or mood swings. I am in a period of transition now, as he passed away this summer, and I survive through a combination of prayer, positive thinking (replaying mental tapes of conversations with him), and plodding along through difficulties.
I include all those with mental illness in my prayers, especially now in this time of financial hardship, and I wish for them the ability to “act as though” they are not afraid, or humiliated, or depressed, and to “get through” the times that seem to be unbearable. You may have already been through the worst, and it may be time to dream again.

I was married to a person who is bipolor but we ended up divorced. I have never had to deal with such a terrible disease.

How remarkable your “I have a dream” article is and timely too. As we as a nation go through tumultuous times, many people are “losing their dreams, hope, and trust in our government”. Suicides are up tremendously this year and this “Week” has an increased significance. The mental health professional community needs all the help it can get to get the words out that you have spoken so eloquently about. Everyone needs to know that these are real illnesses and the doctors who treat them are dedicated staff who are for the most part compassionate and swift in recognizing Mental Illness.
However, it was a long road to get to the point of gaining a real diagnosis and getting on with my life. I too suffer from PTSD and anxiety disorder and the stigma is there always. It affects my professional life as well as my everyday life and I deal with my vulnerabilities and overcome or manage those successfully now. All who have been touched by mental illness whether personally or through a loved one know how real this is. The truth needs to be reiterated about mental illness and more research monies dedicated to the causes, remedies and dispelling myths about the disease. Thank you!

Just wanted to say Amen to every statement. Wow, you so have it.

I cried when I read this. I too wish for all these things. I know exactly what you mean when you say I dream that I will never have to go back to that ‘place’. I hate that place too. I wish my family were more supportive.

MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE NEVER TAKING THE TIME TO EXPLORE THOSE OTHERS WHO ARE IN THIS MOMENT IN THAT TERM OR SHOULD I SAY……………/////////// S.T.A.T.E O.F M.I.N.D HOPE WELL N LOVE 2 SO MANY

Right on! love this post. we need mental heatlh awareness in the world in a bad bad way. stigmas suck.

Mindfullness is the key to mental problems!

Recognizing and addressing mental health issues are extremely important. As a recoverer from losing my mental faculties seventeen years ago I am truly grateful that you have published this for everyone to read. Your prayer is wonderful. The only thing I would update in the prayer is that we need to focus on our Heavenly Father, Our Creator, DELIVERING us from mental illness. That is what God specializes in-delivernce-and He will, if we let go of the fact that we have an issue most people don’t understand and we lean on Him for everything mentioned in prayer while confessing the power of deliverance becomeing alive in our lives. If you need to take medication or if the Lord has positioned you where you rely on Him as your medication, He is able to deliver the millions who suffer and endure. Though you may have been diagnosed with the illness this does not mean that this is who you are. Let go of your short coming by embracing the fact that God gave it to you to bless others but it does not mean we have this problem. We know the power of prayer, now we must begin to know the power of God’s hand in His children’s lives. God can do what science and psychologists cannot which is change the unchangeable and deliver the uncomprehensible. Be blessed and I pray deliverance under the shadow of His Holy Wings.