I feel that “liking” this could be seen as flippant, yet I’ve done so anyway because this is such an important topic to talk about and I find such solace in your courage to put these words out into the world. I wish I could help. I wish neither of us had to experience things like this. I wish the support that is so desperately needed was there for everyone who needs it.
I know exactly what you mean. I wanted to "like" it because the writing is so powerful, and because it helps me to understand the reality of living with mental health issues.
Thank you, Katy, for your honesty and clarity. I hope that you can find help somewhere, somehow. xx
It is incredibly difficult to find the words to describe a broken mind. And yet, your words mirror my journey with mental health - medical health - perfectly. Your stacks are an enormous comfort for me personally, but they also act as a guide. Your words have helped me find the courage to advocate more strongly for myself and my son. They have also helped me to be more succinct in the explanations and, unexpectedly, helped me connect with the med professionals we deal with. It doesn't always work because "doctors," but it is an enormous help. A simple seems insufficient, but thank you. And please don't stop.
One of the hardest things I've found through my decades of being mentally unstable (according to whom, I still don't know) is that I have to remember to keep either the general public and friends 'calm' in my presence (i.e. I shut up and smile nicely) or else ensure the professionals tick off a box (i.e. take the next load of meds and report back). Nobody REALLY wants to know how I 'am'. Not really. Because who knows, it might be contagious... like those sneaky broken limbs...
Never delete. Never worry about boring anyone. Never hold back. Because your words might be reaching a person who needs desperately to read them x
thank you for not censoring yourself. your story, your experience, is so important to hear. i have a friend in the US who shares her story with power like you do and i have become a better listener (and hopefully advocate) for those with mental health struggles.
Can’t think of anything of the appropriate level of gravitas to say... so I’ll just say. This is important, you are right, I love you and well you know that I’m here for you always. Oh and bit by bit we will change the world 🥰
I'm not sure what to comment except to say that this matters, you matter. There are many people that will find solace in your words. Please keep writing.
This is the farthest thing from boring or repetitive. This the very perspective that has to be said and shared so the rest of us can begin to understand. Your writing is authentic and beautiful. I just wish for you this was fiction. Society censors us everywhere, incessantly, no matter how many inclusion check boxes are ticked. Please (and I hope we can all) let this be your safe place where you don't have to.
Don't close your laptop. Don't stop speaking. Do whatever helps, even if only helps a little. I recognise this stuff and I know that help from services is small and sometimes non-existent, and that often it hinges on one individual finding a way. I wish you well, Katy, I really wish you well.
Do what you need to do, say what you need to say, repeat ad nausea. Unfortunately, in this ridiculous, exhausting, heartbreaking, embarrassing, shitshow of a country of ours, even the good guys have been ground down to a point of almost automatia by the fact that they have no useful resources they can offer. 😢
Thank you for this. Please keep writing about it, please share your honesty. It's so badly needed.
No matter what the diagnosis or health system, it's the degradation from arriving as a human being in search of help and understanding to a mere object that is checked according to a set of "expert guidelines". I remember a period in my life in the months I had been diagnosed with a chronic disease when I had to see several "experts" and all I got was orders like bend, stand, lift, show, hold, move, don't move, breathe, don't breathe and so on. It's this that makes us feel lost and like a child before xmas, we hope for any kind question beyond that as if it was a special treat.
This is exactly why I left teaching this time last year - I just couldn’t cope with never meeting anyone’s needs, any of the time. I know that I am in an incredibly privileged position to be able to walk away to protect myself, but it breaks my heart that I had to. I am so sorry that you’re having to face all this government-inflicted shite on top of biologically-inflicted shite, but please please please don’t stop talking about it or demanding the help you deserve xx
Hi, I was going to send you chocolate buttons then realised 'boat, London ' wasn't a helpful address and anyway it would be a bit stalkerish. Thank you for your writing. People you don't know appreciate it enough to want to send you chocolate xx
I feel that “liking” this could be seen as flippant, yet I’ve done so anyway because this is such an important topic to talk about and I find such solace in your courage to put these words out into the world. I wish I could help. I wish neither of us had to experience things like this. I wish the support that is so desperately needed was there for everyone who needs it.
You are helping. Thank you for adding your words to mine so that I feel less alone. Sending yo love. x
I know exactly what you mean. I wanted to "like" it because the writing is so powerful, and because it helps me to understand the reality of living with mental health issues.
Thank you, Katy, for your honesty and clarity. I hope that you can find help somewhere, somehow. xx
Thank you for your comment. It means so much that you are connecting with it. x
It is incredibly difficult to find the words to describe a broken mind. And yet, your words mirror my journey with mental health - medical health - perfectly. Your stacks are an enormous comfort for me personally, but they also act as a guide. Your words have helped me find the courage to advocate more strongly for myself and my son. They have also helped me to be more succinct in the explanations and, unexpectedly, helped me connect with the med professionals we deal with. It doesn't always work because "doctors," but it is an enormous help. A simple seems insufficient, but thank you. And please don't stop.
Well, that made me cry. Thank you and I wish you all strength in your own journey. x
You are never boring. The fact that you can write like this with everything you’re going through is brave and brilliant.
xx
One of the hardest things I've found through my decades of being mentally unstable (according to whom, I still don't know) is that I have to remember to keep either the general public and friends 'calm' in my presence (i.e. I shut up and smile nicely) or else ensure the professionals tick off a box (i.e. take the next load of meds and report back). Nobody REALLY wants to know how I 'am'. Not really. Because who knows, it might be contagious... like those sneaky broken limbs...
Never delete. Never worry about boring anyone. Never hold back. Because your words might be reaching a person who needs desperately to read them x
Sending you strength and love. x
thank you for not censoring yourself. your story, your experience, is so important to hear. i have a friend in the US who shares her story with power like you do and i have become a better listener (and hopefully advocate) for those with mental health struggles.
Thank you. x
Can’t think of anything of the appropriate level of gravitas to say... so I’ll just say. This is important, you are right, I love you and well you know that I’m here for you always. Oh and bit by bit we will change the world 🥰
Love you, too. x
I'm not sure what to comment except to say that this matters, you matter. There are many people that will find solace in your words. Please keep writing.
Thank you. I will. x
This is the farthest thing from boring or repetitive. This the very perspective that has to be said and shared so the rest of us can begin to understand. Your writing is authentic and beautiful. I just wish for you this was fiction. Society censors us everywhere, incessantly, no matter how many inclusion check boxes are ticked. Please (and I hope we can all) let this be your safe place where you don't have to.
Thank you. x
Thank you for sharing. I hear you. I believe you. I hope you can find the help you need, without additional trauma.
Thank you. x
Don't close your laptop. Don't stop speaking. Do whatever helps, even if only helps a little. I recognise this stuff and I know that help from services is small and sometimes non-existent, and that often it hinges on one individual finding a way. I wish you well, Katy, I really wish you well.
Thank you. I appreciate that. x
Do what you need to do, say what you need to say, repeat ad nausea. Unfortunately, in this ridiculous, exhausting, heartbreaking, embarrassing, shitshow of a country of ours, even the good guys have been ground down to a point of almost automatia by the fact that they have no useful resources they can offer. 😢
That's the frustrating thing is that even the people who want to help are hamstrung by the system and the demands on it.
Thank you for this. Please keep writing about it, please share your honesty. It's so badly needed.
No matter what the diagnosis or health system, it's the degradation from arriving as a human being in search of help and understanding to a mere object that is checked according to a set of "expert guidelines". I remember a period in my life in the months I had been diagnosed with a chronic disease when I had to see several "experts" and all I got was orders like bend, stand, lift, show, hold, move, don't move, breathe, don't breathe and so on. It's this that makes us feel lost and like a child before xmas, we hope for any kind question beyond that as if it was a special treat.
Yes. You describe it beautifully. The mechanics always trumps the humanity and that is hard to bear. Sending love. x
This is exactly why I left teaching this time last year - I just couldn’t cope with never meeting anyone’s needs, any of the time. I know that I am in an incredibly privileged position to be able to walk away to protect myself, but it breaks my heart that I had to. I am so sorry that you’re having to face all this government-inflicted shite on top of biologically-inflicted shite, but please please please don’t stop talking about it or demanding the help you deserve xx
I'm glad you could take the space to care for yourself. It doesn't help if we all break. xx
Hi, I was going to send you chocolate buttons then realised 'boat, London ' wasn't a helpful address and anyway it would be a bit stalkerish. Thank you for your writing. People you don't know appreciate it enough to want to send you chocolate xx
Bless you. That is wonderful. x
Keep talking! Don't give up! Don't press Delete. Please?
Ok. xx
Your words matter and so do you, sending love and solidarity