Mental Health.

Do you think that your state of mental health is, at least partly, in your own hands ? Does your choice of lifestyle and your attitude to life affect your mental health?

Re: Mental Health.

Great subject Alan. A subject close to my heart.

I think life circumstances can dictate mental health problems in latter years. I also think it can be in the genes.

I could go on and on and am looking forward to what others have to say.

Re: Mental Health.

Not sure about this one. I have hit lows in my life, as probably most people have but I can't say it was a mental health issue.
Although a close family member has suffered all their adult life.
It's a terrible affliction.

Re: Mental Health.

I do think a lot of people prattle on about Mental Health when they are know damn all about the subject but hey to some folk they have nowt else to do as they live out their latter years and like MM I have a young close family member who suffers from what is best described as "mental handcuffs".

Re: Mental Health.

You're probably right VM. A lot of people probably confuse 'mental health' issues with simply feeling down or Pissed off. A lot of that probably is in their own hands. I just go for a walk on the beach. It can cure a multitude of ills.

Re: Mental Health.

A very interesting subject Alan. Speaking for meself I'd say a lot of it is your own hands, barring sickness or accidents that is. People who worry a lot all through their lives have not built up enough mental strength to help them cope with old age and they are more likely to suffer when they get old. I used to be a worrier but took the bull by the horns and said to meself what's the bloody point? whatever is going to happen will anyway, so I stopped worrying and I'm far better able to handle and indeed enjoy old age now. But we are all different and we all look at life through our own eyes.

Re: Mental Health.

Feeling down and pissed off is a dawdle to those not suffering from mental illness. That's the difference.

Re: Mental Health.

Mental handcuffs, or mental torment.

Re: Mental Health.

When you are mentally ill it is the most awful thing in the world at that time. You cannot imagine coming out of it. You can only be helped by medication. You can't"snap out of it". You're in a place you have never been in before and find it impossible to get out of without experienced help. That's mental illness. Anxiety and worry are different.

Re: Mental Health.

I have had 2 bouts of real depression in my life one was situational, I was in a horrid job, leaky, mouldy, stinky flat and had lost two babies in 10 months. Second was entirely hormonal and chemical, when they got my hormones and medication right I was almost over night absolutely fine.

So some cases yes and some cases no.