What do you think about mental health awareness week?

[Huh?]

These three were symptoms of my sleep apnea and I think many others. Do you think the mental health sector is oblivious to this?

[Julie]

Way too much!

[Punchyandtired]

Absolutely. This is part of the reason i have an appt with my psych on Tuesday-- i don't know if i was ever depressed-- i was (and still very much am) exhausted! They need to know these things.

[Huh?]

i don't know if i was ever depressed-- i was ... exhausted!

Yes, same here. They told me I was depressed, but my husband said I was not. I do believe it was exhaustion and sleep deprivation.

[Huh?]

Way too much!

I have no idea what this means.

[ChicagoGranny]

[SleepyEyes21]

These three were symptoms of my sleep apnea and I think many others. Do you think the mental health sector is oblivious to this?

Hello - to address the first question in your subject line, I think Mental Health Awareness should be a daily occurrence as many of those who suffer live with their symptoms every day of their lives, and must continue to interact with others to get their needs met. Even though the field of mental health has come a long way, stigmas continue in many societies because this is a subject that is often hidden/ repressed/ ignored/ feared, and therefore misunderstood.

In the field of mental health, there is evidence to suggest that the rates of depression, anxiety, and/ or panic episodes in individuals is actually under-reported. It is well known that in the United States, women will seek help for emotional issues more often than men.

Per your last question - no, the mental health sector as a whole is not oblivious to understanding that the mind and body work together. The 'disconnect' assumed by lay-persons often lies within the way mental health and medical professionals are educated and trained. Some schools do a good job in bringing the two areas of study into focus, while some do not. However, as the trend of understanding mental health difficulties as brain disorders continues to grow, chances are that more professionals on both sides of the fence will be exposed to a better understanding of how to holistically help those in need.

[Huh?]

[img]Lassie,%20Get%20help![/img]

Love it Granny! That's the way I feel - I was drowning in my sleep and they wanted me to see a counselor.

[Punchyandtired]

Every time i would go to the psych, we would wind up chatting about this and that because I didn't really have issues to talk about. He would tell me to follow up in 6 months and the receptionist would remark about how well I must be doing since they never had anyone follow up at 6 months... Usually 2-4 months.

Maybe that should have been a clue...

[SleepDisturbed]

I have some experience with several family members (depression and bipolar). Mental health issues can devastate an individual and a family. Please take such issues seriously, and get treatment just like you would for any other disease.

[Goofproof]

I have found a cheap self test for my mental health. I find a park bench or bus stop bench with two people sitting on it. I set down between them, I look to the left and then look to the right. If they both look and act sane, then I call 011 and get help for myself, as I'm the third person. Jim

[chunkyfrog]

Cpap + starter supplies: Under $2000. (unless you get ripped off)
Continuing supplies: Around $500/year (see above)
Psychotherapy: OMG!!!
Antidepressants, etc.
- - of course, there would NEVER be a financial motive!

[49er]

The only thing missing from CG's great cartoon is Lassie consuming an SSRI because that is what mental health has come down to in assuming that psych meds are the answer to all difficulties in life. Just so folks understand, I am not minimizing true mental health disorders but in my opinion, they are way over diagnosed as there is no bleeping way that 1/3 people have a mental disorder at any time. Sorry, having temporary difficulties in life does not equate to mental illness.

Regarding sleep apnea being misdiagnosed as depress and anxiety, that seems to be quite common although admittedly, there are no official statistics how often this occurs. But I get the sense that many mental health professionals still think that sleep disorders are the result of something else instead of treating them as a top separate condition.

49er