The Eccentric
Times is supported by Bucks Mind (a Mental Health charity), although
the
views expressed within are not necessarily their own.
OUR FEATURE ARTICLE:
Manic Depression
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Food Glorious Food!
Shared Living – The Joys &
Woes
Tranquilized Tim’s Guide To Romance
My Mental Health Story
Letters To The Editor
Celebrity Mania
Manic
Depression
by
Paul
Nelson
Manic depression describes a condition which has the out
of
proportion elation and outgoingness of mania, alternating with the low
moods and despair of depression. It used to be treated with smothering
drugs like Largactyl and Haloperidol. This would blitz the mind into a
neutral state, which unfortunately felt like one had turned into a
zombie – few if any signs of LIFE.
More recently drugs have become a little more sophisticated and can
even out the mood swings with less horrific side effects, and therefore
less likelihood of one abandoning all medication.
Well doesn’t everyone have good days and bad days, good moods
and
bad moods? Yes, but as with all mental illness it is much more
pronounced, much more prolonged and much more damaging to
one’s
life in so many ways.
Mania changes to depression and back again sometimes over weeks,
sometimes only after a few hours, when it is known as rapid cycling.
Depression focuses on all the bad times in one’s life, all
the
failures and defeats, all the bad points of one’s situation
and
it’s always going to be like this. Combine this with a few
nights
poor sleep and it can become deadly.
Mania gives one an energy boost and supreme confidence. It also goes
too far the other way and one bombards people with non-stop speech and
one spends money in a frighteningly carefree way.
Both poles of this illness are damaging and affect basic life
experiences; from not being able to hold down a job to putting a big
strain on friendships and family. Sleep disorders, eating too much,
smoking too much, watching television or listening to music at loud
volume into the night, all are inappropriate and serve to alienate one
from neighbours, friends, society in general; and, of course, this
helps fuel the illness.
After years of going through all this, I have come to recognise the
warning signs and I delay acting on impulses that seem to come from
either pole. Drugs have got better (I take Olanzapine, which softens
the extremes of the experience), but I’m convinced the key to
living with manic depression is self-awareness and a willingness to TRY
and manage the experience better, to learn from the mistakes and to
know that whether one is high as a kite or down in the pits, neither
experience is lasting.
Hearing
of other peoples’ experiences can also be helpful.
Food
Glorious Food!
by
Mark
Sampson
While I never saw it myself, I was reliably informed that, on a recent
television programme, some idiot said that all mentally ill people were
fat. While this is a crass overgeneralization (let us not forget that
anorexia and bulimia are also mental health related), it is true that
many people in the mental health system are in fact overweight.
In my opinion an overeating disorder has many similarities to being
addicted to cigarettes or alcohol. There are some people who would
contest this, but I strongly maintain that this is true.
There
are chemicals in certain types of food that can make people feel better
and therefore people may eat them regularly if they’re
feeling
down.
And let us not forget, like the other two substances mentioned, food is
harmful to your body when consumed in excess. The extra weight puts a
stress on your heart and your joints and can lead to long-term health
problems.
So it makes sense that we eat healthily and avoid fatty foods. Sadly
most people (not just those who are mentally ill) are not guided by
their common sense. If I’m feeling down then I’m
not going
to snack on spinach (sorry Popeye), I’m going to buy a donut
or a
chocolate bar, maybe even several of them if I’m feeling
particularly low.
I think overweight people are often unfairly looked down on by society
for what the public sees as poor self-control. One irony that has never
been lost on me is the amount of smokers that are out there encouraging
fat people to lose weight and eat healthily! People like that are
obviously failing to comprehend that they are damaging their body in a
way that is equally as serious!
If you’re thinking about losing weight then my advice is it
to
attempt it when you are in the right frame of mind, when you mental
health problems are relatively under control. Starting a diet when
you’re stressed is a bad idea because if you’re
stressed
then you will be craving fatty foods more than ever.
Also have a word with your doctor and ask if there’s anyone
he or
she can refer you to. Most health authorities have dieticians, and in
some cases have some that specialise in working exclusively with mental
health service users.
And if you can afford them there are also clubs like Weight Watchers
and Slimming World, which are good because you get dieting advice and
get to meet other people who, like you, are keen to shed the pounds.
Although I said earlier that overeating has many similarities between
smoking and alcoholism, the one major advantage we have is that we will
never be required to give up eating! The good thing about dieticians
and dieting groups is that they may recommend healthier food that
you’ve never tried before, some of which, you’ll be
surprised to find, actually taste quite nice! That’s the key
– don’t be afraid to experiment. Find healthy foods
you
like and dieting will be a lot more bearable.
Shared
Living – The Joys and Woes
by
Adam
Makeham
You may remember me saying in a previous article that I was looking for
a new flat to move in. So you may be surprised to learn that, in the
end, I opted to move into a shared house again. But the question
is…. WHY?
The reason is that I wanted to be around people, not just stuck in a
flat on my own. It’s nice to have people to talk to and
what’s more it makes me feel safe, knowing that there are
others
around me.
Of course, not all shared living situations are good. It depends on who
you are living with. I’m lucky now to be living with people
who I
get on very well with, but there are times in the past when
I’ve
lived with people who make shared living very stressful.
Don’t
get me wrong, most of the people I’ve lived with are okay, I
do
actually miss some of them (I try to keep in touch whenever I can).
Unfortunately it just takes one or two idiots to ruin it for everyone.
I’ve had verbal abuse, people ordering me about, telling me
what
to do. I’ve also had my food cupboard and fridge broken into
in
the past, and I’ve even had a mobile phone stolen from my
room.
Also, in previous accommodation, I’ve had people
misunderstand
things that I’ve said, and it’s got back to the Key
Worker,
reflecting on me badly. Then of course I have to defend myself and make
her understand that what’s got back to her wasn’t
what I
meant or said at all.
I guess the problem is that, in some places I’ve lived in,
the
people there have their own problems they’re trying to deal
with
– some mental health, others learning disabilities, but most
of
the problems have come from young offenders and people with drug and
alcohol problems.
One further annoyance in places I’ve lived is when certain
troublemakers invite their friends around at all hours of the night and
leave the front door open. When I’ve asked for the door to be
shut I’ve either been sworn at or threatened.
But these times were in the minority. Most of the time, when you have
the right people, shared living is great.
Tranquillised
Tim’s Guide To Romance
Even though I may come across as a bitter and twisted middle-aged man,
I do have a softer side to my personality. It always fills my heart
with joy to see love blossom at my local day centre. So if
there’s a particular lady or gentlemen who’s caught
your
eye then please take the time to read the following hints and tips on
how to find love:
- Chatting
a stranger up
– The old chat up lines are the best. I generally go up to
women
I find attractive and say “Hi gorgeous, what’s your
psychiatric diagnosis?” Generally this line works best on
people
who are in the mental health system, but it’s still worth
trying
if you see someone you fancy in the street. It’s a good way
to
find common ground between you.
-
Making the transition from friend to lover –
If you’ve got a friend you’ve known for some time,
but have
never had the courage to declare your feelings for then please take
note of the following advice. Make them feel special, tell them that
your obsessive compulsive disorder causes you to think about them all
day long. Telling them that you’ve already booked the church
for
the wedding will make them feel extra special. There is no stronger
declaration of love than this.
- Dating
– The Romantic Meal – This always goes down well,
but who
can afford to dine at a fancy restaurant when you’re on
benefits?
The most cost-effective thing to do is to invite the person to your
flat or bedsit, light a candle and cook the meal yourself. You can
share a medium sized Tesco Value Pizza (only 50p), or, if
you’re
feeling particularly extravagant, buy two! Your prospective partner
will appreciate all the effort that you’ve gone to
-
spending 15 minutes of your precious time just to cook a meal for him
or her. If you’re both still hungry afterwards a tin of Tesco
Value Fruit Cocktail goes down a treat!
- Romantic
Gestures
– Gestures such as holding the door open or buying flowers
and
chocolates are outdated methods of showing affection. The most
effective way to show your love is to phone the object of your desire
repeatedly in the course of one night, then wait outside their house
and follow them about as they carry out their day to day life. If they
put out a restraining order against you then don’t be
disheartened – they’re just playing hard to get!
- Popping The Question &nndash; Right
so you’ve
followed my advice so far and naturally things are going really well
between you and your partner, so the next step, naturally, is getting
engaged. I’m often asked the question “How long
should I
wait before proposing?” In my personal opinion you should do
this
two weeks into the relationship and certainly no longer than four! If
you leave it any longer, your beloved will have moved on to someone
else less reluctant to show commitment. Right then, now all
you’ve got to do is find a suitable ring. Due to the
recurring
theme of inevitable financial restraints in this article it is
understandable that you will be reluctant to splash out on anything too
expensive. Don’t worry, all you have to do is buy a packet of
Giant Hula Hoops and you’ll be bound to find one that fits!
Whenever possible try and find a flavour that your beloved is
particularly keen on.
- The
Wedding -
Getting married is a wonderful thing, I should know –
I’ve
done it five times! Personally I think Registry Offices are fabulous -
the staff are friendly, the cost is cheap and most importantly
–
it’s all over quickly! It’s generally a good idea
to house
the reception at your local day centre.
- The
Honeymoon –
Right I’ve got a real doozy of a plan on how to get this one
on
the cheap! First pick the place you’d like to go and get a
National Express coach there. When you get there, both of you need to
start acting crazy. Generally I find screaming at strangers in the high
street is the best plan. With any luck the police will pick you up and
get you admitted to the nearest mental hospital for a couple of weeks.
That way you won’t even have to pay a penny! I would strongly
advise though that you only try this tactic for destinations in the
United Kingdom, as what will get you sectioned in one country will get
you shot in another.
- Breaking
Up
– If your experiences are anything like mine then what was
once a
sweet sweet thing will eventually go sour. Relationship
breakups
are always hard. My ex-wives have given me a range of feeble excuses as
to why they left me, “you never listen to what I
say”,
“we never have enough money to pay the bills because you keep
spending it on frivolities”, “you spend more time
with your
computer than you do with me”, ”you keep cheating
on
me”, etc. If your partner leaves you for any of these reasons
then remember this important motto I live by – never blame
yourself! That being said though, don’t feel resentful
towards
your ex-partner, just realise that he or she is not fortunate enough to
be as tolerant and open-minded as you are.
Letters
to The Editor
Dear Editors (Eccentric Times)
I was diagnosed with a mental illness in 1997. I have done the rounds
of mental hospitals, places to get me back to work, places providing
activities and place providing all sorts of courses. And guess what? I
am still without a job!!
So what do I do with myself? Football is my passion and I love music.
In an ideal world I would love to have a job – office work
would
be my preference. The reality is though – I would crack under
pressure.
I consider myself lucky that I am in sheltered housing, Carr-Gomm and
the people there are a tremendous help to me, I don’t know
what I
would do without the support I get there.
Another lifeline is my local Mental Health Support Centre –
Wings, it’s a positive and dynamic place to meet and interact
with other people. I don’t have much contact with
CPN’s as
they always seem to be on holiday or off sick. I see a Psychiatrist,
but my old one has left and once again I have to rebuild trust with my
new one. That is if I get another one!! It seems that continuity is a
thing of the past with so many people leaving. No wonder service users
are anxious.
Everyone I talk to feels the same way – really unhappy with
so called Care In The Community!
Thank God for mental health charity organisations.
Yours sincerely
Keith Coltart
My
Mental Health Story
by
Emma
Leach
When I lived on the farm I had a lovely childhood, with two great
brothers and a good family social life. You wouldn’t know if
you
spoke to me today, but I was a quiet child back then and said very
little.
I went to boarding school, which I left at the age of 16. This period
of my life was very hard for me. I got very ill with depression, became
thin and ended up in an adolescent unit. After that I worked on the
farm, which was good for me as it helped me gain more confidence.
Following that I had a couple of other jobs: one was as a nanny and the
other was working in a tea-room.
Then my new sister-in-law came and she was very nice to me. It was
around this time (but not because of the aforementioned event) that I
became very ill. I got admitted to the old St John’s Hospital.
My mother died a few years later, which, as you can understand, did
nothing to improve my condition.
My doctor offered me stays at Tindal whenever I got tired and needed a
rest, so I took her up on this offer occasionally.
Things started improving for me when I moved into Croft House, which
was a shared house for people with mental health problems. Being there
helped me to socialise and make friends. At this time I had quite a
nice lot of friends. Despite this however, I did end up back in Tindal
every now and then.
Then I moved into an Advance Housing flat but unfortunately, after a
year, I got ill again and re-admitted to Tindal. Eventually I
moved into a bungalow with my partner David. However ten months in,
tragedy struck again when, unexpectedly, David passed away.
As a result of this I ended up back at Croft House and was fortunate
enough to receive very good help there.
Now I’ve got another flat (a really lovely one) with Advance
Housing. My dad thought I’d only last a week there but
I’ve
very nearly done 4 years! Now I am a chatterbox, a lot different to how
I was back when I was a child. I do have “down
times” every
now and then but generally I love life.
While most of the support provided has generally been excellent, there
have been some occasions when it wasn’t so great. As an
in-patient there have been occasions when all I had to do was just walk
around all day while the staff stayed in their office. It really
frightens me sometimes. Where is the help? CPNs often don’t
come
when you expect them.
I still have to go through bad patches, which frighten me, but
I’m pleased to say they are rare and generally things are
going
well for me. Now I am the chattiest Emma in Aylesbury, a far cry from
the shy girl I used to be. Overall though I enjoy life in my Advanced
Housing flat and all my great friends and best of all: my cat
Rosie!
Celebrity
Mania!
Here are some more well known names of people who have had their own
brushes with mental illness:
John
Cleese – The star of Monty Python and Fawlty
Towers. Considered to be
one of the funniest men in the world. First started suffering with
depression back in 1973.
Linda Hamilton
– Star of the first two
Terminator movies and the television series Beauty & The Beast.
Believes her bipolar disorder was to blame for the break-up of both of
her marriages.
Hugh Laurie
–British comedy actor in popular
shows such as Blackadder and Jeeves & Wooster. Has spoken
openly
about his three year long battle with depression.
Brooke Shields
– Movie actress and former model. Suffered from severe
postnatal depression and admits contemplating suicide.
Ludwig
van Beethoven – The legendary German composer.
Suffered from bipolar
disorder. The majority of his work is said to have been created during
his “manic episodes”.
Charles Dickens
- The author of
classic works of literature such as Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol.
Suffered from clinical depression.
So
take heart, you’re in good company!
HEY
YOU!
Want
To Write For The Eccentric Times?
If
you’re someone with mental illness and you want to write an
article for
the Eccentric Times then we’d love to hear from you. Please
send your
article either via post or e-mail (address is at the end of this
issue). All
we ask is that you bear the following in mind:
- It must be mental-healtth related (e.g.
not about your trip to the seaside)
- We don’t accept ppoetry or
fiction (sorry!)
- Articles may be edited for the sake of
clarity and space (and if you use any naughty words!)
-
We can’t pay you in money, but you will earn our eternal
gratitude
(non-taxable) and we’ll all think what a wonderful person you
are!
About
The Eccentric Times
The
Eccentric Times is a quarterly magazine written by the members of Wings
Support Centre, a social support centre in Aylesbury for people with
mental health problems.
The
Eccentric Times Roll of Honour
The
Eccentric Times Team
(in
alphabetical order):
Eve
Chaloner
Adam
Makeham
Paul
Nelson
Mark
Sampson
With thanks to our special guest contributors:
Keith
Coltart
Emma
Leach
We
would also like to thank Buckinghamshire
Mind (especially Carolyn
Smyth), for their invaluable help with printing and
distribution.
Our
Website
Feel free to visit our website, where you will find previous issues and
individual profiles and (in some cases) pictures of the Eccentric Times
team. The address is:
Comments
& Complaints
If you wish to contact us you can do so at the following address:
The Eccentric Times
Bucks Mind (Wings)
4 Temple Street
Aylesbury
HP20 2RQ
E-mail: [email protected]
We may even include your letter in our next issue, but please note that
letters may be edited for the sake of space and clarity. Please can you
also mention where you saw the magazine.
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