There are times when like most people, I turn to the internet to gain understand/insight into things that I know little if anything about. I read a few websites or blogs and feel I know what to expect. That I know something about what it was I was looking for. Some would say that this is the beauty of the internet, it’s rasion d’etre and it is a fantastic source of good information.
Yes and then there are the times when it can also be a huge source of inaccurate, ranting and ravings that bare no relation to what is happening. You think I’m kidding in my disgust.
No I’m not. The internet is a place where everyone and their dog can post up anything they choose and although this is a good thing it can also be a problem. So to my particular trouble: how do you tell what is good and what isn’t particularly when it pertains to mental health?
With difficulty because really the trouble with advice is that even the most well meaning, well informed can be totally irrelevant to you as an individual. The reality though is far worse than just sources on the internet as I am sure many are well aware treating/living with mental health issues is not straightforward or simple and even when you feel confident that you have a diagnosis, you know what the problem is, things can change. Each physician can change their minds/ treatment course and leave you in a complete quandary about what to do next for the best and if you’re not feeling too confident then this nightmare can feel far worse than it really is.
We all want answers, solutions, fixes and we want then now. Not an unreasonable request however it really isn’t that simple; nor that quick and definitely not that easy.
So many people complain bitterly about their poor treatment and it is frustrating, annoying, completely angry making and quite frankly a sodding nightmare, any of us could well do without even on a really good day, let alone when we’re really not coping well with life, but it is all that we have right now.
By all means campaign, sign petitions, go on rallys, put complaints in, respond to surveys these all need everyone’s because it does look very much like the NHS and the world are ignoring mental health but when it comes to getting the most out of the service shouting your mouth at them is not necessarily going to work. Complaining because they don’t always agree with each probably won’t either. By all means question them , get them to explain but I find it helpful to remember that although they are very well informed advisers who hold the keys to free treatment they may not always suggest the best solutions, they are not you nor know you as well as you do.
Because the trouble with advice can be that it can be irrelevant to you, however to get things moving in a good direction for you, you need people to be onside, in the workplace in the hospitals and GP’s surgeries and the attitude of I know best will not get you anywhere and people both those suffering and the rest of the world hate it, it puts peoples backs up, even, and sometimes especially if you turn out to be right.
Look at me, I’m diagnosed bipolar and not on medication something many consider a huge mistake and I should get back on it immediately if not sooner. So when I explain to people that the consultant agrees that I would be no better off on the medication they continue to poo poo the idea. However if I take the time to explain the symptoms the changes, the different medications I’ve tried and how long i have been successfully off meds with no phases people seem to give the idea a go, because the reality here is that although I have a diagnosis it is not a good fit but then there isn’t another one that is better and treatment has been adapted to me and what works. It has taken years but then any treatment can take years.
Don’t believe me, well you wouldn’t be the first, nor the last because there seems to be this immoveable force saying that doctors want you on meds, they are not interested in anything else and will shove them down your throat for the hell of it or in fact for a kick back from the drugs company.
Well maybe in America or some places they do, maybe some doctors do in the UK, or maybe there is something else playing a part in this; for instance long waiting lists, human behaviour, patient attitude?
Who knows but really the best thing I feel that people need when it comes to talking about mental health is an open mind because it isn’t just about those who are seeking help it is about those looking at the subject and how to help people.
What works for one person, what is accurate for one person is not necessarily going to be your experience and in my opinion it pays to consider what may have led to the statements that person is making. There are some really awful experiences within mental health, there are some violent people, there are some really big problems of negligence, but that is not necessarily you or will be your experience. And try not to jump to conclusions in any direction because I find people are not simple at all and what might seem obvious isn’t necessarily.
Yes and then there are the times when it can also be a huge source of inaccurate, ranting and ravings that bare no relation to what is happening. You think I’m kidding in my disgust.
No I’m not. The internet is a place where everyone and their dog can post up anything they choose and although this is a good thing it can also be a problem. So to my particular trouble: how do you tell what is good and what isn’t particularly when it pertains to mental health?
With difficulty because really the trouble with advice is that even the most well meaning, well informed can be totally irrelevant to you as an individual. The reality though is far worse than just sources on the internet as I am sure many are well aware treating/living with mental health issues is not straightforward or simple and even when you feel confident that you have a diagnosis, you know what the problem is, things can change. Each physician can change their minds/ treatment course and leave you in a complete quandary about what to do next for the best and if you’re not feeling too confident then this nightmare can feel far worse than it really is.
We all want answers, solutions, fixes and we want then now. Not an unreasonable request however it really isn’t that simple; nor that quick and definitely not that easy.
I am always surprised by the way people approach science and the medical/psychiatric treatment, for it is not exact nor very specific and although there are diagnostic bibles, so to speak, it is not so simple as matching up symptoms with criterion and hey presto they know what is going on and what to do. It just doesn’t work like that. Nor is it a simple process of: get referred, see the consultant and get treatment that works.
So many people complain bitterly about their poor treatment and it is frustrating, annoying, completely angry making and quite frankly a sodding nightmare, any of us could well do without even on a really good day, let alone when we’re really not coping well with life, but it is all that we have right now.
By all means campaign, sign petitions, go on rallys, put complaints in, respond to surveys these all need everyone’s because it does look very much like the NHS and the world are ignoring mental health but when it comes to getting the most out of the service shouting your mouth at them is not necessarily going to work. Complaining because they don’t always agree with each probably won’t either. By all means question them , get them to explain but I find it helpful to remember that although they are very well informed advisers who hold the keys to free treatment they may not always suggest the best solutions, they are not you nor know you as well as you do.
The reality is that whether you have issues or not please, please, please be careful with your sources, your interpretation and in the way you put this across to others.
Because the trouble with advice can be that it can be irrelevant to you, however to get things moving in a good direction for you, you need people to be onside, in the workplace in the hospitals and GP’s surgeries and the attitude of I know best will not get you anywhere and people both those suffering and the rest of the world hate it, it puts peoples backs up, even, and sometimes especially if you turn out to be right.
Look at me, I’m diagnosed bipolar and not on medication something many consider a huge mistake and I should get back on it immediately if not sooner. So when I explain to people that the consultant agrees that I would be no better off on the medication they continue to poo poo the idea. However if I take the time to explain the symptoms the changes, the different medications I’ve tried and how long i have been successfully off meds with no phases people seem to give the idea a go, because the reality here is that although I have a diagnosis it is not a good fit but then there isn’t another one that is better and treatment has been adapted to me and what works. It has taken years but then any treatment can take years.
Don’t believe me, well you wouldn’t be the first, nor the last because there seems to be this immoveable force saying that doctors want you on meds, they are not interested in anything else and will shove them down your throat for the hell of it or in fact for a kick back from the drugs company.
Well maybe in America or some places they do, maybe some doctors do in the UK, or maybe there is something else playing a part in this; for instance long waiting lists, human behaviour, patient attitude?
Who knows but really the best thing I feel that people need when it comes to talking about mental health is an open mind because it isn’t just about those who are seeking help it is about those looking at the subject and how to help people.
Advice should be weighed by source quality as well as what I call ‘the axe to grind quotient, and this is my story assessment’.
What works for one person, what is accurate for one person is not necessarily going to be your experience and in my opinion it pays to consider what may have led to the statements that person is making. There are some really awful experiences within mental health, there are some violent people, there are some really big problems of negligence, but that is not necessarily you or will be your experience. And try not to jump to conclusions in any direction because I find people are not simple at all and what might seem obvious isn’t necessarily.
No comments:
Post a Comment