I have never felt so impotent as when I am trying to deal with organisations or Government agencies. It is an overwhelming feeling of drowning and feeling that no matter what I do, what choices I make, what efforts I extend it will make no difference to the outcome. I feel I am in limbo being prodded, poked or looked after at random without any logical cause or effect and this I find frightening, overwhelming and soul destroying. For if nothing I do will make any difference to the outcome then why bother doing anything at all.
I have often seen this as a consequence of my being ill that such stresses affect me so badly but with my growing experience of the larger world, and of other people, it seems that this is common place; yet still I wonder why would people put in place things that make others feel so overwhelmed.
I have often seen this as a consequence of my being ill that such stresses affect me so badly but with my growing experience of the larger world, and of other people, it seems that this is common place; yet still I wonder why would people put in place things that make others feel so overwhelmed.
To what am I referring?
Well Stress; whether it be in the workplace or from applying for benefits or dealing with the NHS I see so much stress that I wonder how everyone copes and certainly I wonder why so many people keep making the same mistakes in setting up or dealing with situations.
I find it strange that people have not realised that to feel that they can effect change and direct how these changes come into effect is something that we all need to feel for our good mental health.
It also seems strange to me that despite knowing certain things are stressful that people just carry on doing things in the same manor. I think we can all accept that sometimes there is no alternative but really it seems to me that it is becoming the norm to just dictate without explanation and to my mind this will only make things worse.
With growing numbers of people taking time off work due to workplace stress and the knowledge that being on benefits for extended periods of time reduces people ability to get off them I wonder if people are just missing the fundamental problems that the systems have got. Although I feel that it is just a lack of knowledge of what to do to improve them it is a huge problem and one that is growing.
I find it strange that people have not realised that to feel that they can effect change and direct how these changes come into effect is something that we all need to feel for our good mental health.
It also seems strange to me that despite knowing certain things are stressful that people just carry on doing things in the same manor. I think we can all accept that sometimes there is no alternative but really it seems to me that it is becoming the norm to just dictate without explanation and to my mind this will only make things worse.
With growing numbers of people taking time off work due to workplace stress and the knowledge that being on benefits for extended periods of time reduces people ability to get off them I wonder if people are just missing the fundamental problems that the systems have got. Although I feel that it is just a lack of knowledge of what to do to improve them it is a huge problem and one that is growing.
So what is my point?
I guess that if something isn’t done, if people do not change the way they are doing things then every ones mental health is going to suffer more. The fact that there are growing numbers of people suffering often seems to have the response that people feel doctors are counting to much as a problem or an illness without considering that society may be causing more distress than people can reasonably cope with or find coping strategies for.
No one seems to consider that we are in fact suffering more than our predecessors.
The onus is on the person to stay well and yet we do not seem to communicate with the world when we are distressed. Maybe because it is seen as weak or from belief that we shouldn’t, or shouldn’t need to but still as people we have a suck it up mentality that I frequently wish we didn’t and largely I feel this is because not one of us really believes that anything will change if we did.
Well one thing is for sure, it won’t if no one ever says anything about it.
For me the reality of this suck it up attitude is that if I can’t cope with something then my only recourse is to not do it and that really sucks.
If I want treatment then I have to get myself to appointments, I have to cope with the side effects of drugs, or waiting lists, people having meetings without me present based on notes and single appointments. If I want benefits than I have to cope with reading and writing the forms, I have to take the threatening letters and it being cut off. I have to accept that non medically trained people will decide if I am recovered or not or how long it will take. If I want to improve my lot then I have to get a job, and put up with busy noisy offices, noisy and rude staff or clients or customers and so on and so on... and it’s all in the hands of some stranger whom I do not know and have very little if any contact with even in the workplace time with managers is limited.
I am appalled that so much of what people say is for my benefit, has not resulted in the desired affect and that they blame me for not listening, not understanding or having a poor attitude.
For so many people these so called fixes are just not working and I am curious to know how long can society go on believing that it is the people who are sick who have the problem instead of looking at what they are being asked to do to get help.
And this is not just about people who are sick but the ability of people to blame the others, outside organisation, or someone or something else for the problems without saying or doing anything at all and really it seems to me to be something that needs to stop. I feel we all need to take a good look at what we are not saying, not doing and consider whether we wouldn’t be better served by doing something different, i.e. speaking up, complaining, lifestyle changes and such and ultimately just getting out of the situation.
If I want treatment then I have to get myself to appointments, I have to cope with the side effects of drugs, or waiting lists, people having meetings without me present based on notes and single appointments. If I want benefits than I have to cope with reading and writing the forms, I have to take the threatening letters and it being cut off. I have to accept that non medically trained people will decide if I am recovered or not or how long it will take. If I want to improve my lot then I have to get a job, and put up with busy noisy offices, noisy and rude staff or clients or customers and so on and so on... and it’s all in the hands of some stranger whom I do not know and have very little if any contact with even in the workplace time with managers is limited.
I am appalled that so much of what people say is for my benefit, has not resulted in the desired affect and that they blame me for not listening, not understanding or having a poor attitude.
For so many people these so called fixes are just not working and I am curious to know how long can society go on believing that it is the people who are sick who have the problem instead of looking at what they are being asked to do to get help.
And this is not just about people who are sick but the ability of people to blame the others, outside organisation, or someone or something else for the problems without saying or doing anything at all and really it seems to me to be something that needs to stop. I feel we all need to take a good look at what we are not saying, not doing and consider whether we wouldn’t be better served by doing something different, i.e. speaking up, complaining, lifestyle changes and such and ultimately just getting out of the situation.
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