Missing out on life

Missing Out On Life.

I am willing to bet that many people with mental illness, have had their own battles with medications. Moreover, it’s very likely that many of you have played the game of trial and error; it can take a while to get the right combination before one starts to see the benefits. This process is necessary but perhaps it’s the biggest drawback is missing out on life.

Then, there are those like me, stuck in a unique situation of medication purgatory. It seems that I am truly at a medication impasse. This intersection I have reached on the road to mental wellness is just fine with me; to be honest, this pharmaceutical rollercoaster ride is getting to be way too much.

I had to do whatever I had to so as to have the best chance at beating mental illness and put myself on a path to healing.

Thankfully, there was one drug that showed some benefit, Sertraline. This med worked the best at keeping the suicidal thoughts at bay; which, in my estimation is a very big help. However, the only true effect I have is when its at max dose. 200mgs of heavy and sleepiness.

Pharmaceuticals, they always consider the risks vs benefits when considering treatment, a little tired over some symptoms is ok by me, especially at this point. But now, there are only two options left, continue to take part in therapy or do nothing.OF course, I will continue therapy but it feels, as time goes on, that I need to be near the functional end of this road to mental wellness.

Am I supposed to hang my head and give up? Absolutely not!

On the other hand, being at the end of the pharmaceutical leg of my journey isn’t all bad. Its almost been more debilitating than the battle With PTSD and coping with depression. I have spent half the journey missing out on life. Being so sedated I missed out on so much, mainly time with my partner and experiencing quality time with my kids and parents.

The best way I can describe this near-constant sedation is; think back to a time when you had surgery and how you felt afterwards. Remember that tired and groggy feeling? That’s very close to how I felt, constantly. Sadly, I still do and will until I’m completely rid of this last drug.

Like what you are reading? go New Hope, a New Medication

So then, do I regret putting myself through the harrowing effects of every non-addictive SSRI going? Well, the short answer is no. A journey isn’t a journey if you remain idle so, I had to do whatever I had to so as to have the best chance at beating mental illness and put myself on a path to healing.

What to hear more strories of peope battling their mental illness? go to The Depression Files

My advice to people is this: If the mental illness has taken you, hostage, the first thing you have to do is accept that the road back will not be a pleasant one. So, learn to accept being uncomfortable. More importantly, do use these feelings of being uncomfortable to retreat. Real healing happens when you not only see the barriers in your way, but you actively seek ways to smash them down.

Learn to fight through the discomfort

Missing out on life

So meds don’t work for me, am I supposed to hang my head and give up? Absolutely not! If for whatever reason, I lose the opportunity to live a normal life, I will go down swinging. I went to war against my mental illness and therefore cam armed for battle. Recently, I have gotten back in the gym and am making improvements to my diet. I know for a fact that optimal health does wonders for mental illness related conditions.

Please, keep fighting and finding ways to win your war, you deserve to live. You are the warrior that can make that a reality. Sometimes, even if it means we are sometimes missing out on life.

I want you to live: Go to Crisis Services Canada If you need help

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Contact: The Road To Mental Wellness

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Connection and Recovery

Connection and Recovery

Having a mental illness for as long as I have, you start to think about what caused it. Moreover, I can’t help but wonder why some of us make it through while sadly, others do not. Is there something to connection and recovery

Hear more stories just lik yours at A New Dawn Podcast

One would have to be a fool to think that some of us are stronger than others and that’s why some people make it. While there may be some truth to that; one thing that science knows for sure is that we are wired for connection. Could this be the reason some of us hold on?

I credit most of my ability to stay on the road to mental wellness with the love and support I am blessed with.

A study conducted by Harvard University over a span of 80 years has found that people need other people. People with strong ties to the community, to their families and relationships, are more likely to live longer. Essentially, the happier you are, the longer you will live. Find the ted talk on the study here:

Harvards 80 year study on human happniess

Perhaps what’s most fascinating to me is that positive social interaction can help you live longer even if your cholesterol is high. In other words, what factly makes us happy is the bonds we forge; not the jobs we have and certainly not the things we own.

So, why am I bringing this up? Well, is it then possible that people with mental illness who have strong ties to supports and have strong ties to others could also live longer?

Like water to a plant, we need a social connection if we are going to survive and live the best life possible.

Fortunately, when I read the study, it looks like it could be the case. Although the study doesn’t seem to focus on the mentally ill; it does demonstrate that social connection has a positive impact on mental health outcomes. Therefore, It’s not s leap of faith to suggest that this too applies to us.

Connection and Recovery

Now, I can’t find any good science to suggest this however, I can speak to my own experiences on having good supports in life. and I can say, for me; the social connection and love has literally been a lifesaver.

People have commended me for what appears to them, to be a sort of inner strength. maybe, but I can’t say that’s totally true. I credit most of my ability to stay on the road to mental wellness with the love and support of family, friends and a sense of duty to help others.

You May also enjoy: You Me And PTSD

As anyone with a debilitating mental health condition can tell you; one of the hallmark tendencies is to withdraw from any form of social interaction. This may sound counter-intuitive but when the outside world wears down your tolerance, this seems logical to the ill-minded individual

This behaviour, the need to isolate is in fact not the answer, at least not entirely. Should you take time for self-care? Absolutely! Should your self-care extend into weeks or even months? The answer is probably not. Rather, the answer mostly lies in connection and recovery

In short, we need connection and good support. We also must find the strength to integrate ourselves into something meaningful outside of our comfort zone. Like water to a plant, we need a social connection if we are going to survive and live the best life possible.

I want you to live: Go to Crisis Services Canada If you need help

Want to help make my book a reality? Donate here: GoFundMe

Contact: The Road To Mental Wellness

Jonathan ArenburgLeave a comment
Telling my story

Telling My Story

When I started the road to mental wellness a year ago this month, I had a grander plan. This grander plan was to put me out there and help as many people as I could by telling my story. And, I have, but, not quite in the way, I was going for.

Although I had technically achieved what I had set out to do; I did so following the typical behaviour pattern that had landed me in front of my computer in the first place. Find the first blog post I have ever written below.

The Road To Mental Wellness

What was this pattern you ask? Well, it’s the templated behaviour that comes with being mentally ill. It is born out of the up and down symptoms that occur naturally as a result of, depression for example. Sometimes, I am unashamed to say, I have caved to its powers of heavy, energy-zapping powers.

This means, that I can barely find the energy to look at my phone little lone sit in front of my computer and write. There is so much to blogging behind the scenes; it’s time-consuming and each step can be met with any number of technical disasters. All of this work is an impossible mountain to climb when one is in the mists of a depressive episode.

So, my grand plan to write all the time, guest blog and go on as many mental health-related podcasts as possible has kinda been dashed. Like when I was working, I am unable to be the constant force I had originally planned to be.

Telling my story

Hear the real life stories of people just like you at A New Dawn Podcast

I mean, when your dealing with PTSD and this depression illness, and can’t work; how can you expect to go full tilt on a regular basis with something like a mental health blog? Basically, it was an unreal expectation on my part; you know, I’m ok with that.

“Helping others by telling my story.”

The content I have produced has, by other people’s accounts, been impactful and that’s the intent of the road to mental wellness. Helping others by telling my story. I want to thank each and every one of you who have provided me with feedback, it’s very healing for me.

I also want to thank the regular readers for coming back; you’re all amazing. Last but not least, I’d like to thank those of you whom I have gotten to know over the last year of this adventure. Your friendship and support has been immeasurable, something that has helped pull me through some of my darkest days…. Thank you!

Want to help make my book a reality? Donate here: GoFundMe

Contact: The Road To Mental Wellness

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