Highlights From My Presentation at the Mental Health Matters Webinar
The most interesting questions I was asked and my answers
I was honored to be the featured guest at a mental health webinar last week. To protect participants’ confidentiality, it wasn’t recorded. But I was asked some great questions and decided to share my favorites - and my answers to them - with you.
These are paraphrased because I don’t have a transcript. I’ve also added some details I wish I’d included in my original answers.
On Facebook you posted that your husband and Bruce Springsteen are the most important men in your life. Why are they so important and how have they influenced you?
My husband Steve and I have been married since 1991. He is my rock and biggest source of emotional support. I’ve been a Bruce fan since high school. I love his music and his live concerts with the E Street Band I’ve attended have been the best nights of my life. When I’m in a bad mood, my husband knows if he plays a Bruce concert DVD I’ll soon be much happier.
I also admire Bruce’s honesty about his bouts of depression and troubled relationship with his dad. I appreciate his charitable giving and the fact that he has local food bank representatives at every concert and encourages fans to donate. And I think it’s awesome that he’s 74 and still releasing new albums and touring with many of the same band members he’s worked with for most of his life!Who are the most important women in your life and why?
My mom has provided emergency financial help and supported me in other ways throughout my life. April has been my best friend since high school. And Mistee, my current psychiatric nurse practitioner, is the wisest and most compassionate mental health professional I’ve ever had. Before I met with her, I had spent a year trying multiple antidepressants, treatments, and therapists, but was still having suicidal thoughts.
During my first appointment with Mistee, she recommended a medication I had never taken before. We also discussed the negative thought patterns and traumatic events that were making me so depressed and anxious. That new medication was remarkably effective, and since I felt better I started doing other things that improved my mental health. I took nature walks more often. I paid more attention to what was going well in my life instead of dwelling on the bad stuff. I’m doing great now and only see her once every three months.How do you feel about the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) statement that “mental health conditions are medical illnesses that sometimes have environmental triggers”?
I think the reverse is more accurate - there are always environmental triggers associated with mental health conditions, even if we’re not conscious of them. And concerns about the accuracy and usefulness of mental health diagnoses have been raised by medical and mental health professionals as well as patients.
That doesn’t mean that medications can’t help, the symptoms of mental health conditions aren’t real, or medical care isn’t necessary.
But every time the DSM is revised, mental health conditions are added, deleted, and/ or reclassified. The number and severity of symptoms necessary for common mental illness diagnoses are reduced. And there’s no blood test or other objective way to determine whether someone has a mental health condition (and if so, which one, since some have identical symptoms).
I once saw two psychiatrists within a month and got two completely different diagnoses!Can you give us an example of what your 1:1 mental health guide client support looks like?
It varies from client to client, depending on their specific issues and goals. Mostly, it involves a lot of listening as they share the challenges they’re facing. I support them as they figure out how to deal with those challenges. I share relevant experiences I’ve had and suggest things they may want to try that have helped me or are recommended by experts I trust.
Then I help clients identify and take the first steps on their journey from the life they have to the life they want.What do you consider your most important message about mental health and why?
That you’re not alone if you’re struggling. Plenty of free or low-cost support is available from me and lots of other people and organizations. Many people feel too ashamed to seek help. They think they are weak, too sensitive, or have some other flaw that makes them unable to cope as well as other people do.
Writing online about my mental health issues has reminded me that lots of other people have similar challenges. We help ourselves and each other when we share our struggles and what has helped us get through hard times and change our lives!
I’d love to know who the most important people in your life are, what you think the most important message about mental health is, and your thoughts about my answers! Paid subscribers can comment below, and all subscribers can either DM me (a new Substack feature) or reply via email.
P.S. If you could use more support as you struggle to cope with challenges in your life and figure out your next steps, schedule a free 30-minute phone call with me here. I’m happy to discuss your specific issues and help you decide whether my 1:1 mental health guide services are right for you!
You said some great and thought provoking things. I agree the DSM and it's classification system has been constantly changing. Mental Health problems are very complex. And I am sorry you got a different diagnosis from two different Psychiatrists. I can understand how a different a diagnosis can be very irritating and confusing. I am happy you are trying to help people through your 1:1 program. Best Wishes!