Mental Health on Nick Perkins Archive

Your heart or your head? How do you know which one is broken?

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 11:13:31 +1000

“Don’t listen to your head… Follow your heart!” It’s a cliche oft used to point out it’s good to listen when something feels right or wrong, good or bad. I’m being a little more literal with today’s post.

Your head or your heart?

I am sitting in my office at work and suddenly I have pain in my chest. What was going on? I start to get a little concerned. First I check my pulse. Is my heart racing? It’s a little high. “Maybe I just need a drink,” I think to myself so I get up and grab some water. Dizziness. “Oh crap”, I think to myself. Tingling in my fingers. “It’s just anxiety,” I try to tell myself as I sit down, and hope it all passes.

Disconnected? Stumble you might fall…

Tue, 07 Feb 2017 16:55:27 +1000

Stereo MC’s had a song they released in 1992 called “Connected“. The lyrics were catchy (it was used in an ad) and the chorus went something like this:

If you make sure you’re connected
The writings on the wall,
But if you’re mind’s neglected
Stumble you might fall

Disconnected? Stumble you might fall

I am feeling disconnected from the world around me the last few weeks. It is like the people around me aren’t as close as normal and seems like I’m not as in touch with what is going on with me and with others. As a result I have been feeling a little blue. A little disconnected.

Dealing with loss – the hidden cost of mental illness

Thu, 19 Jan 2017 22:10:29 +1000

Some loss you are taught to deal with by watching other people deal with it. The loss of a loved one, a pet, or a physical object that is of value to you is hard to take but there are examples to follow from family, friends, the media, and other sources. Other losses you aren’t taught or shown how to deal with them.

How do you deal with losing opportunities for success because your mind is unable to cope with day to day life? How do you deal with the feeling of slipping into a sadness that feels like it will never disappear? In what way should I grieve the missed chances at career growth, new connections with people, and the fun times I’ve missed out on because I was too scared to take a risk or even leave the house on a given day?

Depression is not sadness

Mon, 04 Jan 2016 18:05:39 +1000

People who have never lived with depression, or lived with someone who has depression, can sometimes misunderstand what it means to have depression and how it affects people. Depression is equated with sadness and from that viewpoint the concept that a good ol’ “Cheer up, buddy” or “Snap out of it” will solve everything seems perfectly logical. Alas as someone who has lived with depression (technically Dysthymia) I can assure you that is akin to considering having a leg cut off as merely a flesh wound.

My rant on Mental Health

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:02:09 +1000

The other day I recorded a rant about mental health and how other people treat those who are mentally ill. I posted it on tumblr but I thought I’d post it on here as well.

I swear a little bit, so be warned.

The thought process of an emotional man

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:43:35 +1000

I’ve been feeling rather strange over the last few days. My digestive system hasn’t been at its happiest, which tends to have an effect on how I feel emotionally. The weather is a bit cool even for me, and sometimes that can have an effect on me. I suffer from depression which I have to remember that even though I’m medicated, it fluctuates from day to day and week to week.

I’ve been sick recently

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:45:25 +1000

I’ve been ill recently. In fact, I’ve been quite ill for quite a long time but over the last two or three months it has gotten a little worse and a little harder to deal with. It leaves me feeling tired and lethargic and makes it a struggle sometimes to do daily tasks.

The symptoms come and go. Some days are really bad and I can do nothing else but function on a basic level. Most days are OK; not great, but good enough that I can do what I need to do and sometimes a little bit more.

Depression sucks for friends

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:29:12 +1000

Depression sucks. I think I can say that most people know this. Recently I’ve been struggling with a massive bout of depression that I’ve been trying my best to work through. It hasn’t been easy and I haven’t always been successful, but I do the best I can. That’s all most people can do in this situation.

Depression affects everything that I do. I have depression coloured glasses, so to speak, so that everything I see is tinted differently because of my depression. My interactions with people are tainted by my depression. My inter monologue is shifted off centre by my depression.