@Appleblossom I completely agree with you when you say you don't have to pretend everything is better.
I remember a good friend who also lived with mental illness saying to me when I was first diagnosed that it is quite comforting knowing that there is a reason for why you feel that way, and knowing you have friends who understand and will accept you.
I know here in the west there is a lot to be done regarding mental health. When I was admitted to a public mental health facility back in 2012 I was treated quite poorly. I was forgotten about for the first week, and then the second week I saw a psychiatrist for about 10 minutes and he basically pronounced me better and sent me home with a months' worth of the medication that had put me in the hospital to start with. I was not told that I had the choice of going to a private facility until I had been there 5 days and when I was discharged I had an awful nurse try and kick me out before I was ready. She kept asking when I was leaving as I was packing my bag. I hadn't even had a chance to call my mum to come get me and this....woman was demanding I leave the premises.
After I'd been released it took the hospital nearly a fortnight to call me and arrange for me to see a psych. I replied that there was no way in hades that I would trust my ongoing mental health to the public system and found an excellent psych myself. I was lucky that I could afford private health insurance and the cost of the psych. These days I still have the health insurance but I can't afford a psych. I am lucky that I am able to access counselling through Veteran Affairs as my dad was in the army.
I'll stop my rant now, lol! I can only hope that whichever govt is elected on May 3 that they actually do something about funding mental health. (I live in hope!)
Take care xo
