Thanks so much for your story and surfacing the issues we have around this issue. John Fetterman should be commended for seeking the treatment he needs and risking the blowback that will follow from some quarters. Hoping the questions you raise about how we tend to see people who seek help for mental illness will be seriously considered.
First off, thank you Chris for sharing about your struggles. If it helps just one person, it is good and am sure it has helped more than one. I commend John Fetterman for getting the help that he needs. Nothing to be ashamed of or judged for. My dad had some anxiety and depression and was an inpatient for 30 days with electroshock therapy in the 70s. It helped him and he did well afterwards. We, as a society, have made inroads with trying to undo the stigma to mental illness. My doctor said to me, similarly to your example with Fetterman, if I had diabetes or a heart issue, I’d take medicine for it. The reason being is I needed, and still need, anxiety meds. Unfortunately, my 30 year old son is dealing with anxiety and PTSD. Not only is the stigma still there, the help is not an easy road. There is a shortage of psychiatrists, therapists and treatment plans. He was able to find a psychiatrist but only for medication, not therapy of any kind. The wait list is horrendously long for any sort of therapy. He has been bounced around to several therapists and even trying to find someone took a boatload of phone calls. He is currently completing his 2nd IOP (intensive outpatient therapy) and needed to take a leave from work. He’s not been at this company for 1 year yet and he knows his job may be in jeopardy. However, he needs to get well and do what he needs to do. He doesn’t qualify for FMLA due to length of employment at his current job. After a horrific family emergency he got kicked out of a therapists office as he missed 1 appointment. Yes, he missed it as there was a death in the family. Not only did they kick him out, via email no less, they charged him $125 for missing the appointment. They said he canceled less than 24 hrs before the appointment. Yes, it was about 22 hours as he had learned of his grandfathers death. He couldn’t call to cancel before the 24 hours as he didn’t know his grandfather passed away. I could go on and on but we need to do better with mental illness as a society. We need to have care readily available to people who need it. Sadly, have seen too many times, needing to speak to someone as the person is having an issue but no one to reach out to. Leave a message for the therapist, who may or may not call back, basically being told to wait until your next appointment. Sad state of affairs when it comes to mental illness.
Wow, this goes to show how depression/anxiety can be so insidious. I remember seeing you on TV in the late 1990s (probably Geraldo Rivera's MSNBC show) talking about the politics of the Clinton impeachment and all that. You always sounded so confident and relatively upbeat.
I commend you for sharing your story in hopes there is a solution we can all bring ourselves to believe in & embrace for the health & well being of those who are suffering in silence. There are far too many...
My father suffered from depression, and sought treatment with my mother’s encouragement over 70 years ago. It helped him. My wife became depressed early in our marriage and sought treatment. She suffers off and on over the years but has always sought help and with medication has raised a family and enjoyed her life except for a few rare, and thankfully limited periods.
The awareness and willingness to accept depression as a not unusual medical condition has grown almost exponentially in the past four or five decades, particularly as medical science has been able to help more and more patients overcome the illness. The acceptance itself by family, friends, and co-workers is a major help to sufferers and hastens their recovery.
Your own story is a brave effort to contribute to that societal change. Thank you.
I married into a family with multigenerational bipolar disorder. The stigma for individuals suffering from this, combined with the lack of availability of therapists, makes it so incredibly difficult for people. For family members interested in learning more, call your local 2-1-1 nonprofit to get connected to NAMI, a national group focusing on mental health. They have local offices around the country. There is help out there. Your local 2-1-1 nonprofit can help guide you to support in your area.
Thank you. Your thoughts ring so true. Grateful there are voices like yours out there and that I benefit from hearing kind, understanding, leaders like you.
Thank you for this writing, Chris.
For those of us who have struggled with the "Black Dog" appreciate your putting this issue straight forward.
For those younger than dirt probably don't realize that cancer was seen as a "weakness" prior to the 1970s.
Fifty years later, mental illness" is still considered so, although it has come a long way since then.
We all wish Mr. Fetterman the best in returning to health and adding his talents to the Senate.
Thanks so much for your story and surfacing the issues we have around this issue. John Fetterman should be commended for seeking the treatment he needs and risking the blowback that will follow from some quarters. Hoping the questions you raise about how we tend to see people who seek help for mental illness will be seriously considered.
First off, thank you Chris for sharing about your struggles. If it helps just one person, it is good and am sure it has helped more than one. I commend John Fetterman for getting the help that he needs. Nothing to be ashamed of or judged for. My dad had some anxiety and depression and was an inpatient for 30 days with electroshock therapy in the 70s. It helped him and he did well afterwards. We, as a society, have made inroads with trying to undo the stigma to mental illness. My doctor said to me, similarly to your example with Fetterman, if I had diabetes or a heart issue, I’d take medicine for it. The reason being is I needed, and still need, anxiety meds. Unfortunately, my 30 year old son is dealing with anxiety and PTSD. Not only is the stigma still there, the help is not an easy road. There is a shortage of psychiatrists, therapists and treatment plans. He was able to find a psychiatrist but only for medication, not therapy of any kind. The wait list is horrendously long for any sort of therapy. He has been bounced around to several therapists and even trying to find someone took a boatload of phone calls. He is currently completing his 2nd IOP (intensive outpatient therapy) and needed to take a leave from work. He’s not been at this company for 1 year yet and he knows his job may be in jeopardy. However, he needs to get well and do what he needs to do. He doesn’t qualify for FMLA due to length of employment at his current job. After a horrific family emergency he got kicked out of a therapists office as he missed 1 appointment. Yes, he missed it as there was a death in the family. Not only did they kick him out, via email no less, they charged him $125 for missing the appointment. They said he canceled less than 24 hrs before the appointment. Yes, it was about 22 hours as he had learned of his grandfathers death. He couldn’t call to cancel before the 24 hours as he didn’t know his grandfather passed away. I could go on and on but we need to do better with mental illness as a society. We need to have care readily available to people who need it. Sadly, have seen too many times, needing to speak to someone as the person is having an issue but no one to reach out to. Leave a message for the therapist, who may or may not call back, basically being told to wait until your next appointment. Sad state of affairs when it comes to mental illness.
Excellent piece. And very true. Thank you again for speaking against the stigmatizing of mental illness.
Wow, this goes to show how depression/anxiety can be so insidious. I remember seeing you on TV in the late 1990s (probably Geraldo Rivera's MSNBC show) talking about the politics of the Clinton impeachment and all that. You always sounded so confident and relatively upbeat.
I commend you for sharing your story in hopes there is a solution we can all bring ourselves to believe in & embrace for the health & well being of those who are suffering in silence. There are far too many...
My father suffered from depression, and sought treatment with my mother’s encouragement over 70 years ago. It helped him. My wife became depressed early in our marriage and sought treatment. She suffers off and on over the years but has always sought help and with medication has raised a family and enjoyed her life except for a few rare, and thankfully limited periods.
The awareness and willingness to accept depression as a not unusual medical condition has grown almost exponentially in the past four or five decades, particularly as medical science has been able to help more and more patients overcome the illness. The acceptance itself by family, friends, and co-workers is a major help to sufferers and hastens their recovery.
Your own story is a brave effort to contribute to that societal change. Thank you.
I married into a family with multigenerational bipolar disorder. The stigma for individuals suffering from this, combined with the lack of availability of therapists, makes it so incredibly difficult for people. For family members interested in learning more, call your local 2-1-1 nonprofit to get connected to NAMI, a national group focusing on mental health. They have local offices around the country. There is help out there. Your local 2-1-1 nonprofit can help guide you to support in your area.
Thank you. Your thoughts ring so true. Grateful there are voices like yours out there and that I benefit from hearing kind, understanding, leaders like you.
Thank you for sharing yours and your families struggles.