Through September we focus on mental well-being.
Start the conversation. Isn’t that what we are supposed to do? Knowing where to start, and how to learn. Who do we reach out to? What are the signs of mental stress?
Is enough being done? What about those who had mental health issues long before lockdown or a difficult diagnosis of a Long Term Health Condition (LTHC)?
It’s ok not to know, but it’s not ok to not have the desire to understand. Using patient diagnosis and specifically the family of Pituitary conditions we look at:
The need for understanding
The trauma caused by a diagnosis/ongoing treatment
The most common mental health problems experienced with LTHCs &
The places we can get support
If you haven’t seen the Google adverts featuring Marcus Rashford then click here! Writing for Creative Review Eliza Williams recognises that this google advert provokes some thinking. Addresses questions around cultural differences. Religious ceremonies. Racism and mental health. Williams makes an interesting point:
‘The campaign’s message about using the internet to seek facts and understanding is undoubtedly a worthy one, yet the ad glosses over the challenges that the web and social media present – where misinformation and harsh judgements prevail(https://www.creativereview.co.uk/marcus-rashford-google-ad/)
Even hinting that this is perhaps a job for a future set of ads. So what should we be googling? What sites can we rely on? That will be defined by what we need to know, who we are, what we are trying to understand and the reasons why. Google is great for basics. But we need more clarity. Especially when it comes to mental well-being.
The impact of a diagnosis
The pituitary gland is roughly the size of a pea and attached to the base of the brain. It maintains, monitors and regulates important hormone levels that support the endocrine system. Therefore impacts the control of many bodily functions. When these become ineffective or stop working they can cause some serious conditions. Requires essential and life-saving treatments. This can be devastating and life-changing for everyone involved. They can affect relationships and often cause mental health conditions.
The most common mental health problems
In a recent question and answer session on Facebook, Lottie Storey from The Pituitary Foundation and Dr Sue Jackson approached many patient questions looking at the psychological impacts that a pituitary condition can lead to. A diagnosis can be devastating. Anxiety, depression and chronic stress are all possible after the onset of the reality of living with a severe and life-changing illness.
PTSD can develop with a sudden diagnosis. The build-up of accumulative trauma getting to that point can be a contributing factor. Perhaps several bereavements, challenging relationships and LTHCs are already being managed. Key symptoms of this include:
Reacting to things on TV
Avoiding people or conversations
An incomplete memory
Vivid flashbacks that take you back to the traumatic event (diagnosis - the word tumour)
increase in ‘noise startling’
Although it's worth remembering the list of symptoms is extensive and impossible, to sum up in a few lines.
Places To get support
The Pituitary Foundations comprehensive booklet Psychological Impact of a Pituitary condition includes:
Dealing with a Protracted Diagnosis
Dealing with a Sudden Diagnosis
Dealing with Grief and Loss
Dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Problems Associated with Treatment
Dealing with Radiotherapy / MRI scans
Dealing with Needle Phobia
Dealing with Worries about Taking Your Drugs Correctly
Dealing with Health Care Professionals (HCPs)
Dealing with Other Patients
Emotional and Psychological Aspects of Pituitary Conditions
Other Life Events which Impact on Management of the Condition
Stress Management Techniques
Although this refers to Pituitary conditions much of the information will be transferable to other medical conditions. You can also watch the Facebook live Q&A session mentioned above on the Pituitary Foundation YouTube Page.
Changing Faces is a great place for those with conditions such as Acromegaly. Too much growth hormone can change appearances that develop over time, resulting in enlarged hands, feet, protruding facial bones, and the need for intense medical procedures.
Relate is a great place to look for relationship advice. Relationships with partners, family, friends and colleagues can be challenged as acceptance and moving forward into the unknown affects physical and emotional needs.
The Mayo Clinic has some great advice. Well-known and respected in the US, attracting patients from abroad. A great all-rounder for symptoms, management, treatment and resources.
The other side to mental well-being
Not every diagnosis will trigger a mental health condition. It could occur because of a long-drawn-out path to diagnosis. People can already be suffering from mental health conditions before the diagnosis of an LTHC. This could make things worse or trigger a different/additional condition. So if we return to the ‘Google zone’ for a moment we can consider a few mental health conditions. Be more specific about what we google and how to proceed with help and support.
1. What might be causing someone to have extreme highs, lows and mood swings?
‘Bipolar disorder is characterised by extreme mood swings. These range from extreme highs (mania) to extreme lows (depression). Episodes of mania and depression often last for several weeks or months. (https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms/)
You can get help from: Mind has a comprehensive Self Managing Bipolar Disorder PDF.
2. Why is my friend seeing and hearing things that I can’t?
The 2 main symptoms of psychosis are: hallucinations – where a person hears, sees and, in some cases, feels, smells or tastes things that do not exist outside their mind but can feel very real to the person affected by them; a common hallucination is hearing voices. (https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/psychosis/overview/)
You can get help from: Mind has lots of advice on How Family and Friends can support someone with psychosis.
3. Already got a diagnosis? Need some extra help?
You can get help from Mind https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/
Counselling and mental health services are stretched thinly post-pandemic. Knowledge of certain medical conditions is limited. That’s where these supportive charities step in and take over the load. So if you are struggling. Just know that someone is still there to listen, to try and understand. Be careful not to self-diagnose. If you recognise the symptoms discussed then seek medical support. As you will have noticed Mind is great support for this.
*Please remember that these blogs are very real to us. We are on the same journey. It’s tough, slow and frustrating. Most of the Scenarios we face ourselves. Sometimes we find what we print useful. Other times we don’t. It’s included because everyone's journey is different. We have passionate perseverance to help others. To dispose of all content would be a waste and a disservice to our readers.
Creative Review - Marcus Rashford - Google Advert
There Pituitary Foundation - Facebook Live Recording - Psychological Impact of A Diagnosis
The Pituitary Foundation - The Psychological Impact of a Pituitary Condition
Changing Faces Charity
Relate - Relationship Support
The Mayo Clinic - PTSD
The NHS - Bipolar Symptoms
Mind - Self Managing Bipolar Disorder
The NHS - Psychosis Overview
Mind - Supporting those with Psychosis
Mind - Information Support - A-Z of Conditions