Consumer

[PeppiPatty]

Dear Gray,

Lol, ah well on the vodka.....

the door is open for your son. It. Must be really hard on you

how old is he?



My only reflection to your last email is what I'm doing with my two children which is living my life well.

[Gray]

Hiya Justanother47

I am 64. My Son is 40.

He was diagnosed with Bipolar when he was 16. And that's when our live's turned to poo.

He still lives with his 65yo mum.  She sacrificed her life for him. Wraps him in cotton wool, wipes his bum and gives/buys him anything he wants..

I try to discuss it with her, the damage it does,  but she is not negotiable. Ah well...

I am an alcohol dependant Ex Loon.

And you?... MIP? Loon? or MIPLOON?

Rgds GRay

[PeppiPatty]

Hiya Gray,

I am 47 but look 10 years younger because don't drink alcohol or smoke. I woke up one day, when was living with my Dad and decided to recover from my huge problems and get better. I just turned 18 years old, my mother hopped on a plane to another country and disappeared out of my life for 20 years. Two and a half to three years previously, had a major car accident and in coma for 6 weeks..

Your poor darling son.
I dunno what I am. I am a proud consumer. Been a MIPLOON. Probably still am but my oldest son doesn't like talking to me.
I don't mind. I miss him terribly but he must manage his own life. we had a long discussion about this. He's 24 and last time I saw him, he was not travelling well. He was full on into hearing voices.. I saw him for one week. We played 7 days of backgammon.

I must admit, I'm a terrible person to have as a drinking buddy. . For a little while, my very new ex boyfriend kept on offering those UDL (gin and tonic) cans to me but Ide only drink half of them then forget there were more in the fridge.

[Gray]

Hiya JA47,

From your posts, sometimes I think you are a boy and sometimes a girl and you might say that I should mind my own business.

Also, in a similar vein, I cannot tell if you are a MIP, a LOON or a MIPLOON.

You say your son hears voices so no guessing he's a MIP.

Sounds like you mum did a similar thing to what I did..  I packed up my car and drove away to another state.  I did, however, keep in touch and went to visit my son frequently.. That was when I was working and could afford to.

You use the terminology/label "Proud Consumer" and I have heard it here used with passion, in the Sane Forums before.  What is that? What does it mean? Why is it used?

I am guessing that there has been some sort of mass movement to convince so called consumers.. that they should be PROUD??

[PeppiPatty]

Dear Gray,

Good question. I am a proud consumer because ; I have chosen to access mental health agencies in the past. I choose to find support for living a good life by accessing Silver Chain for help during the week.

I come from a 'wealthy family.' My mother has apologised about this but when I was young, she was not a good mother and hasn't been until this year. I am 47 years old and female. I am Lucy in Charles Schultz's peanuts. I grew up passionately reading, Charles Shultz, Footrot Flats, Asterix, Joan Aikan, Edith Nesbit. from the age of very young I always have been reading books. when a teenager, I tried very hard to be alternative while being Born Again Christian and not smoking or taking drugs or smoking.

Car accident, my Mum and Dad turned against me and blamed me for problems. I rebelled by smoking cigarettes on and off until I turned 40 years old when I threw them in the bin, walked out the door and went to work.

I had practically no communication with mum for many years. My Dad bullied me into selling home but the upshot of this was that my wonderful children got huge amounts of wonderful therapy.
both of my wonderful children have chosen to get support as well when they go through difficult times

I got help via medication on my own back, without family pushed hospital stays or anything. I am proud I have learned communication with my wonderful son, Who hears voices.

Chocolate helps and the occasional wine ( once per month...please don't provide Baileys Irish Cream, Ille drink 3 glasses of that and start singing....) at the elderly couples home who lives upstairs.

[Alessandra1992]

Well said justanother47yr, as a proud consumer myself..we are proud, loud and not hiding away! Challenging the status quo is how we improve our communities and the mh services we use in our journeys..

[Gray]

Hiya J47,

Re Proud Consumer.. Good on you. I now completly understand your reply and that of @Alessandra1992 on this subject..

I am now going to retire from all of this, The Forum etc.

It was interesting for the short time it lasted but when I read through all of the stories and Posts etc. it brings back too many bad, heart breaking memories.  I am 64. very ill and struggling to cope with pain and the after effects of recent cancer.  I thought I could do it, but I can't. I thought it would help, but it didn't.

Good luck and God speed to both of you.

Gray 

[PeppiPatty]

I will hope to see you here again, Gray.
Enjoyment in your quirky humour.
And will miss you. You and your MIC FORgot the names stuff.

I, we, us, will be thinking of you.

[Alessandra1992]

Hiya@Gray,
I hope your retirement from the forums is not permanent..I retire at times when life gets tricky and need to prioritise family, friends and work..
I am so glad you joined us for this short while..safe travels my friend.. And you are always welcome to visit anytime..
So sad to hear of what you've been living through, and still managing to keep in contact with us..
From one miploon to another..a warm hug!
Safe journeying..

[Gray]

OK, I'm back. Did you miss me?

And to @PeppiPatty ...  OK, I'm back. Did you miss me?

Gosh it seems like years since we swapped Posts.

The thing is guys, that I want to do something about the system, not just talk about it, and I cant.

I see beautiful people, families, LOONS, MIPS etc suffering and it doesn't have to be like that. Just ask the Finns.

After all these years, I had hoped that the government protocol for dealing with MIPS and LOONS would have changed for the better, but it hasn't... It's worse.

In a nutshell,  whilst talking to guys like you is, erm, erm, interesting and heart wrenching... NOTHING HAS CHANGED!!!

Loveyas Longtime

Gray