Welcome to Thomas Online….

Read 'Thomas...In the Name of God' now and have access to a story that will change your perception about Mental Illness. One in Five people are now diagnosed with some form of Mental Illness, have you ever wondered why? You will read about the incredible life journey of one young woman that reveals the causes and effects of mental illness and bipolar disorder. A frank, brutally honest account of mind changing events that will leave you thinking and even possibly doubting your own level of sanity. Chapters 1 to 5 posted online now.

www.thomasonline.com.au is to the best of my knowledge, the first e-book as such. It will be written chapter by chapter and posted on-line as it is written. It is a true story, and based on my personal journey to mental illness and my subsequent diagnosis with bipolar disorder. The contents of the story include adult references and may at times offend some readers; as such the material is not recommended suitable reading for persons under the age of 18 years. 

The writings on this site bring together the starting point of a journey for readers to get an understanding of what "Thomas... In The Name Of God" will bring and i recommend you take the time and read all the postings prior to reading the book.

Mental illness affects 1 in 5 people and is fast becoming the new health epidemic facing society today. Sadly 1 in 9 people diagnosed with schizophrenia will end their life in suicide. Mental illness destroys lives and its impact on individuals and families is catastrophic. Unfortunately the “stigma” associated with mental illness prevents many from seeking professional help. This e-book has been written in order to educate the uneducated, to encourage those at risk to seek help, to provoke thought in the manner in which we treat others, and hopefully to reduce the stigma that is so often associated with mental illness.

The media play a pivotal role in the portrayal of mental illness and as such need to acquire a level of responsibility to portray a more realistic view, we do not all wear white coats with our arms strapped behind our backs and bounce of padded walls in the confinement of a locked cell. A reporting style which is based on sensitivity rather than sensationalism is what is required in order to protect all parties in any criminal act where mental illness is associated.

There are many types of mental illness and the majority of those diagnosed can go on to lead relatively ‘normal’ lives. It is only when we all accept the responsibility and provide compassion, understanding and respect for those affected, that there will be some real hope in reducing the stigma and the impact that mental illness has on individuals, communities and society as a whole. We should all as individuals take responsibility of our actions, and the consequences our actions have on the mental wellness of any other human being.

The purpose of writing the book in this manner is that so during the process members of my “support group” consisting of my G.P., and mother can closely monitor and evaluate my mental health. Bipolar Disorder is also known as ‘manic depression’ which can present itself in extremely high levels of mood including episodes of mania but also extreme lows or bouts of depression which can at times become so severe the sufferer may experience suicidal thoughts. Grandiose ideas, excessive bursts of spending, hypersomnia, low energy and thought disorder are also components of bipolar disorder.

I have during my illness learnt to understand my triggers and as such have chosen to write the story in this way. Recalling parts of my journey will be extremely painful and may require at times adjustment of my medications in order to stay “well”. There may also be times when my support group suggests I take a break from writing if they feel I am approaching a state of “unwell ness”. At times during my illness I seek isolation and my family and those close to me, respect and understand this. I am also prone to “staph” outbreaks when placed under stress; it is my body’s indicator that I need to take some ‘time out’.

I do not know how long it will take to complete this “e-book” as the story is based over a 9 year period of my life which commenced in 1997, however as I have registered this domain name for 2 years it is anticipated that sometime within that time frame the full story of my journey will be told. At the end of its completion I am hoping that it will change the reader’s perception of mental illness and provide them with an understanding and insight as to how and why it can occur. I am also hoping that it’s contents will stimulate conversation of a positive nature, and that people with mental illness will ‘come out’ and share their experiences with others without the fear of social discrimination and that some level of “acceptance” and ‘tolerance’ may be achieved. No single individual can change the world but collectively we can all make a difference. “Mental Illness…….let’s talk about it”

The contents of the following story will invoke a kaleidoscope of emotions to the reader. It will at times make you laugh, make you cry, it may shock, and it may make you shake your head in disbelief. It is not recommended reading for the faint-hearted but neither is mental illness.

The following story includes details of my lengthy “David vs. Goliath” court case which set a precedence in Trademark and Copyright law, my battle with cervical and vaginal cancer, my marriage breakdown, and following divorce, business failure and bankruptcy, chronic illness and the effects of the 9/11 disaster, my experience with child abuse and the destruction of a family. It is also a story of love and love lost, a story of my love of music, and the significance it played during my illness and recovery, but most of all, it will portray a story of hope.

Contents will include actual copies of newspaper articles reported by the media during that time, excerpts from legal documents and actual letters written by myself to various members of the media, legal fraternity, telecommunication corporations, the government and medical authorities to name but a few, and with the permission of the writers I will include letters of support that were written to me by members of the public.

I will take this opportunity to apologize to those people whom my behavior at the time may have offended but it must be understood my actions were a culmination of the events which had happened, or that were taking place at any one particular time, and clearly displayed the onset of my mental illness. In order to protect the identity of certain individuals that played a significant role in my life during any given period, their names have been changed.

The events which took place are all factual, however my perception of those events in many cases are somewhat distorted, particularly so during the decline of my physical health, and noticeably during the onset of my mental illness where episodes of mania took hold on 2 occasions presenting bizarre behavior and uncharacteristic personality traits.

In order to support and promote mental health, this website will include links to various mental health organizations that provide a much needed and valuable resource to the community. I encourage every individual to visit these sites and become ‘learned’ in the area of mental health. Some of these sites have depression and stress tests available and I can only encourage you to invest your time and evaluate your own level of mental wellness. Quite often we proceed through life, bearing our own individual burdens in a state of denial believing that we are actually ‘coping’, and completely oblivious of the fact that those burdens could pose a real threat to our state of mind, our friends and our families. Do yourself a favor, take the test and if you are at risk, please do not hesitate in seeking help from your medical professional.

Early intervention and treatment are paramount if we are to reduce the ever increasing, alarming rate in which mental illness is spreading throughout the community. Early diagnosis can in many cases represent a complete recovery, this being 1 very good reason why you should become a ‘willing’ participant. Encourage yourself and others to take responsibility for your mental health and well being by having regular checks with your GP or mental health professional, these should become as ‘routine’ as checks for blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease . We tend to look after and invest much time and money into the health of our physical bodies with grueling sessions at the gym, and copious amounts of money are spent each year on vitamins and weight reduction remedies yet we seem to neglect the most important part of our body, our brain. If our brains are not functioning in the manner in which they are supposed to and chemical levels are imbalanced, our health overall and our ability to function as ‘total’ human beings, encompassing the mind, body and soul will be greatly affected.

To those readers who have chosen to read the first on-line e-book “Thomas... In the Name of God” you are about to embark on a journey that will hopefully change your perception of mental illness and one which will ultimately leave you with a profound sense of enlightenment and understanding. For the majority of readers who have currently been diagnosed with some form of mental illness the journey will take on an entirely different perspective, it will represent in some ways a “oneness” that we all share very similar experiences with very similar outcomes. It is also in essence very much a case of “united we stand, divided we fall”.

For those who are ending their journey with me here, I thank you for your time in reading thus far. For those who have chosen to acquire a ticket, I suggest you strap yourselves in and prepare yourself for the journey of a lifetime! I also ask those ticket holders to retain some level of ‘patience’, as writing about this journey will inevitably stimulate within me a sense of ‘feel the fear, but do it anyway!’

In life the old adage of “Honesty is the best Policy” may not always be the easiest track to follow. An act of honesty in its purest form has the potential to become twisted, distorted and portrayed in every possible manner other than which it was originally intended, particularly during its translation and progression from one person to the next. During the “honesty” process you may subject yourself to periods of embarrassment, shame, loneliness and social outcast; however when you come out of the darkness of the tunnel of truth you will find that despite it all, your sense of self respect has remained intact and your actions have been based on principles. Principles and Honesty are the original foundations, the essential building blocks of life.

Robyn Miller, Author

Disclaimer: The contents of this “e-book” have been written for educational purposes and as such there is no intent to defame or harm the reputation of any individual, corporation or organization. The reader knowingly revokes their right to any subsequent litigation claims being issued against the author. Unauthorized reproduction of any part or parts of this story without the consent of the author will be subject to Copyright Law. The website www.thomasonline.com.au is a subsidiary of MediDirect International, www.medidirect.com.au. “Thomas....In the Name of God” is the written adaptation of the DVD production of “Off the Rails”- A short film to combat the stigma of mental illness. Copies available for $39.95 and are available by ordering on-line at www.medidirect.com.au or via this site.