In 1998 I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (manic depression to laymen). One symptom I experienced during depressive episodes was severe panic attacks. After some soul searching and discussions with friends I put my diving gear up in the attic and quit cave diving. It was obvious that I wasn't mentally fit to go cave diving. A knock-on effect was that I was so upset about having to make this decision that I also put my caving gear up in the attic and didn't touch it for several years.
I think cave diving probably (by its nature) attracts people who are quite highly strung. The paradox is that cave divers tend to be people who can also control/hide their emotions very carefully and have trained themselves to withstand enormous stress during cave diving itself. However, there is often an inner tension and turbulence which can unexpectedly manifest itself, usually not in cave diving situations but in ordinary life. I guess it's a sort of pressure relief valve which goes off. So yes, mental health is something that cave divers should think about. Actually it something that most people ought to be much more aware of than they are.
Seven years on and I'm a very active caver and I'm just starting to go cave diving again. My situation is pretty stable and I don't feel worried about my health. It's a long road to get back to the standard of diving I was at in the 1990s, never mind the fact that diving technology has moved on. On the other hand I've done a lot of other things instead during the last years. I've had two more children, played in an orchestra, built a summer cottage (not finished yet....), etc. etc. So just maybe I'm a more well-rounded person as a result. Much good can often come out of what seems like a disaster at the time.
Well, well. Duncan spilled his beans and I was so impressed that I was inspired to spill mine.
Mark