Banishing the winter blues, warming each other up in The Village

[LEMoncehadacatcalledSANTA]

Err, we need a new thread guys - I know this is Vicar's job so i hope you like the name.

This thread is a support group for those with mental health issues and generally feeling crap, some of us are on medication, some of us have help.

So come on in, grab a stool at the pub, the fires warm and the welcome is warmer - stay a while or move right on in!

All welcome

Ha! im not very good at this!

Pastels LEM, I find the talking about the art work helpful too NanaNina I think they may increase my meds again.

Well done on getting the tax return done LEM, sounds nightmarish. you deserve a duvet day tomorrow!

Oooh duvet day sounds so good. Go for it lem

snowy glad to hear you made it to the art therapy and that its helpful to talk about your work. Is it all meds they're looking at or any one in particular?

Nana how are you doing today?

Lollipop my phone ate my reply to your post last night, but delighted about the baby news.

Well, better day for me. Absolutely shattered (and look it) but went with dh to meet designer we used to work with and had a v good and fun and creative morning sorting out brand for dh business. I came up with the brand colours, font and some graphical devices so feeling really chuffed. If I could ever get paid to work like I did this morning as part of a small team that would be idyllic.

Crashed out on sofa now. College tomorrow though

I meant soooooooooooooo good

The antipsychotic I think, CIQ. Good luck with college

Thanks Snowy. College starts at 9.30. I am in bed still. Completely wiped out. Feel like 10 tonnes of lead. Am having some brekkie and tea in the hope that helps. I'm not missing college, but I only just made it to the kitchen and back without my legs giving way. Good grief.

Hope everyone else's morning start a bit better than this!

Am in loos at college not feeling well.

CIQ have you got a bug or something? you sound poorly - maybe you should go home early x

CIQ have you eaten something that disagreed with you yesterday?

I must say both you and LEM sound like you make good business teams with your respective DH's.

Oh dear CIQ, I hope you feel better soon, it's rotten to feel ill and be somewhere public/without home comforts.

Saw CPN today. She's coming out with another CPN tomorrow I'm worried how I'll get through the weekend.

Thanks all.
Head not right today. Eventually managed to get up and to college and dh carried my stuff to the room as so feeble. v hard to focus, concentrate, engage in conversation. Did manage to paint (slowly) seems that bit of my brain still going. Headachy and spaced out. Wobbly knees. Came home and went to bed. Just lay in bed awake but completely spaced out for nearly 2 hrs til dinner. Ate, and now back on sofa, not feeling quite with it. Can only assume tiredness, but seems extreme reaction. Not sad/depressed but not well.

snowy so sorry to hear things are so tough - are you concerned about staying safe over the weekend?

That sounds nasty, CIQ I hope you feel better soon, (((( CIQ ))))

I am concerned about staying safe generally, it's very hard at the moment.

Thanks snowy and (((hugs))) to you to. Is "spaced out" and official medical term? It's hard sometimes to explain how I'm feeling - which I like to be able to do for some reason or other!
Do you think your CPN is bringing another CPN for a second opinion?

Sometimes i feel like that for no reason - i feel like my head will explode and i am just about clinging on to reality and not running down the road screaming. For no reason whatsoever - sometimes i get confused loading the dishwasher

Lem yes you've hit the nail on the head. The clinging on to reality is how I've been feeling today. However I'm not aware of being anxious about anything! I've had a good week, really enjoyed working yesterday. Ho hum.

Both CPNs will work with me apparently Spaced out isn't a good state to be in, hugs.

Sounds like you are physically ill CIQ some sort of virus maybe.

I woke in the depths of despair and was too scared to get out of bed but have picked up a bit as the day's gone by. My CPN phoned this afternoon - she's lovely and it is good to know she's there even if she can't do much, but she will bring my appointment forward with the psych if necessary. I am trying to stick it out and see how things go before my appointment in March.

Snowy I'm worried about you - you don't usually say you are worried about getting through the weekend. Surely the CPNs will be visiting you over the weekend if they are concerned about you keeping yourself safe. I know you don't like all these visits, but better than another admission as I know how you hate hospital.

Sending you warm thoughts and can you keep posting.

It could be overwhem (from which I suffer from myself). After running my brain at full speed (like doing accounts!), I find I need to just chill for a day or two. I realise this is fine for me in my situation and time of life, when you are younger this is not always possible. Sending and to all.

*overwhelm

Hmm, weird day today. Nearly finished the work programme course and was going through some forms with a nice lady who works at the provider. Got to the disability bit, and mentioned my sight.

Then hovered over the box that said "Mental Health Issues" and said "I can't tick this, I've not got a diagnosis." The lady said it was OK, as the question was "do you consider yourself to have any of the following?" so if I thought I had some issues, that I could tick it.

So I did.

Then we talked about my MH, and what affects it. I said that feeling under pressure or that I'm somehow not good enough were a big thing, which is why I like admin work, I can just be left to it.

She said that our aims then were:

1. Long term - get me trained and working as a TA (that kind of stress is fine, it's more target driven type things that start to make me feel a bit useless and then it all spirals)
2. Short term, look for nice, low stress, part time work so I can do my training.
3. Look at courses I might like to do to help improve my prospects - we looked at a functional maths course as I'm not working at the level I'd like.

This provider is SO much more helpful than the job centre (who I have to go and see tomorrow to sign on, but as I've done enough job searching and applications I'm not too bothered as it's a 2 min signing appointment).

Just felt weird to speak to another person about how my own mind sometimes makes me feel. Lady was lovely though, and didn't put any pressure on me to go to GP (I can deal with the low points OK on my own - if it got to the point I couldn't, I would seek help).

Spc I think you could be right - just been talking through with dh... but frustrating re: running family, and any future work possibilities...

nana glad you've picked up and have the support of a lovely cpn.

Do you feel like you are going down with something CiQ? I sometimes feel like that, like im going to get sick with flu or something, need dark room etc and it turns out to be a migraine?

DD has been off sick today so not really a duvet day, although it was for her - it was nice to be home with her though and not to have to rush around for school. looks like i will have to abandon one of my commitments for the school tomorrow as i will probably keep her off, so feeling guilty as i don't like letting people down.

Snowy is it the CPN that is making you worry? It might be nice to have two though - then you can get hold of one of them? maybe its to give you more consistent support? We are here, im sure i'll be popping in over the weekend too much so you can always rant on here. Your posts about yourself are always short and sweet yet you always reach out to others so eloquently xx

CIQ you are already being an asset to the business. Could you do more?

At my best 20 hours a week of flexible working was my maximum capacity - and that was when DC were grown. (I can't work if I don't feel like it, and no that is not laziness - you have seen me struggle to get going even without a paid job, and it was the same when I had one)

That sounds fairly positive Lolipop.

Silvery - sorry i only did what seemed a terse response to your PM, i was up against it at the time (so busy), things have improved (a bit) with my mum and she has been to the doctor and agreed to specialist appointments for her sinuses and back (she has osteoporosis fractures). She was open to the idea of a lifeline button which is an emergency button that comes through to my phone (then DP if i dont pick up, then ambulance if no reply) which is a good thing because she probably tried to call me on saturday but couldnt do it due to her confused state. It doesn't help with the day to day demands, but i will just have to be strong and make a judgement call on what i do for her. She will also need to understand that an emergency button is just that - not for if she can't find the cat at 3am! I sound like a total bitch who doesn't want to do stuff for her mum and is trying to palm her off on other agencies but i'm not - she is just such hard work and i need to get on with my own stuff from time to time.

Dumdumnot sure if you have internet access - but thinking about you and hoping hospital is ok

LEM please be assured:I noticed no terseness, and no you do not sound 'like a total bitch'.

I am afraid she will press it at 3am. you and DP will be in a deep deep sleep

Lollipop that sounds like good support - I would be interested to know who the provider is (you could PM if you don't want to put it in public, and don't feel obliged if you don't want to)

CiQ, it does sound like you could really contribute to your DH's business - is this feasible? I have made the decision to focus on DP's business over the next few months - Its pointless me looking for work in science, that boat has left, but i have good skills that could benefit DP's business so am going to see where that takes me. I think you could do similar - i don't know what it is your DP does but it does sound like you could contribute and not just with admin. It might help to focus him and make you feel less anxious as you will be more in the loop? (although sometimes i prefer to be out of the loop it bit me in the arse this year with dp's accounting!)