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Original poster

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

998 replies

LEMoncehadacatcalledSANTA · 20/12/2013 21:52

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!

OP posts:
SnowyMouse · 30/01/2014 21:10

I'll try to keep posting NanaNina. Sad

Thanks everyone for the offers of support.

ColouringInQueen · 30/01/2014 21:35

lem yes I could. I had been hoping not to in a way as we have worked together for the last 10 yrs and was hoping for a break, but at the moment I can add value. (If I can function!) I am wondering if you're right about the migraine too.

spc that sounds like a good set up for you. I used to work 12 hrs per week which was plenty what with everything else. Tho have to work hard not to feel a bit pathetic.

Lollipop sounds like you did really well today and I'm glad the lady was lovely. Hope it all works out just how you need it too.

TheSparklyPussycat · 30/01/2014 22:19

CIQ the other thing that made work difficult, even p/t, is that it took over my brain even when I wasn't at work. If this might be the case for you, then think carefully about what hours you could contribute, and make sure you schedule breaks. If I was you (or you were me) I would allocate every 4th week as a recovery week, and see how it went, tweaking as I went along. (I would also cost my time at min wage, and at my current estimated self-worth (£20/hour, just for my own amusement) )

ColouringInQueen · 31/01/2014 11:32

Thanks spc that four weekly thing sounds great! Hmm it is hard to switch off esp as its dh business, but I used to be able to when I worked so I guess I will have to practice....

How's everyone doing this morning? I still feel wiped out but did manage to drag myself round the supermarket clinging tightly to the trolley. Sofa and TV now, for quite some time I think!

DumDum32 · 31/01/2014 12:10

In hospital today first day in a place called day hospital get to go home at night and come back in the morning. Strictly for 2 weeks only they said I gotta get tougher & more independent! Not sure how to feel about that mix feelings. Do they think I'm putting on an act? I'm feeling really low now :(

(((Hugs to all)))

Sorry a self indulgent post!

ColouringInQueen · 31/01/2014 12:17

Hi dumdum good to hear from you. Is there someone at the day hospital you can talk to about how you get "tougher and more independent"? Can understand that feeling stressful! Take care.

DumDum32 · 31/01/2014 13:02

Thanks ciq I'm gonna try using the 2 weeks to do just that & hopefully be a bit more me again! It is hard to not be myself lately I just want to feel a bit of normality again. Hope ur doing ok.

NanaNina · 31/01/2014 13:16

Hello to everyone on this miserable wet January day.....oh Lem I fear that your mom will be pressing that button to summon you on a regular basis! CIQ hope you feel better soon.

Snowy have the CPNs been yet? Have you got anyone to phone over the weekend? I will be here to "hold your hand" in cyberspace. I do wish they could get your meds sorted to bring you some respite.

DumDum we haven't been "introduced" but Hello.....I suffer from intermittent depression and anxiety and it varies in intensity and duration. This month has been horrendous. I have been an IP on 2 occasions and didn't find the ward staff helpful at all. Hope you have a better experience.

DumDum32 · 31/01/2014 13:27

Thanks NN I understand about being IP & staff my experience is turning out to be the same :(

SnowyMouse · 31/01/2014 13:43

The CPNs have been, and are referring me to the crisis team over the weekend. Thanks for the support, this is a great thread.

I hope the day hospital helps rather than hinders, DD32

LEMmingaround · 31/01/2014 13:58

Hello everyone - i have cabin fever being home with a poorly DD, she wants to make biscuits Confused

LEMmingaround · 31/01/2014 14:00

My mum rang me this morning and offered to buy me a new lap top Hmm i said no thankyou. I know this is her way of repaying and thats nice, but i don't want to be beholden, i help her because she is my mother not because she buys stuff for me or gives me money now and again (even though i don't ask). Just be bloody nice, don't give me money - be nice, say thankyou, don't shout and scream at me when things don't go your way - thats all i ask.

SnowyMouse · 31/01/2014 14:04

(((( LEM ))))

DumDum32 · 31/01/2014 15:35

((( snowy ))) ((( lem )))

SnowyMouse · 31/01/2014 15:57

(((( DD32 ))))

TheSparklyPussycat · 31/01/2014 17:07

DumDum do you have a named nurse? And do you have a care plan? It should have aims set out in it - behaviours that would show you were becoming "tougher and more independent". I do hope that isn't psych-speak for "managing better but feeling just as crap" Sad OTOH there is something to be said for the idea that being "tougher and more independent" may lead you to feel better too (perhaps not straight away tho).

And is there anything specific you want help with (not asking you to say, except to those in hospital who should be able to help).

[hugs] Cake Brew

NanaNina · 31/01/2014 19:40

Hi snowy glad the CPNs are putting the crisis team in over the weekend and I'll check in every now and then.

Ah hope there is a nice tin of home made biscuits in your kitchen now Lem

SPC I suspect that you have hit the nail on the head about DumDum being encouraged to be "tougher and more independent" - sounds like a euphemism for "just accept that you are going to feel crap but just put up with it and manage on your own without involving medics...." DD says her experience of being an IP is no better than mine. Nurses always "busy" in the office or bustling about with meds and nursing assistants sitting around talking to each other, and ignoring the patients as much as possible. Dreadful - truly dreadful. There was 15 years between my IP stays first in 1995 and second in 2010 and nothing had changed for the better in those 15 years. They couldn't blame it on being short staffed either as there were loads of nursing assistants and apart from one or two they were hopeless and wouldn't know the meaning of empathy if their life depended on it.

ColouringInQueen · 31/01/2014 22:12

Hi everyone, snowy, dumdum hope you're hanging in there. Lem hope you survived the cabin fever.

I'm still feeling weird. My head feels weird. Have a big headache. Dh thinks I must have some sort of virus. I'm not sure. Very hard to focus both visually and mentally - assuming that's the headache. Still feel spaced. I think I'm prob being a bit anxious that its to do with my mental health given this time last year I was at my worst. I have a thing I have to lead at church on Sun which I'm not looking forward to. Dh is out tomorrow pm and eve and I'm not looking forward to that either.

SnowyMouse · 01/02/2014 11:19

CT have been and they're ringing later and coming over tomorrow. I'm struggling, hope CT will help. They took all my plastic bags.

NanaNina · 01/02/2014 16:27

Oh snowy - is it those voices again. Glad they are keeping a close eye on you. Sorry I'm late coming on but I've had a pretty horrendous morning and am only just beginning to feel half human.

What are you doing - I think you mentioned you had some knitting a while ago, or TV/music/audiotapes - anything really to provide a bit of distraction. I colour and it helps. I buy adult colouring books from Amazon and lovely brush pens and felts from them too. It really does distract me for a while.

Have they phoned you again yet? Are they going to leave you alone until tomorrow.

LEMmingaround · 01/02/2014 16:36

Still climbing the walls CiQ - we didnt make biscuits in the end, the stork was out of date. My mother kicking off over her having to wait to see ENT specialist - err, maybe if she had gone to the appointment in november she wouldnt have to wait now - ive just booked it online, but the earliest i could get was the end of this month, she isn't going to be happy.

The adult colouring books sound lovely nana - i might treat myself

CiQ could you have a migraine?

SnowyMouse · 01/02/2014 16:38

I'm watching the first harry potter, will get going on the knitting too. They've just phoned me, and said to phone them if I need.

(((( NanaNina LEM CIQ and all )))) That's actually quite quick for a outpatient appointment, but your mum might not know that.

NanaNina · 01/02/2014 18:22

Oh glad you are managing to distract yourself a bit snowy and please phone them if those damn voices get too loud or insistent. I'll "look in on you" later.

Lem the colouring books really are lovely (let me know if you want to get any and I can tell you the best ones) they take ages to do and I really are a distraction. You can also get really nice Pentel felts on Amazon at very low cost.

Is it something that might appeal to you snowy- thinking of you.

CIQ sorry you're still crap - it really does sound physical but I get why you are worried about mental health because of this time last year. Was it really that long ago......this thread has been going for so long and has got me through many a dark hour.

ColouringInQueen · 01/02/2014 18:52

Hi everyone,

lem commiserations re: the cabin fever!
Hi snowy glad you're getting some support. Harry Potter sounds like a v gd move.

Yes poss migraine. Headache much better now and don't feel so completely wiped out, just normally tired! I was in the grips of anxiety all morning, wrote stuff down and when dh went out, after lunch distracted myself with dcs and that has helped a bit. Started some fairy stencilling on dds wall - lovely but pulled something/trapped something in my back when washing the wall down which is v annoying as its vvv painful. I have opened some Wine as I'm not allowed ibuprofen!

Nana yes its amazing how the year's gone isn't it! I don't know if I started posting in Jan but that was when my mind and body refused to do any more...

I'm in this eve - dh out making music but that's fine. Will drink wine and watch something soppy on the tv!

Thanks again you lovely lot x

LEMmingaround · 01/02/2014 19:58

Have hit the wine here too! Wasn't going to but have just been told off by my mother Hmm I forgot to get her milk this morning when I went to the town for her meds. Then she tried to call but my phone was on silent. Cue bollocking me for leaving her with no milk. I feel so trapped. I thought I had managed to establish more distance after xmas but since last weeks drama have been at her beck and call. I don't mind. But its the cobstant whinging and yelling and general unpleasantness that goes with it. Am aat in the bath with wine . Dp gone for pizzas from tesco. Dd wants soup. Still poorly. Dd1 wants me to help clean her flat on mobday. Looking forward to that.