Being Mentally Normal: The Theory and The Actuality

[Mitchy1nge]

we must be on part 11 or something by now?

(I don't have anything nice to say about anyone or anything)

Fair enough - he's not to everyone's taste

Can't stand him on QI, but love his writing style.

mitchy1nge enjoy the fresh air

Thank you for the encouragement, I've got a gp appt for Monday, wgivh is v convenient as my sick note runs out on Monday
I'm celebrating by making soup!

I wonder if I've been outed, just had a call from cmht checking I'll be ok til thursday (why thursday, I don't know).

Do you think I should name change?

Ooh, what kind of soup?

Mavis recommended I try French onion soup with brandy in it as it cures lungs (as does sweet potato) according to her, but I demurred.

I really doubt it, Snowy - wouldn't they have to tell you if they had read about you elsewhere?

Roasted tomato and red pepper soup, with pesto
I'm willing it to cook, it smells lovely

I love French onion soup with brandy! Had some last week (in France...)

Your lunch sounds gorgeous. Here's mine

of France.

well done millie. Enjoy your soup

I had lamb rogan josh (no rice)

I suppose it could be that they were wanting to see me each week, but haven't since before Christmas due to people cancelling.

I seem to be lying under the desk in a spare office at work, covered in my colleague's coats after I suddenly found myself unable to stop sobbing (funding reneged for post, job redundant, career prospects even more ed than they ever were) and I'm not really sure what happened. It's not that any of my colleagues were ever un-nice or un-kind but they seem to be "just popping in to check you're OK" every half hour or so and it's starting to feel a bit odd reminiscent of Ward 29. I should maybe have let them drive me home but I couldn't, couldn't, couldn't face DH and the kids, all of who are home with flu and feeling hot and ill and grumpy. Have I overstepped working relationships in a way that ruins everything? Maybe - but then the whole drama which set this off is that my work of ed anyway. And then the voices start - it's all because I'm evil, fat, microchipped etc. I had to remove and unplug all the clocks in the room because they were sharing intelligence on me with the light fitting..

Oh toothpaste, please call someone. What do you need to do to look after yourself?

((( toothpaste ))) Please look after yourself, call someone like cmht.

:( Echo Caulk, you need to reach out and call someone

tooth that's so shit for you

Everyone struggles to cope sometimes - it sounds like your colleagues are giving you some space but are worried about you.

As Caulk said is there anyone you can call?

It might sound stupid, but if you want one of us to call someone for you, I don't mind. Someone offered to do that for me before, and knowing it's a possibility helped.

Can you do some deep breathing with your feet flat on the floor.

I need sleep. I hope the DCs will let me :-/

I have a GP appointment booked for tomorrow. From prior experience, and from reading how overstretched all services are at the moment, I don't think this constitutes sufficient crisis to get any more help before then.

Would I need a nursing qualification to get a job with a MH crisis team? Before I heard of my impending unemployment, I heard a job ad for helpline operators on local radio. I think I would be very skilled at askinh "have you ever thought about a warm drink and a hot bath?" in a gentle voice

But seriously, thank you all for your support and suggestions. I am breathing and you are right, it does help..

You'd need nursing qualifications for being a cpn or mh nurse.
Is it worth heading home now?

I'm glad you have a GP appointment tomorrow.

Sorry I disappeared - phone reception bit patchy in here. Colleague has offered me lift home at 4ish, and am tidying up the room ready. Everything feels so un-real