What happened to the mental health support village?

[sadandanxious]

I'm sure a while ago there was a thread running for mental health support - a sort of supportive village where we could all come and talk about our mental health worries or just general life and feel safe and supportive. I posted under a different name back then and can't seem to find it any more.

Does anyone else remember it or have I just imagined it? Either way, would anyone else be up for it? Perhaps a yurt would be a safer, more comfortable place than a village?

I don't think anyone should ever feel guilty for posting here - isn't that kinda the point? I posted on the old village a few times under an old username I think but mostly lurked back then. I understand about not wanting to start your own thread.

Bugs in your room, bloody hell! I'd have thought I was hallucinating too! (You're not alone there btw, my first response whenever I see anything unexpected is not to trust that it was real and check with someone else that they saw it too).

Are they going to do anything about the bugs?

What's everyone's plans for the day? I've been in bed since early yesterday afternoon with this tummy bug thing so feeling mentally restless now although still physically delicate and very tired! Keeping juice down though. It's going to be a grey blustery day by the look of things but dry. DP won't be here today as he's working. My house is a bomb site - verging on health hazard in the kitchen/cat litter trays - I'd like to tidy up and clean a little. Perhaps take the dog around the park later and maybe spend some time in the garden depending on how I am feeling. There's a gentle yoga class tonight, I know I couldn't cope with my usual one this morning but would be able to do the gentle one tonight if I can drag myself there.

First to drag myself out of bed though. One step at a time. Going to run a bath.

Morning.
A bath sounds like a good first step to doing something today.
I'm still in bed and don't feel like moving at all. I feel sick (lack of food due to stress). I can't believe the direction my life is going in right now and I can't cope. Pretending life is still great to the outside world is draining.
My normal levels of stress etc are something I can deal with. But this is a whole new level of crapness. I'm not strong and I can't face up to this stuff. Sorry for the ramble and negativity. I know I need to climb my way out of this but I just can't.

Morning yurtees!!! Full of sniffles this morning but I'm getting up ready to clean my carpets (Very rock n roll). Having a dilemma today with what to do with a friend. We've known each other 30 years and have supported each other through anxieties and life's ups and downs. Since she married though she's been distant and frankly a bit crap. I have high expectations of people however I don't think forgetting birthdays (though I did get a picture of last year's present) and ringing when at the wrong side of a bottle of wine apologising for lack of contact then actually doing nothing are acceptable. Especially when she's out with other friends. She is always too busy with work and though I tried the you need some time out, my voice seems to be unheard. We live 5 mins drive from each other yet she hasn't visited in years. I don't want to talk about my stress I want a girly chat!!! Do I just let this go or say how I feel???

(1) eat breakfast
(2) have shower
(3) having visitor later - we plan to go for a walk around the park

Might be too ambitious. I'm wondering whether I overdid it yesterday. I'm just not a patient person.

The nurse said she would get someone to spray the room for bugs. So who knows? I took some photos of the bugs. I'm at the state of MH services in this country. The food on the ward is terrible and there are bugs in the room. Bleurg.

Mission:bath complete. I had an orange bath (which in my colour-coded OCD world is a healing colour) and listened to an episode of In Our Time I've been trying to get though all week.

Got dressed - not pyjamas, may as well be (jeggings/vest/cardi) but they are real clothes! Have opened all the curtains and windows and lit oil burners with lavender & lemon (calming & uplifting) everywhere. Slumped on sofa now but I'm going to keep trying. Taken pain, stomach and head meds. Found Big Bang Theory on All4.

Knittedfrog sounds like things are really getting on top of you. Can you just think about the next half an hour for the time being? Or ten minutes even. Is it the housing problem that's the main thing?

Joto honestly, I could be your friend. There are people in my life that I still consider amazing friends, wonderful people, but when I'm not coping with things sometimes I can't face contacting them. Or even replying to their messages trying to reconnect. To the outside world - colleagues, family etc - I can put a brave face on but I can't do that with close old friends so I just avoid having to. I can be really shit with birthdays/presents/cards too.

I think if you say how you feel, it's unlikely that she'll respond how you want her to. It might end the friendship completely. Would it help you feel better to say those things to her though? Personally I'd say to just leave it, reach out non-judgementally if/when you want to but don't expect anything. Maybe invite her for a drink or something without emphasising the lack of contact?

erinaceous Can visitor bring some nicer food for you?

Anxious Yes. I asked someone who is coming today and they said that they would.

Anxious, you are so lovely to ask after me. Just had a long chat with my mum and then saw you ask about me, so am now sat here in tears!
Need to pull myself together before dd gets up.
Yes, it's the house thing that is the major trigger. My adult life has been very sheltered and quite reclusive. But I was happy that way. Now everything has gone tits up and I need to get a job. I'm not lazy but the thought of facing people freaks me out. If I could stuff envelopes at home all day, I would. I'm not qualified for anything so getting a job is proving hard.
Even if I get one I could still lose my home.
I'm sorry for rambling again, I'm really not a me me me person but being able to let stuff out is good. The only person that knows how broken I am is my mum.
Hope everyone has a peaceful day and some of your smiles and laughter are genuine.

Thanks anxious. Maybe it would make me feel better as at the moment I feel like it's a problem with me. How many times do you invite someone out or round to see you and they say yes and when you say when they go quiet? Yet there she is on Facebook out having a curry with other friends? Thats not the issue as I have other friends too. Maybe the friendship has ended naturally and I should let it go. I'm not getting anything out of it other than excuses? Unless I'm seeing it wrong!!!

knitted ah I don't want to make anyone cry! Hopefully tears of relief knowing you're worth asking after . That's an awful lot of pressure on you to suddenly have to overcome such extreme anxiety to financially provide and maintain your home. Glad your mother is supportive by the sound of things. How old is dd?

erin fingers crossed it's good food, and good company later as well! Was breakfast edible at least?

joto I'm thinking about that saying about we can't change other people('s behaviour) just ourselves(/ours). I'd try and reason out what the outcome of each course or action might be and how I'd feel about that.

Well, I've been on the sofa all morning. Watched 3 episodes of Big Bang theory, read stuff online and snuggled with the animals - who are now all pretty bored I think. Managed 2 x 10-minute periods of activity - set a timer each time and said I had to get up and do something. So one load of laundry is in the machine, Roomba set off upstairs, front room is mostly tidied. Have put some veggie sausages in the oven for lunch - will have to eat them out of a bowl as so much washing up left undone . But after that I think if I set a timer for half an hour then I'll have to take the dog to the park when the timer goes off.

Timers are a really useful strategy for me!

Just been out with the dog. Miserable drizzle! Which veg sausages do you eat I've yet to find a decent one! I'm having an asda spinach and mushroom pie which is delish! Mash and plenty of butter 😊😊 I see what you mean about others behaviour. I'm reading a good book about being a perfectionist which also goes into expectations and it's so me!!! I'll let it go but the next drunk phone call I think I'll gently say this is great and I accept the apology but it would mean more to see you. Then it's down to her.

Proper blustery here. Not going to make it to yoga as ended up driving to a retail park to pick something up I had on order and had forgotten about. That's about zapped what was left of my energy so I can't face leaving the house again now. I think I can have living room, bedroom and dressing room straight by the end of the evening though. The toilet has been cleaned, I'll just not wear my glasses when looking at the rest of the bathroom and shut my eyes completely if I have to go in the kitchen and then the house might feel somewhat sorted. It's nice when it's organised to sit and contemplate what it will be like when it's finished - still a lot of plans for decorating, new furniture etc as DP moves in.

I feel emotionally exhausted today, just drained and I don't know why. I know I've been physically ill but apart from that no extra stress going on at the moment, taking my medication, doing all the various techniques and coping strategies. But I still just feel really quite hopeless and dispirited. Like it's inevitable it will all go wrong, but it's not though is it.

Well done Anxious! You've had quite a productive day. It's good that you have plans to look forward to. I'm sure nothing will go wrong, I've got enough wrongness for the both of us at the moment! Now get back to your cleaning!

Not at all you're just having a not so good day and you're tired xxx physically ill can make the healthiest bod feel crap and not just for a day or two. Take it easy xx

• food is here

- visit went okay-ish - Didn't manage shower. There's always tomorrow. - Finding some staff helpful and other staff not helpful. Same with the patients. - Making a plan for next steps. Probably crisis house, to which I've been before.

Slow and steady wins the race. Think tortoise! Hope the food lives up to expectations.

Have made a semblance of tidiness. The place looks neat (just don't go in the kitchen). It's not actually clean and the reality is that things are just shoved in drawers/cupboards/under things but at least it looks fake tidy. I'm trying to trick the OCD thoughts into submission. I've just discovered that there's a live feed of the view of Earth from the ISS. Have got it on the tv in the bedroom. It's pretty mesmerising. Think this might be me for the night now. Might put a radio play on or something.

Thank you all for being lovely.

Earth is a weird word when you keep saying it. Earth earth earth earth earth. Makes no sense.

Knackered. House a tip (though underlyingly sorted, honest!)

Too knackered/CBA to do an on-line shop or even order a take-away. Or drive (esp with meds). Have been getting supplies in locally (am in small village) and having to carry everything in carrier bags - which is knackering me! (tbf I am no longer a spring chicken)

Tonight I had to feed myself on a tin of corned beef - the key for which had been lost - so discovered I could open it with a tin opener. Troughed the lot.

Anxious I remember thinking bottle bottle bottle was meaningless - and in the far depths of my memory I seem to recall a psychology experiment which kind of explained why.

Take care, all

It's called semantic saturation and is quite normal!!!

Ooh thanks Joto I love having a technical term for things!

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_satiation

Well, it's spring equinox today everyone. Happy Ostara! From now on there is more daylight than darkness.

Fabulous!!! I love spring 😊😊

Hi everyone. How are we all. A horribly sad day today. My DP is met police so the first I heard about the Westminster attack was him phoning me at work to say he was ok so I didn't worry when I heard the news. I picked him up from the station when he was finally alllowed home from work and gave him the biggest hugs. Today is awful, for the victims and their families, and me & mine are ok so I shouldn't be upset I guess but I feel it was just too close to home today, DP accepts that he could be killed doing his job and I know that but today has just really shaken me and I feel so upset and helpless. Just heard "Bring Him Home" on the radio and it bought tears in my eyes. I'm so grateful he came home today.

Morning. I slept ok got about 4.5 hours I think which is reasonable for me. Have decided to avoid the news today as I think I'll just obsess about details of what happened and distress myself thinking about the victims etc. I want to remember and pay respect but not to the point where my already fragile mental health suffers more. DP (met police) has been put on 12 hour shifts until further notice and looks like his rest days are being cancelled ruining our plans to visit family at the weekend. Ironically I have a little annual leave booked now the plan was to take some time for myself to relax and space to unwind and destress. And stress levels are now through the roof. But must do everything possible to carry on. Terrorism will not win.

I have to go in to work for 2 hours and then have 4 days off.

I want to put a tribute poster up in our waiting room to PC Palmer and the other men, women and children who lost their lives and were injured in yesterday's attack #PrayforLondon #WeAreNotAfraid. Is that weird? Most of my regular clients know my DP is police and this is close to home.

Morning Anxious. It is a very sad time at the moment. Hope your dh stays safe and we are thankful for the job he does.
I understand your stress levels but please try to relax on your time off.
Not so good for me at the moment. I'm still in yesterdays clothes!
Having awful physical symptoms of stress as well as suffering mentally. It shouldn't be about me today though.
Have a good day everyone.

Hi All, sorry I've been so quiet. This week has been / is crazy busy - working long hours, moving house and lots of hospital appointments.

I just wanted to pop in and see how everyone is doing. Will catch up on thread soon.

I think I'll flop down on fluffy cushions and crash out with exhaustion!