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?

Hi sad and other yurtees! Likewise had a busy week plus another night out on Tuesday this time to see Andre Rieu with OH. The last four days have been great - the fog is lifting as I'm sleeping better. Dud speak to gp today about stress at work and chest pains when it gets too much - answer was sertraline! Ive got my CBT through do thats good. Fluffy cushions for me tonight too 😊😊😊

Crawling in for the evening. Definitely in need of just curling up in a cosy safe place. I feel delicate and a bit stupid/brain foggy this evening. Ended up at work for about 5 hours rather than 2 - it just took me that long to get through my work. Brain so slow. The terrorist attack has really really shaken me. Can't stop thinking about it. Feel so grateful that DP came home last night. Once I finally got home I've really just hibernated and got into bed, put some mindless videos on the telly. Don't really know what I've been doing. Run out of dog food but managed to pop to corner shop for a few emergency tins. Will have to go to pet shop tomorrow. Thankfully she's not fussy I do like to get her the same kind though.

No work till Monday now. One half of me wants to make the most of the next few days, the other half just wants to stay in bed. Don't feel that I'm coping very well at all to be honest. I wanted to go to the vigil in central London tonight, but realised that I couldn't cope with the tube etc in this frame of mind. So I feel like I've failed the victims and my city.

You haven't failed London or it's people. There are many of us that can't get to London. Take a quiet moment of reflection and thought to those affected. You'll still be giving them your thoughts. I've had several moments today when I've stopped and thought about everyone. Be kind to yourself, you don't need to be somewhere physically to be there.

Hi all,
I was brought here from my thread on aibu. Not even entirely sure what I'm suppose to write. I've got a 4 week old baby and I'm suffering. From what I'm not sure, I can barely get my thoughts together. I can't remember the last time I ate. I'm so hungry but I'm so tired. So tired of living. I need help badly but I'm scared

joto I'm glad the fog is lifting for you. Fluffy cushions are aplenty

anxious you have not failed London in the slightest. As knitted said, you can take a moment of reflection and that's okay wherever you are.

tiny I'm so glad you made it here. This thread holds no obligations, you may write as little or as much as you feel like. Would you be able to make something small to eat, even just a piece of toast? Being hungry and exhausted is never a good combination.

Tiny, write whatever you feel like writing. We're not easily shockable! Please speak to your health visitor/gp.

You're not alone, please don't be scared. Eat something, even if it's a biscuit or some toast.

You'll get support here and a friendly ear. But please also seek help from a healthcare professional. Have you got family/friend support around you?

Hi Tiny welcome to the yurt. There's no judgement here just friendly understanding people to listen and support one another. You sound absolutely exhausted and that's completely understandable. If you want to tell us anything about the thoughts you're having you can, I'd wager that most people here will have felt suicidal at some point and as knitted said you won't shock or upset anyone by any distressing or graphic things you need to share. Just focus on very basic things one thing at a time. Try to eat something - biscuits, cereal, toast, anything you can muster. Is baby bf or bottle, do you have a partner to support you as well? Don't worry about more than the next few hours, don't look too far ahead. Just focus on the next one thing.

Speaking to your GP (if they're sympathetic) or health visitor would be a really good idea. They can help you figure out if you might need a bit of extra support for PND etc .

Thankyou for the kind words knitted and sad. Have lit a candle in my window this evening; I also put up some posters at work, in memory of PC Keith Palmer and the 'we are not afraid' tube symbol as well.

Given how I'm struggling generally and haven't had any problems with hypomania for a while, I think I will increase my antidepressant. I was given the option by the psych team to increase further to 200mg, I've been at 150mg for a time least 6 weeks now, I think longer. I'll do that tonight; that way if side effects hit I have a few days off work to allow them to settle.

Hi Tiny pull up a fluffy cushion! We're all here to support. A long time ago when my eldest was 4 weeks old I remember feeling the same - he's now 28 and lives at the other side of the world! I was scared too but all you need to know is it's ok. You just need to take the first step and ask for help. Talk to us on here - the support is amazing and we've all been through the mill in different ways. One thing I find is helpful is to know I'm not the only one who feels anxious/low/whatever it may be. Speak to your health visitor. They've seen it before and won't bat an eyelid whilst making sure you get the support xxx huge hugs xxx

We were supposed to be going away tomorrow night but with DP needing to work now I don't want to go alone so think will stay home and plan some self-care days.

I can tidy and clean my flat and work in the garden. Take long baths, listen to the radio, do skincare pampering/paint my nails/dye my hair. I can plan some simple healthy meals to prepare and cook. I can check my storecupboard supplies and order anything that we're running out of. The freezer could do with a big clear out. Make sure I do my meditation & yoga each morning.

If anyone has any other "mental health weekend" things please add I want to go to work on Monday feeling rested and like I have got a handle on my life.

Morning Yurtees to all

I'm feeling much clearer and calmer today. Still a lot of anxiety going on under the surface but I feel as though I have some purpose and drive. Have been awake since about half four, the house is now beautifully tidy and I'm embarking on a deep clean. The animals keep blinking at me in a slightly bemused fashion at all this activity first thing in the morning, but you have to strike whilst the irons hot don't you.

Feeling like I want to solve everything today.

Morning Anxious!

Wow, go you! Sounds like you're going to have a pretty good day.

I haven't been to bed for 2 nights. I'm still in the same clothes from 2 days ago. All I've done is clean my teeth.

I'm sinking deeper but am going to try and do ironing today and finally have a shower and put fresh clothes on.

A while ago if I knew someone hadn't bothered washing and stayed in the same clothes for days, I would have told them to get over it. Not any more, no judging from me.

Have a good day all.

Hi Knitted

I have just got dressed and realised that today is the first day I've worn "proper" clothes (i.e. not pyjamas or work uniform) for probably nearly 3 weeks.

Are you a bath or a shower person?

Hi Anxious,

I normally love a bath but think I'll go with a shower and give my hair a good wash. I must look a state!

Just having a cry and hopefully once that's out of my system I can start the day.

I always feel like I bring this thread down and I'm sorry for that. Especially as you are having such a good day today.

I tell myself this will get better and there are people in far worse positions than me. It lasts a few minutes then I'm back to not coping again.

Continue to have a good day, Anxious.

Goodness, not at all! We all know depression isn't infectious and we're here for each other on good days, bad days and really really shit worst days too. I feel like my mood is on an upswing -

Oop pressed send

My diagnosis is cyclothymia and I'm still working out what that really means. But I'm starting to feel like nothing can bring me down - I can do anything right now. So don't worry about the rest of us!

It doesn't matter if other people have it worse - that doesn't invalidate how you feel.

Hope the cry lets a bit of it out, and have a really good scrub under that shower - let the water wash away all the stuff you want to get rid of this morning - and emerge from the bathroom cleansed and renewed - even if you can only rest again afterwards

Evening yurtees! About to go have a lovely relaxing bath ready for our mother and daughter photoshoot tomorrow (Me mum and sis) then up to my sister's for a stay in her holiday cottage with hot tub. I really ferl ive turned a corner this week so long may it last! What has everyone got planned for the weekend???

Bloody buggery lasted an hour cos I've just had a panic attack!!! I'm so bloody cross 😡

Oh so this is the yurt? I've brought my bunnies along releases armful of rabbits to hop about the place

Joto sorry to say you made me smile a little at you being cross at having a panic attack - because I think that's a really healthy attitude to have - it you are cross at the symptoms, you are seeing them as something outside of yourself, they're the disorder, they're not you. Obvs I'm sorry that it happened. But you survived it and are here now and seeing it for what it is rather than blaming yourself (hopefully). Was there a particular trigger?

Well my buzzy fix-the-world-ness lasted till about 4pm when I became overwhelmingly tired and fell asleep on the sofa (in fairness I had been awake and non-stop for nearly 12 hours). Woke up just before sunset, and I'm not really sure what I've done for the past few hours, all a bit brain foggy again now. The house looks fab though. I've just had a bath and now I'm pretty sleepy again. Lying on the bed MNing with some zen stuff on YouTube.

Just realised I haven't really eaten. Not hungry though.

I should take meds now before I fall asleep and forget.

Think I will grab a bunny to snuggle and curl up on a pile of rugs near the fire

Morning all.
Hoping you all have a good day. The weather is lovely. I hope in the coming weeks this helps to lighten some low moods for you all.

The weather does look lovely today. Sunrise was beautiful.

How are you this morning knitted? Did you get to have a shower?

No shower, still in the same clothes. Am determined to have one this morning.

Looks like I need to sell my house quick or lose it. Not entitled to any money and nothing coming in. Not sure I can survive this. It's all very complicated and while it's not my doing I can't get help from anywhere.

I'm quite literally falling apart and can't see any light at the end of the tunnel. I haven't eaten for days. I've gone from a really good life to absolute desperation.

Thank you for all the support but not sure I'll be here much anymore.

I wish you all well.

Morning all! Anxious yes there's a trigger and that's eating at night. A few years ago I had a panic attack when swallowing a tablet. That stick with me a while but now I just crush them and if I get anxious just work through it. Unfortunately this has now fixed into food but only at tea time when im tired. I had a panic whilst out at a tearooms for lunch a few weeks back so it's just brought it all back. Due to the stress it's just that I'm on hyper and also due my period. Theres no logic (4 ginger biscuits with my brew this Morning!) and no panic. I'll work through it with CBT and the usual but that moment of panic when it feels like it won't leave is just frightening. It's a beautiful morning though and I'm packing clothes for my photoshoot. Lots of good stuff so not going to let it spoil anything. I'm glad I made you smile and you're right it's not me and I won't let it define me xxx

I find the sunshine really difficult - like everyone else is happy skipping in the sun, why can't I?

Oh fucks...

Because you are very unwell.. I remember walking to work in bright sunshine one fine summer say.. I was thinking life should be good yet I can't even force myself to smile... Later ion that week I was signed off work and spend three moths in a dressing gown.

Please don't be hard on yourself. We all feel like crap when we are ill. It's just that what is making you ill doesn't snow as a temperature or food poisoning.