Wondering what the balance is

[newaroundhere2]

As a result of the restrictions I had been feeling like ending it all for many days now. Would it be better to go maybe have a non-essential hike that is not strictly within the rules, rather than continuing to feel this way and ending up in A&E? I have no friends to bubble with at all, so forming a MH bubble is out of the question. Any of the other coping strategies I might use before (pottering around the shops to distract myself, sitting in a cafe with a latte, going to the gym), I can obviously no longer do. I don't know what to do, I am very desperate.

I suppose the less people in A&E the better right now, as they are already very strained, but I am also terrified of breaking the rules. I have lost all sense of what is reasonable after months of scary headlines and rhetoric, and my anxiety disorder is really playing up at the moment. What do you think is reasonable in this case?

I have been feeling this unwell since the summer and exhausted every mental health service available to me. Sometimes I will call and tell them I am actively suicidal, and they will say the doctor is busy but will call you later. Then the doctor doesn't call. They must be very busy at the moment so I do understand, but I don't know what to do when I reach out for help and there is nothing there. The services were never this poor before Covid.

You're allowed to take daily exercise within the rules. So going for a hike would be absolutely fine.

But, if you are actively feeling suicidal, you need to seek medical assistance.

a) contact your health team ASAP

b) what is out with the rules about your proposed hike? Exercise is generally permitted, though you are meant to stay local. Even here in London there are long distance footpaths, so is it really impossible to hike within the rules?

I think we have to stay in our local area for any exercise? Maybe they changed the guidance again, it is hard to keep up to date. The area I live in has nowhere to hike. To be honest it would be for a change of scene as well as a different kind of exercise.

But then I feel anxious that I should not even think of doing it as it is morally wrong, and feel out of breath because of that

I do contact my psychiatrist's office as I was instructed to, but then speak to a receptionist and never actually the doctor

Hi there OP,

We're really to sorry to hear things are so tough at the moment. There's lots of good advice here, so do stay and chat.

Whatever you decide about exercise and getting out, there are lots of phone numbers you can ring on our Mental Health webguide, which might be of some use if you can't get hold of your usual team for support.

There's also some useful info and tips on taking care of your mental wellbeing from Mind.Org - with lots of help on finding things to do during these difficult winter months.

We're going to move this over to our Mental Health topic now, where we're sure there will be lots more Mumsnetters in a similar boat who may have pearls of wisdom, too.

Hang on in there, OP. You're definitely not alone in feeling like this at the moment, and we all have to find our own way through, gently and in whichever way is best for us.