I need help, what will the crisis team do?

[AbsolutelyFuckingSick]

I'm in such a mess. Ptsd is killing me. I've been self harming tonight and I'm finding it hard to distract myself. My gp has said to ring the crisis team but tbh I'm terrified. What will they do? I can't deal with people coming to my house so I guess it would be a wasted phone call? God I just want to be normal

Sorry to hear you felt that the crisis team did not help. The whole bath and hot drink thing is a bit of an accurate but running joke with people that regularly call them. A bath and hot drink does help some people though. I was always told to call them before I used all my distraction techniques, so they still have something to work with.

I have only know them to inform my GP when I have actually been under their care, and not just phone calls.

PP is right about trying them again. There are always a few duds on the teams, but if you find someone who really listens and helps you, they are worth their weight in gold.

With Samaritans I've sometimes hung up and called a different person. It's so important when you're feeling vulnerable that you feel you can talk openly.

I had a call with some well-being service this week. It was a pre-arranged appointment. It was 5 mins long, and I felt she couldn't get off the phone quickly enough. It left me feeling untethered and much worse.

You can do it. Some people are in the wrong jobs. Please call them now and if you don't like who you are speaking to hang up and call back or asked to be passed to someone else. You are so important, your children need you and you are normal. There is nothing wrong with you, life is hard but you are doing amazing reaching out for help. There is no shame in it OP. Get the strength to atleast type the number in your phone and then try and press ring and then try and let it ring and then try and wait to speak to someone and then speak to someone. You can do this

When I’ve not been able to manage to ring them, the crisis text line has been easier to work up to. Text “Shout” to 85258, day or night, and they might be able to help you without the pressure of a phone call.
Sending strength.

There's also CALM it's for women and men. Agree with those who mention duds. Don't take that personally. Keep trying, you may find someone you connect with.

If you work perhaps you have an EAP entitlement which provides 24/7 counselling support.

I can't manage to call again just yet. I fear the same happening again and I'll just feel worse. Feeling this is torture. I can go weeks with being somewhat normal and then it hits me like a ton of bricks. Home used to be my safe haven but now I'm terrified

This x

I would give anything for something to knock me out so I could get some sleep.

Have you tried antihistamines? Piriton or ceterizine? Available over the counter.

I have struggled with sleep A LOT in recent years. I've tried sleeping tablets and they do work, but I hate feeling sort of hung over the next day (I'm alone with a child at home so can't just sleep all day!).
Last night I took a Nytol. I was sceptical, but in fact it worked really well. You could try this OP, it might just take the edge off in a natural way.

I think I'll give Nytol and Antihistamines a try, nothing to lose.
Spent another night constantly pacing the house and making sure the doors and windows were locked

Have you tried meditation? Have a look on you tube

I haven't. I'll have a look

Try it you never know maybe some inscence or nice smelling candles or a foot spa ; bucket of warm water would do. And what about white noise, pink noise etc on you tube. It might help you try and rest your mind a bit

Be careful with Nytol and Antihistamines - the ingredients may be the same, ie promethazine is used in both so do ask the pharmacist.

Sorry they were so poor with you. I have found it is easier to explain why I need to sleep other than say I cannot sleep - they seem to listen to impacts more when I say things like "i just dropped a cup of boiling water on my foot because the lack of sleep is making me jerky"

The pharmacist may tell you ceterizine is a non-drowsy anti-histamine. This is only partially true - it does make some people drowsy. I took one at breakfast for hayfever for the first time - slept all morning; only just managed to wake up for my lunch; slept all afternoon; too tired to cook dinner, so we had to get fish and chips; and I still slept like a log all night! I gave the rest of the packet away; I have no wish to sleep my life away! I can't take piriton for the same reason!

I took the question up with DD, who works in a pharmacy. She said, she always warns people, that although its supposed to be non-drowsy; it does in fact make some people drowsy!

I'll ask the pharmacy when I manage to get out. Today has been horrendous

I’ve been in a dark place recently and reached out to the crisis team. I thought it was pointless but just talking on the phone genuinely helped me take my focus off the black cloud of despair albeit briefly.

They also helped me access other support. I am starting counselling and have been given access to a safe space either by phone or in person when I feel overwhelmed.

It doesn’t fix anything. But it has stopped me sinking lower and kept me safe when I wouldn’t have been otherwise.

how are you doing this morning @AbsolutelyFuckingSick

Thanks for asking Still pretty shite tbh. I'm at work and trying to concentrate but it's proving impossible, thank god I work from home! I'm just not sure where to go from here.

What works for me when my mind can't settle is to write lists - adding even the most basic things.
Doing something, however small, is an accomplishment.
Or set yourself really small time goals. Just 15 mins to work on something, before a 5 minute break.

You won't always feel like this.

Could you try shout? Sometimes texting is less scary then picking up the phone

Crisis team are not therapists. They are there to make sure you survive.

It is the therapy at the mental health unit that makes the biggest difference for mental health improvement.

@ClaryFairchild that is simply not true. The crisis team are there to intervene in an emergency - you do not have to be suicidal or self harming to contact - they are there to keep you out of hospital for many reasons. It really bugs me when attitudes like this are shared.

Ie. with me this weekend they've come with emergency medication so I could get some much needed sleep, I was not safe, but wasn't either at risk of SH or S behaviours. I have been through an absolutely horrendous time the past few weeks and they are aware I need support out of office hours and they are providing that.

@AbsolutelyFuckingSick What are you options for taking time off work, can you ask to go part time with a GP fit note? I would honestly try the crisis team again as it is most likely going to be someone different.

Do you have an EAP at work?

@TurtleSpurtle - whether you like it or not that that was my lived experience for over 2 years with my ex.

Maybe it depends in what you consider a "crisis team", but in our area it was incredibly difficult to be seen by crisis team unless you were at risk of serious harm.