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I'm a mess, really strugglin, messed up real bad :-(

999 replies

rhksmum · 27/04/2010 13:43

usin my phone to sort this so please dont give me a hard time for havin no paragraphs. I've been in hidin, last week i did something really stupid and to be honest im lucky im still here. My daughter has been in hospital really un well since saturday and im really strugglin tryin to keep it together for her. I'm tryin to split myself in so many pieces that i have fell apart, its my youngests birthday tomorrow and i wont be there for much of it because im in the hospital with my daughter, its just a mess, i cant cope, just want to walk out of here and not look back, i cant help her, shes really not very well, has to come back in 2 weeks for an operation, its all my fault, if i'd pushed more at the GP'S on friday she may not have got to this, i need to face it im a total screw up. Cpn not in,psychologist not in, no ones in and im not in a good place, I'm sorry

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rhksmum · 25/05/2010 23:23

Their relationship used to be ok, but shes not seen him in nearly 9 months, she used to think he was wonderful, but now she is seeing a side to him I never wanted her to see, he's made her feal guilty for not seeing him when the ball has always been in his court.

I know your probably right about the psychologist but I'm scared, scared she will get fed up of me constanly going on, for just giving her bits of the puzzle, and not even bits from the same puzzle,

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venetianred · 25/05/2010 23:46

Oh rhks - I've been there. The voices - the one that was meekly positive and the menacing strong nasty voice that told me a was a worthless piece of sh*t and not worth being on the planet. The nasty one always won and wow, was that a viscous voice. They came and went for twenty years until I was just completely exhausted and so sick of them just wanted to enjoy life properly. I actually got quite angry with them and just wanted them gone. Two years of talking it took before they went away and I started to see the sunshine when I stepped outside, instead of feeling that people must be laughing at me or talking about me. I can't imagine how you cope while looking after three children and that in itself is an accomplishment rhks.

Things can change and do change. It's usually just tiny tiny changes little by little. Keep talking. Occasionally tell your voices to p*ss off and give you a break. Try and find one thing that you can smile about or one tiny thing that brings you happiness - a song, or a movie or try to remember some of the beautiful things. Write these down. And keep talking. When your kids push all the buttons, take three deep breaths before responding. Most likely they need all the love they can get right now, so maybe squeeze in a few more hugs than usual - hopefully they feel good to you. And keep talking. I know what it's like to not be able to leave the house. Try walking around the block once every day, even if just for 5 minutes. Then walk around two blocks for a few days. Don't set our to achieve anything practical, but just to breathe and if at all possible to relax - to look at flowers and trees and sky. It usually helps to calm the brain. Try to go to bed at the same time every night. .....and keep talking (or writing on mumsnet - even if it's repetitive - it just needs to all come out - all the whole truth, just keep going until you run out). When you walk into a room, practise just stopping for a second and thinking, I can go slowly and calmly, I don't have to rush this and I will do things at my pace.

Anyway, these are some of the things I used to do to pull myself back from the brink. And take a quiet moment each night to close your eyes and congratulate yourself on the those things you did well that day (no matter how tiny and don't let yourself stop until you do find something you did OK) and say you are going to try and love yourself more, because you've been treated pretty shittily so far, and you deserve love now. You do, you completely and absolutely deserve love. There is a great book by a woman called Christina Noble - an Irish woman who suffered terrible abuse, mother died, alcoholic father, ended up living on the street. It took quite some time but she gradually pulled together the pieces and moved on to a happier place.

Eight years ago I loved nothing about myself. Now, I know I am far from perfect but I love that I try, I love that I have a big heart and care (and you clearly care very much even if you don't feel you get it right). I love myself and love looking after myself. It's a really nice feeling and I wish I'd done it sooner. I wish I'd opened up more and told my past to bl*dy well pss off.

Don't worry that you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Don't panic. Be really strict with yourself when the attacks come on - do the breathing - find a seat, get a glass of water etc, don't let it take over, take control. You have three children (lots of hard work done already) and grandchildren to look forward to. You'll never change what happened in your past, but you can choose to get it all out of your system, just keep talking until you are bored talking about it. There is nothing to be ashamed of - nothing at all. You didn't do anything wrong. You are someone trying to make a better life. You may not always succeed but you are trying.

Life is lived forwards, not backwards.

I hope something in there helps in some small way rhksmum.

rowingboat · 26/05/2010 08:20

rhk I just wanted to say good morning and see how you were today.
I think Venetianred has made some great suggestions. It sounds like the kinds of things I would do when I was depressed quite a few years ago, look for the small things which made me happy, and kind of build.
Things sound very confusing at the moment, you have so much going on, I think you are doing fantastically well, I would struggle with that lot.
Did you sleep OK?

hairymelons · 26/05/2010 08:35

Venetianred, so beautifully put. Think I may print that off and keep it..

Morning, rhksmum. Won't be checking in again today so wishing you well for your session tomorrow.

rhksmum · 26/05/2010 14:25

Appointment cancelled for tomorrow,
Message left on my answer phone, we'll be in touch,
I'm not meant to do this, oh well not much I can do about it.

Venetianred thankyou for that post, when my heads a bit clearer I will read it properly

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rowingboat · 26/05/2010 16:48

rhk how annoying about the cancelled appointment. Don't think there's anything sinister going on, probably off sick or something.
Hope they contact you again soon and get something sorted out.

rhksmum · 26/05/2010 17:48

The logic part of my head knows your right, I just cant see it like that just now.
But thats just me and my thinking it goes out the window when things get changed, I cant cope with it, everything needs to have its place, needs to not change otherwise it conuses me and makes me question myself and my worth

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kizzie · 26/05/2010 18:42

Venetianred - thats a brilliant post.

rhksmum - I know its probably really difficult to concentrate on things at the moment but it really would be worth you reading through it if you feel able.

Thinking of you x

lou4791 · 26/05/2010 18:42

So annoying about that appointment. Please don't let it put you off writing that letter.It's such a good idea of yours. You can take it when the appointment is rearranged. Thinking of you.

rowingboat · 26/05/2010 20:21

rhk they will contact you, it's easy to slip into thinking you have done something, but you really haven't. They aren't sending you a message about your value, just being rubbish (them I mean).
I hope you can get some rest tonight.
You are doing so well, dealing with a lot of stuff which would make a lot of people crumble.

hairymelons · 27/05/2010 00:50

That's a real shame about your appointment. Try not to let it slow your momentum though, you're doing so well.
Could you do something nice for yourself instead of your appointment tomorrow? Or just have a restful day?

rowingboat · 27/05/2010 10:15

Rhk just popping in to see if you are around.
Did you get a bit of sleep last night?

rhksmum · 27/05/2010 11:37

Didn't sleep last night
Youngest 2 are away to sports camp as the schools are off today and I was supposed to be seeing psychologist.
Probably better that she did cancel, not really much good to anyone today.
I'm so tired I dont have anyting left to give and its raining so kids aregoing to be stuck in doors

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Songbird · 27/05/2010 13:54

rhk - did you write the letter to the psychologist? I think this is a fantastic way to tell her things that are hard to verbalise. She will not hate you, I promise you! She will be proud of you for opening up, and pleases that you trust her enough. Only good can come from it, even if not straight away.

rhksmum · 27/05/2010 14:03

Have trid and tried to write what I needed her to hear, it just comes out as a garbled mess, bit like me just now.

Everything is mixed up in my head, everything is confused.
Everyting used to have its own box, all neatly on a shelf, it feels like someone has come along and opened all the boxes and mixed everything up, when I try and unscramble it and put it back someone else comes along and does it again, the boxes wont stay shut, they wont stay tidy

not sure if I'm making any sense here

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Songbird · 27/05/2010 14:14

Totally

Even if you just write down random words it will help. She will be able to disseminate some of it herself, and some of it she will ask you about. I did this when suffering from depression - just scribbled a stream of consciousness on the page and showed it to the doctor. It's better than nothing.

We're with you here

hairymelons · 27/05/2010 16:01

Hi rhksmum.

Was just going to say what songbird said, just jotting down single words or thoughts or even a whole garbled mess will be enough for your psychologist. Don't worry about being coherent, a garbled mess will do fine.

Your description of the messed up boxes is spot on- I know exactly what you mean.

You must be shattered, hope you get a rest in today.

rowingboat · 27/05/2010 19:19

rhk it does make sense, what you are saying about the confusion, but if it is down on paper it is a starting point.
I agree with songbird, it is the job of your psychologist to help you sort out your thoughts and feelings. If you had them all sorted you wouldn't really need to see her. I would imagine she is expecting you to feel confused and have jumbled thoughts.
I hope you got a break in the rain today and managed to get a rest.
Is it very hard to get enough sleep at night?

rhksmum · 27/05/2010 23:37

I dont want it, I dont want any of it

I want it all to leave me alone
I dont want happened tohave hapene
I want to wake upand it all have been a bad dream
Please make it stop, please ...

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willsurvivethis · 27/05/2010 23:48

rhks I know what you are saying - having been through a good share of feelings from that bad time again today I just want it all to go away. But it won't - we have to get through it. And we can, both of us.

Keep breathing, keep trying to talk and open up as much as you can. Things will change and are already changing.

winnybella · 28/05/2010 00:04

Sorry you're feeling bad rhks.

Just listen to willsurvive.

Keep on going. We are here for you.

rhksmum · 28/05/2010 00:07

they're not, it just seems to never end

I dont want it any of it

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winnybella · 28/05/2010 00:20

Look, I really don't think I could ever compare issues I struggled with with yours, but in the end that's not even that important.

I went through depression, panic attacks etc. There were many a day when everything seemed so unreal, when I felt as if I had a huge stone sitting on my chest, when I felt panicked, when I didn't feel any joy, just emptiness and fear.

I'm fine now.

You can do it.

After the storm comes a day etc etc-cliche, but true. One day, it'll pass, maybe not tomorrow, but soon. Please remember, it's not you, it's the illness that's making you feel that way.

rhksmum · 28/05/2010 00:33

I really hope so, I really do

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winnybella · 28/05/2010 00:38

It'll pass. Be strong, work with you psy, fight for the best care is due to you.

You mentioned the meds before, can you try to see a psychiatrist and get them sorted out? It's so important.