topic next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious... in Staying well

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

MrsCam — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:20:39 GMT

Hi all,

I am discharging from Perth Clinic on saturday and will be flying home to the pilbara on tuesday evening... feeling a bit anxious about leaving my safe little bubble Ive got going on here... was thrown a curve ball this afternoon when I had to change rooms here in the hospital from the one Ive had since I was admitted 15 days ago to a new one on the other floor. Surprised at how anxious that made me feel, burst into tears once I was alone in the new room. Was able to breathe my way through that so I guess that is a positive.... trying to remain upbeat & positive about going home, will try to remember to take it one day at a time...

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

Jo3 — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:37:42 GMT

Dear Mrs Cam

This is exactly how I felt when I left hospital. The day before I left I had a terrible panic attack and cried. I remember feeling so overwhelmed leaving my safety zone, my room, my own space - to go back home to my family. It sounds silly but that's how I felt and I can understand totally how you are feeling.

I wish you all the very best on your discharge and hope you continue getting better.

Take care, looking forward to hearing from you again once you're home.

Jo xx

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

--Danny-- — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:49:53 GMT

Hi MrsCam, have u had a really good & positive experience from your stay in the clinic? Hopefully you're doing well when you return home 🙂

Best wishes,

Danny

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

AGrace — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:58:55 GMT

Hi Mrs Cam,

Sometimes there's nothing worse than change when you already feel a little anxious. Hopefully moving rooms gave you a bit of practice at stepping out of the safe zone.

I'm glad you're heading home Tuesday and congratulations on being discharged Saturday. Not sure if the clinic have done this with you, but a good relapse prevention plan might be something ususeful to work on over the next couple of days. It can also be worthwhile to think about what will be waiting for you when you get home? Will the house be messy, will there be laundry to do? Will there be mail to collect, or bills to pay? Is there someone who could help with these things? Also how will you schedule your days when you return?

Hopefully planning for these things takes a bit of the stress out of going home.

I wish you all the best.

AGrace

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

MrsCam — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 13:59:57 GMT

A good day today, and very much looking forward to seeing my hubby tomorrow.

Have talked alot in group about relapse prevention as well as the need to ease back into life with baby steps so that is the plan... will probably wait another few days before I go back to work

Thanks all for the supportive comments. Hope everyone has a good weekend

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

geoff — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 15:11:16 GMT

dear Mrs.Cam, I would think that they moved you into this single room on purpose in preparation for going home, as it would give you a feeling of being by yourself, as this is what is going to happen when you get home.

Is there an outpatient facility for you to go to on a weekly basis.

Take your time in getting back to work and perhaps on a casual basis if possible.

L Geoff. x

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

MrsCam — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 03:31:39 GMT

I was already in a single room as nearly all the ones here are, one of the other patients told me that it is quite common to be changed in the couple of days leading up to discharge so the staff can get an ideaof how you handle sudden change, though having said that I was still in the new admissions area so it is quite plausible that it was just that my former room was needed for a new admission...

This hospital does have an outpatient program though this is not really practical for me as I live so far away. My psychiatrist is going to hook me up with some workbooks I can use to continue my progress and I hope to get back into a weekly appointment with my psycologist through the rural in reach program same as I was before. I also have the 24hr phone number for the clinic here and have been told I csn call anytime to chat with one of the nurses.

Just chillin in the dining room now waiting for my hubby to arrive. I havent heard from him bout any delays so Im assuming his flight took off on time...

Hope everyone has a good weekend

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

MrsCam — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 07:43:13 GMT

Sitting in the departure lounge at perth airport trying to keep calm... I REALLY DONT WANT TO GET ON THAT PLANE!!!!!!!

Have already had a moment earlier today 😞

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

AGrace — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 09:03:38 GMT

Hi Mrs Cam,

I take it by the time you read this you will have already caught your flight, and possibly be at home. If that's the case...you did it!!!

I've been into hospital 6 times in the last 9 months and being discharged never got any easier. It helped to put some plans into place for what I was going to do at home, or to get out of the house for the first few days. We get quite used to a schedule when in hospital. There's breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and supper as well as the planned group therapies during the day. It can be pretty exhausting when the responsibility of these things finally falls on you. Take an hour at a time and only focus on filling that hour.

Is your husband going to be home with you for the first couple of days? Are you able to get friends or family to help with cleaning, preparing meals, washing, etc until you get back into a routine? Did you get to do any relapse prevention/crisis management planning before you left?

Finally welcome home, and enjoy some of the freedoms that it offers, your own bed, eating when you want, getting outdoors just to name a few.

Let us know how you get on.

AGrace

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

MrsCam — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:34:25 GMT

Hi AGrace,

I am in fact home now, had my teary moment on boarding but after that I was ok.

My hubby has tomorrow off work and we will be going into visit at my work to discuss my return. We also have some plans to organize some stuff around the house that will help me in getting routine happening as well as setting up my relaxation spaces.

On thursday I have an appointment with my gp then I am going to morning tea with a few girlfriends, looking forward to that.

My relapse prevention plan is to obviously take my new meds as scheduled and to work on my self esteem as well as building my strong foundation. I plan to do this by creating a routine which will include work, study, chores, social time, self nurture, leisure time & relaxation time... it all made good sense when my therapist discussed it so Im hoping I can implement this into my life

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

AGrace — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:45:03 GMT

That's great it sounds like you've got a great plan in place. Keeping on top of everything we have to implement can be challenging.

Good luck with this week:)

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

Jo3 — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 22:34:24 GMT

Hi Mrs Cam

Sounds like a really great plan you have. Just remember - little steps, one day at a time. Don't push yourself too hard.

Looking forward to hearing how you go.

Take care

Jo xx

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

geoff — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 23:58:08 GMT

dear Mrs. Cam, please take it easy, because you have to remember that you are coming out of a controlled environment with nurses on hand 24/7, to back home, and have all the various phone numbers available if you need to contact someone. L Geoff. x

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

MrsCam — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 02:42:28 GMT

just been to see my boss. am starting back at work next monday. before I went away to Perth I was doing 3 full days each week but I am going to try doing 5 half days now to see how that goes. I think having the routine each morning will be good for me and half days shouldnt be too tiring. am going to be starting at 7:30am which may be a challenge as my night meds make me drowsy and I got in the habit of waking at that time when I was in the clinic but I will give it a go next week and see what happens. did discuss this concern with my boss and she said if I find it too hard then we can change it again so Im quite comfortable with that.

glad i got that over with as i was feeling quite anxious about going in there

hope everyone is having a good day 🙂

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

--Danny-- — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 12:00:11 GMT

Hey MrsCam, it sounds like your kicking some goals..well done mate!! I'm really proud of you..bouncing back, soldiering on & not giving up! You are a champion!! Keep up all this fantasic work!!

Best wishes,

Danny

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

MrsCam — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:17:14 GMT

first day back at work today, just doing half days at the moment... was quite anxious as I walked over there but once I got started it wasnt too bad... was totally drained and exhausted by the time I got home at half twelve... hope this is going to get easier...

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

AGrace — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:53:27 GMT

Hi mrs cam,

What a huge step. How was everyone with you at work? I hope you got a war welcome back. It's understandable that you would feel exhausted after your first day, with the hours and the anxiousness. I'm sure it will get easier for you. It's good that you're limiting it to half days to ease back into working.

Sounds like a bath and a warm drink should be on the cards for when you get home each day;))

AGrace

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

MrsCam — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 12:15:56 GMT

Thanks for your reply. The team were quite welcoming which was nice. They actually organized a surprise lunch yesterday for my bday which was on sat. I thought I was going for lunch with one of the girls and when I got there most of the crew was there. Was a really nice surprise and I think it actually helped relieve some of my anxiety bout going back today....

Took it fairly easy this arvo, was showered and in my pj by 4:45 lol

next phase of recovery... feeling a bit anxious...

geoff — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 16:34:55 GMT

dear Mrs.Cam, a great birthday surprise, and the team obviously know how you have been feeling and what you have and still going through.

In pj's by 4.45pm on probably on a raining and cold day outside, nothing better.

Please take it easy and remember to leave work if you anxious. L Geoff. x