Hi everyone, I'm back.

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone, mb20lover here. I wasn't sure where to post this.

It's been a while since I was on the forums, so I just wanted to make a post saying that I'm back. However, I'll try my best to limit my time, comments, etc on here.

I won't bother tagging anyone, and I'll try to keep this as my only open thread that I have created.

I've missed everyone I've spoken to on here, and I hope to talk to some new people. I have been using my offline supports - my Psychiatrist, GP, Parent support of course, and a Social Worker. I'm in the process of finding a Psychologist but I'm having no luck.

Anyway, I just wanted to pop in and say hello, and also I hope I haven't upset anyone on the forums or anything like that because nothing was intentional, so I deeply apologise.

An update on me, I recently turned 21, can't do much with COVID though, it's a hard year for everyone unfortunately.

I also have a milestone, an achievement, I've been seeing my Psychiatrist for a year which is the longest I've stayed with a therapist. And I also finally have a GP I feel comfortable with. I'm on different meds that seem to be working a little but I still of course have my moments, but these meds I've been on the longest for out of any of the ones I've tried.

Other than that, please don't feel pressured to comment anyone, although it would be nice to connect with some people, old or new, but like I said that's okay. I just wanted to check in.

If you've read this and made it this far, thank you. Stay safe and take care everyone, as much as possible with the unfortunate COVID circumstances.

Thinking of all the Beyond Blue Mods & Users. I've missed everyone.

- mb20lover.

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hey Tay

Your post you wrote a couple of days ago really resonated with me, because it's so hard to describe those feelings we get, and to know what to do with them. And sometimes distractions help but those thoughts and feelings sit there in the background anyway. It's hard hey? Real hard. Good on you for being able to sit with it, and to be able to come in here and share that with others. You're always real supportive here, and people want to support you right back. Sending hugs

Katy

[HamSolo01]

Hey Tay/mb20lover

Just wanted to say I am here to sit with you and support you like many here but I just don't really know what to say other than that

Take care and it has been nice following along for the past few days since meeting you 🙂

[Jstar49]

Hey Tayla,

I'm sorry your feeling confused and upset. Please don't talk about anything you're not comfortable with, I'm sorry if information which was probably meant to clear up my own lack of understanding, put you in a difficult position.

You don't have to explain anything here.

Maybe it would help if we didn't talk about your appointments etc so much? I understand it's really hard for you at the moment and I'm just trying to understand better by asking questions.

I like hearing about your chance encounter with the MB20 fan, did you see him again?

I remember once when I had some flowers in my hair a guy stopped me in the street and started singing that song to me...'I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair..' .....!!! OmG! I think I was a bit in love for a while!

Cheers,

J*

[Guest_1643]

Hey Tayla

I have empathy for what you're going through as navigating the MH system is very hard

There is a lot of difficulties in it

I'm sorry you're going through a rough time and hope u feel better soon.

[Croix]

Dear Tayla~

I apologize for the confusion, that post was to Jstar49, I only included your name afterwards as a courtesy as it is you thread.

I'm sure you are more than aware of the various roles they all are supposed to play, sadly it often does not work out that way at all. Many take the attitude "as much as the market will bear" when charging and the ones that bulk bill or only charge a nominal fee on top are swamped as a result.

Unfortunatly if I or anyone else here knew a way around these problems we would have sung out a long time ago and I'm sure you are as competent in dealing with these problems as anyone here.

I was lucky, many are not.

One of the things that may help is some distraction, (which I have probably said before). A time each day when one can look forward to something pleasant. It can be hard to remember what those have been, however when you do and there's a time you can expect circumstances to fade away for a little while it does help.

Do you think that is practical? Maybe it is something you already do.

Croix

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone, I'm sorry I'm just replying now. I haven't had much energy and haven't really felt like responding here. Nothing personal. Firstly, I'm sorry if I upset anyone, it wasn't intended. I'll try to reply to everyone's comments in 1 reply, otherwise it'll have to be 2 or more if it doesn't fit.

Sleepy - I do see a Social Worker ocassionally, whenever I can get in to see her really. She's nice but doesn't really help much, just someone to talk to I guess. I see her towards the end of the month. Good idea with the daily med tracking, I'll have to try that and research how you do it. Sorry to hear you've had a bad experience with the MH field, thanks for understanding though. It can be easy for some & difficult for others which really isn't fair.

Katy - thank you for the kind words. Sorry to hear that my post resonated with you, but in a way that's somewhat comforting that you're not alone, same with everyone on the forums. Your profile picture is so cute by the way.

HamSolo01 - hey there, thank you. Nice to meet you too and I'm here to support you also. Thank you for saying hello on my thread.

Jstar - I don't mind talking about appointments. I guess I was just upset over something, not so much on the forums. I come on here for my own sanity and to try and support others, and something for me to do. As I mentioned earlier, I'm sorry if I upset anyone, I really didn't mean to.

Croix - it's ok. I'm sorry if I got upset etc. I try to distract myself by walking daily aswell as looking stuff up to buy or whatever, organising some things in my bedroom (although I need to clean), stuff like that. It's weird I know. The thoughts are still there though.

I also have a question please, no pressure to answer, I'm just a bit confused on what to do.

So I saw a Psychologist on the same Telehealth company as my Psychiatrist before Christmas. She was ok. She said before Christmas she'll be in touch with me somehow about another appointment. Of course I understand the holidays & people taking time off, but I still haven't heard from her, and it looks like she's back judging by the appointments that have come up. Even if she doesn't have any until a certain time, I'd rather know that because that's being kind, rather than being ignored.

So I was thinking of seeing another I've found a few more that specialise in more things I deal with, such as grief, PTSD, etc. and I found 2 that do the EDMR or whatever. Idk if that would help me. I'm not trying to constantly change

[Guest_1643]

Hey Tayla - no problems at all

That's cool that you see a social worker. Just was mentioning that there are diff types of social workers, some of them practise very similar to psychologists, and offer psychotherapy which I thought you were keen on getting from recs from the doctor.

Good on u for looking into all the options you sound very proactive. That's great self-care to just be curious and asking and researching them.

P.s. I'd also be considering changing if someone said they would get back to me and didn't. It could be a one-off lapse, but it's best to have a therapist whose organised and reliable, in my opinion.

[Guest_4643]

Hey Sleepy, thanks for the kind words.

I'm not sure if my Social Worker does Psychotherapy, I'd have to ask her. I don't think there's any way I can find a profile on her online or whatever. She's like 50-60 anyway, but she's a nice lady.

And yes, I was going to see this Psychologist again because she was ok, but she hasn't contacted me at all, or even her "team" at her office. I understand they may be busy but they could at least call/text/email.

I found 2 like I said that to EDMR or whatever it is, so I'm looking into those. 1 is a guy, and he has a few appointments, but I think that's because he's new to the Telehealth company.

I can't even call the company until Monday because no one's in the office or anything. I see my GP on the 11th, I'll ask him aswell, see if he can look them up and go from there.

Can a GP pick a Psychologist too that they think may be suitable? So what I mean is if you find say 2 and you wanted to pick 1, and you showed them their profiles, they could do a referral and pick which one seems the best for you? My GP referred me to a local one a few months back but that person wasn't taking new patients at at all.

[Guest_1643]

Hey Tayla - totally understand

I was suggesting that in looking for a psychologist you could expand your search to ones that also include social workers, if they are psychotherapists, they offer very similar services, regular therapy etc.
They would see ppl more than once a month
There are diff types of social workers - some are more distant, but some who are clinical MH social workers are like psychologists, but they are trained differently, which means they have a different approach to certian matters. Psychotherapy is usually offered more regularly than once a month. Not sure how often the previous psychologist you saw sees ppl, but I was just suggesting this and u were seeking more support and said you'd had bad expereinces with psychologists.

[Guest_1643]

Sorry if you didn't want advice - my experience has been seeing social workers as psyhotherapists - I actually thought I was seeing a psychologist as the treatment was the same. Counselling, strategies, narrative therapy, CBT, ACT etc ..

Gps can recommend psychologists and often do but if u find one u like better u can also choose urself

Not all psychologists do EMDR or believe in it but many do.

Hope u find someone good!!