How dependent are you? Dependency on the system vs self-reliance.

[Donte]

This morning I woke up and the central heating in our building had broken down at some point during the night. When I turned on the shower, nothing but cold water was running for 20 mins. The heating is hydronic and I’m guessing that the two are related. Cold. Unable to shower. Started messaging my neighbors to see if their apartment is also affected. The whole building is down. Something with the main thermostat on the roof. Called the emergency number of our body corporate maintenance. Someone will look at it within 4 hours...better out some jumper on then and no shower this morning...

This made me think of how dependent we are on the system. Unable to chop wood and start a fire, hunt and survive, relying on others for everything in our man-made society from food to transport to communication etc.

The same attitude applies often to our health and our mental health. We rely on the system for diagnosis, prognosis, medication management etc. This is traditionally the western model of health care.

There is nothing wrong with this. We all operate within this system which is there to support us.

I’m just saying that in other eras and places perhaps things were different. What did people do then? How did they deal with crisis? What treatments were they exploring?

I’d like to hear about things that work for you in managing your stress, anxiety, depression, panic and moods etc. Things that you’ve learnt while growing up or from others of similar background that you incorporate in your daily routines whether they’re endorsed by the western mental health model of care or not.

Tell us your strategies. You may be able to help others along the way who may not be able to think outside the medical ‘square’ and rely solely on their doctors, medications and psychiatric or psychological interventions for their treatment.

[blueskye]

I agree! When it gets super hot (40 degrees and higher), I feel overwhelmed and a bit nauseous. I am heavily dependent on aircon and the fan during the heat. Without it, I will be upset!

Things that I try to do every day is to spend some time relaxing, which involves watching tv-shows or reading a book! It's where I don't have to use my brain much and I'm easily entertained/happy.

[Donte]

Thank you Bluesky,

I too love watching documentaries, especially gardening, houses, renovations, cooking and animal shows. I like reading when my anxiety lets me finish a page. Music, gardening, cooking and (believe it or not) housework relaxes me!

Walking the dogs, grooming them and playing with them grounds me and looking after my fish and maintaining my aquarium and gardens provides me with a satisfaction that is nurturing my spirit.

X

[quirkywords]

Donte

I like walking and getting out into the bush whic I am lucky is just across the road.

I just need to move , if I sit still for too long , I get restless,. I think moving stops me from overthinking. I have discovered I can't walk up hill and cry at the same time!!

I like hanging clothes on the line and mopping floors . I need routine.

Thanks for the thread.

[Donte]

Thank you Quirkywords,

What a great strategy!

Keep on moving! Keep active! Keeping routine! That sounds good. How beautiful to be in an environment where you are surrounded by nature! And what a great discovery: going uphill and crying simultaneously is not possible! (I never knew this). Brings to mind the song: ‘Running up that hill’...

I also love routine and structure up to an extend. Cleaning and doing chores while alone in my tiny apartment and playing music is my favorite activity when I get home from work together with cooking up new recipes!

Unlike you, I live in the inner city so I’m not fortunate enough to be surrounded by nature, however, I do enjoy having many beautiful parks around me and the beach close by. Walking the dogs and being in a park is one of the most calming activity for me. I find it invigorating and the difference in early morning or afternoon or evening walks is startling! The energy is different during different times of the day or night and I feel different too depending on the time I walk.

I find it fascinating how the exact same walk at the exact same park daily can feel so different and each time I discover new things to look upon and ponder: raindrops, dew, a flower, leaves, a butterfly or bee buzzing somewhere, a mushroom, moss etc.

Sometimes I like to put my headphones on and block everything and everyone out, other times I want to savor the sounds of the crickets, cicadas, and feel the heart of nature (even in that artificially made park), and be a part of it, one with everything.

This truly grounds me and reminds me of my place in the scheme of things and my connectedness with myself, my dogs and other animals and people around me and the trees, grass and earth that I’m a part of and it’s a part of me. X

[Donte]

One of the greatest things about the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) is that it recognizes that mental illness can be a psychosocial disability which causes impairments, limitations to various activities and daily restrictions related to mental health conditions that affect a person’s ability to live an ordinary life.

Of course, not all individuals with mental health issues experience psychosocial disability. Some individuals can function well between episodes but experience acute episodes that affect their daily life.

The NDIS is the biggest social reform since Medicare and has been established to give people with disabilities (including mental health conditions) greater choice and control over the supports they receive; and to create improved opportunities in the community.

Maintaining a recovery mind-set and self-care are critical during our journey to self-reliance and managing our health. Describing the impact of our mental health condition is a critical recovery skill. If we understand the NDIS system we can navigate it more successfully.

If you are not eligible for a funded NDIS plan there are other support systems in place and a right to review.

It is important to have goals and review your needs with your support team. Your NDIS plan will give you individual funding for reasonable and necessary supports to achieve your personal goals.

Support is available to help you select and coordinate your services, manage your funding package; and develop your independence.

The NDIS focuses on supporting people with psychosocial disability with their daily living, home, health and well-being, learning etc.

Our mindset is one of our most important assets on our recovery journey.

When we have a recovery mindset, we have hope, acknowledge and build on our strengths, set goals and take responsibility to care for ourselves and seek support.

Self care is about keeping our tank full - focusing on doing things that give us energy and avoiding things that drain it.

When we pack a recovery mindset we remember we are more than our mental health condition. We set goals, acknowledge and build on our strengths. Despite challenges we maintain hope. We take responsibility, look after ourselves and seek support when need it.

[Donte]

I don't have a tv in my lounge. I don't listen to the radio. I don't read newspapers. If there's a nuclear war out there I wouldn't know. Sometimes when I'm at my neighbor's and the tv happens to be on it makes me realize that nothing big is going on - no, actually, lots of big events are always happening in the world. People all around the world lose their lives, daily, many of them in tragic ways - train wrecks, ferry boats sinking, plane crashes. Civil wars go on with no end in sight, assassinations, rapes, terrible ethnic massacres. Weather shifts bring drought, floods, famine. Don't take me wrong, I deeply sympathize with the people caught up in these tragedies and disasters, but even so, not a single thing has occurred that has a direct bearing on me. So I carry on without a tv. Without the need to know. Whatever...