Introduction - Hello Everyone

[Guest_498]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum. I'd like to introduce myself. I'm 40 years of age, female. My interests include music (any genre), reading a great novel, watching comedy, Restuaranting, and learning new things. I suffer from depression and anxiety. Depression feels very lonely for me. I'd like to reach out for some support. Thank you.

[Guest_498]

Hey miss tenacious Monkey & brilliant Ems,

You are brilliant and Monkey, you are so motivated & tenacious!! You're both strong, beautiful ladies. You are brilliant, and this reflects your children - one saving for a car, the other a home and they're in high school. A credit to you, Ems. The son who moved out to live with a toxic family will learn. Allow him to make his own decisions (right or wrong), allow him to grow and learn the lessons of life. This is character building and with the values you've taught him (the brilliant Ems), he will have his wits about him. When he falls, he will return to you, and you'll be there with open arms. If only my mother was the same when I was his age. My mum treated me horribly.

Monkey, if you can get support and hear stories from other patients of the same hospital, you could start a class action. You can't sue the mental health industry as a whole - there are highly trained, good, and capable mental health workers in the industry. It is just unfortunate for you and me to have encountered evil and bad ones. For me, I encountered criminals who did wrong by me and are now trying to cover up. They won't get away with it. The ppl who mistreated you won't either - you need to lodge complaints after complaints and as you were an involuntary patient, your first point of call is the Independent Mental Health Commissioner. Keep lodging complaints. Don't give up. I cannot lodge with them, although I complained to them, they referred my case to legal aid. I find they were more helpful and knowledgable than the Mental Health Commission. Utilize this Commission, Monkey before you consider any legal action.

Enjoy your weekend beautiful ladies. xx

[Guest_498]

Hey Ems,

My old flatmate is round, not flat ahahaha - he actually has a nice body, I just never noticed it before. Yeah, we watched a movie together. He came 'round with chocolate ice-cream knowing that I was feeling flat. He is sweet. I told you that we were going to remain, friends, after he left. Again, I did most of the talking lol. I spoke about my problems with family and the mental health institution and what they did to me. He was gob-smacked and astonished!! He also knows that trust is an issue for me. But I trusted him enough to have told him. He said "but you're so sweet"... "how could they do that"? He knows me more than any of these toxic ppl would ever know.

Strange that you asked about butterflies .. the ironic thing is, I do like butterflies but scared of them. I think they're really pretty and symbolic of my life. I have a butterfly tattoo. They have two lives however not a long second life as a butterfly. I don't like caterpillars, I'm scared of them too. Catepillars spend their existence being ugly, hibernate in a cocoon to be pretty. Caterpillars are ugly and sluggy without vertebrae - ewww. gross. Theyre squishy and just yuck. OMG I'm soo getting the image out of my mind!! I had one inside my home the other night and I sprayed it dead. Gross. They're hairy, I hate the way they walk by humping .. omg Ems, I think I'm going to have a heart attack thinking about them. I've chosen to be cremated when I pass so that they can't get to me, or eat me.

Blubes.

[ecomama]

That's funny, I'd prefer to be buried in a cardboard box so they CAN lol.

I like creatures, except for cockroaches lol - I feed those to the chickens! I'm not too fond of poisonous spiders, the others are okay. They eat flies and attract birds so all good.

When it rains we go out and save the earth worms drowning in the soil and wriggling on the path and put them higher up in the garden. Leeches I'm not so fond of but I leave them alone lol.

We don't own fly spray or stuff like that.

I burn mozzie coils to keep mozzies away outside, but an overabundance of mozzies just tells us there's an underabundance of frogs... so we encourage frogs lol.

Circle of Life.

What's for dinner girls?
I chucked the left over lamb shanks in the crock pot early this morning with some beef stock.
I just pulled them apart just now and added some zucchinis and sweet potato noodles.
Not sure if we have any carrots... whatever's left over tonight I'll put in a thermos for lunch tomorrow.

Love EM

[Guest_498]

Worms and leeches? OMG Ems, don't even start!! Eww .. OMG!!! I didn't know that worms drown in soil when it rains. That explains why they come out to play when its wet. I never ever thought about that.

For dinner, I made a Spanish butter and garlic prawns dish (my ex was Spanish/ Australian - the one who put me through the court system). I got some prawns with the tails on from Coles. Cooked up some crushed garlic, chopped chillies (deseeded) in oilve oil and butter. Salt and paprika. Placed prawns in small oven baked dish (largish ramekin), pour in the garlic butter liquid and place in oven for about 3-5mins. Chop parsley on top. I used heaps of parsley - love it. Serve with fresh crusty bread and salad on side. Use the bread to mop up the garlic butter. Soo yummy.

I love love lamb shanks - one of my favourite winter meals. Sounds delish, Ems! Yum!!

Blubes

[Guest_498]

Hey Monkey,

I'm sure your hair looks amazing!! Ems, your hair sounds beautiful - stick with her (hairdressers). Monkey, the colour of your hair will settle and with few washes, it'll wash out and your hair will come good. But if you're not happy with it, go back there and ask that they do it again, if you want. I'm sure you look pretty as it is now.

You women are veritably so lucky though to be going to hairdressers - its something we all normally take for granted. I'm here stuck at home doing a home dye - eeekkkk! I'd rather a professional touch my hair thanks.

Monkey, you crazy woman (I'm using this word loosely, I've been called and accused of that, too remember, so just joking here) ... I love that you don't ever give up - you're just as resilient and brilliant as Ems. Please believe that you're braver and stronger than you might believe. 🙂

Gonna try get an early night now. G'nite brilliant ladies.

[Guest_1643]

hey bluberry, have just found your thread... 🙂

it's a nice and friendly one you've got here... good on u for starting and can see many people enjoying the discussion

i have cptsd - pretty much - the doctor said that there wasn't an exact diagnosis for me, not because i was unusual, but just because the diagnostic requirements for cptsd are very speicific. But he said, closest to CPTSD. some days i am annoyed with this diagnosis, other days i almost feel honoured... (that sounds twisted....) but i guess i feel like a survivor and that in some ways i can use my experience to come back to my normal place, my healthy place, and i sort of feel that trauma is something that people can and do heal from. I believe that.

How are you going with Melbourne lockdowns?? i'll be keeping an eye out for announcements and hope we can all share good news soon.... this has been such a difficult lockdown in our state! keep well x

[monkey_magic]

Hi Bluberry, Eco, Sleepy, all,

You have been eating dinners fit for a Queen!! The Queens that you are.

Me, oh, I just had a salad. With some added egg and salmon.

Now that I'm out of my whole cafaful I'm feeling reserved about complaining. While I was in it I wanted to complain to make it stop.
If I complain now I'll be making enemies out of the medical mafia...and that's scary. I don't want it all coming down on little old me again. And I'm sure it could backfire. They are built like that.
I think I'll just leave it and live my life freely.

I still feel really good it's over.

I've been called crazy before. Got the crazy girl award at a Christmas party.

Cheers Blubes for the other compliments.

I like caterpillars. I used to have silkworms as a kid, pick up black hairy caterpillars and love them crawling on my skin...I can hear you screaming from here Blubes.
I can be sensitive about the torture of insects. When mum sprays cockroaches with spray they suffer for ages- don't die straight away and I feel bad for them.

Getting used to my hairs...but it's really not what I asked for. Walked in blonde wanting my roots foiled to match, walked out light brownish...uuumm ok.

Bit pissed off but my hair extensions r blonde so when I clip them in I'll be two toned, should be ok.

Hi Sleepy,
As you might already know I've been held in mental hospitals against my will. I find them the opposite of healing. Would you go back to one? Do U get benefits from them?

[Guest_498]

Naughty & crazy Monkey,

When I think of a substantial salad for dinner, I too put boiled eggs and other stuff like salmon, chicken or prawns in it. So delish. Yeh, dinner was light and just right for me. These days, it's dinner for one, sadly. 😞

Your complaints will not backfire on you my dear, if anything it'll be on them, not you. You were their victim. The patient whom they've harmed. Anyway, it's up to you with what you can handle and what you can with live with. If you're happy just to be free from them, so leave it. Sometimes its really not worth the trauma and heartache to follow through. I will continue mine though - I won't give up. It'll set me free whatever the outcome.

Blonde? For some reason I've always imagined that you were a brunette. I'm brunette with long hair, layered and the end of my hair is tapered into a V shape, not straight cut. Okies, so now I'll have to restructure my thought of you being a blonde. lol.

Ewwwww - OMG!!! I'm all squimish thinking about caterpillars crawling on your skin! Thanks heaps, Monkey. Thanks for the vision. OMG.

Blubes xx

[ecomama]

Bluberry said:

Worms and leeches? OMG Ems, don't even start!! Eww .. OMG!!! I didn't know that worms drown in soil when it rains. That explains why they come out to play when its wet. I never ever thought about that.

lololol I started already! A world without earth worms would mean a revolting mess of animal excrement everywhere.... and the rest... They are GORGEOUS! lol..

For dinner, I made a Spanish butter and garlic prawns dish (my ex was Spanish/ Australian - the one who put me through the court system). I got some prawns with the tails on from Coles. Cooked up some crushed garlic, chopped chillies (deseeded) in oilve oil and butter. Salt and paprika. Placed prawns in small oven baked dish (largish ramekin), pour in the garlic butter liquid and place in oven for about 3-5mins. Chop parsley on top. I used heaps of parsley - love it. Serve with fresh crusty bread and salad on side. Use the bread to mop up the garlic butter. Soo yummy.

Ahem THIS needs to go in our Easy Peasy Recipe thread! I don't eat prawns intentionally - never liked them but apparently I'm also allergic to them by results of an allergy test lol! Never had an allergic reaction tho.

I love love lamb shanks - one of my favourite winter meals. Sounds delish, Ems! Yum!!

Blubes it was SO yum... I've never had left over lamb shanks sitting in the fridge before... I really didn't want to feed them to the dog lol.
I'd slow cooked them already on Friday in red wine and other stuff, but just got inspiration to put them in the crock pot with alot of beef stock to soften them up all day. I LOVE sweet potato noodles and they're gluten free too.
What a YUMMY lunch I had today. Felt pretty spoilt actually. I have 2 containers of it left for lunches this week. Great!

EM

[ecomama]

monkey_magic said:Hey Ems,all,

Wow, your place sounds so lively.
Sorry to hear of all the emotional pain you are going through.

My hair job isn't what I asked for. I asked for blonde foils in my regrowth to match the rest of my hair but after washing my hair of the foils she put the toner in then some other colour and my hair colour looks dull. Ummm...no striking blonde foils just some light browny grey looking stuff. Worst hair job ever.
Luckily I wear hair extensions when out. After a few washes I think the toner will wear off a bit so hoping for the best.

10 years off you Ems what a hair job well done. Now your hairdresser knows what she's doing.

Thankyou monkey. It's very painful... I just spoke with Uncle and NOW he understands why we were SO upset.
I only told a young person I work with about it today and she had the loveliest advice... to do things DIFFERENTLY to what her mother did lol.... her mum DID cut her off financially but also went NC for 4 years omg. No presents etc.
Nah not doing that lol.
Son took our Medicare card with him by accident... sighhh, I need it to sign kid's permission notes for school. Just a photo of it will do for now. But all the little things, not nice.
I started taking his things out of the room for storage downstairs, like games and archery gear lol... pretty sad. Can't do long periods of that. I just have to shut the door after a while.

Dear me... the difference between a good cut and a bad is a few days some say.. not sure about bad colour tho!
DO you use that shampoo and cond made for blonde hair? You know that purple stuff?
It's so funny using that but it might help the colour come out more blonde?
IDK I'm not a hairdresser.

The house is getting quieter all the time. None of my other kids left like that... none before had blindsided me at all, in fact I supported them to move out when they decided to and it was more "ceremonial" and far less cruel. Joyous not shocking. And timely too. More expected. Some with 6 months notice so we could gather ourselves and STUFF for them lol. 5 days & alot of tension, distress and confusion was NOT the way to do it.

Oh well it takes all sorts.

EM