Coping in the emergency department

[Centaured]

Sometimes in mental health crisis's we end up in the emergency department. And that totally ok, being safe is important.
but how do we cope with our crisis while waiting?
What are some helpful strategies you have found useful during your stay in the department?




I often get stuck in the emergency room waiting room overnight due to the fact there is no mental health team 24/7 where I live. I'm really struggling being here tonight. My usual strategies of listening to music isn't really working so I'm wondering if there is anything else I should try. Please note my concentration and attention is limited due to being in crisis. I feel trapped and stuck.
I wish lifeline text was 24/7 coz I could really use someone to talk to. Are there any other online options as I cant really call someone due to the nature of a waiting room.

[Guest_4643]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. Could you try and ask them to speed it up for you and say you're really struggling and need someone right now?

[Centaured]

I saw a psychiatrist through community mental health services today. He was nice, id seen him before in the emergency department so he knew me a little. It went ok.
I started an antidepressant in the psych ward 2 weeks ago and he increased the dose today and I'm getting off my antipsychotic injection and switching to the oral version which is a big win for me.

I've been pretty sick the last few weeks with some physical stuff to add to the already crap stuff going on. But Im hopefully on the mend now. I'm so sore and tired right now. Bed time I think.

[Centaured]

I'm tired. Not just physically but tired of fighting, tired with life.
They threw me in the psych ward last night. I guess it's my own fault, I called someone first.
There's a million things I've typed but erased. But I guess there's nothing left to say. There's just nothing anymore.

[Sophie_M]

Dear Centaured,

We're sorry to hear how much distress you are in and glad you are safe in a hospital. We know it's not easy to reach out like you have here today but it's important that you have.

As you know, while the peer support offered here is often quick, it is not immediate. For more immediate support please don't hesitate to reach out to our Support Service anytime day or night on 1300 22 4636.

Please keep reaching out here and offline whenever you feel up to it. With the right support, things can get better.

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Centaured....

Im sorry that you were thrown into the psych ward last night...you are in a safe place right now...I hope that they can help you..while your there..

Centaured...I had a childhood full of abuse..physical, mental, emotional and even sexual..the latter from my eldest brother...who is still alive...and he has lived the good life...unlike me.....Then to escape my parents home I married at 18..Well eloped really with the first boy that I met...only to go from the abuse at home to worse...after a few months I found out what living with a narcissistic monster was..for 38 years until he passed away....

The physical things have mostly healed, the mental/soul hurt hasn’t....It’s hard to get past the hurt of our damaged soul...everyday something reminds me of the abuse that I survived....but dear Centaured..Now I refuse to give them the rest of my life to control...even though they are not here now.....oh I didn’t care for a long time...I didn’t want to live with the constant pain of remembering things, I want to be free of that....People can trigger me so easily..so I isolated myself away from then.....

I turned to nature to heal my soul...When I get triggered I go outside and watch the clouds, listen and watch the birds..and the massive gum tree across from me...oh wow I have even sat their for hours...counting the leaves...until without really realising it..I grounded myself...Nature is now my friend...People hurt me...so bad..I find it hard to deal with people....and to be honest..I don’t really want to unless I absolutely have to....

Nature is my friend now..never hurts me..has a beautiful symphony of music...clouds that peacefully drift across the sky, The warm of the sun on my skin, feels like Nature is giving me a hug...and nature has the biggest best TV ever..never any repeats....

Probably I haven’t helped you much...but I just wanted to say that your not alone dear lovely person...Please don’t let your abusers take away the life from you that you still have...Please...Don’t let them win...You owe them nothing...especially not the remaining years of your life..fight for it.....let them go..throw them and your memories away....it’s hard and requires constant effort...but it’s do able....even if you have to count the leaves of a tree until those horrid memories go away...it’s well worth it..

Sending you my kindest and most caring thoughts..

Grandy...

[Centaured]

Grandy. Thank you for the kind words. I am glad you have found something to find solace in.

For me it is escaping the world through music. I try to get lost in the beats and the lyrics and find another world. Or find music that hits my soul and lets me feel my emotions safely.
Another thing is art. Ive done a few piece while in here - I did them for the students that had their last day yesterday. Art brings me into another space. Even if only a little while.


Today is a bad day.
Again.

[Sophie_M]

Hey Centaured,

Thanks for posting here to let us know how you're doing. We are so sorry to hear you are struggling with distressing thoughts and feelings today and at the same time, we can also really see that you have shown so much strength in being at the emergency to keep yourself safe. We can also hear your love for art and music and that you are a talented individual with lots to offer. We are so sorry that you are in a bad space at the moment. Please know that you don't have to go through this alone, and the caring, friendly counsellors at Lifeline (13 11 14) and the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) are always there for you to talk these feelings through, as often as you need during difficult moments like these. 
We are also checking in with you privately to offer extra support.

Please know that you are a worthy, valuable person and an important member of our wonderful community. You have been so strong all along and we are always here for you.

[Centaured]

Architects new album drops soon. Obsessed with their new stuff.....


"Goodbye,
all the doves have flown away
I must've lost myself, lost myself, lost myself
Fly high 'cause the ravens are here to stay
I must've lost myself, lost myself, lost myself in a cloud of
Dead butterflies, dead butterflies, dead butterflies, dead butter...."

These lyrics but me rn. Peace has flown away and the darkness is here to stay. I've lost myself.

[Ggrand]

Dear Centaured..

I tried to draw several times..never turn out on paper what I image in my head....I like looking at hand drawn pictures on the internet..some are that good that they look like photos..

Im wondering if you have ever thought of doing some drawings then stapling or gluing a few pages together and donate to a children’s ward in a hospital near you...so the children can colour them in to keep them busy while they are in hospital?.....

The lyrics to the song on your last post are so sad...Please try hard not to loose yourself...If I could sing without everyone running out of the room holding their ears....I would sing to you...A bridge over troubled Waters..because that what Beyond Blue and the community members are..they are our bridge..if we can continue to keep walking on that bridge..once we reach to the other side...maybe we will find some peace, some hope, some light...it is always better over the bridge...we can walk it together if you want to.....it might take a long time to get to the other side of the bridge...but I’m told it’s well worth it...

My kind thoughts dear Centaured..

Grandy..

[Centaured]

I'm not a very good drawer either grandy. I mainly paint and do scenery or just a bunch of mindful colourings pages.


For me bridges aren't safe spaces. But I understand where your coming from. I thank you for the support.


...I don't know how to function anymore. I'm just so tired. Being in hospital is making me worse. I just want to go home.
I'm done fighting. I'm done trying. I'm done talking. Im done with everything.