Need help coping between Psychiatrist sessions

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone, my name's Tayla and I'm 20. Relatively new to these forums. I would really appreciate if someone can please help me and give me some suggestions/advice.

I have a Psychiatrist that I'm very thankful for, he's wonderful and everything I want in a therapist. He helps me and it makes me feel a bit better and sometimes a little happier and reassured while I see him. I do this through Telehealth because I'm in Regional Victoria and he's a 6 hour drive away in Sydney, so I've never met him face to face although it's pretty much the same thing. I would like to try and meet him in person some day though, but we'll see.

However, sometimes it can be a while in between sessions because I understand his busy schedule, he also has other commitments other than his Psychiatry work. But in saying that he does his job well and does what he says. So I find it really hard to cope until I see him again.

I see my GP also but I don't find her that helpful, personally. She's nice yes but not like my Psychiatrist.

I do come on websites like this, Lifeline, etc. to do web chats, and that's why I joined these forums.

I walk daily. I colour in and play a free colour by numbers app on my iPad called Happy Colour. Sometimes I'll read or write, or watch TV or movies, depending on if I'm in the mood. Other than that I don't have much to do.

Yes I have supportive parents and it's just them, my dog and I, I have no siblings, friends or other family members. I've tried so hard to join groups, get jobs, study, anything, and I'm always discriminated against (I don't know why), even by the local triage and local Headspace Centre. So I'm out of options and quite hurt. So basically I can't get any of those.

Please help and please reply. I really wish I could contact my Psychiatrist in between sessions but I'm not sure if that's allowed and how I can.

Thanks,

Tayla.

[Birdy77]

Dear Tayla,

It's good that your psych has reviewed your meds, and made some changes.

It can take some time for those changes to become effective, so you might need to tap into your reserves of patience during this time!

So you have another appointment with him on the 30th of this month, which is, lets say, just over 3 and a half weeks away, right?

I'm wondering, as it's not too long between now and then, maybe you could spend some time looking up some strategies and building a bit of a "toolkit" for yourself, to get by, between sessions.

Rather than ringing him via the hospital, which i think would be more for an emergency situation maybe? I don't know, but in your position, i would be wary of calling him, when there are other things you could do instead, and maybe try asking him on the 30th for some of his recommended strategies that might help?

Have you had a look through some of the threads here with strategies that work for people? Theres one at the top of the anxiety section i think, and there's Grandy's Grounding thread in the staying well section ... what sorts of things are you using at the moment to stay ok? I read you and Pepper chatting about mindful Colouring books, that's a great one!

And i know you take care of yourself by walking every day which is a wonderful way to look after your body and soothe your mind.

Do you like to do arty crafty stuff at all?

I hope you're having a good evening 😊

🌻birdy

[Guest_4643]

Hey Birdy, thanks for your reply.

Yeah it's hard to be patient and it's hard to tell if they're working or not, as in the actual tablet or have the dosage changed. It's a struggle, but I'm thankful to have him even if it's a long wait.

I'll give those suggestions a go, and yeah I guess you're right about calling the number, I haven't but I think it would be best to ask him, because like you said, I'd only call if it was something urgent so a question about meds or just well, you know, something happened? I respect his privacy and busy schedule and don't want to invade on that.

I made a new thread about struggling in between sessions too. I'll check out those threads aswell.

Yeah crafty stuff is fun. I don't have much motivation even to do stuff I need to do like clean (which is bad I know), I feel so lazy as much as I try to tell myself to do things, it's just so hard and that's a bad thing. Sigh.

Thanks again.

Tayla

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla sorry i have benn out all day on the bike,i just got home.The 30th probably seems along way a way for you but it will come around soon enough.You need to occupy your mine with something and know how hard it can be.Did the psychiatrist have any suggestions for you?I hope you dont get to stressed about ringing the number.

Take care,

Mark.

[Guest_4643]

Hey Mark, no need to apologise, no worries at all.

I hope you had a good day.

Yeah it is a long way away but you're right, it will come around eventually. My parents say the same about occupying my mind.

I usually just colour in or go for my walks. But I was thinking of reading some books I have like the one I told you about and watching movies I have since they're just sitting there. And/or doing a 1000 piece puzzle I have.

I can't recall if he gave me any suggestions but I'll ask next time, I have a few things I'd like to ask and discuss with him such as asking if I can call that number since I haven't already.

maybe other patients have called it or somehow got in contact with him outside of appointments, I really don't know.

Take care too,

Tayla

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla i use to do a lot of 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles.They took my mine of things.I have two motofbike ones here i havent done yet.I have a million things i should be doing around my place like finishing painting the lounge room and get my vegie garden ready for my winter crop.I really struggle getting motivated.I been trying to work out what cake to make my son for his birthday.I might make a figure 8 cake.

Take care ,

Your friend,

Mark.

[Birdy77]

Hi Tayla, hi Mark,

I completely understand about the lack of motivation. That is a big thing with depression, lack of motivation. Sometimes we have to just force ourselves to do even nice things, just to get things moving a bit.

Maybe, if you like crafty stuff, you could set a goal for yourself to start one project today, or even think up / find one craft project to work on? Or you could set a goal of sorting your jigsaw puzzle pieces into colour piles, and start working on the edges?

Just small goals to help move things along. It can help you to feel a shift sometimes.

Mark, i can relate to the gardening, i am in the process of fixing up my veggie patch as well, i need to get my garlic bulbs in this month. But it can all feel overwhelming when you have a lot of things on your to-do list - i feel like that as well, so many things around the house need attention, leaky gutters are one thing of many, i can hear them right now as it's raining hard.

I have a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle waiting to start as well. It's a photo of a rustic old wall in the outback, full of old numberplates nailed to it. What is your jigsaw puzzle a picture of?

I hope you both take good care of yourselves today.

🌻birdy

[Matchy69]

Hi Birdy and Tayla,I actualy started digging over my vegie patch a couple of weekends ago.I still need to dig in fertilizer, manure and compost but we had rain again this morning so it will be to wet to dig over at the moment.Tayla do you have a garden where you are?It nice to just get out in it.

One of the jigsaw puzzles i have is of a Matchless motorbike which is what my user name is short for.

Take care,

Mark.

[Guest_4643]

Hey Mark, sounds like you have a few things to do. Hopefully it gets your mind off things. What colour are you going to paint the lounge room?

Happy birthday to you and your Son whenever your birthdays are, I hope you both have a great day. The cake sounds lovely and creative!

No I don't have a Vegie or Fruit Garden at the moment but we have a bit out the back that Dad's working on to make it something like that, we're not sure yet. When I was a kid we had one though and I used to eat so much out of it that I wouldn't eat dinner, but at least it was healthy lol. Sounds like you have a nice garden!

Take care,

Tayla x

[Guest_4643]

Hey Birdy.

Thanks for understanding, and yeah I get what you mean. I try to push myself to do stuff and get motivated but it's difficult. But I get your point, thanks.

Hmm, interesting ideas. I've heard that there's a few crafty projects online, Youtube, magazines, anywhere so I'll have a look for some, see if I can get the materials or if I have any around the house.

Sounds like you have a nice garden too Birdy.

The jigsaw sounds nice! Mine is just one I got from a local indoor Market, it's just a nice photo of a garden with some Dogs in it from what I remember, there were heaps to choose from.

Tayla

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla my garden looks good after the rain i had.I have some Tangelos and lemons and mandarines on my tree.I am painting the lounge room some sort of pinkish cream colour.Thanks for the birthday wishes they are next wednseday and thursday.

Take care,

Mark.