Sad and stuck

Hi Sadshark,

I'm sorry to hear about the place you are in at the moment.

firstly hand on in there for the two months, the private sector if very different from the public and they are equipped to help you better.

They can do medication changes while you are an inpatient so they can monitor you, and depending on which private hospital you go to they can offer different treatments.

Obviously I don't know where you are from, but the hospital I attended (Pinelodge, Dandenong) offer TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation), this is now becoming a major help to people as it is non invasive, unlike ECT.

But your treatment should not stop there, day groups are available after discharge and these groups can help talk about your problems and give you tools to help.

They use some mindfulness as well, and before you think omg that sounds like rubbsh, that was my exact thought too, but I gave it a go as I was in a very dark place, 18 months later here I am, feeling a lot better, life has a possative outlook and I have learned to live with today, not the past and can predict the future.

I hope this helps you in some way and gives you some hope to hang in there.

I know people who have been to Melbourne clinic and say it's good.

Not wanting to knock any of the help lines, but I have been told beyond blue is the best.

Do what you need to do to get through the 2 months, all the services are there for that reason.

You have already taken some control by getting private insurance, please hang in there as you will be surprised at the help you will now get.

fortunatly or unfortunately I am speaking from experience, I was in ICU 18 months ago and I now look back and wonder why, life has changed so much and I have the medical team around me to thank for that.

Keep fighting, you're worth it

@SadShark

I think its great that you have got yourself some private health insurance. I too suffered from a severe bout of depression and I am slowly getting better. I've had three admissions into hospital over the last 22 months.

I am not sure what you do during the day or if you work etc. I would try to plan some of your day not every day though because I find if I plan too much I get overwhelmed by it even now but everyone is different. I think its important that you focus on your health and doing some self care. Could you schedule an appointment with your GP weekly or twice weekly until you get your private insurance.

Some things that have helped me

Exercise goals

Gym sessions

Walking my dog

Social activities (walking once a week with friends, lunch & movie outings, coffee, theme park etc)

Grocery shopping and planning healthy meals

TV and Watching movies

Going for a drive

Visiting family/friends

Running a household (mowing lawns, washing, cooking,gardening, cleaning, stocking up on supplies,paying bills, servicing equipment etc)

Downtime

Beach Walks

Doctors Appointments

Some of these activities have a specific time & schedule every Tuesday at 5.pm I have my exercise physiologist appointment). In general I try to have at least one activity every day or at least most days. And you might include something nice you do for yourself every day. Sometimes its good to break up the routine too.

You could write up a schedule for the next few weeks in your diary or just take it each day as it comes. What as helped me waiting to go into hospital was knowing I had planned activities. You could also start to prepare to go into hospital and even start to get your bag ready early. Because I know when I have gone in to hospital, I have liked to have everything done beforehand etc a clean house, lawns mowed, bills up to date, items I may need in hospital, or anything else I may need to do.

I've not been into Melbourne clinic but if you can travel there are some great clinics in Australia depending on what you need- South Pacific Private, Cairns Clinic. I like the sound of both of these clinics.

@SadShark Hey matey, just checking in with you to see how you're doing