Hello and welcome to the Sane Forum from a first time user

hi @MME

And welcome to the forums.

I can relate to what you were saying about the public health system and long wait times... I'm still waiting for surgery after three and a half years already. Plus I have a twelve month wait to see a specialist for another concern. More immediate, I had to wait a number of months for counselling and the horizon looked bleak - but I had some luck, and there were cancellations. I'm fortunate to be able to meet with a counsellor weekly now. Plus, I've recently signed up for Sane's guided service (which is a good fit), and used their phone service once or twice without delays... I went to the ER earlier in the year for a MH crises and waited so long that I drove back home and walked straight into my GP. Again, an instance of good luck, and the fact that reception there are sensitive to my situation and made it happen for me... 🙏

I can also relate to what you were saying in regards to anxiety, depression, dark thoughts and grief. I am dealing with the same debacled salad - and it is no picnic. I seemed to be getting a handle on things a little while ago, but then fell right back into the pits once more... I'm guessing it goes like this sometimes: two steps forward, one step back. To the left, to the right. Up, down, higgledy-piggledy- and hey presto! We're managing!! Yeah, right...

Anyhoo, thanks for sharing and reaching out. Hope you find a little help along the way.

Hi again, Thanks for your support. Re finding a new psychiatrist, I have tried 25+ Psychiatrists/Psychiatrists Clinics but none of them are taking new clients. I asked my GP for help and she was unable to find me a psychiatrist either. I did get an appointment with one at the beginning of the year, but as soon as he heard that I was a patient of the public system he literally threw his hands in the air and said "Acute, acute I don't do acute" and ushered me out the door. Still charged me the full price for the appointment though. I am on the wait list for a psychologist as well. No wonder the public system is swamped.

Life is hell and then you die.

you're right about one thing @MME : no one gets out of this alive (I think there's a song along those lines...?)

Tonight the moon is large and the air very cold. It's like an earth wide picture of an inside feeling. Add a few fracture lines here and there, call 'em cob webs or whatever...

I will see both my gp and counselling therapist tomorrow.

But I wanted to ask: how are tonight? Have you plans for the week remaining?

Hey @MME , welcome to the forum. I hope you find connection here.

Unfortunately you are right. The public system is overloaded and where I live (regionally) you literally have to have your gun of choice loaded and pointed at your head ready to fire it before you get any assistance. They just don't have the staff or beds or time or funding to deal with anything other than immediate crises.

There are a lot of helplines though, like the SANE one and Beyond Blue. I've found both of these ones helpful.

I hope you have a good week too. 🙂