Battles

@MissGremlin Hello my dear friend. How are you? I’m really sorry the GP is away. I am wondering if there’s any other GP in sane clinic you’ve seen before and might feel safe enough to contact? It’s just a question I’m sure if you felt safe enough with a back up GP you would have reached out.

How have you been the past few days? I am trying to catch up on the threads.

Hello @Cuddlebear my sweet, i won't see any other doctors cos of my anxiety.

The past few days have been really hard for me, I'm just trying to keep pushing through. (I'm safe).

How are you sweetheart?

@MissGremlin I totally understand about GP and I feel the same way.

I know it’s very hard sitting with all the thoughts and feelings. I realise you are on your own with Caspar and don’t have a f2f support system and you deserve that. I do know how that feels as I am in the same position. I am proud of you for pushing through. You will get through this one step at a time. I’m glad the forums won’t close during the public holidays etc. We will be able to keep in contact and provide love, understanding, support and encouragement.

I am very emotional and my body is shutdown. I can’t cope with anything and have no motivation. I just feel awful. It’s hot in Melbourne and the heat is really getting to me. I’m in such a hopeless situation but I’m safe.

@Cuddlebear my sweet, I'm so sorry to hear how you are feeling. Sending you so much love and hugs ❤️

I am doing well - noticing a definite shift in my mood when the sun is out!!

How are you feeling today? @MissGremlin

I know the MHCP appointment is still about a week away, but this might be a good time to look at all the things you'd like help with and see if they can fast-track your referral. Would you chat to someone via video chat if it meant you could see someone sooner?

Can you explore writing them down and sticking them on your fridge? They are such good strategies and many people need a visual reminder of their safety plan.💖

Ah, those voices!! We need to somehow let them know you hear them and understand them, but that you don't need them right now. @NightFury what would you suggest here? 🫶

@AuntGlow glad to hear you are doing well.

Today I'm not ok, not at all. I just feel like I'm spiralling so much today, I keep seeing pictures and posts pop up of my niece and it brings up all those big feelings again. But I'm safe for the moment and I'm working hard on keeping it that way.

My doctor is already aware of all the things I need help with and I know he'll push the referral through as quick as possible. I can't do video chat, I just can't, it's too much for my anxiety and it's also a big trigger now.

I've made up a container that's got all things in it for me to do plus fidget toys for when things get too much. It was @avant-garde that gave me the idea and motivation to do it after she started a thread. So that's sort of my reminder of things that I can do as part of my safety plan.

Hmm... @AuntGlow @MissGremlin I am no expert at this...

I would try something that I was taught once...

@MissGremlin the voices don't want you to create a safety plan, right?

Take the pressure off the language you use. We all used pressure language when it comes to doing things, or getting things done. But with a simple reframe of the words you use, it can take that pressure off...

So, it could look something like this...

Write out each step...

I need to write a safety.

I need to write a safety plan because I'm worried about my safety.

I should write a safety plan.

I should write a safety plan because I need it to keep myself safe.

I can write a safety plan.

I can write a safety plan to use when things are challenging and I feel unsafe in my body and mind.

I get to write a safety plan.

I get to write a safety plan because my safety matters and it's a way for me to soothe my nervous system, do some things that I enjoy and help me to cultivate safety in my body and mind.

With each statement you write give it a rating out of 10, how it feels, with one being calm, aligned and centered and 10 being overwhelming. As the pressure language is reworked, the aim is to reduce the overwhelm. It might also just reduce the pressure and the fear the voices have as well and work as a counter statement against them.

@NightFury thankyou so much for sharing this sweet ❤️.

You're welcome @MissGremlin

I think too...

Once you get a little more confident with changing removing the pressure language, you can also start to write a little note next to each statement...something like this...

I need to write a safety plan - 8 out of 10, churning stomach/solar plexus.

The solar plexus is the centre for personal power, self-esteem, confidence and will power. So...this tells me that the statement creates that overwhelm feeling because it's challenging my sense of personal power, or my self- esteem, or my confidence or...the distress originates from a point in my life where I've felt powerless, or have had low-self-esteem.

It helps you to understand where you feelings sit in your body and to understand what's happening for you, without going deeper and digging into those triggering memories. It acknowledges it.

It's probably a bit of woo-woo. @AuntGlow

Interestingly...my anxiety originates in my solar plexus....it's where it's strongest, sometimes to the point of being painful.

I completely understand why you would be feeling extra vulnerable with these memories @MissGremlin.

I am glad to hear you are keeping yourself safe.

He sounds great - this is very positive to hear! That's okay, video chat can be off the table. 🫶🫶

Oh, that is really lovely. A go-to container is a wonderful idea. What's in it at the moment?