when is it time for hospital

I've just popped on to say Good night @outlander, did you get a hold of @Former-Member? Sorry your feeling sick and aching, what do you do to distract yourself at these times? If it helps imagine I'm sitting next to you - if it helps imagine your Nan is sitting next to you - what would she say to comfort you?

Hey @outlander

Sent you an email.

Sending you thoughts of strength!

Hi @outlander - we are all here for you. You are not alone. Have a think and visual lying under the Milky Way. Am here holding your hands and squeezing them a little. I am here my friend to help you sleep, to help you not worry about the tests and needles 💕

Hi @outlander

I hope you managed to get through the night ok. I know how difficult nights can be, when there is no one around. Please keep in mind that there are helplines that are open during the night, beyondblue to midnight and lifeline to 4am if you prefer the online chat option (which I do as I cannot pick up the phone in the middle of the night and wake people up) - Sydney times. And you can call them 24/7.

I have complex PTSD too. It is difficult to find the right support, try contacting blueknot to help you find better support. They also have great publication for you to understand complex PTSD. Try not to worry too much about the other diagnosises (is that a word?) you are getting. I have a list of them, but my treating team has explained to me they are SYMPTOMS of my complex PTSD, not alone standing disorders. I developed them to cope with the trauma I experienced. Also remember it takes time to get the right diagnosis, I don't think they are to the bottom of all my issues yet, because it depends on how much I share with my treating team. They have also recently added dissociative disorder, which freightened me, but they said again, it is a SYMPTOM not a disorder that needs different treatment, it is very usual to have with complex PTSD. And they have only just told me that after a year of treatment, so I would not care much for people who just randomly diagnose after knowing you for next to no time.

I have been scared so many times by what doctors and therapists have said to me and I had a bunch of incompatible doctors and therapists along the way and some wrong diagnosis (one diagnosed me with bipolar...). I call them incompatible, because they might be the right fit for someone else, but were not for me. I don't fit the 10 session model, where the psychologist drags out the session and I get heaps of homework and have to challenge how I think. I tried that and it did a lot more damage than it helped. I have a social worker who spcialises in trauma counselling and I see her weekly and there are no set session, homework is always optional depending on how I feel and if she has to take a session to make me feel comfortable with a new symptom, a new word or just something I misunderstood, she will. I am paying for my social worker privately, as my health fund doesn't cover social workers and I have run out of sessions, but I have also previously seen a counsellor at the Benevolent society before, and I felt so much better in their safe little haven than at any of the psychologists I have seen - if you have the Benevolent society, or any other organisation, ask for help, the Benevolent society offers free counselling, but there may be a waiting time.

@outlanderyou are strong, so strong to start tackling your issues now. You are so young and it will be so beneficial for you to address your issues now. Take your time finding the right support team, don't forget to look for a GP you can trust, mine has been a gem as usually GPs are more available than mental health professionals. Have patience my friend and don't give up. I can see so much strength and I am glad you finished year 12, don't worry about the results too much, and you are doing things now as well. You can do this and we will be here for you as well.

Take care and stay in touch x