Bella1978Senior Contributor
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Seeking mutual support from carers
456 replies
In response to: Seeking mutual support from carers
Unknown userMember
Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
It is an ongoing concern for many carers when their loved ones are not doing so well. We can feel ever so helpless.
In relation to the pdoc, providing the patient has capacity - no matter how illogical this may seem to us - patient consent for any treatment is required - their body, their decision (exceptions apply for emergency situations)
Treatment orders have strict criteria and indeed should do so. Mental health acts were introduced to protect vulnerable patients from dreadful treatments and conditions. With our present laws, a treatment order can be a life saver but is not always the best course of action and is reserved for patients who are severely unwell - the criteria is set out in the MH Act and I have attached links for carer explanation of WA MH Act for you. Note: The mental health act does not apply to private psychiatrists in private practice.
As mum is actively getting help, she is being monitored and that is a huge step, but the refusal to report increased distress can be frustrating.
It is important to remember MI is cyclical and that every low does not mean things are critical (although after crises we can fear the worst)
- But it is important to keep an eye on things and report changes to pdoc
-be aware that some changes in MI can be due to other medical conditions and will often resolve with treatment if that condition.
- just another thing, as patients age, extra care needs to be taken with psych meds, often pdocs do not explain this to carers and it may or may not be a factor with your mum.
Purposeful caring is one term I like to use, mhr4c.com.au describes this is as when you consciously use active coping strategies and accept the changes that caring has made to your life. You continue to be affected by change, but have the skills to face new situations with confidence.
You have stepped back from ‘over caring’ and are able to focus on your own life and relationships. You can make informed decisions about your caring roles and accept the outcomes of your decisions.
You are able to acknowledge and manage your emotions and can set health boundaries in relationships. Above all, you find meaning in the caring experience.
Emotions commonly experienced include pride (in self); anger; frustration; acceptance; hope; worry; love; grief; and compassion
(The mhr4c.com.au site is terrific, it is a diy course for mental health carers, Qld based but helpful for us in other States)
https://www.carerswa.asn.au/articles/news/mental-health-act-2014-a-summary-for-carers/
https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/media/1436/family-and-carer-handbook-to-the-mental-health-act-2014-version-2-1.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjb0MuD3rDaAhXJe7wKHYXOD_wQFjADegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw0iIFOM2NA6KKEzb0s9bzm6
https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/media/1458/mental-health-act-2014-information-for-private-psychiatric-hostels-1.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwidtp_83rDaAhVGfLwKHUy6CfkQFjACegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw1fu9CEoUMWMNF0kwKGaCqA
In response to: Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
Bella1978Senior Contributor
Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
@Former-Member
hey Darcy, thank you so much for your reply *hugs*
and yes, i have started reading up on the mhr4c website - i find the caregiver v caretake roles very interesting and comparing it to how i deal with things. and also thank you for the links.
and yes, as you say mum is actively getting help which is a relief. my thing is that i am trying to pull back a bit. it is hard but something i know i need to do. but when i do see her not report the changes in herself (whether it be denial or she genuinely does not see them) it is heart breaking, and yes as a daughter, i feel useless.
you mentioned that the mental health act does not cover people in the private health system. i didnt know that, i would have thought the one act would cover all mental health patients. so the act wouldnt cover my mum's situation.
she has been up and about a little bit this morning which is nice to see. will have to take the day as it comes.
how are you @Former-Member?
ps - thanks again for taking the time to send me such a detailed message xx
In response to: Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
Bella1978Senior Contributor
Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
@Former-Member
In response to: Seeking mutual support from carers
Bella1978Senior Contributor
Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
@CherryValentine
hey sweets, i noticed you hadnt been online for a few days and im sorry i didnt check in with you. have been consumed with mum of late - surprise surprise lol
yep, i understand that feeling - you try to look after your mental health and be there for someone else, it is natural that something gets left behind, ie physical health - been there done that. but there is only so much we can do at once and we prioritise the best we can, but sometimes to our own detriment. i am so happy that the physio has been able to give you some help, and show you some exercises you can do at home. speaking of exercise, i should get off my toosh and go walkies hehe .. just catching up on messages at the moment 🙂 much more important hehe
wow, motorbike accident luv, did you sustain a lot of injuries?
meh, im ok. finally got mum to psych yesterday (my uncle convinced her to go). he has added an anti psychotic med to take with her anti depressant. he wants to see her in a week and we will take it from there. i am trying to pull back a bit and let her do her own thing. keeping my fingers crossed.
ive gotten back into my mosaics which im pleased about. seeing the crafts thread on the LE forum helped me get my mojo back hehe. ive also put some pics in there and there are some on this thread too if you would like to have a looksies 🙂
what do you have planned for today? its 12.50pm here, meh, would be good if i did something, cant be bothered bleh
xxx
In response to: Seeking mutual support from carers
Unknown userMember
Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
I understand a little where you are coming from as Mr D is not good at reporting his distress either. This talk helped me in relation to knowing how to report things to pdoc.
https://youtu.be/NRO0-JXuFMY
To clarify the Mental Health Act does not cover private outpatients in private psychiatry practices - I did attach link for private hospital guidelines.
In response to: Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
outlanderSenior Contributor
Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
wow @Former-Member that is a really brilliant response! i am sure thatll help many readers here too!
In response to: Seeking mutual support from carers
Unknown userMember
Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
In response to: Seeking mutual support from carers
outlanderSenior Contributor
Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
In response to: Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
CherryValentineSenior Contributor
Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
xx
In response to: Seeking mutual support from carers
Unknown userMember
Re: Seeking mutual support from carers
Hey @Bella1978 the tiles I did were attached to a backing. I went looking to see if I could find the sort of things we made, and discovered that yes, it is now called mosaicing! Well then, i was going to say 'who knew', but you did!
I agree that seeing other crafts kicks the inspiration into gear, for sure.
Glad your mum went to the gp with you. I am not a carer anymore, have done that work previously for a time though.
The important thing to remember, to really understand, is that it's not YOU they are acting badly toward, even if it's directed at you. It's the situation they are angry at and with. Angry, frustrated with the conditions they have found themselves in, especially if once they were active and able and oh so capable, the change from being able to do for yourself to having to ask someone to help you with small things and big things is so humiliating. So humiliating.
With your mum too, given her age and the state of things around mental health in the distant past, she will be very afraid of 'being locked up' in an institute. The best information you could probably tell her about that not being a possiblity (as long as it's true for her situation) is that there simply isn't enough beds in mental hospitals for them to keep her there for very long.
Very basic fact is what might reach her to be able to satisfactorily shift her perpective on when it's a good time to ask for help. If she knows 'they' are going to help her get stable, then let her come home, it is liikely to help her come to terms with accepting the help she needs.
@outlander some of this might be relevant to how gnarly your pop can be too, which I'm actually sure you already know!
I know myself how really, really hard it is to ask for help with the physical things I can no longer do due to health impacts because I was so active, so independent. I'm learning to ask before lifting things that are too heavy now though!