Journey Beyond Survival

by pink fingerprint I've been struggling to replace one part of my team.  The drug prescription part of it.  It struck me that in spite of my mental health education and google savvy I still have struggles getting what I need and want out of the mental health system. Six weeks of research, insurance, doctor calls and referrals and I still don't have a person with a prescription pad to call mine. ( update, I do now! ) So, I decided to write a post about it.  Not being 'normal' I do the next best thing.  I normalize. prioritize needs gender, specialty,  diagnosis, talk, insurance, cost See the link above for a post about what each need can mean for who you want in your corner. start small So, we're deciding between talking and medicating.  Not sure? See link above or go with talking and a therapist.  They are compassionate and do not usually have the highest price tag in the bunch.  A good therapist will guide a patient to other needed...

I've been seeing some people talking about pregnancy .  I've also found a new blog  talking about postpartum.  She even has a chat on twitter.  This has sparked memories, and unresolved thoughts. More and more this topic is near and dear.  I just feel for that scared young woman I was, and for the others out there that don't know how to navigate the waters of mental health in and around childbearing. All women need to be aware of their mental health.  It is the barometer of life. Here are my top ten warning signs that mental health needs attention: 10.  Seclusion Friends and family who used to be welcome are no longer so.  Going out becomes oppressive, insurmountable. Unwelcome visitors cause a meltdown after they leave instead of annoyance. 9.  Intrusive thoughts. The thing about a lot of symptom lists is that they sound so detached and sterile. Intrusive thoughts can actually mean that cupcake calling like a siren wooing.  ...

I've been worried lately. I can't sleep easily. I've had kids disrupting my sleep. I've had bouts of insomnia dealing with 'brilliant' ideas. I'm buying things I want. That I deserve and have been putting off for a long time. But a lot at once. These are manic or hypomanic symptoms, since they aren't really disrupting my life. Yet. Nor will they. I'm nipping them in the bud. Gently, because I have been very restrictive in my budget for myself. But also because I've been fighting these overwhelming feelings that I'm a failure. Like no matter how long I stay on the hamster wheel nothing ever gets better in my life. So many things aren't going right. My blogs (three now, HELLO jbs) are all experiencing a few technical difficulties. That takes my time. I'm exploring a new schedule that lets me have a little spiritual/meditation time. That is hard. This makes me in a mixed state which I think you'll agree is pre...

I get asked about psychosis quite a bit. People are fascinated with the actual break from reality. Horrified and yet unable to look away. What I find much more important, is how NOT to get there. I find that most books about mental health are either too sterile or they are condescending. At least, I do now. When I am desperate I buy a bunch of books and try to make their assessments fit myself. The books do help me gain quite a bit of insight, but sometimes an outside trained person, like a therapist, in front of me is what it takes. So, this is what I do when everything is going wrong in my life.  I think you'll find it's very similar to a lot of self-care recommendations: exercise balanced diet prayer positive affirmations scheduled routine prioritize relaxation exercises realistic limits All of them work.  All of them help.  They do not make reality go away.  They are not like drugs, sex, or alcohol.  But they do work.  My reality i...

gender, specialty,  diagnosis, talk, insurance, cost Mental health can be scary.  I know that I want it to fade into the background and go away.  Reading this, I know that it is easy for everyone else to think that it is priority 1 for me to take care of my mental health.  I even know this.  It does not  make  it so to  know  it is so.  Take your concerns to specialized professionals.  I'll help break it down into manageable bits for the traumatized mind. First off, I gather what I want and need for this person to do.  Sometimes I find it needs to actually be two people.  Psychiatrists (prescription pad) cost a lot.  Many of them do not do talk therapy.  They are good for diagnosis as well as tweaking medications.  Doctors can handle a lot of meds. I would not use a General Practitioner for diagnosis of a mental health issue, nor for initial prescription.  It is easier, and it is available.  H...