Mental Health Check-in February 2022

fantasyflyte

This is a safe place for more detailed support in mental health, struggles, and successes.

U.S: National Suicide Prevention :  1-800-273-TALK [8255]

Chat option:   https://chat.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx

Link to Canadian Resources:  https://suicideprevention.ca/need-help/

This is a safe space for discussing your mental health. Whereas general stress and issues are often discussed in Rants/Raves of the Dailies, this place is for a more focused discussion of the impact of mental health.  Members are encouraged to use thoughtfulness and depth to examine feelings, barriers, and useful supports. 

This post can be replied to at any time during the month. Not limited to those with a mental health diagnosis, but please be sensitive to others. We will attempt to be as flame-free as possible!

Feel free to share, vent, or support other members on this thread. Share a picture/gif that expresses how you feel or provides some comfort. 

If you need help getting started, consider filling out the form below:

Mental Health Diagnosis (if you have been) or What brings you to this thread today?:

Status (WTO/TWW/Benched/TTA):

Where are you in your mental health journey? (in treatment, looking for support, on meds, in counseling, having a rough day, etc.)

How are you feeling?

anniemarie887

Mental Health Diagnosis (if you have been) or What brings you to this thread today?: not ready for dailies

Status (WTO/TWW/Benched/TTA): benched

Where are you in your mental health journey? (in treatment, looking for support, on meds, in counseling, having a rough day, etc.) i had my first therapy appt today, it was an intake appt. so lots of questions, but right off the bat i think we are a really good fit. prior to working at this practice she was an OBGYN social worker at a very prestigious hospital. we'll meet again in two weeks, the day after i have my OB f/u.

How are you feeling?***TW for d&c convo: so angry. managed to keep my composure through the appointment because i had already lost it and sobbed this morning. i have a grandfathered high deductible ppo for health insurance, which means my insurance can either be amazing or absolute garbage to be frank. i am very much used to paying for services until we hit our $5k deductible, i have a hsa account for this reason. i'm also very used to seeing services billed, and then reduced 30-50% based on contracted rates. welp... my d&c is coming in at $4871.22 that i owe, after a measley $697.93 "in network discount". it's been processed on the claim side, but the hospital billing hasn't had it transmit to them... so i'm trapped in a purgatory where i can't get a lot of info to see if it was billed properly or if there was somehow an error. it feels like a slap in the face, and neither of the people i talked to for our health ins customer service even like apologized for what i've gone through. the woman at hospital billing was so sweet when i burst into tears. so, i'll have to call back probably monday have the hospital review the eob and go from there. 

kiki047

This isn't really a check-in so much as a small mental health win... 

Part of the "homework" my therapist gave me was to try doing some small things for myself as a form of self-care, and with winter being so dreary and cold, one thing I did recently was buy myself a small bunch of tulips. I'm not really one for fresh cut flowers, in fact I specifically told MH not to buy me flowers when we started dating because I think they're wasteful and it is such fleeting beauty then they die. But they brought such a refreshing pop of colour and joy to my life as I stared at them on the table while I was working from home, and since it'll be a while before my gardens emerge from under all the snow, I think I'll keep it up.

My Dad also gifted me a bunch of stunning long stemmed red roses today that were actually a thank you gift from a friend that runs a charity that he supports. I don't even remember the last time I was given roses... maybe never? Disclaimer, my Dad is also my boss so sometimes he gets gifts for his girlfriend, who also works in the office, and in order to make it seem like he's not playing favourites he'll buy all of his staff flowers at the same time lol. It's awkward and weird but such is life in a small, family run office. 

mambo5-2

Mental Health Diagnosis (if you have been) or What brings you to this thread today?: Anxiety and PTSD 

Status (WTO/TWW/Benched/TTA): Infertility work up

Where are you in your mental health journey? (in treatment, looking for support, on meds, in counseling, having a rough day, etc.)
I have pretty rough hospital related PTSD due to having a premature baby. I'm in a good place and medicated. My therapist was amazing but I am nervous about starting the journey again. 

How are you feeling?

Anxious but I have a much better care team moving forward than I have ever had so that is exciting. 

deaf_girl

What brings you to this thread today?:
Having a rough morning.

Status (WTO/TWW/Benched/TTA):
Pretty much Benched 

Where are you in your mental health journey? (in treatment, looking for support, on meds, in counseling, having a rough day, etc.)
In weekly counseling but having a bad day

How are you feeling?
Honestly like crap. I can't seem to quit smoking (started back up in October last year, due to the death of my older sister). I'm beating myself up over it. I knew better than to pick it back up again. I guess I'm just looking for some support today.

Paturkey

@deaf_girl I'm so sorry about the death of your sister. As a former smoker, I know just how hard it is to quit. Emotional triggers can be really hard to handle and nicotine mimics what our bodies give us to relax so it can help us feel better, even while making us feel worse. Be gentle with yourself and I'm sending you a hug of solidarity. You will be able to quit again when you're ready and in the meantime, it's okay.

deaf_girl

@Paturkey thanks. Yes it is hard, especially when you live with smokers. I'm trying to find a new place to live though. I think that is one reason why it was so easy to pick back up again.