Hello

Hello @Red_Flamingo 

I'm wondering how are you feeling today?

How has your week been? Has it been better from Monday or has it been the same? 

 I remember how I felt really lonely and sad after I after my holidays at spent at home. 

Would you like to talk about what's making you feel lonely and sad?

I just want you to know that things will be okay, and we will always be here for you. 

Pease don't forget to take care of yourself. Sometimes when we feel really low, we tend to ignore our health and wellbeing. 

Take care 🤗  and I'll be waiting to hear from you.

Hi @Ishi 

Mmm, I could be better. Thank you for asking. 

The whole week has been terrible, but nothing new in my life, I guess. Depression loves destroying any joy I feel. 

Yeah, you were? 

For me, it's been like an 18-month sad part, though. 

I've been eating healthy and doing a lot of exercise lately. I went for a bike ride today as I've just started to get back into it, and I did the longest distance in the shortest time, so I was pretty happy with that. 

Though I think I'm developing an issue with food, I'm monitoring it. 

I'm just trying my best to get through each day the best I can. 

Hi @Red_Flamingo ,

Just jumping in to say well done for doing what you can to get through each day. It sounds so tough to sit through months of depression. It takes a lot of strength to hang on, especially when things are challenging.

I read that when you feel low, you tend to speak negatively and harshly to yourself. Have you ever considered or practiced what it would be like to flip the script and show yourself some compassion? For example, instead of telling yourself you are no good, maybe it can be reframed to be, "I'm not good at .... now, but I will keep trying". Practising this positive self-talk can go a long way.

I also read that you are having some issues with food. It would be good to speak to your doctor or specialist if these symptoms persist. 

Please know you are not alone.

Hi @Chloe-RO 

Thank you been a rough couple of weeks. 

I'm trying to be more compassionate and challenge my thoughts, but they are very hard. 

I'm on a diet, and it's getting to me a lot. I've been preoccupied with food and other things about what I eat and how I look. 

You also wouldn't believe how my psychiatrist today doesn't want to see me anymore as he doesn't use the medication that the psychiatrist gave me in the hospital. So I've been waiting months for him to tell me this. 

I'm running out of the sleep medication I take for a PRN, and I am worried about that. I also hoped to add a new medication that the psychiatrist recommended in the hospital. 

I don't know what to do now. I needed some good news today, but that doesn't seem to be the case. He is sending a referral to a different clinic, the one I was inpatient for, but that will take months to get an appointment. 

Hey @Red_Flamingo 

I have just been reading through this thread and wanted to chime in and see how you are doing this afternoon? It has been a rough few weeks for you and it also sounds like today has been just as challenging given the outcome of the appointment you had with your current psychiatrist. I wonder if you can chat with a GP about the sleep medication you were hoping to add? 

It's also a really important reflection you have had about the dieting and the feelings you are noticing about way you look. Do you feel like this is a recent preoccupation or something that you have been experiencing for a little while now? Either way, I am really glad you told us. 

I can also see that you have some really great supports in place already. Do you feel ready to talk to one of them about what you are noticing as well?

We put thogether this thread recently about bodies and how hard it can be to accept what we see in the mirror. We also have some resources here that could be worth exploring if you might want to learn more about body image. 

Hi @Erin_RO 

I don't know why he can leave me like this. I've been waiting three months for this appointment for him to tell me he doesn't prescribe the medication I am on. 

My GP wants me to come off the sleep medication. I also can't see her as she is away. 

The CATT team said I can't self-refer either to get case management or to see a psychiatrist. I don't know who to ask. The psychiatrist today said he wouldn't refer me, and if he were going to, it would have to be in an appointment which I would have to wait two months for, which I obviously can't. I don't get why things have to be so difficult. I don't know how else I will get referred to them if I can't see my GP or the psychiatrist won't do it. 

More recently I've just noticed how I get upset about eating junk food and a few other things. I want to be healthier, but the way I'm doing is probably in an unhealthy way. 

I've put that in a trigger warning, but can you let me know if I can't say this? I don't want to say the wrong thing. I've never talked about ED's before. 

I will speak to my KHL regular tomorrow so I might mention it. I also did talk to some at the butterfly foundation to get more of an idea if I am going down the ED path, but she couldn't really say in that short amount of time. 

Also, the first link didn't work. Only the second one did. 

Hi @Red_Flamingo 

It sounds like you are holding a lot. Things do seem difficult with navigating around referrals. What other options do you have?

It sounds like your relationship with food is really hard right now. I want to let you know that you're not alone and we're here to support you.

We have a whole range of resources on eating disorders here which might help you to navigate what it looks like for you. There are some stories about individuals recovering from an ED which might also be relatable for you. 💜

How are you taking care of yourself tonight?

Please take care 💜

Hi@Abbi-RO 

I don’t have any options at all. The CATT team will only take me if I have a referral from someone, but if I can’t get one from anyone then I can’t get into the CATT team. 

Thank you I appreciate you saying that. 

I have a peer chat tonight with ReachOut so that will be good. Other than that I don’t have much on I just want to cry I’m so upset by what has happened today.

Hi @Red_Flamingo 

A peer chat sounds nice during what seems like a challening time. 

Perhaps crying is part of the process, does crying make you feel better sometimes? 

I'm not sure if this is helpful but I wonder if finding another psychtraist is an option? link

Continue reaching out, you are doing great 💜

Hi @Abbi-RO 

Yeah, it will be good. 

I am sobbing so much right now. 

I can't if I don't have a referral. I have nothing. I don't know what to do. I'm so lost right now. I don't know how else to get into the CATT team. 

Are you still around @Abbi-RO 

Would you be up for a chat? 

Hi @Red_Flamingo 

I'm signing off for the evening, I hope peerchat went well and please continue to reach out. Our peer workers are on tonight 🙂

Have a lovely night 💜

Hi @Abbi-RO 

Oh, okay, have a good night. 

Yeah, it was good. Still struggling but oh well. 

Hey, 

I didn't sleep the best last night. My mind was going a million miles an hour. I've woken up very anxious to the point of being sick. I don't know what I will do to get a CATT referral. I've been trying to think of what else I can do, but I haven't come up with anything. I can't get over how upset I was last night. I haven't felt that bad in a couple of weeks. I also never got through to KHL. I waited over an hour, so I gave up. 

I'm supposed to catch up with my friend after my class this morning, but I don't know how to face him and pretend everything is okay. 

I'm just so utterly lost with what to do. I don't understand how my psychiatrist can do this without handover or discharge to anyone. I'm really angry and upset with him. 

Heya @Red_Flamingo I've been catching up on what you're going through with accessing support from CATT, and I'm so sorry to read how hard it's been. I don't blame you for feeling really angry and upset. It sounds like you're trying to look after yourself, and facing these setbacks can make a hard time so overwhelming. 

I'm wondering if you have any upcoming appointments with your psychologist and if you'd feel comfortable telling them about the struggle of accessing CATT? Another possible option could be booking in with a different GP at the clinic your current GP is at. They'd have your information on their system and may be able to find a solution before your GP is back. 

I hope catching up with your friend after class is nice, but I totally get what you mean when you said that you're unsure how to face him and pretend everything is okay. It can take a lot of energy to pretend! Do you think your friend would be open to hearing that things aren't okay right now? 

Hi @Bre-RO 

It's been so frustrating I don't get why I can't just refer myself, but they don't do that anymore. I just need someone to say how things are going for me and that I would benefit from case management and other things, but I don't see my psych for a bit and neither my GP. I really need things moving this week, but I don't see that happening. If not, one can help me. 

I really didn't think it would be so hard to get into the CATT team. 

I could but I'm not sure how comfortable they would be with referring me as they don't know me. I need someone that knows me.

Yeah I hope it goes well too. I don't know I will see how it goes with him. 

I'm so miserable. I've been waiting for the CATT team to call me, but they don't want to. I want to talk to someone so I can tell them that my psych won't send a letter and what else I can do. 

I had uni till 3:30 and was my friend for lunch, so that was nice. I've come home, and I can't stop crying. I have to wait until 7:30 to talk to my counsellor at KHL. I don't know what to do till then. 

I just wish things could go my way for once. Why do CATT teams have to be so hard to get in? I got in much easier in the one in Tas. Even though they were absolutely terrible, I didn't think it would be so hard. 

I'm seriously running out of options for getting the CATT team to listen to me. I'm safe I'm just really upset and lost with what I'm supposed to do. 

Hey @Red_Flamingo 

I am so sorry that you are having a hard time, particularly with the CATT team. 

I'm glad you were able to get lunch with a friend today. Did that make you feel better? and do you have any friends you could talk to about this of stuff, they can often be quite supportive when they know what's going on. 

Have you considered possibly watching a movie, reading a book or cooking something until you can talk to KHL. I'm about to clean out my computer so it stops working too hard, its still in really good condition just need to empty and get rid of things that I don't use on my computer anymore. 

Hey @Rara 

Sorry, I didn't fully reply to your post yesterday. I was very distressed by the drama surrounding my now non-existent psychiatrist and the CATT team.

Life seems to really like punching me in the face sometimes and not going my way. I hope that the doctor today and do the referral and that the CATT team will help. 

I'm not sure if you have ever been in contact with a CATT team before, but what I found the most stigmatising yesterday is how the person I talked to with my regular at KHL was saying that because I am studying full time and working twice a week means I am fine. I find that quite hurtful that just because I can work and study doesn't mean I'm not struggling. I would have no life if I didn't have work or uni. I don't think it is fair for them to judge me on that. Anyway, thank the Lord to my KHL counsellor. She got them to listen and try to help well, at least, I hope so. 

Yeah, it was nice to catch up. I hadn't seen him for about two months. I did mention it but didn't go into much detail. I don't have any friends to talk to about this. 

The only people I have is my GP, psychologist, here, SANE and my aunt. No one else understands me or what I'm going through. 

Is your computer a bit clogged up?

Hey @Red_Flamingo I'm sorry to hear that you haven't gotten the support you were looking for from them. It can be sooo hard when we try to find someone to help us through and it ends up not being a helpful path. Still, I commend you for doing all you can to advocate for yourself. 

Perhaps for tonight, just focusing on the things that you have control over is a good way to help you through. Maybe look around Youtube for some guided meditation/mindfulness, or call a friend, or journal your feelings, stuff like that. 

Hi @Pho-RO 

Yeah, thank you. I'm not sure what to do now. 

I don't have any control of this psych stuff it's so annoying. I don't know what to do. 

How can I be able to join the CATT team one day and then the next they say no? 

I'm just on hold with KHL, we are going to talk to the psycg triage together. 

Okay, so not all is lost now. I spoke with my regular at KHL, we called psych triage and they finally semi-listened and said if I see a GP soon that they will do a non-urgent assessment to the CATT team. 

Still pretty upset and drained but hopefully I will here something soon about all this and get somewhere is the right direction. 

Who new it would be so hard to fight for help.