ECT treatment

[PeppiPatty]

hi @kenny66

I so think I promise to read your last message but something good just happened.
I spoke to my oldest son.h


Working 3 to 4 days per week
Still living in same place

Seeing his Doctor
That is a GP.
Thinking of visiting my brother and sister in law.

feel like crying with joy.

[Alessandra1992]

A new life unfolding on Easter Eve..what wonderful news @justanothrr47yr such wonderful news...why not cry with joy!
@kenny it is so frustrating to read how centre link assesses you as not work ready..
I know quite a few people who work fulltime with similar diagnosis to yourself..
But I know another person who if they get paid work lose access to income..and for some folks getting towards 55+, hard to get work can be age discrimination not necessarily mi related..

[PeppiPatty]

Lol lol

I feel like spending all my time agreeing with everything you write.
what about working as someone with lived experience in Psych hospital?? you would need to go to all the forums about new ways of dealing with the people dealing with times of mental ill health and of heaps of fighting for individuals.....seems like you have a lot to offer.
also, working for the State Health Department in Head Psychiatrist office??

I even agree with what you write about The Minister for Mental health!
I'm a great believer in meaningful volunteer work.
People in society are missing out on you.....so sad.

[kenny66]

What great positive news for easter-sounds likje your son is on the right track. Its a wonderful thing when people you know give you such love.

I never had a proper mum but from what I can tell, you seem to be an ideal one.

Kenny

[kenny66]

Its so frustrating because I am keen to work, almost at anything, but even the volunteer organisation here wouldn't take me on because they said they had issues with their insurances.

I guess its some sort of safety in the workplace issue.

Admittedly I live in a small town with not much opportunity. I said before the MI employment support organisation is terrible-just sucking up taxpayer dollars for no outcome.

The newspaper paper had a story lat month- older worker unemployment rate here is above 50%-youth unemployment is 25%, general unemployment above 10%.

Schizoaffective unemployment rate 100% (just joking). So its pretty dismal.

Kenny

[kenny66]

Thanks. I volunteer at the psych clinic, but whilst I like it it really doesn't lead anywhere.

The department of health in Queensland is furiously winding back spending and they have a pretty low priority for mental health.

The MHU at our public hospital is good but that's because the healthcare staff there are so committed.

I have some skills that I could put forward for work but cant get the opportunity to do that unfortunately.

Kenny

[PeppiPatty]

@kenny66
I haven't been a good Mum but am now.
I honestly cannot believe that my sons have forgiven me but there you are.

[PeppiPatty]

@kenny66

where there's a will, there's a way.
funny isn't it. when I was seeing me son, I,thought how much more advanced your state is than the West of Australia.

Ive written some ideas for meaningful volunteer work ....
I bought my husband an amplifier and was going to get him to do an hour or two per week for busking. See if he could handle it.
Let me of have a think, I've written. A paper on better care for carers for people who suffer times of mental ill health. I get bad headaches most days in the afternoon.
they were things like going to the local council, getting permission to do gardening for people down the street .........with a carer as well and writing up a flier. no payment but a cup of tea and a bickie.......

Meaningful volunteer work.
It might go no where for you but.

[8Powerful]

Hi there,I had my first and very extensive series of ECT 18years ago when I was only 19 years old.

It saved my life.

Throughout the last 18years ECT has been an integral part of my treatment and staying alive and well. In the earlier days I would have numerous treatments, mostly when I was a hospital inpatient. I would be scheduled for ECT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The most consecqutive treatments I had was approx 15 to 20. I was very sick back then.

I have bipolar, and fairly strong OCD traits as well as borderline personality disorder traits. Live was not worth living before I first discovered ECT. Do not get me wrong, some of the side affects were nasty , My body would ache like every muscle was torn and bone broken for at least a day after treatment. My mind was a jumbled mess and still to this day I have huge gaps where I guess my memory once was. I would get very wrked up when waking from treatment cos I had no idea what so ever of anything really. Did not know what had just happened, no idea where I was or who people were.I wont lie to you, it's scary stuff. BUT ECT always made me get better. 18yrs down the track  I have my life alot more on track. I still see a psych weekly, I take more pills than most people can count up to but all in all  life is pretty good. I still have soul destroying depressive episodes but my doc and I have a fantastic treatment plan. I knnow myself and my cursed illness so wel these days that I know when I am depressed and can somehow get by each day and I know when I am depressed and I am spiralling down down down at a superfast spead. Spiralling to a place I dont know I will ever get out of. When I know I am spiralling like this I have 1, just one maintanence treatment of ECT and it lifts me right out of the darkness into what I consider to be normality, I call it my booster and it works every time. My last 'booster' was bout 18mths ago and I am so thankful I have access to this treatment, it saved my life once and has done so again and again.

Of interest, these days when I have a booster I wake from thetreatment feeling really really good. No splitting headacches, no body pan and my head is crystal clear. Hope this ramble has helpped. Goodluck

[PeppiPatty]

Sweetheart @8Powerful

Rambling is very very cool here
Your story us about your vulnerability and strength and it helps me unseratand ect