Latest posts to Rethink Talk http://www.rethink.org/talk/index.php Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:50:26 +0000 10 http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6267-the-term-service-user/ So why does it FEEL patronising.......?]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:50:26 +0000 http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6267-the-term-service-user/ http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6266-a-year-on/
I'm just posting up to say "hi" and in recognition of a milestone and in thanks of your help and support!

It was Feb 17th 2011 that I stood on a cliff top, cold, lonely, anxious and without hope...

I texted some goodbyes and contemplated my end.

Its been a remarkable year, I have survived, I have been held and helped, I have cried and laughed and............ I'm still here and still trying to "make a difference".

I cannot pretend any of it is easy, I have so many ghosts that visit me when my guard is down but, in a way they are a bit less scary and little more familiar to me. I have found some peace in being practical, creative......... in volunteering and amazingly, getting back to work.

Its been important for me to step back from constant reminders of mental health issues, and to try and be just me - hence a break from the forums and the occupational therapy, but I do not for one minute dismiss the massive positive impact my friends here and the professional support I have received has made - so thank you all!

For those of you near that cliff edge, take a break, step back and breathe - there is hope

Take care, Chris

XxX]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:39:02 +0000 http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6266-a-year-on/ http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6174-hospital-again/
Alan]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:59:37 +0000 http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6174-hospital-again/ http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6265-trazadone-before-or-after-food/ as I tend to have really bad side effects whatever AD I am on, well my body was fine with the 50mg tabs no side effects at all
but they were not really helping me at all either so when I had my med review on friday my GP put me up to 100mg
we had already discused the increase and I was happy for it to go ahead
took 100mg friday,saturday and sunday night no side effects
took it monday night was nauseous all night I usually have a sandwich first then take my tab 30-60 mins later
(I forgot to eat before taking meds on monday) so thought I was nauseous because of that??
took my tab last night after my sandwhich and was vomiting all night and very nauseous also had a really bad headache
have been in bed all day today with nauseous and a hedache
is anyone here on Trazadone? or have any experience with it and can give me some advice?
I really dont wanna take my tab tonight I hate feeling nauseous
Many thanks for reading this. xx]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:31:17 +0000 http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6265-trazadone-before-or-after-food/ http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/94-gallery/ Admin note - due to external hosting issues out of our control this image is missing and we will restore it if possible. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:26:40 +0000 http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/94-gallery/ http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6231-change-in-speech/ his speech has changed over the last few weeks talking as if holding his tounge in a different position though conversation is ok does not take medication for schizophrenia for over 1 year now why would this happen.... Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:51:06 +0000 http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6231-change-in-speech/ http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6258-fantastic-welcome/
A sincere & profound thank you.
Stephen "McDoodils" McDonnell]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:44:56 +0000 http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6258-fantastic-welcome/ http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6178-im-new-here-do-atos-deliberately-make-things-difficult-for-people-with-mental-health-problems/
Basically I have been called in for an assessment for the change over from IB to ESA, & when I sent the form back that they had sent me, I also sent a short letter from my GP backing me up. She also asked that I have a home visit, or failing that a taxi. I just can't do buses. If I manage to get on the right one, I get very panicky and have to get off, as I don't go out much, and get overwhelmed quickly when I do.

So the appt came with directions that involve catching a total of 4 buses. I phoned them and stated that my GP had asked for a home visit or a taxi, and the operator immediately said that she was changing the appt for 2 weeks later, and that it would be a home visit. She also said that she didn't know anything about my GP's letter, and gave me the number of the local Atos Resource Centre in Bristol. This is where the shenanigans began.

I said that I wanted the assessment recorded. I had just discovered that Atos HAVE to record the assessment if you ask them to, and as I have memory problems, also intermittent problems with my hands which make writing difficult, it seemed a good idea, for when I'm denied ESA, as most people are, & have to appeal. She didn't know if home visits could be recorded, and gave me the number of the "Team for recording at home" which I have since found out, doesn't exist, and the number was actually their customer relations dept.

Thought I would phone them first, and then local number to find out about my GP's letter after.

Told the chap I spoke to that I had been given the number because I wanted my home visit recorded. He admitted he didn't have a clue, went off to find out, then gave me an address, saying I had to put it in writing....All well and good

I then phoned the local resources team, and asked about my GP's letter. The woman said my GP's letter hadn't contained enough information so the request had been denied. When I asked why I hadn't been notified she said it was because they send out thousands of letters and can't be expected to put details in them.

I pointed out that I wouldn't have enough time to get another GP's letter in 2 weeks, but that Atos had rearranged my appointment and that I was getting a home visit in 2 weeks anyway.

She informed me that I HADN'T been given a home visit, it was at the assessment centre, (even though I had been given a number to ring about getting my home visit recorded). When I challenged her, she just kept denying that the appt I had been given was for a home visit. When I said I can't get there, her response was for me to get another letter from my GP. When I said that I couldn't get that done in 2 weeks as my GP only works 2 days a week, and would she change the appt to give me more time, she point blank refused, and said that since I HAD ALREADY CANCELLED ONE APPT that was all that's allowed. I said I hadn't cancelled anything, but she said "Yes you have, its on the computer that you have cancelled and & if you don't come to the appt the DWP will probably stop your payments".

I asked what the complaints procedure was, and she gave me a number and said it was the complaints dept. This is the same number as customer relations & the non existent Team for recording at home

So as it stands, I have had one appt at an assessment centre that I can't get to, changed to another appt at the same assessment centre that I still can't get to. I've phoned the number she gave me & complained but after some enquiries was told that the appts dept won't budge as they are maintaining that I have already cancelled one appt.

I am not looking forward to the assessment after discovering what sharks these people are, particularly as I don't have anyone to accompany me, and it's going to cost me a fortune in taxi fares.

Please make sure, if you have to deal with Atos over the phone that you do the following things:

Get the name of the person you are speaking to and write it down.
Make a note of the date and time of the call.
Write down what is said...You never know if you will have to refer back to it later, or if you will have to make a written complaint, as I intend to do.

Again, sorry its a long winded post, but I really think Atos go out of their way to confuse, and make things difficult, esp if you want your interview recorded. Remember folks this is now your right, since Feb 1st.

These piranhas have left me feeling like a wrung out dishcloth, and people need to know the kind of dirty tricks they play. God knows what the assessment will be like]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:03:24 +0000 http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6178-im-new-here-do-atos-deliberately-make-things-difficult-for-people-with-mental-health-problems/ http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6261-twitching-left-eye/ Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:54:35 +0000 http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/6261-twitching-left-eye/ http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/3554-saying-it-as-it-is/ I am new to this site. I have been on other mental health sites but they could be very restrictive.
From what I have read so far on this site, people are being quite open and saying how they feel, right down to feeling suicidal. As much as i feel for the users who are that far down, i really hope i can say how i feel. It seems i spend all my time telling everybody i am fine when sometimes i just want to say "I feel ****, i think about puking, cutting, dying etc" and that's just the way it is. My friends love me no question but i end up lying to protect them because i know my mental health scares them and they will worry too much about me, which adds guilt to my long list of **** feelings.
How many users find it hard to talk to the people closest to them?
Thanks for listening
xxx]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:17:48 +0000 http://www.rethink.org/talk/topic/3554-saying-it-as-it-is/