A long rave

[Faith-and-Hope]

Hi @eth

I went for a river walk yesterday evening and there was no smell of smoke about. I expect it enhanced the sunset though ..... the daylight was still more yellow tinged than normal.

This morning I awoke to the smell of smoke in the bathroom and toilet where we have exhaust fans, so I expect the fire was still burning overnight, but it is raining here now today and the daylight is crisp white ......

Hi again @Teej ..... 👋

[Teej]

I’ve seen better days @eth but am ok. Just trying to pull myself together a bit today. I’m afraid I haven’t done anything much for a while. Your trips sounded so lovely that it made me think how much I missed those kinds of days just exploring new places. 

My s3 has just moved 5 mins from me so my kids are all close for a while. It won’t be long before they are all off in different places again..... although s2 is just starting his PhD so he’ll be around for a few years. I really haven’t done much in the last few months I’m afraid. 

Its been lovely to catch up with what you are doing though 😄🤗💜

[eth]

Hoping today is one of the better ones for you @Teej.  Having your kids all close sounds like something good for you - hope it is.  

I went looking for you a week or so ago and it seemed you'd left the forums so I'm glad to see you today.

I don't do much most days either.  I have a PHaMs worker these days but only enough time to get to essential appointments until now.  This week will be the first time in 6 months that I have a session with them that's free time so far.  Not sure what to do.

Do you still have a support worker?  

[eth]

Glad to hear the air is clearing @Faith-and-Hope.  How are you today?

[Faith-and-Hope]

Not bad thanks @eth ......

A lot going on / not going on in our life still. It’s a day-by-day thing.

[Teej]

I have been missing a lot on the forum in the last few months @eth but it’s been nice in the last few days to reconnect with it more. 

I don’t have a support worker anymore. My last one and I clashed a bit and I let go of the program maybe 6 months ago or more. These days my mh health team is mostly on the same page and I’m feeling the most supported by community mental health since I started with them 4 years ago. I finally have a psychiatrist that I feel comfortable with. I have a cc who seems to be supportive too which has helped. I’m also attending the psychosocial programs run through community mental health. Last year I did a healthy choices group which was walking and cooking healthy meals that I liked and a light hearted group looking at current affairs and a group helping to work towards volunteering. They were really good for me. It’s all stopped until February but I have my appointment tomorrow to look at what groups I can join for the next program. 

 I had checked in every now and then on your NDIS thread. I’m so sorry that has been a shambles and so very stressful for you. 

I hope you find something nice to do with your worker tomorrow.💜🤗

[eth]

That all sounds really positive @Teej.  I'm still not independently mobile and that stops me from doing all sorts of things.  All the groups you mentioned sound great.  What is a 'cc'?  How did you access the community mental health programs?  I'd love to hear about that process in case I'm eligible.  Since I came to NSW I was told community mental health only gets involved if you have a crisis involving hospitalization.  Are you in NSW too?

Thanks for your comment re the NDIS issues.

Just catching up on my washing at the moment but will be right back.  I don't join other threads at the moment unless I get tagged.

So good to see you.

[Teej]

I’m in S.A. @eth and I think you are right in that you have to be hospitalised to be part of community mental health but also that you don’t have any private clinicians. The psychosocial programs were, until the last year I think, available to everyone here but now you need to be part of cmh to access them. I ended up having 9 hospital visits last year with 7 short stay admissions which I guess is why the support. My cc is a care coordinator. She is a social worker who works with me on a needs basis. She coordinates programs and my care within cmh. She will attend my Centrelink appointment next week and attends my psychiatrist appointments. That’s pretty much the only face to face contact I have with her. Apart from that she will check in by phone to see how I am when I’m struggling and is my access point if I need support. 

Im not sure if @Mazarita attended/s some programs through community programs that aren’t linked to cmh. It’s been a while Maz since I’ve caught up to know what programs you have been doing. Hiya 👋 @Mazarita too.

thanks for the chat @eth. I’m off to have a shower and get going. Hopefully I’ll catch up again soon. 💜🤗 

[eth]

I'm so glad to hear you have that support @Teej.  Looking forward to catching up with you again soon.

[Mazarita]

Hi @eth, @Faith-and-Hope, @Teej and all,

Eth, it's so great to read about your daytrips, and also a relief to know you aren't close to the bushfire. 

Faith, good to read too that the smoke seems to be clearing. Hugs for the ongoing troubles at home.

Teej, so nice to get a tag from you. Great to hear you have the various supports in place, despite letting your support worker go. I too finished with my Phams support worker about 6 months ago and just had occasional phone calls since then. Now due to 'graduate' formally from the program towards the end of this month. Apparently I'm still eligible to attend their programs and events after I do that, so may explore that a bit further this year. Sending sisterly virtual hugs your way, Teej. 

Regarding other psychosocial supports, I go to a local community mental health centre for activities like art and laughter yoga, and have previously done other short-term courses there, on craft and basic cooking. Also used to attend a bipolar support group but I found the facilitator really aggravating, so stopped that. It's open to anyone who is willing to sign up there. Not sure if that will change now that they are also an NDIS provider.

Perhaps there is some community centre like that where you are, @eth. I find the activities run by that place very helpful and they help add structure to my life.