@D1ng0 first off, a little tip - if you want other members to be notified that you've responded, use the @ symbol to bring up a little drop down, then choose (or type out) their name from the drop down so it shows up in blue, like this: @Miss-wish. More forums tips here.

You're welcome, happy to help out. I use they/them/theirs 😁 Oh and don't worry about post length! As long as it's within the guidelines, you can write as much as you like, as long as it feels helpful to share 💜

Oh goodness, yeah getting a new dianosis can be so challenging, like oop - there it is in writing, made all too real. And then adding a stressful family call on top of it all? Yikes! Big day for you. It can take time to process all the thoughts and feelings that might arise, so I hope you can give yourself a bit of grace, and take time to rest/replenish yourself if you can. 

Have these mood swings been worsening lately? They can certainly throw us for a loop, and the distress of being thrown around by rapidly changing emotional states then adds layers of further distress into the mix! Do you have things that you find helpful in self-soothing? 

I am also hearing that you've had some really unhelpful/traumatic experiences with the health system, which can make it that much harder to feel safe to access support. I'm sorry that your experiences with the ED were so unhelpful, and I wish I could say that it's an isolated incident, but you'll find plenty of others here with their own stories. Some bad, yes, but others pretty good. It really can be a roll of the dice, and I hope you don't end up having to roll those dice again, but there are good people working in the MH system, just gotta find em. I hope your psych ends up being someone with whom you can build trust, feel safe and supported, and be able to delve more deeply into your experiences. 

When things start to stack up, we got a few options I reckon. You've already jumped onto one of them, which is to find others who can understand what you're going through - the forums are great for that! We can also:

- Focus on our basic needs as a starting point; i.e. shelter, food, sleep, exercise

- Try to build and improve on our coping skills; e.g. grounding, mindfulness, distraction, progressive muscle relaxation, dancing, singing, art, exercise, etc.

- Work on a safety plan; you can have one for suicide ideation and one for general distress, or just make one for both. You can find a template here.

- Increase support; I know calling us went a bit awry for you today, but I hope that doesn't discourage you from trying again, the counselling team are a lovely bunch. You can also see if you're eligible for our Guided Service, which is a series of telehealth appts with a counsellor or peer support worker, and can provide some additional support in between psych appts. You could also seek out local community services, find online groups, or find other support lines.

Support lines to try: ARCVIC (Anxiety), The Butterfly Foundation (Eating Disorders), Turning Point (Drug & Alcohol), and SCBS (Suicide support service).

You've got so much going on, and managing it all by yourself is bound to leave you feeling depleted, overwhelmed, and burnt out. Recovery is a journey, and it can be a long and difficult road - but you're on the right track, doing what you can to survive, and that is worth some kudos! I know for my own recovery journey (which is and always will be ongoing), it really felt like nothing was working, change was too slow, that I'd never be free of the horrifying thoughts and the immense self-loathing. But now I am so far from that place that it almost feels like another lifetime. Having the right support, connecting with others, and slogging it through the rough times, all went a long way for me. I hope for the same for you.

Hold onto hope, keep taking those little steps forward, and remember you're not alone. 😉💜🫂