Just needed to be heard for a little while

Pyxis

Waves_and_Smiles wrote: »

I think I might even make it to a zoo in a daytime if there was a "Meet a Sloth" experience at the end of it. I have looked for them but zoo's apparently don't do them. I have been tempted by "Meet a Tapir days" too but they are rather expensive. They are another animal I love, it's the nose!

Several years ago I went to Longleat and they had a hands-on experience day in the insect and reptile house.
(Have I told you this before? I've told it somewhere on MSE. Perhaps it was on the creepy-crawly thread.)
Apologies if I've already said it here.

Anyway, you had the option of holding a red-kneed spider, you know, the big hairy ones, a scorpion and a couple of snakes, so I did the lot!

Not quite the same as sloths or tapirs, but, hey ho!

Yes, sloths and also orang-utans. I love them!

I once went to Monkey World in Dorset, and there was one female adult orang-utan who was suffering from.....guess what?......depression!
At one point she was sitting just the other side of the glass partition, so I sat there too, put my hand on the glass where she was, and had a commiserate.

Would have loved to give her a real-life hug.

dibuzz

Pyxis wrote: »

I do hope she does join us. It would be a good outlet for her - as you say - safe and anonymous.

Plus, I want to sample this black humour!

It would also be nice to have someone from across t' pond, although the time difference may be awkward.

Mind you, knowing how some of this lot are up half the night, maybe not!!:D

Yes I was just going to say that it wouldn't be a problem for me

lostinrates

Errata wrote: »

LIR not useless info at all. There are many people working at high level in the NHS who are open about the mental health problems they've experienced/are living with. Rachel Perkins is just one of them http://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/recovery/recovery_project_team.aspx

Is that who it was?


I was typing somewhere else on the forum today ( um, or yesterday) about coping with loss of intellectual ability and brain power as a result of my brain condition. Its this sort of thing that makes me feel a bit 'blonde' but its the loss of the serious knowledge that's sticks in my craw. I don't mind appearing ditsy really. I do mind not having brain power any more.

Pyxis

((((((((((lir))))))))))))

Errata

lostinrates wrote: »

Is that who it was?


I was typing somewhere else on the forum today ( um, or yesterday) about coping with loss of intellectual ability and brain power as a result of my brain condition. Its this sort of thing that makes me feel a bit 'blonde' but its the loss of the serious knowledge that's sticks in my craw. I don't mind appearing ditsy really. I do mind not having brain power any more.

I don't know as I didn't hear the program, but your post reminded me of Rachel and all the other people I know who work in mental health from the lowest level to the highest who have periods of less good mental health.

Waves_and_Smiles

As silly as this sounds I am now crying because I found the link to my old psychiatrist, thank you so much, Errata! I have nothing but good memories of this man, he was so good at his job and so human, too. I remember crying to him because my OCD was crippling me back then and he told me how when he took his new born baby upstairs he would have to turn around 3 times on the landing and touch the wall or he believed he would drop her back down. I remember being utterly shocked that someone in his position had OCD, too and I suddenly felt so much better.

The MPD therapy that he did with me was brand new and he worked with me closely 3 times a week and taped our sessions so that I could replay them daily at home. I still have the tapes. It helped me in a way nothing had done previously and I still use his techniques now. He used CBT but psychotherapy, too so I had a combination of both which worked far better than anything since.

Sorry to go on, but I do have such fond memories of him and I haven't heard anything about him for 15 years. I am so happy that he is doing well, I am even considering writing to him just to thank him for helping me, I was too ill at the time to really appreciate how much he did for me and then didn't know where he went after he left my hospital. Honestly, this has made my day.

elsien

He'd probably really appreciate that WaS, it's a lovely thought.

whitewing

Definitely write to him.

Waves_and_Smiles

Ok! I shall write and thank him. I have always believed in thanking people for what they have done for me even if it is years later, and he really did go the extra mile for me. He was the one who recommended me to MIND after my psychotic break and persuaded me to become an advocate when I thought that I wasn't capable of anything anymore. He believed in me when I didn't and I have never forgotten that.

I still bring up things my teacher friend said and did to help me when I was 13 and thank him for it, I never forget when people are kind to me and I am very lucky that I have had some very kind and wise people in my life.

Errata

Honestly, this has made my day

I'm so pleased. Why not send him a thank you card letting him know how much difference he made to your life?
When I left a job I can't remember who gave me cards but I'll never forget the male outpatient who made me a home made one.