Here we can all be heard for a little while. Part 3

Waves_and_Smiles

*Pops my head out of hiding*

Hahahahaha I love the idea of thread hogs!

Melly don't worry about penguining ED posts on your phone. Just write Penguin about ED and then leave a load of spaces so there is gap before you talk about it. I don't want you to keep disappearing because of that, leaving a gap is fine! Forget the whiting out! Also, well done! That's brilliant!

Epilepsy is something that has been considered with me several times oddly enough. I have had three EEG's, the first when I was 14 because I was getting such bad migraines that I would pass out with the pain and become confused. All of the tests have come back negative, but my favourite psychiatrist said that doesn't mean that I don't have a degree of epilepsy (frontal lobe in particular matches the posturing, it can also cause dissociation symptoms), because they know so little about catatonic schizophrenia and they are also discovering new things about epilepsy all of the time as well. It is annoying in a way because this type of schizophrenia has been around for hundreds of years but we still know so little about it.

What is almost certain now is it isn't caused environmental and social factors alone, they may trigger it by sustained stress chemical releases but it is something connected to the structure of the brain and misfiring chemicals and neurons. In that way it is also a physical condition, there is a huge hereditary element too. Lately a lot of resources have changed to calling it a brain disease/abnormality rather than solely a mental health condition and work is centred on discovering what goes wrong and why that happens.

Also, no one knows if it is degenerative or not. There are loads of papers out there arguing for and against. Some researchers believe it isn't but the long term use of antipsychotics causes symptoms to get worse which is frustrating to say the least. In my case although I am a lot less mentally unwell then I was 15 years ago in that I no longer need hospital stays my memory is much worse, I am far less sociable and a lot more anxious. That could either be the condition worsening as I age or the long term side effects of the medication. Or even a different condition worsening. There is so much we still don't understand.

Waves_and_Smiles

Awww, honestly Melly, just leave lots of spaces. I promise no one will mind, no one is expected to struggle to white things out on their phone.

You are totally right, we know so little about how the brain works and research is painfully slow. The fact that there are differences in the physical structure of a schizophrenic brain that can only be seen after death seriously slows things up. As I have said previously, I am hoping to be able to help out there.

Awww, poor doggie! Wind is scary! I bet Tomcat has barely noticed!

mellymoo74

The anxiety could also be caused by the isolation WaS.
We forget how to socialise especially with conditions like yours.

Waves_and_Smiles

Hahahaha! I love hearing about Tomcat! He is such a character and so different from the cat you first described. He has really come out of his shell with you.

Well done on the cleaning and de-hoarding!

How is OH coping these days?

That is also a good point, I am very isolated so that is very likely a factor as well. I used to be incredibly sociable even after diagnosis, now I am terrified!

mellymoo74

Not good.
7th is the anniversary so hopefully after the 1sts are gone it will ease up enough to start tackling stuff. Still no councillors I am thinking that he might be better off with the community health team instead of healthy minds. They just want him off their books and it's so ingrained he needs longer more intense care

He has no idea about the benefit situation it would send him off and I'm worried about potential suicide.

The pure codeine are a lot better for pain he is asleep A LOT though (this means I can clear stuff, codeine means he's so calm though it's not upsetting as much as I thought it woukd)

I know tomcat is not the same cat at all.
He's getting cheeky with me even (I not doing what he wants fast enough he randomly attacks stuff and plays up)

Waves_and_Smiles

Ugh, not good. I still think it was horrendous that they just suddenly stopped OH's therapy, that can be very dangerous. Once people have brought up memories and feelings that they have suppressed for years you can't just cut them off and leave them to deal with the fallout alone. Of course they are going to feel absolutely awful!

At least the codeine is helping him, poor you too having to keep the benefit situation to yourself. I would say try the CMHT, OH clearly needs some kind of help and the delays are ridiculous.

mellymoo74

Small steps WaS
Get your outings reinstated.
The phone line stuff will help as well

mellymoo74

He's worried they will make him do group therapy which is his idea of hell

MIND floating support worker maybe able to reassure him on that front then gp can refer.

And it has WaS it's screwed him over totally he doesn't trust easily had built a good relationship, she got how hard it was and how bad he is then....gone.

His anxiety is through the roof, he's scared of everything. GP is good and allows me to speak for him so might go there.

Waves_and_Smiles

Honestly Melly, one of the first things I was taught when training was you see a relationship with a client through to the end unless there is a danger to you or them, or if they choose to stop sessions for whatever reason. Also, therapy should have a planned end where you spend at least one session wrapping things up so that you both mutually agree to stop and feel ready to do so. OH was let down so badly and it really upsets me on behalf of both of you.

He shouldn't have to do group therapy, a lot of people find it makes them very uncomfortable. Speaking to the GP is a good idea, just explain what has happened with his therapy ending and that group therapy isn't something he feels will be suitable for him. There will likely be a waiting list but at least there is something to aim for rather than the current state of limbo.

mellymoo74

He had even told her about MIL telling him their marriage break up was his fault for getting into bed with then when he was 4.

He only told me that recently.

The one he went to see following my hiss fit kept saying things like 'usually only 3 sessions how about we put you on hold until the floating support worker has been in place for a while we can then get you off the service'