A LENGTHY MEDICATION CHAT

I remember in 2009 lying on my bed in my Mum’s home and listening to the whispered conversations downstairs between my Mum and – what felt like – every member of NHS staff! (Realistically, it was a few people from the Crisis Team, two Social Workers, and two Psychiatrists!) When there was a knock on the bedroom door I didn’t expect to see the six foot something Psychiatrist wearing running trainers with his suit! I sat up on the bed and he came into my abnormally, barbie-pink bedroom and sat on the futon in front of me. And then he said one of the sentences that has remained a pivotal moment in my mental health journey and you know, actually… my life! He said: “maybe it’s time we start you on some medication.”

STRUGGLING IN RECOVERY IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF | MY THOUGHTS ON MY RECENT SECTIONING

So I’ve talked recently about my mental health deterioration.

It kind of started on March 19^th with an overdose (that I’ve talked about here) and ever since I’ve been under the care of the Crisis Team.

From early April I started to feel much better and began having less thoughts to overdose, with the voices quietening down and the visual hallucinations lessening. I decided that it’d be positive, and rewarding to complete my planned work for Cygnet Healthcare at their National Service User Awards 2018 (#NSUA2018 on Twitter) and made the decision to travel to Coventry for the event on April 11^th.

I still wouldn’t say that was a mistake. That I got sectioned being there… it could’ve happened anywhere. At any time. If anything; I think it was probably overdue!

It’s difficult to fully talk about the situation that led to me being in A&E from the Awards, but it was basically due to a health reason and because of the result of that, my mental health deteriorated once more.

NATIONAL SERVICE USER AWARDS 2018 | #NSUA2018

[Note to see who won each category; follow #NSUA2018 on Twitter!]

I remember when I was in Cygnet Hospital Bierley and they first mentioned the National ServiceUser Awards (NSUAs) and I couldn’t have been more interested! It was only the second time that Cygnet Healthcare had hosted the NSUAs and so there wasn’t much experience or knowledge when it came to the invitations I was involved – and by that I mean that I hand-made every single one!

The following year, I attended as a finalist alongside YoungMinds in one of the categories and we won!

So, this year, when I got told that I could have a spot doing the social media for the 2018 NSUAs I was over the moon and very excited! After many talks I was finally named the Event Blogger and then the Head of Social Media took poorly on the actual day of the Awards, I stepped up and attempted to fill his shoes with a barrage of tweets (each with the #NSUA2018 hashtag!).

WEEK FIVE | 52 LISTS FOR HAPPINESS | OLIVER BONAS | AD

You can buy this book here

(Apologies for the delay in publishing this post!)

Every week, for 2018 there will be post of what I’ve done in the book each week. And the fifth list?

List the best choices you have made in your life so far:

FIVE THINGS I'M GLAD I IGNORED

1.       The voices

The first thing that was said when I began experiencing auditory hallucinations (in the form of a voice that I named ‘Albert’) was that I should commit suicide. Every day for almost two weeks Albert would tell me I was worthless, useless, and pointless; and that my death, would be a welcome relief for everyone in my life. I say ‘two weeks’ because that was how long it took for me to do what I was being told; hoping for peace and silence in my head if it worked. I overdosed in early 2009 and was immediately sectioned under the Mental Health Act when my attempt was not successful.

27 THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR | MY TWENTY SEVENTH BIRTHDAY!!

1.     My Mum

      2.     R

3.     Dolly

4.     Pixie

WEEK FOUR | 52 LISTS FOR HAPPINESS | OLIVER BONAS | AD

You can buy this book here

Every week, for 2018 there will be post of what I’ve done in the book each week. And the fourth list?

List the things that get you out of your head:

A ROUND UP | 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS WITH I'M NOT DISORDERED

To finally conclude the series ’12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS WITH I’M NOT DISORDERED;’ I'd like to thank everyone who took part and opened up (in some cases) their personal lives for the enjoyment of others. Now, grab a glass of Bailey's & put on your new PJs; here’s a quick run-down of all eleven (I wrote the first one!) pieces and my favourite answers from each

CHRISTMAS Q&A WITH CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DIRECTOR VICKY MCNALLY, CYGNET HEALTHCARE | 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS WITH I'M NOT DISORDERED

It’s a special time of year and so, to celebrate it, I wanted to do something special on I’m NOT Disordered for Christmas. I have decided to bring back the Christmassy Q&A I put together last year with the questions being from a YouTube video and have posed them to many different people from all of the country and doing all sorts of jobs, in all sorts of roles, living all kinds of lives!

So let’s kick off Day Five of 12 Days of Christmas with I'm NOT Disordered with the answers of Vicky McNally, Corporate Governance Director from private healthcare organisation Cygnet Healthcare

1.       When do you start getting excited for Christmas Day?

WELCOME TO THE CHRISTMAS Q&A SERIES | 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS WITH I'M NOT DISORDERED

It’s a special time of year and so, to celebrate it, I wanted to do something special on I’m NOT Disordered for Christmas. I have decided to bring back the Christmassy Q&A I put together last year with the questions being from a YouTube video and have posed them to many different people from all of the country and doing all sorts of jobs, in all sorts of roles, living all kinds of lives!

So let’s kick off Day One of 12 Days of Christmas with I'm NOT Disordered with my answers to the Christmassy Q&A:

1.      When do you start getting excited for Christmas Day?

#NURSINGANDCOPRODUCTION WITH CYGNET HEALTHCARE | AD

I was honoured, this week, to attend another Cygnet Healthcare event: ‘Cygnet Nursing Conference: IsCo-production the answer to reducing restrictive practice?’

Being invited to conferences, I like to make sure that I:

1. Understand the topic,

2. Have an interest in the topic, and

3. It will be relevant to readers.

When friends and family were asking what the event was about, I simplified it (not to sound patronising or condescending) with ‘talking about how working together can result in less restraints and forced medications and things(!).’ Number one? Check!

Co-production is the buzz word of the mental health industry right now; professionals are all promoting working alongside service users to create; a better experience of services, a safer environment, and a better understanding.  My personal experience of mental health services (as a whole) has been that staff would tell service users the rules and there were ‘punishments’ when they weren’t 100% adhered to. As my mental health improved, I began to see that what would be easier, is to work together; there could be no understanding without equality. Number two? Check!

The conference was centred around mental health. Number three? Check!

It was an early start - as most events/conferences are – but refreshments in the registration room and Rafik(Raf) Hamaizia’s cheerful, and positive Welcome speech seemed to have everyone eager for the day ahead!

AD | CYGNET NATIONAL SERVICE USER AWARDS | NOMINATIONS OPEN SOON!! | AD

I’m delighted to be able announce to you guys that for the 2018 National Service User Awards (NSUA); I’ll be taking on the role as Head of Social Media!

It’s a brand new role for this year’s NSUA and is a mark of their popularity in that they now need extra support in their publicity and communications (specifically in terms of social media) because they seem to become inundated with calls, emails, messages to the Facebook page, and to the Twitter account… But it’s thank you to all you lovely readers that they’ve chosen me for the job! That they’ve picked me for the position. Because if I’m NOT Disordered weren’t so popular then it would be of no benefit to them.

Initially, I was upset to hear that I wasn’t being given the log in details for the specially created accounts; although, at the same time, I understand the risk in allowing someone else access to an organisations’s social media. And now we’ve talked about it; it’s actually a compliment; they think I can do more good through I’m NOT Disordered and my own social media with its extended; and kind-of-huge(!) audience, readers, and followers.

I’m also now delighted to tell you all that on MONDAY 16^TH OCTOBER, the nomination categories for the National Service User Awards 2018, were announced to be…

·         Community Social and Vocational Initiatives

·         Breaking Down Barriers: Tackling Stigma

·         Health and Wellbeing Initiative

·         Outstanding Service User Involvement Award (team or individual)

And also the usual – ever popular – Service User Choice Award which will be voted for during the event!!

!!!NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN AND WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY 8^TH DECEMBER 2017

AND

INFORMATION ON HOW TO MAKE A NOMINATION WILL BE HERE SOON!!!