BEEN IN EMERGENCY CARE DURING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS? NORTHUMBRIA HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST WANT YOUR FEEDBACK!! | AD

I’m honoured to have been asked to tell you all about this fantastic opportunity (which I have been a part of):

“SO THERE WAS THIS ONE DOCTOR...” | MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA IN A&E

This post may come as a shock to some of you because - for some reason - I decided against talking about my most recent overdose. I haven’t even wanted to talk about it with close friends, family or the Doctors and Nurses. I’m not fully sure why I made this decision but I think a big part of it came from me wanting to just block it out and, mostly, pretend it hadn’t happened.

TW: RAMBLINGS OF AN INPATIENT | AN UNFOCUSED POST

I’ve just gotten to the ward from A&E and separating myself from the voices is hard.

That’s probably an understatement – it is near impossible.

But I can do it. When they aren’t horrendously loud and I’m not massively tired; I can do it.

Being in Cygnet Hospital (Bierley) for two and a half years taught me a lot; and one lesson I did learn was to always try my hardest to fight these auditory hallucinations. Cygnet gave me new, safe, and healthy coping skills and I use all of them. Sometimes they’re enough. Sometimes they are not. But I try. The point is, I try. I don’t – though it might seem this way – go straight to the paracetamol and self-harm.

In a – perhaps twisted – way, this is a bad thing because it makes me feel enormously hopeless when all my new coping skills don’t work. And I feel like maybe it’s time to rely on other people to keep me safe and to help me to quieten the voices. I can only do so much myself and if others can’t give me that support, then I worry – and genuinely believe – I will die.

HOW TO SURVIVE HOSPITAL | FIVE TIPS TO MAKE IT THROUGH ANY HOSPITAL STAY

A little while ago one of my medications was increased and with the increase, came a change in the tablet’s appearance. Of course the dormant voices jumped on this and convinced me that it was poison and they reasoned that Doctors were trying to make me more poorly so that I would need them more. Naturally, their thunderous voices were no match for my own and so I stopped taking my medication (which included two anti-depressants, one mood stabiliser, and an antipsychotic).

#NHSsavedmylife | AD

I just happened to see ‘The NHS Saved My Life’ on ITV; a celebration of seventy years with the NHS and I was inspired to write this post about my own experience of the NHS and how their services have saved my life.

Other than being diagnosed with Asthma and having the occasional cyst on my ovaries, I had no experience of the NHS until my mental health deteriorated.

You know how usually, in mental health, a person begins exhibiting signs of mental illness for a while before things might come to a head? It wasn’t like that for me.

A QUICK CHAT ABOUT MANIPULATION

manipulate

[muh-nip-yuh-leyt] /məˈnɪp yəˌleɪt/

verb (used with object), manipulated, manipulating.

1. To manage or influence skilfully, especially in an unfair manner: to manipulate people's feelings.

2. To handle, manage, or use, especially with skill, in some process of treatment or performance: to manipulate a large tractor.

3. To adapt or change (accounts, figures, etc.) to suit one's purpose or advantage.

4. Medicine/Medical. to examine or treat by skilful use of the hands, as in palpation, reduction of dislocations, or changing the position of a foetus.

I thought that I’d put the definition there because manipulation is something that can occur without you even knowing – or realising – it. And maybe someone will read this post and realise what is being done to them and seek the right help that they need to make it stop. And this is the point of my post – I had no idea when I was being manipulated (the Police, and mental health professionals have also referred to it as grooming which, I realise, is different but the two are linked so closely that I’d say both occurred. To me).

24 HOURS WITH A CRISIS TEAM SERVICE USER | VLOG

You guys know how I love to vlog and you probably also know that I’m no ‘YouTuber.’ I can edit small clips together into one long video and that’s it! So, excuse the messiness of this but I wanted to illustrate that people – including myself (years ago), have a perceived idea of what a person who is under the care of the Crisis Team might look like, sound life, and act like.

I hope that this video demolishes any assumptions and stigma on this.

HOW TO SURVIVE A HOSPITAL ADMISSION

It will come as no surprise to many of you for me to say that I’m very well experienced in hospital admissions; both medical and psychiatric. So this advice and top tips are based on both types of hospitals and hopefully I’ll cover a variety of situations surrounding your admission.

Before my mental health illness, I had problems with ovarian cysts and was hospitalised for those several times. But mostly, my medical admissions stemmed from psychiatric reasons such as suicide attempts – namely paracetamol overdoses. The antidote treatment usually lasts almost twenty-four hours so the hospital admission is fairly lengthy and, inevitably, challenging. Often, I’d struggle with the auditory hallucinations telling me to refuse treatment, run away from the Hospital, or further hurt myself. Unsurprisingly, physical hospital admissions provided me with experiences of mental health stigma. Many A&E Doctors and Nurses have little training in mental health and aren’t best equipped in supporting a person through a crisis.

TIME TO TALK DAY WITH I'M NOT DISORDERED | PART THREE

TALKING ALL THINGS MENTAL HEALTH WITH (my ex) OUT OF AREA TREATMENT CASE MANAGER, JANICE O'HARE

A CHAT WITH ME & A POEM BY NADINE APPLEBY, MIND AMBASSADOR | AD

[https://www.pinterest.co.uk/aimeswilson/lovely-things/]

One positive, I think, people get from reading I’m NOT Disordered is a feeling of comfort. A reduction in thoughts of loneliness; confirmation that it is not only yourself feeling the way you or having the thoughts that you may have. I’ve found that feeling alone can be a huge catalyst to thoughts of self-harm and even, suicide.

The one problem now is that I’m in recovery!

I rarely have dark moments and if I do then there is never thoughts of suicide; occasionally thoughts of self-harm, but never to die. The only real ‘comfort’ I can provide is that once upon a time, I went through these things. I self-harmed many times. I attempted suicide many times. I was sectioned, hospitalised, and put through intense therapies to find myself in recovery.

When I talk about the struggles, it’s in the past tense. For those who may find this less helpful… It goes without saying that I’ve gotten to know lots of people from inpatient services and, inevitably, some of these people are still in a bad place. When one of these friends, Nadine Appleby published a poem on her Facebook page, I immediately asked if I could publish it on I’m NOT Disordered.

I hope that it brings comfort to some, and enlightenment to others…

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!!!

POST THREE: MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK 2017

24 hours with... Nadine Appleby

Twitter: https://twitter.com/xnadine1990x

Date: Friday May 12th, 2017

Why have you chosen to write about today? 

I've chosen to write about today as there is a lot going on in my day I am currently an inpatient in an acute psychiatric ward and have meetings today with various professionals to decide next steps with my care.

Good morning! 

What time did you wake up?  '

6:30am

Why did you wake up at that time?  

The staff on my arms length observations made too much noise when they were switching staff.

Did you have a dream?  '

No a nightmare

Do you think today will be 'good' or 'bad' day? (use your own definition of these words to answer the question)  

I'm not sure I think it will hopefully be overall good but will have bad well very stressful parts to the day as I have been having a lot of difficulties with my mental health. 

What are the first three things you do after waking up?  

1.Check my phone

2.Make a coffee, 

3.Talk with the staff on my observations.

Cygnet Hospital Coventry Grand Opening - A Tour | Ad

[Note: all photos are credited to Vicky McNally and Cygnet Healthcare and Raf Hamaizia with all of them edited by myself via Moldiv]

Read the previous post about the conversations that were had at the Grand Opening here

Watch my vlog from this event here
Read Cygnet's piece on the event here

 [a fellow Expert by Experience: Hannah]

Having arrived late to the Opening; I joined a few people (including the legendary Raf Hamaizia) on an impromptu tour of the Hospital; led by Bronwen Corby, Operations Director.

Like most Hospitals (perhaps a helpful tool in dispelling mental health stigma specifically towards Psychiatric Hospitals) Cygnet Coventry was - or at least seemed to be to me - a rabbit's warren maze! I was frequently asking where abouts we were in relation to other parts of the hospital... Bronwen was incredibly patient! Because of this, I'm not going to be the greatest in my descriptions but I'm going to give it a shot!

Cygnet Coventry is specifically all-female and for those aged 18 and above. It's services include:

Dunsmore Ward - a female Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit [PICU]

Middlemarch Ward - Locked Women's Rehabilitation

Ariel Ward - Female Personality Disorder

Ariel Court - Transitional Living Units

Cygnet Hospital Coventry Grand Opening - A Conversation | Ad

[Note: all photos are credited to Vicky McNally and Cygnet Healthcare and Raf Hamaizia with all of them edited by myself via Moldiv]

Watch the vlog from this event here
And read the second blog post from the Grand Opening here
Read Cygnet's piece on the event here

As my car took numerous lefts and rights through a housing estate, I thought that maybe the driver was lost; Cygnet Hospital Coventry was so new that there wasn't even any signs to the building, and the driver had to use Google Maps after discovering we'd been driving in the wrong direction for ten minutes!
After yet another bend, I spotted the top of a modern, and clearly well-designed building that stood out among the terraced houses. And although, saying that the Hospital stood out and was completely different to it's surroundings, I don't think of that as a negative thing. Personally, I found that having Cygnet Hospital Bierley (where I spent over two years of my life, and 1 of the 21 Cygnet Hospitals in the U.K.) in the middle of a housing estate - but at the same time, with easy access to the motorway, supermarket and a woodland area - very motivational. For me, seeing young people in groups pass by, laughing and on their phones, was a healthy reminder that not only did life exist beyond the Hospital walls, but also; that it was reachable, in the deepest sense of the word. When freedom; from thoughts, hallucinations, and urges to self-harm, felt so far away and impossible, I could see that it actually wasn't too far.

POST NINE: #TimeToTalk Day in collaboration with Time To Change | Ad

#TimetoTalk

Hello!

This year, Time to Change (TTC) have worked in partnership, with I’m NOT Disordered on a exclusive series of projects for Time To Talk Day (TTD). Sadly, this is the final post for that series so I'd just like to say some thank yous to... Seb and the rest of the TTC media team for the partnership, TTC [just, in general], and to all of those who have contributed to the series: Angela Slater, Martin (Marty) Baker, Angharad May, Caroline Wild, Alexandria Readman, and Vicky McNally! 

                   
                    

Questions completed by Claire Andre, Police Liaison Lead, Northumberland, Tyne &Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LovelyClaireyA

https://www.ntw.nhs.uk/

Can you tell us about the worst (least helpful, most upsetting, anger-provoking etc) talk you’ve had with another person regarding mental health?

The circumstances are deliberately vague to protect the identity of those involved. 

One conversation sticks with me now, from probably approximately 17years ago. I was a student nurse on placement, quite early in my training. So some may find hard to believe but I was quite quiet and not very confident. I was talking to a family member whose young son was having a first admission, he had recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia. I was talking with the family member as my mentor was busy gathering information for her. 
She turned to me with so much emotion in her voice and asked why, why it had to happen to her son. A question I couldn't answer. I tried to comfort her the best I could and listen. What she said next will always stick with me and I felt so emotional "Why couldn't it be a broken arm, I can explain and understand that to family and neighbours. To be honest I would find it easier to say he was convicted for a serious crime and in prison then tell people he has schizophrenia." My heart broke there and then and I tried my best to reassure and support the person. A conversation very much about stigma that has always stuck with me.

POST SIX: #TimeToTalk Day in collaboration with Time To Change | Ad

#TimeToTalk

Hello!

This year, Time to Change (TTC) will be working in partnership, with I’m NOT Disordered on a exclusive series of projects for Time To Talk Day (TTD) on February 2nd. 

Questions completed by Caroline Wild, Deputy Director, Communications & Corporate Relations, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Can you tell us about the worst (least helpful, most upsetting, anger-provoking etc) talk you’ve had with another person regarding mental health?

I work in an NHS mental health and disability trust and often work with the public and people in other organisations in relation to mental health services.  I have seen attitudes toward mental health improve dramatically over the years, but sometimes things still happen which take my breath away (and not in a good way).  Last year we did a survey with the public about mental health and a frighteningly high number of people said that they didn’t think someone with depression could do a difficult job.  It still shocks me to remember that not everyone appreciates that we all experience mental health problems from time to time.  It doesn’t make people unable to do their jobs or have the kind of everyday lives that they have.

POST FIVE: #TimeToTalk Day in collaboration with Time To Change | Ad

#TimeToTalk

Hello!

This year, Time to Change (TTC) will be working in partnership, with I’m NOT Disordered on a exclusive series of projects for Time To Talk Day (TTD) on February 2nd. 

Questions completed by Angharad May, Mental Health Blogger, featured in Channel 4 Documentary: On the Edge and Online

Can you tell us about the worst (least helpful, most upsetting, anger-provoking etc) talk you’ve had with another person regarding mental health?

I was talking to a mental health professional who told me that I simply had to 'leave the past in the past' when I was experiencing flashbacks; that I should just 'distract myself'; that I wasn't 'trying hard enough' in my recovery and compared me to someone who had apparently tried and fought much harder than me; that other clients were much worse off than me; that I was 'attention-seeking'; that I was 'messing around' when I couldn't eat; and that I was 'pretending to be psychotic' when I was hallucinating and hearing voices. A lot of other things were said which I cannot talk about. This conversation, or rather several conversations with this person, made me feel frightened of them, of this person who I was supposed to be able to trust to help me get better. I was also frightened that they had turned other people against me too, which made it even more difficult for me to trust. I was in hospital, and pretty vulnerable, when the conversations took place. I disagreed with pretty much everything that was said to me, but didn't have the confidence or assertiveness skills to be able to stand up for myself, and then I began to doubt myself and in turn believed what was said to me, which then sent me into a massive downward spiral. This conversation had a very negative impact on me and my hard work in recovery. However, I have become strong enough to now turn this negative into a positive. I am proving them wrong, and getting myself better in so doing.  

THE TWITTER FEED: Enhancing Patient Experience with Cygnet Healthcare | Ad

Enhancing Patient Experience - Professionals, Patients and Power: A Paradigm Shift in Healthcare Delivery 

with Cygnet HealthCare

https://www.cygnethealth.co.uk/events/professionals-patients-power/

I'll be using this post to give you all a little bit of insight into the Twitter buzz from #EnhancingPatientExp16
You can watch the vlog of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1F8A9-5BQ0

12:45

This is the first time I've travelled since my mobility-related diagnosis so I was massively worried, scared, stressed, and anxious...

18:08

Room service menu wasn't looking good... so I missioned off and found a Burger King

08/11/2016

10:42

"They gave me a diagnosis that I could understand. I didn't like it - I thought 'oh! Another one!'" - Iris Benson #EnhancingPatientExp16

11:09

Iris Benson talks of two important staff interview qs 'when did you last smile?' & 'when did you last apologise?' #EnhancingPatientExp16


RETWEET: Emily Kobelis

We need to support each other during change; Service Users and Co-Workers! Empowering statement by Iris Benson Cygnet Healthcare #EnhancingPatientExp16

RETWEET: Vicky McNally

We are not a tick box or a target we are individuals *thumbs up* #coproduction matters & enables recovery #EnhancingPatientExp16 Iris Benson

12:48

Carer, John Hendel, admits originally being reluctant to tell people his daughter was sectioned #EhancingPatientExp16

12:52

Initially he and his wife wondered why she couldn't just 'pull herself together' or just take a pill #EnhancingPatientExp16

13:00
Personally, I felt that it was enlightening to help understand what my Mum went through whilst I was poorly #EnhancingPatientExp

RETWEET: Vicky McNally

John Hendle providing Father's perspective talking about impact of #Stigma & lack of support & engagement with #Carers #EnhancingPatientExp16

RETWEET: Vicky McNally

John Hendle why jargon is unhelpful & how communication is key to enhancing patient and family experience *thumbs up* #EnhancingPatientExp16

RETWEET: Emily Kobelis

Humbling to hear such an amazing presentation from John Hendle about our work Cygnet Healthcare Beckton #proud #EnhancingPatientExp16

RETWEET: Vicky McNally

John Hendle talking about his daughter's involvement in reducing restrictions. Powerful testimony from expert by exp. #EnhancingPatientExp16

13:07
Been introduced to SOOOOO many lovely people in the refreshments break #EnhancingPatientExp16

[Note: At this point, my TalkTalk broadband broke and I went through a lot of drama, and hours of frustrating phone calls to find the source of the problem and have it repaired and so, there's a large gap from this tweet until the next]

RETWEET: Vicky McNally

Up next Sian Rees from Oxford AHSN recognising & managing sharing power & unconscious anxieties #EnhancingPatientExp16

RETWEET: Vicky McNally

Sian Rees at #EnhancingPatientExp16 Need to challenge what the system values. Why empathy matters

RETWEET: Emily Kobelis

Are we providing outcomes or outputs? Interesting talk Cygnet Healthcare #EnhancingPatientExp16

;

Coming up next for the blog posts on this event, will be more details on the presentations from, what I believe to be, two of the key speakers; Iris Benson and John Hendle...