Update on my relapse

[venusbluejeans]

I always seem to regret posting success stories as I always seem to blip soon after but though I should post really.

A few of you may remember that 5 months ago I had a severe relapse in my mental health which lead me to step back a bit as admin on NMP.

I had to stop working and even driving... Both of my workplaces were amazing and both told me that my job will be waiting for me when I was ready to return.

At one point I resigned from both of the jobs BUT was told by both not to be so stupid and they would see me when I was feeling better..... I am eternally grateful for that!

I swapped medication from Citalopram 40mg to Sertraline 100mg which was a straight swap and really panicked me when I first swapped.

Anyway fast forward 5 months.......

This last week I went back to work at one of my jobs after school for a couple of days in the week and have worked from 3.30 till 11.30pm the last two days.

I have walked the dog at work, my brain how peaceful and brilliant it is to walk 2 miles round a field with only a dog and your own thoughts for company........ a few weeks before this was an alien concept to me and by brain would never have coped.

I took up model making with nano bricks.... think lego but very very small...... it helped me tell the panic and anx where to go...I could do that and let the feelings in my head do what they wanted while I concentrated on building the models.

Today I have also signed up for a fully government funded Mental Health course... something I can put on my CV... I always love to learn new things but while my brain isn't playing ball it is difficult for me to concentrate.... I am now in a place where I can concentrate on things and study.... so Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems will hopefully be on my cv in a few months https://individuals.theskillsnetwork.com/level-2-in-awareness-of-mental-health-problems

I am still not 100% but I am very much getting there. But WOOOO HOOO I am back at work

There are many people who have played a huge part of my recovery so far......

The Chat room on here has been invaluable to me and the people in there have helped me in so many ways...... calming me when I was in a panic and also talking random crap when distraction was needed.... thank you loads and loads to them.

Also my Facebook friends helped me in the same way as the people in the chat room and also skype.... .... to me it proves that online friends are true friends... they are always ready to help when you ask.... one day we will meet in person to make the friendship complete

Lastly I want to say a HUGE thank you to Robin Hall.

I am sure you have heard of the online CBT that we advocate on NMP...... if not where have you been???

find his programme here...... https://cbt4panic.org/

Robin offers his programme for free so definitely in it to help people rather than to make money not like a few other therapists!!

Many messages have been passed backwards and forwards many of which from my end probably didn't make much sense while I was panicking! .... I can't say that I have completely 'got' the techniques yet and will always be practicing them and perfecting them until i really am no longer scared of panic attacks.

Thank you Robin, you really are amazing!!

[BikerMatt]

Bless you!!!! Thanks for posting and i hope you carry on in your recovery!! It's great you have such supportive employers as many just don't give a t#ss.


Cheers

[KK77]

Keep up the good work, Emma. You always radiate positivity in your posts. Keep us updated with your progress and may the force be with you


*Posted as KK, not Complaints Controller

[Fishmanpa]

That's the way to slay the dragon!

Positive thoughts

[MyNameIsTerry]

This is great to hear! And you do sound so much different.

Facing those fears was always going to be very hard and rebuilding confidence is very important. You've done that and it will be easier now. I remember getting back into work meant daily boosts to confidence, many that I couldn't see, and it pulls you along.

All the best to you in your further recovery!

P.S. if you have a blip, you've been through a lot worse. It will feel horrible, but you will learn to handle them better as you progress. A blip is not a relapse and you know the size of that difference after your fight back from 5 months ago.

[Elen]

Random crap? I must object, the discussions in chat are all of a superior intellectual caliber,

So proud of you for getting back to work, we all knew that you could do it and you have proved us right once again. And yes on-line friends are real friends too and thankfully not restricted by geographical location, otherwise we would never have "met".

Good luck with the course, with all your experience in here I am sure that you will ace it.

Huge cheers to Robin, hopefully your story will encourage others to sign up.

Speak soon v

[Carnation]

I am so pleased for you Emmz.
Well Done on all your achievements and achieving!
You should be proud. x

[pulisa]

Great news that you are now back at work and feeling so much more positive! Hopefully many people will read this and realise that there is hope and there are ways of getting back on track after these episodes. You should feel very proud of your achievement!

[robinhall]

Hi Emma
Just seeing this now - thanks for the thanks :-)

I'm so glad the programme was of help and I'm sure this will encourage others to check it out when they see how well you are doing

But I must add that you put a good amount of work into it so I hope others will realise not to just flick through the site thinking its a magic wand - you get out of it what you put into it

anyway - good to hear that you are getting back out there and isn't it great to hear that workplaces now can be so understanding

and thanks to everyone in NMP for helping to get the word out about CBT4Panic :-)

[Magic]

WELL DONE Emma! x