support in plymouth

[lostwithout]

can anyone give me any details on any good support groups or services in plymouth? i have bipolar 2 and i'm finding it hard to find a decent network of people.
Also - would like to know if there are any minor injurys units closer to the city center than derriford?

I'm not really wanting lists of places - but good recommended places from fellow suffers of MH illness locally.

hope this post is ok?

 

[tjo73]

Hi lostwithout
I find a good place to go for support and to be with people is Mind Oasis, which is at 8 woodside, Greenbank near the freedom fields park. telphone number 01752 254004. They are openfor general drop in Monday, Tueday afternoon, wednesday and Friday. They do help and advice on a range of topics from benefits to housing, one to one sessions and have a bipolar support group, and you can get a cheap lunch and meet new people. they do other stuff too such as art classes and music. As for the only other minor injuries unit I know of is out at Devonport near Plymouth Albions ground, it;s only a small unit so might be easier for you. Hope this helps

Teresa XXX

 

[lostwithout]

hiya theresa

thanks for the advice, i'll check them out for sure

 

[brandy32]

new to this site

hello,, I was diaginosed in august this year as having Bipolar and have just started on Lithium 400mg. i was previously on anti depressants but following a manic episode when penguins were talking to me.. these were stopped.

I am finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that I have a mental illness and will probably always need to be on medication. I have a lovely dr at Elmview but things are not going fast enough for me.. I just want to get well and get back to work.

I feel like I should be in hospital right now.. but the problem is it would appear that I am not ill enough.. but I am scared of getting too ill.

I would like to speak with others and get some support from other people like me. My family are good but they think that because I now take this one little tablet everything will be fixed now and life will get back to normal. But I fear it will not and I fear people around me cannot cope and I need to be somewhere where i could get the understanding space and time that I need. I just cannot snap out of it!

Help!!

 

[tjo73]

Hi Brandy
to the forum first of all.
I know that being diagnosed as having a mental illness is never an easy thing, I myself have suffered for the past 20 years on and off. Sadly as far as mental illness there are no quick fixes, it takes time especially if you are taking medication for the first time, any antidepressant takes between 6-8weeks to even begin to work properly. I understand your need to fell well again and get back to work, but it would be better if you don't rush it because then you can make sure that you are truly ready to go back and will cope with it better.
My suggestion to you would be to try Mind Oasis here in Plymouth, as I myself go there and I have found it to be a great help when I have felt so isolated as my family are unaware that I am ill again.
As I said to Lostwithout Mind Oasis is at 8 woodside, Greenbank near the freedom fields park. telphone number 01752 254004. They are openfor general drop in Monday, Tueday afternoon, wednesday and Friday. They do help and advice on a range of topics from benefits to housing, one to one sessions and have a bipolar support group, and you can get a cheap lunch and meet new people and be with people who understand where you are coming from and have been where you are now. they do other stuff too such as art classes and music too.

I am more than willing to talk to you and give you advice or just be here to listen, please private message me if you would like to.
I hope this may help a little.

Teresa

 

[brandy32]

Thanks... may drop in on Tuesday after my hospital appointment think I need to talk to others who understand. I got my boss coming out soon for a home visit as I have been signed off for two months. My employer is really good but I feel so guilty for being at home ... might see you there x

 

[tjo73]

I'll be there on Tuesday, open from 12.
Good luck with the visit from your employer, it's good that they are being understanding and I can understand that it can be scary being open with them about your mental health problems, I do understand as I told my last employer about my mental health problems.
I may see you there on Tuesday.

Teresa

 

[brandy32]

hi... not happy today had a call from the secretary to my head doctor saying that there is no need to attend my appointment tomorrow as a letter is on its way with a prescription of a different dose of my Lithium ... I was not too happy i explained that since I do not have a mental health nurse I need to see him as I have concerns about my moad and If my lithium is being increased then I want to discuss why and ask when I will be started on the other drugs that are in the pipeline.. I feel angry and upset as if my feelings do not matter. I advised I will be attending my appointment tomorrow as I wish to discuss matters with my doctor.

I am nervous about the visit from my employer later this week.. i am worried about the lenght of time it will take for me to get back me and be functioning as I should.. I feel really frustrated at the system of our mental health and feel the support I am getting from elmview is not very good. When I feel really depressed when i call gateway during the day they say I must speak with my cpn or dr.. having no cpn I need to speak with my dr and he is not always avaialble... how ill do I need to get before I get the support I need.!!!

sorry just need to sound off ....

 

[tjo73]

Hi Brandy
I can totally understand your frustration with the mental health services in Plymouth, I have had so many problems of my own with them. I saw a Dr at Avon house who to be honest is totally usless, saw him 3 times and when I needed him recently he had discharged me without even telling me, he also didn't do a care plan or arrange any kind of help.

Sadly the system in plymouth is not good and they really don't take your feelings and concerns into consideration, to them we are just a statistic. As you don't have a CPN you might think about getting an advocate who could help you get you views across, they are independent of mental health services, I will try to get some info for you.

Again I can understand the frustration with gateway and the lack of support you are getting and I do understand because I constantly feel the same way.

I know you are nervous about the visit of your employer, but I am sure that your employer would rather you are back to full mental health rather than go to early and end up getting ill again.

As I have said I am here for you to sound off at anytime.
and you are right to say that you still want to go to your appointment don't let them fob you off brcause you are ill.

Teresa

 

[brandy32]

Hi went to my appointment today.. My lithium has been increased to 600mg from 400mg as the levels in my blood were too low. I will not start on the other drugs until the lithium level is right. No one has managed a care plan to me at all.

I was going to go the drop in at Mind but I felt so washed out after the appointment at the hospital that my friend who went with me took me for lunch before picking my little boy up from school.

A friend of mine who lives in Manchester when she had a breakdown caused by post natal depression she had a cpn.. they arranged for a cleaner to help her with the house and a chilminder who would come to her home to look after the young baby so she would have quality time with the older child. the cpn came around weekly and she was offered respite care if she needed it. It seems really different from down here I have been told I have bipolar and I feel that I have been left out to dry. Never heard of an advocate who are they??

I have nothing planned for Thursday so will pop around to Mind and find out what is on offer.

Thanks for listening x

 

[tjo73]

Advocates are people that help people using mental health services to get their views across, protect their rights and help them say what they want. They are independent from the mental health services so should be inpartial. The service is free and is definately worth looking at if you feel you are not getting the help you need. The postal address is Plymouth guild, Ernest English House, Buckwell Street, Plymouth, PL1 2DA Telephone number: 01752 201766 email: [email protected] or if you want to know more they have a website too www.plymouthguild.org.uk/community-advocacy.

If I am honest I am not really surprised to hear you say that now care plan has been done for you. They are supposed to do one, but my experience seems to suggest that they don't alot of the time.
Mind are not open on Thursday for general drop in, that is either tomorrow or Friday.Their general drop in days are Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10-4pm and Tuesday from 12pm. So if you have time tomorrow or pop in and see them on Friday, you will need to pop into the office at the top of the stairs and speak to the staff but they are all really friendly.

Teresa

 

[brandy32]

thanks for your help.. will pop in on Friday.

I will mention a care plan when I next go for my appointment.

xx

 

[brandy32]

his trying to get the courage to go to the drop in centre at Mind today.... really nervous about going somewhere like that on my home.. going to get dressed and see how I feel.

I have my employer coming out to see me next week for a home visit so nervous about that ....

may see you there x

 

[tjo73]

Hi Brandy
I hope you found the courage to go to Mind today, but if not don't worry. I was very scared the first time I went on my own and now it is not so scary anymore. Unfortunately I was unable to go today because of other commitments but I will be there on Monday if you would like to go and have time. If your scared of going there on your own is there someone who can go with you? If not, I could meet you outside and go in with you if that would help.
Good luck with your employer next week I have my fingers crossed for you and will be thinking about you.

 

[brandy32]

hi thanks... I bottled it on Friday my husband was not too keen... i was having a bad day. My husband does shift work and was off, but he is working Monday days so I think I will deffinately go Monday and aim to get their for 10am.. i am really nervous as I just do not know what to expect. Would love to meet you there perhaps if you could privately message me then we would give out our real names and make arrangements. It feels like such a huge step like actually facing up to the fact that I have an illness.. sounds pathetic I know but it all a bit real at the moment and very scary I am scared about the future. hope to see you there x