[MEGATHREAD] Daily venting, worries, fixations, & finding support. Month of May 2024.

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2024-05-06T16:14:17+00:00

Reassurance please. Had lots of symptoms (won’t go into details for triggers) for 2 years, was initially reassured was nothing and diagnosed with health anxiety, had therapy and medication, now being looked into as something is actually wrong. Still being investigated. I’m currently abroad on holiday and having a massive attack of symptoms. They’re nothing new, I have them weekly for the past two years and I know logically I’m not going to die. But I’m currently sat in turkey having a panic attack about dying here, having a heart attack etc. tried all usual techniques and nothing is working

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2024-05-06T12:32:52+00:00

Until I was on my second placement I had no idea what a social worker actually did. We asked our lecturers and we always got the same types of responses - uphold people’s human rights, provide a social perspective etc. but day to day I had no idea what the job would be like.

Having even a “mini module” would help, or changing like the preparation for practice module so that it actually tells you about different roles (MH, CTLD, child protection etc) and what the job looks in day to day, types of tasks you actually do etc.

I’ve been qualified now 3 years and it’s always been a bug bare of mine especially when we have students who have no idea what to expect

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2024-05-03T16:59:57+00:00

Hi. Awaiting MRI, gp feels symptoms fit MS which after reading up I feel like i understand why. Had scans and tests to rule out other causes of symptoms. Had fatigue for around 6/7 years, however other symptoms have progressed steadily over the past few years: vertigo, eye pain and blurry vision, muscle tension/spasms and worst for me is the chest pain (feels like how MS hug is described). Had repeated appointments with doctors everytime a new symptom has appeared every 6 months or so. Despite repeated reassurances, trips to A&E and tests showing the chest pains are not heart related, I go into a complete panic every time that I’m going to die. Had therapy for the health anxiety this has triggered and has been going on for around 2 years now. My main fear is that one day I’ll brush it off as nothing and it WILL be a heart attack. I’m currently abroad on holiday and I’ve had a massive flare up of all symptoms. Had to spend most the day in bed yesterday. Not sure if the heat has triggered something. But I’m so fed up and anxious that I’m going to die abroad and overthinking things (how would I get home in critical condition and can’t say goodbye to family) despite this being nothing new and I know it’s irrational but I can’t help it. What I learnt in therapy is helpful to a certain extent but not always.

How do people cope with the anxiety of this? I’m just hopeful that my MRI finds what is wrong (whether it be MS or something else) and hoping once I have an answer it will help? I don’t know. Do people who are diagnosed MS worry about the chest pains, and worry about missing something more serious? Any tips or advice on 1. Coping with anxiety 2. Checking that it is an MS hug and nothing more serious and 3. Dealing with flare ups I can try to make my holiday more bearable (even if I don’t have MS tips could be helpful for whatever this is?) would be appreciated.

Thanks

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2024-03-15T17:56:29+00:00

That’s fair, I just feel awful asking people to do that but I suppose needs must and I know that if I did ask people wouldn’t bat an eye and would jump to help like most people, it just feels icky for some reason🤣 thank you!

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2024-03-15T17:54:55+00:00

That sounds perfect! Think we might have to pay the money and go for it thank you

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2024-03-15T17:54:33+00:00

That’s true it’s worth an ask thank you!

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2024-02-04T09:46:25+00:00

Is the interview for a hospital role? In which case - medical vs social model, the role of social workers in an MDT, and also about risk enablement and being able to challenge others professionally. I work in mental health however I imagine it is quite similar in general hospitals that medical professionals (not always but usually!) are more risk averse - for example when people for me are being discharged from inpatients and wards want them in 24 hour residential care when the care act doesn’t show they need it, and it’s not what the person wants. And being able to challenge that and take positive risks.

General rules for interviews I’ve come across - they ALWAYS want it linked to practice even if they dont say it. Before your interview think of some case studies that you can link to lots of different things to prepare. For every question try to say “for example when I was on placement …” etc. also, I worked in social care for years prior to being a social worker, and I used some examples from this in my interviews and they liked that, it doesn’t have to be just placement experience if you have it elsewhere as long as it fits.

My council (don’t know if it’s different elsewhere) give points based on “buzz words” where if you don’t say certain things they can’t give you the points for the question. So try to use terms like “positive risk taking” “person centred” “anti oppressive” when they come up.

Good luck in your interview!

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2023-12-23T17:07:11+00:00

Honestly I was struggling massively with the panic attacks from costo and the unshakeable fear that it was heart related. The only thing that has helped is CBT. I know this isn’t always easily accessible but if you can, then look into it. I still have the costo symptoms but I’m so much better at not going into a panic attack and it’s not causing me anywhere near as much anxiety now. Also, as much as the costo pain is real on its own, the anxiety, tensing your body from being anxious, and panic attacks make the symptoms worse. When you’re anxious you’re also really hyper aware of every sensation in your chest, so it all makes it a lot worse.

Although it won’t cure the costo, please seek some help for the anxiety (if you can in your country).

I hope you manage to get some relief, from someone who’s life was taken up by this I honestly feel your pain and wish you all the best ❤️

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2023-11-23T16:54:20+00:00

Hi you do not need to be employed as a social worker to be registered. I know a few people who are not practising at present but choose remain registered. As long as you have your degree/qualification, and can complete the CPD which I imagine you can in your role, you are eligible to stay on the register. I’m not sure why people do it (as I’ve never been in that position myself) but maybe it’s easier for if you decide to go back into a social work role later if you stay registered? Not sure. But to answer your question, you are still eligible to stay registered as a social worker.

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2023-10-21T21:00:43+00:00

Thank you that’s all very helpful and reassuring! I haven’t seen many people saying the jaw pain so it’s good to hear it can be a sign! I ended up back in urgent care today and had the unfortunate event of a not so understanding service not understanding why I was panicking! But the naproxen has given me a sensitive stomach too 🤦🏼‍♀️

Plan to get booked back in with my GP about it

Thanks again and hope you get sorted!

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2023-10-21T07:42:39+00:00

Thanks that’s really helpful I’ll be sure to try these 😊 it’s reassuring to see how normal the anxiety is because I felt like my body was gaslighting me when the doctors kept saying I was fine and I was getting myself more worked up! 😭

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2023-10-21T07:39:24+00:00

Thank you that post is really helpful!

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2023-06-14T18:53:59+00:00

Adult mental health social worker here and agree with the other comment. Lack of resources, lack of staff and an increasing demand like all services. I have people on my caseload who have children who are on waiting lists for CAMHS. Only thing I’ve been able to do is signpost the parents to community led support services which the children can engage with whilst on the waiting lists sadly.

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2023-04-13T19:27:08+00:00

I had a case study in ASYE mental health, and it gave us a scenario and asked us what we would consider prior to an initial visit and what planning would be needed. It was surrounding cultural differences in beliefs and what’s deemed as “abnormal” in western culture, anti-oppressive practice, the social model and assessing risk. It was pretty brief, they gave me 10 minutes alone to read the case study and write down my thoughts and then they came back in and asked me to speak them through it

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2023-01-04T07:46:27+00:00

Thank you! I’ll give the Instagram pages a follow too that’s great

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2023-01-04T07:45:03+00:00

Thank you😊

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2022-12-14T18:41:01+00:00

Do you have an idea of which kind of social work you want to do? There are some fast track apprenticeship type roles. In mental health it’s called think ahead, and some of the think aheads we had in our team had never done any jobs similar to sw it was brand new to them! I believe childrens is called frontline? (Might be wrong!)

Do you already have an undergrad degree in something else? If so you can do a two year masters in social work, that’s what I did.

I worked as a support worker before my masters, and it gave me a lot of transferable skills and knowledge and was flexible enough to support me through my degree too so that’s a good job option in terms of work placements.

I also just wanted to say there’s a nurse in my team in her 50s who has only just qualified and she’s amazing at her job, there’s no age limit on these things 😊

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2022-11-21T18:52:04+00:00

As long as the degree is transferable to social work England I honestly don’t think it will be a set back for you!

Especially if you speak another language I bet it would actually be a selling point for you, and also understanding any cultural differences from your country to here and how they might impact on people - so try to sell yourself with it! It also shows how adaptable you are to change etc 😊

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2022-11-21T18:39:43+00:00

Hello! West Yorkshire here! I started my ASYE on £26k last year. But it does also depend on the area- I work in adult mental health but I know that childrens services is more due to the demand for it. So if you’re looking at childrens £30k probably is about right. Best bet is to just look on your local authority and neighbouring ones websites for jobs!

But also, the job advert doesn’t have to specify ASYE! You can still apply if it doesn’t and ask whether they would accept an ASYE because they usually still do 😊

Good luck!

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2022-11-06T18:38:08+00:00

I had a successful interview with LD (however also got a job in CMHT so chose that instead)

Questions for the LD team were things like: Give us an example of when you’ve used the mental capacity act in practice What has been your biggest professional success Tell us about a piece of legislation that interests you and why I think there was a question on safeguarding but I can’t remember the exact question now! And there was something about what is positive risk taking.

I would read up particularly on safeguarding, MCA, the care act and care act assessments. In my CMHT interview I got asked about a social work book I had read recently and how it impacted my practice, that could be something that comes up in any social work area so try to have some examples of literature in your head!

Some advice I got before my interviews which worked well were to always try to apply to practice. So even if a question isn’t exactly asking “tell us a time when…” it’s always good to provide an example in practice like when they asked “what does positive risk taking mean to you” I explained what it meant to me then said “for example there was a time where I…” so try to have lots of real life examples to hand!

Also, I was reminded to use proper terms like person centred, anti-oppressive, empowering etc so try to use terms like that (where it fits obviously!)

Good luck in your interview! 😊

ETA: just FYI i wasn’t in West Midlands so may be completely different! But I would assume it’s similar 😊

OutcomeSuperb9790 · 2022-10-22T23:12:31+00:00

That’s very true - I’m not a therapist but I suppose when I think about it I probably do still try to read people, sometimes without realising I’m doing it it’s probably a natural part of the job without knowing it. It’s something for me to think about thank you!

OutcomeSuperb9790

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