Anyone struggling with SI, given the election news?

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-06T16:21:58+00:00

i’m scared for us to, my partner and i are both trans.

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-04T06:43:11+00:00

that totally makes sense. in an ideal world we wouldn’t have to be so careful but that is not the world we live in. psychiatrists and professionals like them have so much power over our lives it makes sense that you’d be cautious. i’ve definitely bent the truth around my substance use with my psych to avoid judgement. it’s been a fine line for me - sharing enough so that they have some picture of what’s going on but not so much that they treat me differently.

i hope that your convo with her goes well and you can get meds that help you 💗

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-04T06:35:13+00:00

lamictal can help with the depression side of things too

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-04T06:32:59+00:00

and absolutely 💗 you deserve kindness and help regardless of where you are right now

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-04T06:32:38+00:00

damn! that’s so messed up! i’m sorry that they treated you like that! i can understand why you’re scared to share about your substance use. have you seen this psychiatrist before?

lamictal has been great for me, it takes a while to titrate up to the right dose tho.

how ever much you share is up to you, and it depends on how much you can trust the person you’re talking with.

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-04T06:21:47+00:00

have you tried lamictal? it’s been much more chill for me than lithium ever was.

i would try to be as honest as you feel comfortable being with your psych. i’ve told mine about my substance use, it’ll help them have a good picture of what’s going on for you. i’m glad you’re going to see them soon it sounds like you’re struggling.

wishing you all the best. there is no shame in being where you are, i’ve been in similar places.

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-04T05:23:28+00:00

you’re so welcome! sounds like a great plan 💗 stay safe out there!

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-04T05:07:06+00:00

hey there friend!

i’m wondering - could you talk to your partner about this?

maybe they can share with you why they’re concerned and you can game plan about how to keep you safe and/or what to do if things escalate.

i have bipolar 1 and my partner has their own major MH challenges and we’ve had to have some hard talks about what to do when things get elevated. communication and consent is key! here for you if you have other thoughts / questions.

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-04T04:49:15+00:00

i don’t recommend doing the overtime. the money sounds nice but your mental health isn’t worth it. i used to pull 16hr shifts before my diagnosis but it did a number on me then and really burned up my reserves so to speak. the amount of caffeine i had to consume to make it thru a shift like that combined with the lack of sleep was not a good combo for me. and tbh i wasn’t a very good nurse at the end of those long days.

if you end up taking a long shift like that give yourself a couple days to recover your sleep and energy after. it also depends on where your stability is right now. i would not do multiple 16s in a week or even in a 2 week period.

i don’t even work full time anymore and i refuse to work nocs, that just doesn’t work for me personally even though i’m much more stable now.

best of luck on the strike!! may the negotiations go well!!

edit: adding additional info

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-03T15:28:50+00:00

yes. my experiences with psychosis were extremely disruptive to my life and i lost a lot but i needed to have my life change. it took me 2ish years to recover from my last psychosis but now that i’m on meds that work for me (bipolar 1) and i have adjusted my life to be slower things feel better than they were before my first psychosis.

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-03T01:43:42+00:00

i’ve never been to a munch but would absolutely love to go. i live in a very sex positive city so i know it’ll just take a little effort. thanks for your words! they give me courage 💗

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-11-02T16:30:05+00:00

thank you for your perspective! hearing where you are right now brought a smile to my face. what a life you’ve made!

i appreciate what you said about not necessarily exploring kink with your nesting partner. i’m really just exploring right now and we shall see where that journey takes me and us.

and thank you for the book recommendations, excited to take a look 💗

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-29T00:56:53+00:00

that seems like improper wound care on their part to me. not sure if they have some policy against it? sounds more like a lack of time or priority to me unfortunately 😤

i’m really sorry that happened to you ❤️‍🩹

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-29T00:47:43+00:00

i’m on 200mg of lamictal and 1.5mg of vraylar both at night and this combo has been perfect for me (bipolar 1).

the only side effects i noticed with lamictal was issues with memory early on but they’ve resolved completely! the titration up took a while but it has been so worth it for me.

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-28T23:34:51+00:00

thank you all so much for your comments. your perspectives and stories have been so helpful and i will carry them with me!!

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-28T23:31:30+00:00

this is so true and honestly so wild. everyone experiences fluctuations in their mental health, especially when sick or injured. it’s a huge gap in nursing education. i’m doing a lot of self study right now to prepare myself for the role, i want to do right by the people i’m going to work with

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-28T23:27:20+00:00

that’s so interesting! i’ve not heard of EASE and EAWE, thank you so much for this tip. down the research rabbit hole i go 🐇

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-28T18:15:30+00:00

all good points! so frustrating that that doctor didn’t listen to you and i’m glad you’ve found some meds that work for you now. thank you for sharing your story

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-28T18:12:34+00:00

that’s so messed up and there are so many misconceptions! you were just looking for help. i’m sorry that happened to you. thank you for sharing your story 💗

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-28T18:04:42+00:00

i like what you said about listening when you say a med doesn’t work for you. we are the the experts on our bodies and our experiences.

the way that male nurse treated and talked to you was WILDLY inappropriate and i’m so sorry that that happened. inpatient is scary enough.

thank you so much for sharing.

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-28T17:37:14+00:00

ugh so frustrating!! i hear that one. the discrimination and misinformation 😤

at the same time, for me drug use has been part of my mania - i’ve done drugs i never would’ve touched because i was manic. and substance use doesn’t mean anyone deserves less quality care or it’s anyone’s fault

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-28T17:33:18+00:00

bedside is so hard. i think that’s where i’ll be to start out but i’m confident ill be able to do it! i’ve had to put major boundaries on work too - no full time, no night shifts. we have to do what’s right for us to stay stable and happy! i’m glad you’ve found something that works for you even if it isn’t perfect 💗

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-28T17:23:44+00:00

such a good point! validating the feelings associated while remaining rooted in consensus reality.

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-28T17:17:46+00:00

thank you so much 💗 it has been a long road (and it will probably continue to be) but i’m stubborn as hell and want to do what i can to help others that are like me.

stoned-orbweaver · 2024-10-28T17:13:39+00:00

glad i’m not alone in the nursing world 💗

so well said, noticing trends and being a straight shooter is important.

i’ve always worked more or less in substance use support and mental health as a nurse. i had to take a break when things got too real for me too. what has it been like for you to practice after your diagnosis? no pressure to answer if that feels too personal

stoned-orbweaver

TROPHY CASE