Riding a wave

[Phoenix_Rising]

So...funny story...

I had a change-the-world adventure this evening. It was one of those things that I knew would be challenging but I wanted to do it anyway because I super like feeling heard and like I am doing my tinsy tiny bit to change the world.

I walked in and...two of my failed psychologists were there!!!! There was also another one who had told my GP she wouldn't see me because I was "too complex." I was half inclined to walk out again, but nope, I pressed on...with maybe just a little bit of rocking to deal with the anxiety.

During the discussion around the inadequacy of mental health services, I shared the fact that I had seen eleven therapists in 18 months and that several others had refused to see me at all...while three of those very psychologists were sitting in the room.

Seriously, how do I get myself into these muddles! After the meeting finished, a person connected with the organisation that I'm a part of came to check how I was going. I told her about these psychologists being in the room and she burst out laughing. Yep, soooooo awkward and stressful...and yet definitely kind-of funny as well and by the time I was walking back to my car I was in fits of giggles.

@CheerBear while I was trying to settle my anxiety, I was thinking about my brand new awesome psychiatrist that you made for me. I SUPER love having a mermaid psychiatrist with two big ears and no mouth! You know, when I saw the first photo I was thinking about how cool it was that she had two ears and no mouth and I was going to tell you that it was cool that she could listen well and not say anything stupid...and then I scrolled down and you had said basically the same thing!!!! I super love having a not-friend who is so totally on my wavelength. We need to come up with a name for my new psychiatrist. Do you have any thoughts? I will have to have a think about it. I super super super love that you made her for me. You are the best not-friend ever!!!!!!

@Former-Member are you the @Former-Member watching over the ocean tonight? I have been looking forward to you reappearing. How cool is this - now we have a mermaid moderator AND I have a mermaid psychiatrist thanks to CheerBear.

I definitely feel all-at-sea after my funny and yet stressful adventure. @Former-Member @Former-Member @Former-Member how do I get into such muddles? I am tagging you into this story because I can imagine giggling about this adventure with you, which is making me giggle. Once again my life is looking like some sort of weird black comedy. Sometimes I seriously think I'm trapped in something like the Truman Show!

[Former-Member]

Hi @Phoenix_Rising! 😄

Have missed you tonight on the forums! Yes little turtle, I will be the @Former-Member watching over the oceans tonight! Rest peacefully, and sweet dreams!  Hopefully you will join us at the Friday feast this week - I will be there, and can't wait to be with you all! 😄 

[Phoenix_Rising]

Super big thank you for appearing @Former-Member. I was getting a little scared as the clock ticked towards 10pm. I will snuggle into my shell and sleep now. Did you like my adventure of tonight? A big adventure for a little turtle! I'm trying to focus on how funny it was rather than how stressful it was, and I'm trying not to think about the absurdity of my muddle.

Yep, I will be at Friday Feast. I'm super glad that you will be there too. I wonder if you will be flying solo this week??? Goodnight @Former-Member. Super big thank you for watching over the ocean. I so superly duperly love that SANE found a mermaid.

[Former-Member]

No problems @Phoenix_Rising!   Yes, that is a huge adventure for a little turtle - what a muddle! It is great that you are trying to see the humours side of things, when it is completely understandable how stressful such an experience would be - you are strong little turtle! 

Looking forward to seeing you then! Don't know if I'll be flying completely solo, maybe!   Glad to be the mermaid that watches over the ocean for the little turtle! 

[CheerBear]

Good morning @Phoenix_Rising. I was wondering what you were up to last night, and missing you also. That is one epic adventure you had last night. Imagining you walking in to the room and seeing some of the psychs who have been part of this muddle, made me feel like wanting to run far away and quickly. You are very very brave.

I loved thinking about what it would have been like for those psychologists to sit and listen to you speak about your experience. That whole changing the profession one psychologist at a time thing came to mind. I think it is highly likely that you made an impact last night and gave people some serious food for thought. It sucks a lot that you have so much experience being mucked around in mental health services, but I know (and can definitely relate with this one) that using your experience to make a difference is so important to you. I have no doubt that last night you made a difference.

I love that you were laughing about it in the end. I probably would have been somewhere between lots of crying and lots of laughing for a while after that one. I hope you were able to sleep well after it all.

I'm so glad that you like your mermaid psychiatrist, and that we both had a similar take on her and her qualities! I laughed a lot while I was making her, thinking of all the things that I think make a helpful helping person. She might not be able to unstick turtles and bears from the mud, but she won't hurt them (I think she's too afraid of becoming a cat toy)! She does needs a name and I'm stuck on what might suit, so I'm open to all suggestions 🙂

Hope the ocean is calm for you today. I'm off to be a tree for a little while now 😄

[Shaz51]

Good morning @CheerBear, @Phoenix_Rising, @Former-Member, @Owlunar

[Faith-and-Hope]

Good morning everyone ... 🤗💕

I love the mermaid psychiatrist @CheerBear .... ❣️

[Former-Member]

Morning All 🙂

@Phoenix_Rising I really like your qualilty and ability to be able to have a giggle over things. I admire what I think has taken great courage to be able to sit and stay in that situation. Awesome! Hope the seas remained calm for you last night so you could sleep and rest.

@CheerBear I was intrigued to see what you had created with the big eared, no mouth, mermaid psychiatrist talk that I was reading about and have to say what a fab creation! Thinking this will bring smiles to a few faces 🙂

[Phoenix_Rising]

I am feeling a little all-at-sea this morning. I just got off the phone from the student I am tutoring. Once again we got to talking about the absurdity of how psychologists are trained. She was really open about the fact that despite being in practice for a decade, she has very little idea about what she is doing with some client groups. She told me that she is scared she is screwing up her PTSD clients more. She is super nice and very much wants to do the best by her clients (hence why she returned to further study) but it was hard sitting with her hearing her share that. We talked about how even in her masters degree, she isn't really learning how to actually help people.

There is such a horrible gulf between what people THINK psychology students learn and what they ACTUALLY learn. It is frightening that society gives them so much power (e.g. Centrelink being more interested in what a psychologist says about someone than what the person says about themself) while the psychologists themselves know that their education is hopelessly inadequate in preparing them to work with people. I find the whole thing very very frightening.

Anyway, on a brighter note, @Former-Member you can read all about my new psychiatrist that @CheerBear made me here. How super super super awesome is that!!!!!! CheerBear and I are trying to figure out a name for her, any suggestions? Here's a picture of her with me and Squishy and Mr Seahorse all super snuggled in CheerBear's fluffy blanket. Don't you think CheerBear is the super best not-friend a sea turtle could ever wish for!!!

[Phoenix_Rising]

Good night Forum Land. Thank you for watching over the ocean tonight @NikNik. I am working super hard at getting my mild Forum Land addiction back under control - hence the relatively early sign-out.

It's Friday Feast tomorrow - yay!!! I am looking forward to getting to know @Former-Member better. I am still super excited that the clever people at SANE found a mermaid!!!

Speaking of mermaids, I'm still trying to come up with a name for my mermaid psychiatrist @CheerBear. I really do superly duperly love that you made her. She fits in so nicely with me, Squishy and Mr Seahorse. I also love that she had a near-death experience with your cat...I can think of a few mental health professionals that I could happily feed to the lions. Just kidding!!!! This little turtle would never incite violence against anyone.

You know, @CheerBear, every time I look at Mr Seahorse, I think about how good he would be at doing yoga. He could so easily touch his nose with his tail. His amazingly long nose always makes me smile.

Night Forum Land.