Hey @Phoenix_Rising,

I am knew to the forum but can relate to having a huge amount of ideas and the brain not co-operating to let you get through any of them.

I too am ruminating about the way the mental health system is. We are told to reach out for support, but you usually get told to sign up for this support and that support with a waiting period of like 6 months. I wish there was just one network where everything linked up so people didn't fall through the cracks and could be tracked better towards 'recovery'. At the moment I feel like there is a whole heap of people attempting to provide services in a number of locations but not talking to one another. How much money is being lost without it being mandatory for some of these services to be linked up in some way? Whole heap of people and info and services are either being doubled up on or info is lost somehow in communication or lack of it.

The answer to your question 'Where do people go if they have presented at hospital asking for help and been turned away???' is back out on the street or home, if they have one that is. We would all like to see things change. I understand what your saying - you get criticized for not asking for help "soon enough" and then others criticize you for accessing services?

I understand your anxiousness. I made progress with a counsellor in a small town and then her hours were cut back so she had to relocate to Sydney. I stopped going to counselling then and eventually my condition worsened. The reason I stopped going was that i didn't want to start all over again explaining past trauma with a new counsellor. Now I am going to have to.

I find mindfulness activities are helpful with anxiety. There is a free app called 'smiling mind" you can download. I wasn't one for this sort of thing but I actually find it quite useful. Mindfulness can stop an anxiety attack as it is literally impossible to feel anxious when you are intently focused on something else and living in the moment.

I'm not sure what you mean by a tiny turtle hug...but I can give you panda hugs instead. Panda's and owls are kind of my fav animals. At the moment anyway.

Thanks @Vanessa5