8 votes

Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (May 2023)

This is a monthly thread for those who need it. Vent, share your experiences, ask for advice, talk about how you are doing. Let's make this a compassionate space for all who may need one.

7 comments

  1. [4]
    tildin
    Link
    I started lithium after the doctor I went to agreed that I have either rapid cycling bipolar or cyclothymia. It's already been almost 2 months and there are definitely improvements. I also started...

    I started lithium after the doctor I went to agreed that I have either rapid cycling bipolar or cyclothymia. It's already been almost 2 months and there are definitely improvements. I also started a new job and the stress from that isn't helping, combined with the fact that I don't really deal well with changes - I adapt, but while I do it's very difficult. And these two changes in my life have been... a lot... but I'm optimistic, it will just take time and effort.

    Thank you for this post.
    Typically I'm very wary of posting about my mental health online... I have a kind of weird paranoia...

    7 votes
    1. [3]
      lou
      Link Parent
      Lithium is a remarkably safe and well-known substance that changed my life. You're likely to see continuous improvement in the next few months. Good luck!

      Lithium is a remarkably safe and well-known substance that changed my life. You're likely to see continuous improvement in the next few months. Good luck!

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        tildin
        Link Parent
        Thank you for this reassuring comment. I needed to read this.

        Thank you for this reassuring comment. I needed to read this.

        3 votes
        1. lou
          Link Parent
          Awesome! Just one piece of advice: watch the weight ;)

          Awesome! Just one piece of advice: watch the weight ;)

          3 votes
  2. [3]
    lou
    (edited )
    Link
    Posting here because I don't think there's a "health" megathread, and the issue has severe mental health implications anyway. After almost 20 years with tinnitus, it got bad enough it forced me to...

    Posting here because I don't think there's a "health" megathread, and the issue has severe mental health implications anyway.

    After almost 20 years with tinnitus, it got bad enough it forced me to admit I need a hearing aid. White noise, apps, and tones I generate on Audacity are not cutting it and I was going crazy. And the tinnitus is now in both ears, so two devices instead of one. It is extremely expensive for my pocket. But there's no other way.

    They did all the tests, and my tinnitus was so loud and unusual the health professional called a colleague to be in the room. Apparently, my ears are so fucked up that I'm a medical curiosity. Yay?

    When health professionals realize the extent of my tinnitus they look very concerned and ask me if I'm doing psychotherapy. Apparently, it's a miracle I didn't go completely crazy.

    There's a name for the technique the device uses, but I can't spell it to find on Google and the ear-people can't really explain how it works. But it does work. It does something to break(?) my tinnitus? IDK. There is also a masking noise in the precise frequency of my tinnitus, which is apparently in the 8khz range -- another very odd thing according to ear-people. The masking noise is incredibly soothing, feels like crickets and I love the sound of crickets. I previously thought my tinnitus was in the 5khz frequency, so no wonder my concoctions didn't really hit the spot.

    Anyway, they gave me the hearing aids for me to test for a few days. I'm feeling peaceful and hopeful. I'm pretty sure the tinnitus either created or intensified my mental issues, so hopefully mitigating it will improve my mental health as well.

    6 votes
    1. [2]
      unknown user
      Link Parent
      I never knew tinnitus comes with specific frequency ranges. Thank you for sharing, glad that you managed to find a solution that works. I definitely agree on having a space for physical health...

      I never knew tinnitus comes with specific frequency ranges. Thank you for sharing, glad that you managed to find a solution that works. I definitely agree on having a space for physical health issues as well. Everyone will eventually have them (if they're not living with one already, as you are) and they need support groups too.

      2 votes
      1. lou
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Apparently, most tinnitus does not remain consistently on the same frequency, or at most it stays within a larger range. At least for now, all the tests indicate that my tinnitus is firmly on the...

        Apparently, most tinnitus does not remain consistently on the same frequency, or at most it stays within a larger range. At least for now, all the tests indicate that my tinnitus is firmly on the 8khz frequency, which is highly unusual but not unheard of. I also don't have any detectable hearing loss, which is unusual as well.

        2 votes