For your consideration. You

[Stag 3229]

The more we talk about it the less stigma it holds. You go, Turbo!  

 

[Echo_42069 386]

Turbo is number 1 lotcer if u say different fight me. 

 

I love u Turbo i miss u joining vc and us flirting heavily xoxo

[LobsterLarry 1514]

I love you Turbo DAWG. You are the best. 

[Morigung-oog 5697]

You know where to find me Turbo. For what it's worth, I'm glad you're here.

[Fluffy Horror 496]

Just dropping in to attach some resources, as well as to tell you that I'm proud of you for seeking help. Long and very personal ramble below, and then resources after the cutoff for those who don't want to read the ramble.

 

------ RAMBLE HERE -------

 

I'm going to be honest here and talk about something that I don't usually talk about in public, but in this case, I think talking about it might prove helpful. I know I'm not a very well liked person on here given my tendency to get into social justice arguments on the forums, but I would very much appreciate if the people I have annoyed and pissed off could not use this as ammunition in the future.

 

If you ever want anyone to talk to, I spent a not insignificant amount of time in and out of psych wards in my teenage years and early twenties. I am very familiar with mental illness and navigating the medical system. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or just want someone to talk to. This goes for anyone reading this, not just Turbo. As hard as mental illness is, getting treatment for it is even harder. I remember how terrified I was when I was first committed. Ultimately, it saved my life several times over. I started my healing journey in those long-stay units, and I wouldn't be the genuinely, truly happy and content person I am today without those foundations. It took me nearly two decades of consistent, frequent therapy and psychiatry to get to where I am today. Five years ago, I never would have thought it was possible to be this happy. Six years ago I couldn't even imagine being content. Seven years ago I couldn't even imagine wanting to live.

 

It does get better. It feels like things will never get better, but you keep working at it, and you get older, and things do get better. I'm happier in my thirties than I ever was in my twenties or teens. There is an end to the suffering.

 

Yes, of course I still have bad days or bad weeks, and I have to keep on top of my habits and patterns, but I haven't needed therapy for four years now, I haven't been committed in seven years, and I've been able to get off of several medications. Mental illnesses are incurable, but they are manageable, and the more you practice managing them, the easier it becomes to do so.

 

Life does get better in your thirties. Yes, the memes will go over your head, the new lingo will sound like gibberish, and the Youths(TM) will make fun of you for being old and dusty, but your brain will calm the **** down if you work on training it.

 

------ RAMBLE OVER -------

 

For my fellow Canadians, here are some resources. I've met a surprisingly large amount of Canadians who don't know that you don't need insurance or to pay to access a therapist, psychiatrist, or other mental health specialists- each province has programs that connect you with these resources for free. There's usually a waiting list, but in my experience it's never been longer than six months.

 

Here's the federal page listing the programs in each province and territory, as well as how to get in contact with those programs. There are also many others that are available that aren't listed, it's just a matter of checking your province or territory's individual page on resources.

 

They list immediate crisis resources as well as resources for long term care.

 

Canadian Mental Health Resources

 

Another great resource is Recovery College. It's located in Calgary, but most of the courses are online, and it's not limited to people in Alberta. They offer free short-term courses on a variety of topics, all to do with wellness. It allows you to learn tools to tackle individual problems you face. Courses like "Coping With Current Events", "A Better Relationship With Sleep", "Building Better Boundaries", even "Adulting 101"- if it's something someone struggles with, it's probably a free course at Recovery College. I recommend at least trying out a class or two. I used them extensively when I was transitioning out of the long-term psychiatric ward to day hospital. I still to this day will take a course every now and again when one pops up that I feel like I need to work on.

 

Again, you don't need to be Albertan to use them- heck, I don't think you even need to be Canadian, it's almost all online and it's not like they're checking passports.

 

Recovery College