Royal Voluntary Service | Mental Health Assessment
So its been another week again. I have been struggling a lot lately so to stay committed to writing every couple days hasn't been possible for me. I hope you understand. There is lots to write about plus yesterday was World Mental Health Day so I will be aiming to do 2 blogs today so you don't need to read it all at once. Although, of course you don't have to read it at all!
On Saturday I had planned for me and my partner to head up to a free event just up the road held in an art gallery. We could have taken part in free natural crafts, apple pressing and done lots of autumnal things. However, we were both exhausted. We have finally got a semi-decent sleeping schedule (I'm typing this at 820am) but back then, we really did not. We decided to spend the weekend at home although I did do one thing productive. I applied to be a volunteer for the Royal Voluntary Service. This is a Service which works with libraries to provide books for older people who struggle to get out of their homes. The volunteers do a number of things such as keep the older people company, read the books to them or just deliver the books if they are able/want to read them themselves. I thought this sounded like a great opportunity since I am not able to be in paid employment currently however they got back to me and said that they were not looking for anyone in my town at the moment. But I'm proud that I tried and I will keep checking the website.
On Monday I had my Mental Health Assessment with the Health Advisory Service and my partner was an absolute hero that day. My cousin took me in so that I didn't have to get public transport when I was already incredibly anxious but there was not enough room in her car for him as well. So he got the train alone into the city and walked around 4 miles in the pouring rain just to be with me in the assessment for 40 minutes. I basically begged him not to because I thought it was way too much to ask but he wasn't having any of it and he came anyway. We may be struggling a little at the moment due to the small space we're in and my mental health but I'm truly thankful for him every day.
The assessment wasn't as nerve-wracking as I thought it would be. The lady was very kind and made it clear from the beginning that I wouldn't have to actually talk about any of my past trauma during the assessment. It would just be lots of questions about how my mental health affects me day by day. Talking it all through for a solid 40 minutes really made me realize how much I (and my partner) actually deal with on a daily basis. Its a lot. There's so many basic things that I either can't or really struggle to do. I don't have a regular eating, drinking or sleeping pattern. I can't leave the house alone. I can't pay at a till, I can't go places with there are lots of people, I can very rarely get public transport and I do nothing with my time. Its really hard. My cousin bought me subway before dropping me home and for her to pick me up at take me at 830am I really appreciate.
On Tuesday my partner had an appointment at the job centre, we walked the dogs in the woods with his mum and then we popped over to his grandparents to make our favourite; sausage rolls. They were so good that a day later we made some more. Easter is one of my favourite times of year just because his granny makes me a whole pot because I can't eat much chocolate. Is it Easter yet?
A wonderful friend of mine then came over for a few hours in the afternoon before I headed to bed as she is having a little bit of a hard time herself at the moment. We had a nice chat, cheered each other up and I will hopefully be seeing her next weekend for a few drinks.
I will write a little more about the last couple of days in my next blog as there's still a lot to cover. And I also want to delve a little deeper into mental health due to World Mental Health Day and of course, that's what my blog is all about.
Have a great day!
On Saturday I had planned for me and my partner to head up to a free event just up the road held in an art gallery. We could have taken part in free natural crafts, apple pressing and done lots of autumnal things. However, we were both exhausted. We have finally got a semi-decent sleeping schedule (I'm typing this at 820am) but back then, we really did not. We decided to spend the weekend at home although I did do one thing productive. I applied to be a volunteer for the Royal Voluntary Service. This is a Service which works with libraries to provide books for older people who struggle to get out of their homes. The volunteers do a number of things such as keep the older people company, read the books to them or just deliver the books if they are able/want to read them themselves. I thought this sounded like a great opportunity since I am not able to be in paid employment currently however they got back to me and said that they were not looking for anyone in my town at the moment. But I'm proud that I tried and I will keep checking the website.
On Monday I had my Mental Health Assessment with the Health Advisory Service and my partner was an absolute hero that day. My cousin took me in so that I didn't have to get public transport when I was already incredibly anxious but there was not enough room in her car for him as well. So he got the train alone into the city and walked around 4 miles in the pouring rain just to be with me in the assessment for 40 minutes. I basically begged him not to because I thought it was way too much to ask but he wasn't having any of it and he came anyway. We may be struggling a little at the moment due to the small space we're in and my mental health but I'm truly thankful for him every day.
The assessment wasn't as nerve-wracking as I thought it would be. The lady was very kind and made it clear from the beginning that I wouldn't have to actually talk about any of my past trauma during the assessment. It would just be lots of questions about how my mental health affects me day by day. Talking it all through for a solid 40 minutes really made me realize how much I (and my partner) actually deal with on a daily basis. Its a lot. There's so many basic things that I either can't or really struggle to do. I don't have a regular eating, drinking or sleeping pattern. I can't leave the house alone. I can't pay at a till, I can't go places with there are lots of people, I can very rarely get public transport and I do nothing with my time. Its really hard. My cousin bought me subway before dropping me home and for her to pick me up at take me at 830am I really appreciate.
On Tuesday my partner had an appointment at the job centre, we walked the dogs in the woods with his mum and then we popped over to his grandparents to make our favourite; sausage rolls. They were so good that a day later we made some more. Easter is one of my favourite times of year just because his granny makes me a whole pot because I can't eat much chocolate. Is it Easter yet?
A wonderful friend of mine then came over for a few hours in the afternoon before I headed to bed as she is having a little bit of a hard time herself at the moment. We had a nice chat, cheered each other up and I will hopefully be seeing her next weekend for a few drinks.
I will write a little more about the last couple of days in my next blog as there's still a lot to cover. And I also want to delve a little deeper into mental health due to World Mental Health Day and of course, that's what my blog is all about.
Have a great day!
Comments
Post a Comment