#psychologyappointment

[incurableoptimistest1994]

Tired, in a lot of pain, and feeling spasmy (although a little less than this morning 👍🏻), and on my way to an emergency appointment with my psychologist. We were gonna try and go a month between appointments (previously I was having weekly appointments) but with everything happening I needed a catch up sooner. Feeling inordinately grateful for our NHS and the excellent mental health services I’m under that make these appointments possible ❤️ Anyways, I’m just winging it 🦋 (like the butterflies in my hair, geddit?!) #justwingingit #palliativecarewarrior #psychologyappointment #butterfliesmakethebesthairclips https://www.instagram.com/p/B5upyQMBmnR/?igshid=2wrriay0os6

[incurableoptimistest1994]

On my way to my psychology appointment 💪🏻 #onmyway #ambulancetransport #psychologyappointment #itstherapytime💪 #ocdwarrior #ptsdwarrior #anxietywarrior #depressionwarrior #palliativecarewarrior #igotthis💪 (at Cardiff) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3UV4q3BiLo/?igshid=1h04er2fav20c

[incurableoptimistest1994]

Wore my #thelunarchronicles t shirt for my psychology and neurology appointments on Friday. I found the rather lovely quote “broken isn’t the same as unfixable” during a really bad relapse a few years ago, and it’s been a comfort and a source of strength ever since. I have a necklace and a t shirt with it on. I often feel a bit broken, both physically and emotionally... but it’s important to remember that just because I’m broken, it doesn’t make me unfixable. Thank you for your marvellous and inspiring books @marissameyerauthor ❤️ #brokenisntthesameasunfixable #palliativecarewarrior #neurologyappointment #psychologyappointment (at Cardiff) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvG0irgHq5S/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13b8b5i7qq62d

[incurableoptimistest1994]

Psychology appointment, here I come! #psychologyappointment #itstherapytime💪 (at Cardiff) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv38dGjHZgs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jhdeu73kpbdm

[incurableoptimistest1994]

FINALLY on our way home 🏡 after FIVE AND A HALF HOURS spent at Rookwood Hospital 🏥! #psychologyappointment #neurologyappointment #fivehourday #fivehoursathospital #knackered #onourwayhome (at Cardiff) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvCbRZ6HheO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=nqd96or6sym8

[incurableoptimistest1994]

What does one where to her psychology appointment? Personally, I’m rather fond of my “Broken isn’t the same as unfixable” t shirt... it helps me remember that, no matter how broken I feel, I can fix myself up. When I first started therapy over three years ago, I felt irreparably broken. I thought I couldn’t keep living with the wounds life had inflicted. But here I am, three years later, alive, and happy. I’m one hell of a fixer upper, and I’ve put a lot of work into putting myself back together, as have a whole team of incredible people (my psychologist, my neurologist, the staff at lmc, my parents, my best friends, the rest of my friends and family...), but it’s worth it.

On Thursday, I was, for the fourth time, discharged from psychology (although in this case, discharged means not having to book an appointment, but being kept on a Safety Net List, meaning I can get an appointment immediately if I ring up and ask for one, or if anyone in my support system feels I’m not doing so well again). You might think I wouldn’t celebrate my fourth discharge in three-ish years as much as my first... after all, hasn’t time proven to me that I’ll just get re-referred?

The answer is yes, probably. My mental health issues (OCD, PTSD, Anxiety and Depression) are not cureable. They’re not going away. I will live my entire with them. And sometimes, the shitty parts of my life will be to difficult to deal with alone.

But what I celebrate is that every discharge has a longer and longer gap between referrals. I celebrate that it takes less appointments each time to get me well again (only 3 this time!). I celebrate that I have a wonderful support system, both medically and socially, who are always there to help me up when I stumble and fall. I celebrate all the hard graft I continue to put into recovering from the trauma I’ve experienced, even as life puts me through new traumas.

Most of all, I celebrate loving my life, and I celebrate loving myself. It’s taken a long time, but I’m finally there.

If I had the opportunity to time travel just once, I’d go back to 2014, find 20 year old Amy-claire, wrap her in a hug, and promise her that the awfulness she’s going through will end. Life will get better. She won’t always hate herself, she won’t always feel so sad and angry and desperate and hollow and numb and miserable. I’d tell her about how wonderful the next four years are going to be, how full of joy and adventures and laughter and life and love. I’d tell her that the moment she learns to love herself, the universe will send her the love of her life. I’d tell her to start loving herself immediately, because she’s fucking worth it. I’d tell her that she’s pretty damn amazing. I’d tell her we make it, and all those dreams she stopped believing in will come true.

For anyone out there having a hard time right now, please know; it can get better. It will get better. You can make it.

[incurableoptimistest1994]

Dressed for Christmas today for my last virtual psychology appointment of the year... wasn’t too enthusiastic first thing because I had to get up early whilst a tad hungover 😂 Had a really positive appointment though which was lovely! #dressingforchristmas #psychologyappointment #mentalhealthwarrior https://www.instagram.com/p/CJEsWDXBFr1/?igshid=1a373v20kq92h

[incurableoptimistest1994]

#yolo #fridaysadventure #psychologyappointment #clothesarearmour #clothesareart https://www.instagram.com/p/B32FVc2hhLS/?igshid=rgvwb9sv4cnn

[incurableoptimistest1994]

I’m up and at em again this morning as I have my weekly psychology appointment; I’m very tired, but very excited to take my BAFTA to Rookwood hospital to show everyone!! The staff there have been essential to my life, and are some of the people I was thinking of when I made my acceptance speech; people who have literally and medically saved my life, and who have also made my life a better and more beautiful thing 💚 And yes, I’m wearing Minnie Mouse ears to therapy... what else do you wear?! #upandatem #psychologyappointment #therapytime #tiredbuthappy😊 #showingoffmybafta #thankfulforthenhs https://www.instagram.com/p/B3wNliBBD7x/?igshid=1bq340bw0p464

[incurableoptimistest1994]

Ambulance transport were punctual as usual 🙄 NOT! On my way to my psychology appointment now 👍🏻! #ambulancetransport #punctualityproblems #ohwellfuckit #onmyway #psychologyappointment #mentalhealthwarrior🔱 #palliativecarewarrior (at Cardiff) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz7wBxDhWuA/?igshid=1kcugnr20ezzr

[incurableoptimistest1994]

Rang to check when Ambulance Transport would arrive to take me to my psychology appointment and it won’t bet til 10amish, so I went and got a Costa! #costa #treatyoself #iamverytiredtoday #needthecaffeine #firstidrinkthecoffeethenidothethings #homefromholiday #literallyyesterday #wasupatfouram #psychologyappointment #mentalhealthwarrior🔱 (at Costa Coffee) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz7md-VB40A/?igshid=16uv2f2fgxwin

[incurableoptimistest1994]

So guess who’s started back in therapy with my psychologist? Yup, that’d be me! I’m actually doing really well with managing my mental health; and I’d like to keep it that way, which is why I’m continuing working with Richard. I’ve got so much going on in my life, I just need a safe place to work through it all. I’m honestly feeling really proud of myself today guys 😁 my psychologist told me I’m doing amazingly well, especially when you consider where I was when I first started working with him four years ago. I will always have to fight my demons; it’s just really nice to know that these days I’m winning 💪🏻🛡🗡! #psychologyappointment #guesswhosbackintherapyyall #me #fightingmydemonsdaily #imkickingmydemonsasstbh #ocdwarrior #ptsdwarrior #anxietywarrior #depressionwarrior #mentalhealthwarrior #doingreallywell #letskeepitthatway #proudofmyself❤️ #itsokaynottobeokay❤️ #itsokaytoaskforhelp #toallmyfellowmentalhealthwarriors #yougotthisshit #andigotthisshit (at Cardiff) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzGqomhhtv5/?igshid=k3oguityazpg

[incurableoptimistest1994]

Chilling I’m Rookwood Hospital waiting room; for once I was early, and my dr is running late 🙈😂! #psychologyappointment #neurologyappointment #palliativecarewarrior #mentalhealthwarrior #chillingatrookwoodhospital #imearly #mydrislate #lol (at Rookwood Hospital) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvCBc8Nnwfd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gzmmmfgpkdjs

[incurableoptimistest1994]

Got two super important hospital appointments at Rookwood Hospital today; neurology and psychology. As usual, I’ve made a list of everything to discuss; this is especially important today, because my pain and meds are giving me serious brain fog! Once again, I’d like to tell my Ty Hafan Squad leader that her gifted stickers are much appreciated, and made me smile 🙂! #palliativecarewarrior #neurologyappointment #psychologyappointment #palliativecarewarrior #ilikemakinglists #stickersmakemehappy #everythingsbetteringlitterlygelpen (at Cardiff) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvBkFVhnjq_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2dqpdcjro3kg

[incurableoptimistest1994]

#thursdaysoutfit #clothesarearmour #clothesareart #agentofshieldreportingfirduty #psychologyappointment https://www.instagram.com/p/BnwnF3JBP3U/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=sbnrg0yzqgoy

[incurableoptimistest1994]

Chilling in the waiting room... #psychologyappointment #hospitalappointment (at Rookwood Hospital) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnq1nxeBbBj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xptz0qdwlxnj