Welcome to My World

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Insurance snafu

image: Man at desk stressed with piles of paperwork After the first few sessions of Spravato I was feeling in a better mood. More motivated and doing more around the house. People noticed I was smiling more and seemed less anxious. Then, when the clinic asked for refills, the pharmacy wanted another pre authorization.  It was bad timing because the man who organized spravato was on vacation and…

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Spravato

Image woman relaxing in a recliner with headphones I had first Spravato (ketamine nasal spray) treatment yesterday.  The man running the clinic was nice and explained everything.  You self administer the nasal spray.  I felt clumsy but it worked.  They gave 3 doses, 5 min apart. Checked blood pressure periodically and mostly just let me relax It seemed to take effect pretty quickly. Things…

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What I have been up to   tw: sui

Warhol like image dog different colors It has been a long time since I last wrote.  I got certified as a peer support specialist but full time work was too much for me.  I requested fewer hours and my psychiatrist wrote a note but my employer refused. I felt like I was either working or recovering and got very depressed.  I attempted sui but except for a trip to the er and a week long hospital…

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Six Schizophrenic Brothers documentary based on Hidden Valley Road book and on being raised with mental illness

I have watched the first half of the documentary. It is disturbing and enthralling. It is about the Galvin family. Of 12 children, 6 boys developed schizophrenia. There is trauma, violence, fear. I am sure there were happier times but the show is pretty dark. I was born in a large family, 7 children. My father had some sort of untreated, undiagnosed mental illness. He prided himself on not…

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It’s Been Awhile

I have been working in mental health peer support. They recently brought certification to CA. I am glad we have standards and training. I did 80 hr training and am taking certification exam tomorrow. I think I am ready but I am nervous. I am going to a testing site. It is 2.5 hours. I think I will know right away if I pass. I have been working part time. Lately 16 hr/week. I receive SSDI…

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Where have I been?

Image: cartoon of several people sitting in chairs. Group therapy. I have several chronic conditions: mental health, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, hypertension. I am on 9 medications. I was wondering if there is any type of holistic treatment that could help, and searched different terms in my insurance directory. I came upon a mental health facility that is holistic and…

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Methylation

Methylation risk variant results MTHFR, CBS, COMT, MTR and MTRR I had a DNA test done through ancestry. I sent the results to Life DNA and got some information. They had an offer on methylation genes so I had that analyzed. Out of 10 genes, 7 had risk variants. The variants are not unusual. Some of them lead to an increase in homocysteine which when increased can be a heart attack risk.  I …

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Instant Pot Coconut Milk Yogurt (so easy)

I told my brother I was making bone broth in a crockpot. The recipe I follow takes 12 hours. He said it is much faster in an Instant Pot. When I told him I don’t have one he ordered one shipped to me. I am very thankful. I had been planning to make coconut milk yogurt in my yogurt maker, but decided to try it in Instant Pot. There is a yogurt setting with a timer. I don’t know how to adjust…

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Projects

I have not been sleeping well.  It has been ongoing, but I think it is getting worse.  I am exhausted but not able to sleep.  I don’t get a lot done during the day because I am so tired.  And, since I am awake I go online, which I am sure does not help.  I start looking at ideas for new projects.  I am fermenting vegetables so now I am thinking of planting a vegetable garden in my backyard. But,…

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Fermenting

Image: mason jars with fermenting sauerkraut and pickles My friend ferments pickles and sauerkraut. He gave me the directions so I set some up. It is pretty simple. Sauerkraut is cabbage and salt. I added some carrots and ginger for flavor. Pickles are salt water and some spices. I watched videos on YouTube and joined a Facebook group for beginning fermenters. There is some conflicting…

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Projects

Image: gratitude journal. https://linktr.ee/matthiasjbarker?fbclid=PAAabOSCj2THoNkFK8nkKoP0OquO5P7L8HeLBBjQkatc1YYQb1W-ott8E8IfQ I have a number of projects that I have trouble completing. I am interested in internal family systems therapy. I have a book and workbook to use on your own but I have trouble getting started. I have an appointment with a new therapist in Jan and hope she can…

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Update

Whoops..I’m Awesome workbook by Melissa Villasenor I saw my current therapist telehealth last week. He moved me back to as needed. He seems to think I am fine but I don’t feel that way. I am on a waiting list for a new therapist who does internal family systems therapy. I don’t know how long that will take. I stopped keto last year when the Virta program stopped because my insurance changed. I…

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Internal Family Systems Therapy

Internal Family Systems Therapy

Image: Workbook titled Self-Therapy Workbook by Bonnie J Weiss I am reading a book, self-therapy by Jay Early. I also have the workbook pictured above that I will get to next. I have some sort of dissociative disorder, not DID. I have experienced sensations and parts talking through me, but that was years ago. Some people think it is all delusional. I have a diagnosis of schizoaffective…

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A Long Overdue Update

A Long Overdue Update

Image: blank wordle computer game board I just realized I never gave an update on my Covid experience. After 19 days of isolating, I finally tested negative and was feeling better. I had given a month’s notice at work, but I was out for 3 weeks. I only worked 2 days/week, so I went back for my final 2 days. They quickly improvised and had people sign a card and ordered cupcakes. It was nice. I…

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Covid update

Image Covid test kit 17 days since symptoms of Covid started. I now have post viral bronchitis. My dr prescribed an inhaler and cough suppressant. I have been out of work 3 weeks. I can’t go anywhere with this cough. I have not tested lately, I will tomorrow. I have not had to use the inhaler. I think I had rebound after paxlovid, where you get better and then when you stop taking it your…

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Even Faint Lines are Positive

Still testing positive.  A faint line is still positive. I come out of isolation Friday.  It is sooo boring just hanging out in my room. Thankfully, my husband and daughter are still negative. I gave a month notice at work but now I have 2 weeks.  2 weeks to get what I can done.  I feel like it is all piling up.while I lsu here, bored I was offered some volunteer opportunities. One was…

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