#ask mim

[mentalillnessmouse]

recently someone asked if our inbox is still open and accepting questions, and the answer to that is "yes, of course!"

just mind the rules about answering questions, but otherwise go nuts.

[mentalillnessmouse]

I've had two episodes where I become non-verbal and go limp. A paralysis-like state where I am telling my limbs or hands to move, but they do not. Or if they do, it is slow and uncoordinated.

The first time it lasted around an hour, and my head was impossible to prop up. The second time was shorter as I was able to get into a call with some friends and their voices got me out of it.

All the while both times my mind was racing, and I was overwhelmed. I know what triggered it the second time, but don't remember what happened the first. I don't know what is happening.

hey anon,

you really need to consult a medical professional about this. if this happens again i would suggest going to your nearest emergency room or urgent care.

as a reminder: we are not able to give out medical advice on this blog.

stay safe,

kei

[mentalillnessmouse]

Can licking a recent cut lead to an infection or is it just a myth??

cw wound care

hey anon,

we can't give medical advice, but consider this: your body is full of bacteria and there's no telling what bacteria is living on your tongue/in your mouth that could lead to an infection on an injury. sooo for safety i would recommend you follow standard cleaning methods to clean a cut or injury.

hope this helps!!

kei

[mentalillnessmouse]

I'm struggling with self harm and I'm scared to ask for help. Do you have any advice and could you tell me what would happen if my therapist found out? Will I be taken away and supervised?

SELF HARM CW

hey anon,

it can be scary to discuss things with your therapist—especially when you’re unsure of what might happen. i will say that therapists in the USA are mandated reporters—they have to by law report when their client is doing something that threatens their own safety or the safety of others.

what this means is that depending on the severity of your self harm and if its posing an immediate threat to your life that it could result in hospitalization.

this doesn’t mean that it absolutely will!

using myself as an example here for a moment, my therapist and i have an understanding about what requires immediate hospitalization and what just requires me to check in with her. this is called my safety plan. what will it take to keep me safe and sound? what coping skills, tools, etc do i have in my toolbox to help me? typically that looks like me having an emergency session with her and disconnecting myself from the source of stress. most recently that was a work/home conflict that could have gone either way. we discussed it and it was understood by both of us that hospitalization would just cause an unnecessary amount of stress/drama and that i really just needed a day or two to refocus, regroup, recharge.

that’s what works for me!

for you i would say your best option is to be honest and open with your therapist. focus on working with your therapist to come up with a safety plan for yourself and building that toolbox together.

as someone recently said to me: it’s going to be difficult, but it’s going to okay in the end. if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.

stay safe,

mod kei

[mentalillnessmouse]

Are we ok to submit things for support right now? I don’t know if you call them asks or something else sorry

yes, you're okay to submit things for support as long as they don't go against the rule against graphic asks !

personally, and this is me (maya) saying this as i'm the only atm mod, i won't be answering asks that relate to sexual assault or sexual situations ! if any of the other mods return they could answer it but for right now i won't be capable of handling that.

-mod maya

[mentalillnessmouse]

Hey! Welcome back. Saw I reblogged a post from you and was like “man it’s been a while since I’ve seen you on my dash”

Hope you’re having a great day (-:

thank you! i've been back for a while! the inbox is just super quiet!

[mentalillnessmouse]

MentalIllnessMouse December 2023 Update

Hello Mice, it's been a while hasn't it?

This is Mod Maya and I wanted to drop in and say that I, personally, am back. I cannot speak for any former moderators, but I can speak for myself with the following message.

I sincerely apologize for not responding or answering asks since (checks posts) 2021. The pandemic was rough on me especially with working in education. I have transitioned out of the classroom and into a position that I believe is where my heart lies.

Basically, I'm working directly in Behavioral Health!

Now--I can't remember exactly when I first joined MIM but I know it was between 2014-2015... and here we are coming up on 2024. That's a very, very long time for me. By that I mean, this blog has seen me transition from my young adult years to my 30s. It's seen me go from name to name and etc.

I say all that to say this: I'm back and available to answer asks. I can't promise to put in the amount of time I did when I was younger, but I still do want to help.

I'm glad to be back.

Mod Maya

[mentalillnessmouse]

Is it toxic for someone to just hang up on you when you're talking about your issues like they're annoyed after they've vented to you before hand?

I did with my sister, she went on about her problems, I listened of course and gave as much advice as I could. Then when I said something that bothered me she automatically says "Ugh! Deal with that yourself!Goodbye!"

hey anon,

i don’t know about ‘toxic’ but it is certainly an immature, unpleasant way to end a phone call. if i were you, i’d have a convo with my sister about how that made me feel and how we can end calls on a better note. especially when the phone calls involve discussing heavy topics.

(side note: i really, really dislike when people cannot end a phone call politely and it leaves me talking to dead air for a few moments before i realize they hung up so this is a pet peeve of mines!)

stay safe,

maya