Undiagnosed

How do you know when to take the plunge on another assistive device?
How long is too long to wait where you are negatively impacting your health as opposed to maintaining functioning and quality of life?
Where are you on the spectrum of want to need to can't live without?
Do you listen to the Dr's that say you need to work towards removing assistive devices or to the Dr's that tell you to use them to improve your functionality and quality of life?

I'm on the fence (as it seems I often am when trying to manage my chronic health problems) about whether I should cave and get a shower chair or bench. I find showers exhausting but I don't want to take yet another visible step that confirms my failing ability to function and complete normal every day tasks. Some of my Dr's say I need to get rid of things I already use like my cane and others say I need to rethink my use of things that can allow me to function better which may mean adding more assistive devices.
What do you think?
Where is the line for you?
When do you know it's time to take the plunge?

#ChronicPain #assistivedevice #showerchair #Disability #Migraine #Fibromyalgia #HEDS #Stigma #choices #Undiagnosed #POTS

I've been going through a really severe depressive episode for more than two weeks now. I do think it's getting a bit better thankfully but do you guys have any tips on how I can make myself feel a bit emotionally better? What do you guys do to feel better on depressive episodes?
#Depression #DepressiveEpisodes #OCD #Anxiety #Undiagnosed #Spoonie #SuicidalThoughts #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Fibromyalgia #IrritableBowelSyndromeIBS #Chronicsinusitis

I would like to explore starting a habit of gentle movement inside at home. I have a currently undiagnosed condition that is causing swelling and mild pain in my knees, so I do have some limitations physically. Mentally and emotionally I find intentional exercise very difficult because it makes me focus on my body which I prefer to dissociate from. I have been doing body-based and somatic therapy for nearly a year now, though, and some of the panic when I connect to my body is subsiding, so I think it is a good time to start a routine like this. I don't know where to start, though, and thought I would ask if anyone has a recommendation. Thank you in advance!

#recommendation #Advice #Yoga #Stretching #Workout #Exercise #movement #body #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #Trauma #SexualAssault #Undiagnosed

It's really really hard to study when your in pain 24/7. Have you found any techniques that help make it just a bit easier?
#ChronicIllness #OCD #Depression #ChronicPain #Spoonie #Undiagnosed

Hi. I have no friends and my family really hates me. I deal with countless unbearable illnesses and already want to die. Knowing that no one will cry if I do, and the people I know will only be happy if I did is an unbearable feeling sometimes. I literally have no one. Not a single person would cry if I died. I already suffer from suicidal thoughts and knowing that literally no one would care I did it is a horrific feeling.
If your in the same boat, do you have any tips on how to deal with this feeling?
#Depression #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Undiagnosed #OCD #Spoonie #Anxiety

Hi guys, I know this group isn’t super active, but I’m really glad to have found it! I’m 18 and have been struggling with mental rules and intrusive thoughts for over half my life. I never told anyone and no one noticed, until I had a mental breakdown and my friend sent me a mental health screening. I got OCD as a possibility and have since done a lot of research. I think I have primarily harm OCD, but my doctor won’t give me a referral for a diagnosis because I “can still function!” So I am trying to get a diagnosis through my school. Researching and learning about OCD has been really helpful, because it explains a lot of my struggles since childhood, and I am really grateful to have found this community! #OCD #Undiagnosed

About almost every week I have an episode or complete paralysis. I go to a high school and I see the nurse all the time.

Today I had an episode so bad that the nurse had to come in class and pull me out. Luckily my boyfriend was there and my dad came. Now I have to go back to the doctor.

I’m just scared. I want this to be over with. I don’t want people to see me like this. It’s just hard. My friends my family the nurses my teachers and of course my boyfriend worry about me.

I’m just going to have my fingers crossed that this appointment gets somewhere. 🤞🏽

💕🥄✨ #Undiagnosed #mentally tired #Spoonie #chronicallyill

I recently started working with a career counselor and her number one recommendation to me was to take a medical leave from work. I have always been a reliable and committed employee and this has been a difficult concept to wrap my mind around. The problem is, by being reliable and committed to work I have absolutely nothing left over for me and my personal life has become a black hole.

I was so so so anxious about speaking with my doctor about this. I have actually been unofficially boycotting him since last fall (he didn't know that) mainly because I just don't feel heard by him. He also doesn't seem properly equipped to deal with mental health concerns, and in particular completely ignores comments about feeling suicidal.

But I did it. I booked an appointment with him, I said what I had to say, and I even asked follow up questions (not that he was very helpful with those). He didn't argue or push back, but agreed very easily, which was a surprise. I asked for one month, and he wrote a letter asking for two months.

I have to tell my boss now and I am so anxious about it. I know this is going to devastate and crush her, especially with the particular projects going on at work right now, but I can't keep destroying myself in order to not destroy her. (I am second in command in our office, so we work together extremely closely.) The leave starts tomorrow, so I have to go in today and wrap things up.

I have never done anything like this before, but it has been a long, slow decline for the past decade and I have reached a very low point. I don't like the idea of being on a list somewhere as having taken time off for health reasons because I feel like that will be a black mark against me for future employers, even though they are legally not allowed to discriminate against me for this. I feel simultaneously like a failure and like I have been set free. It's going to be a big adjustment.

#CheckInWithMe #MedicalLeave #Work #Employment #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #Trauma #Undiagnosed #change