Marcia Said:

Occupational Therapy Assistant?

We Answered:

If you have a bachelors degree, why don't you just go into become an occupational therapist. THat will get you way more money.

Floyd Said:

could i have a co existing mental disorder?

We Answered:

As soon as i saw "Racing obsessive thoughts", i thought of OCD, but since you dont mention anything about compulsions (rituals) you could have "Pure O" - then again it could be ADHD. Both are linked to Anxiety, which you know you already have, so its likely. I strongly doubt that you have Autism or Skitzophrenia, judging by your symptoms. Its best if you talk to a proffesional and let them know all of this information and that you suspect you may have other illnesses

(IM NOT AN EXPERT, THIS IS JUST AN OPINION)

I hope you figure everything out soon

Josephine Said:

how should you act , what should you do in this instance ?

We Answered:

You may be trying to hard and giving out the wrong signals.
Its strange how people pick up on these its a bit like animal behaviour in a way. If an animal is hurt other animals stay away and segregate this animal.
We of course are not animals and should know better, sadly society has a way of protecting itself from problems or people with problems.
thing to do is learn to play the game, because it really is a game in a way.
People in general act one way in public and another way at home.
They learn very early that certain behaviour is acceptable and will get them things, and others like yourself have not been able to grasp at this.
It does sound like you are trying your best to be accepted and well done you. The thing is not to try to hard.
A smile goes a long way, and keeping your past to yourself until you really know someone is a must.
People like fun people, to make friends you need to be friendly, for instance you need to be reliable, have a good listening ear, and ready to help out. Its a two way thing, I am sure you know this but perhaps you need a little reminder.
To meet others you need to be in groups, join a charity group and help out, join a drama group and have fun backstage helping out, join a reading group and discuss books, or a writing group, or a Church group and volunteer. You could also volunteer to help people with the same illness as yourself who perhaps live on the street. You certainly have the experience to help them.
Fill your time off with doing things for others, that way you gain a reputation as a good solid helper and people will rely on you and then they trust you and with trust comes friendship.
Life changes all the time, and friends come and go, if you are lucky you might only ever be able to count true friends on one hand. But if you go and spread yourself about by joining groups then you make collegue/ friends.
Decide what groups you would like to join and just try one for about a month and see how it goes, then try another.
Dancing if you are able is a great way to meet fun people, more and more people over the ages of 30 are doing ballroom dancing...salsa especially, and some just go to meet others.
If you want to join in then you have to make this effort or life will pass you by.
You can do it, you have managed your anger which is really big, so now all you have to do is conquer your fear of meeting and joining in.
Remember that you are an important individual of many talents, someone out there would like to meet you, we all have soulmates you just have to go and find them.
An old friend of mine who suffered with nerves and had a very bad speech impediment, and would not go outside, eventually isolated herself. I got her a Dog from the Dogs home. She loved it, she started to take it for walks in the park and met other people. Her progress was rapid. She talked more, went out in the evening and eventually she got a job in a pet shop, her whole life has changed. At the age of 48 she has just got married, and she is now a very happy woman. All because of the Dog, unbelievable but all true.

When people are rude to you, shrug it off, do not waste any energy trying to understand there rude behaviour. If they do not want to know you then it is their loss. Make sure you know this, you do not have to bend over backwards, just be kind and co-operative, thats all anyone can ask.
Good luck, and keep in touch.

Debra Said:

Please suggest some games for a group of mentally incapacitated geriatric patients.?

We Answered:

When I was a nursing student in a mental health treatment center for geriatrics, we had them do music therapy. Each patient would get an "instrument" to play, whether it was blocks of wood or a tambourine. We got the instruments from the musical therapist. Also try checkers and play with them. How about Bingo? The students could help the ones that are not able to figure out things. You might try a toy store and get some very basic games to play. Play charades with them with the students giving the clues to the patients. Or let the patients try it out themselves. That's just a few of the ones that I remember that we played. Also at Christmas time we had them make cookies and fudge for a party. Of course none of us students ate any of it because there were some droolers stirring pots. We made candy ourselves for the staff and patients. As well as popcorn balls. Good luck and welcome to the nursing profession. It's a lot of hard work but it is well worth it.

Bertha Said:

Disclosing mental health problems to an NHS employer?

We Answered:

I'd mention it to be on the safe sside,, they cant discriminate you due to Equal oppotunties unless it would affect your work. The epilepsey thing should be k if you havent had any siezures for years and this shouldnt affect you gettinghte job.

It better to be honest with the NHS, cos if it comes to light that you havent diclosed something, they'll come own on you like a ton of bricks

Sean Said:

How are you doing at the moment mental-health wise?

We Answered:

Hi, I am glad you are keeping well and well hopefully be doing even better after you get more support..

I am doing pretty bad. In october I had my keyworker removed from me without any warning and I wasnt allowed to say goodbye after taking almost a year to trust her. Anyway she was replaced by another CPN who i seen once and who was then off ever since so I havent had any proper support in over 2 months.

Things have been hard really.