Frenchie looks utterly bereft!

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I think you’d call that gorgeous little bunch a posy rather than a bouquet. More simplistic, smaller, shorter stems, often wildflowers with an informal arrangement. Far superior imo!

You have to have an instagram account in order to have a threads account - it’s how you log in. I think whatever your Instagram handle is becomes your threads handle, or it’s saved for you.

I wanted to see what it was like so I created a new Instagram account (not linked to any of my real personal info) and then a new threads account. I had a look for a couple of days and decided it was dogshit so I deleted both. I suspect an awful lot of people did exactly that.

I got the apology bit, just not the RTFD. We all make mistakes, the most important thing is to recognise and apologise for them, so good for you.

What’s RTFD? Read the fucking description?

I think a really key difference is that you could make yourself comfy in your little nook, and you could leave it at anytime. Plus in your case it sounds like you went there to escape the noise. This place is the noise. Even if you have a full on panic attack, you physically can’t get out of that tube without the techs pulling you out. Having the choice and ability to leave a space is really important.

I think that sounds super peaceful actually

That’s the thing, it’s not peaceful. It’s unbelievably loud, like standing next to a car alarm or construction site. And every time you’ve finally get used to the rhythm of the banging and clanging, it changes pitch and tempo (? Idk the correct words) and any semi sleep-like state you’ve willed yourself into is disrupted. Plus it’s cold, the bed thing is hard and narrow and you’re not allowed to move at all - no wiggling to get comfy, no scratching your nose. You have to lie perfect flat and still in a cold, incredibly loud, uncomfortable and and sterile environment for 45 minutes.

I’ve always slept with a blanket on my head - even as toddler. Even when it’s boiling hot I need a sheet or pillow case or something over my head. I love small cosy places. I love that feeling of hiding from the world. You do not get that while having an MRI scan on your brain, I promise you.

CT scans and MRIs are two different types of scans, done in different machines. A CT machine like a doughnut on its side - the hole you go in is wider and shorter. MRIs are more coffin-tubed shaped. If you go in feet first (for an MRI scan on your knee say) it’s ok because your head is on the outside. If you’re having a brain scan you go in head first, your head stabilised by a plastic support so you can’t move it. It’s so narrow in there you can’t bend your arm up 90 degrees, let alone sit up. The stabiliser stops you from moving at all. They put foam ear plugs in your ears and then big over ear headphones over that so the tech can talk to you and you’re not crippled by the noise. There’s a tiny mirror above your eyes, angled to you can see out of the tube. I’m not claustrophobic at all and I have to fight panic when I’m im in there. I think you may have had CT scans in the past, not MRIs. And if you had a MRI, you probably didn’t go in head first because it’s not really an experience anyone could describe as relaxing. Well maybe cave divers, or people who make homemade submarines might find it relaxing, but for your average joe it’s unpleasant.

Jesus Christ. I will never again complain about noisy, claustrophobic MRI machines.

As soon as Artemis opens their beta testing for the iOS app (or someone else develops one) I’m in. But I hate using web apps.

I tried to sign up just now but it’s US only. I don’t have a TV at all, I can’t afford one. I’d love this.

If you take action against him, is he likely to take it out on your friend? If she can’t leave him, that might inform your decision.

Thank you 😊

I’m glad it raised a smile, but I’m sorry you’re having a rough day. Is your wife ok?

I was thinking a bit more about the steps I take with my mum so I can answer her calls, and if that could help you. We have a “code” for any phone calls that aren’t scheduled. She assumes I won’t answer so one missed call means she just wants to chat. Two missed calls means she was calling for a specific reason, she needs to speak with me about something but it’s not urgent urgent. Three missed calls means it’s an emergency - she absolutely needs to talk to me asap. She’s very good at not abusing the system so I answer the second call when I see it (my phone still doesn’t ring, even for her). Thankfully there’s only been a handful of true emergencies in 15 years.

I wondered if you and your wife could come up with a similar system - maybe using different messaging apps? Say normal, everyday messages go through WhatsApp but “I’m feeling bad” or “I need help” messages go through SMS. She wouldn’t even need to ask for help, using SMS would be enough to convey the message. Meanwhile you know that any message through WhatsApp is a nice normal (or even boring!) message.

I don’t know how practical that would be or if your wife would be willing to do it, or whether it’d even help, but I thought I’d mention it on the off chance. I’m wishing both of you the best.

Hey @HandOfDoom I answered a phone call today! I was expecting it (hospital stuff) and my pulse went through the roof when I saw it on the screen. All the usual happened, shaking, tears in my eyes, feeling like I was going to throw up. But I answered it - and I don’t think I would have done if you hadn’t have posted about your similar experience. Thank you 😊

It’s a bit complicated. I live in the UK so healthcare is free - but the NHS is in a dire state at the moment. It’s so underfunded by the government it’s on its last legs.

18 months ago my family paid for me to see a private consultant for medical cannabis treatment - primarily to help my pain, but the effects on my mental health and sleep have also been really positive. Nobody can afford for me to have private psychiatric treatment as well, and the NHS simply do not have the resources to treat me.

So that’s where I’m at. Even if I stopped the medical cannabis (and honestly that would be a ridiculous thing to do - I’ve managed to reduce 90% of my opioid intake, I sleep through the night, I actively want to live for the first time in over a decade…) I don’t think you can even get a single private consultation for £150, let alone be treated.

This is me.

It’s been 15 years. 15 years I’ve lived like this. I was diagnosed with PTSD 18 months ago, just before I lost my mental health care. I have no help, no idea how to help myself. I’m sorry I don’t have anything helpful to add, I just haven’t come across people like me before. Plenty of people dislike the phone and avoid it, but they don’t break down in mess of tears and hyperventilation at the mere sound of a ringtone. I’m so embarrassed about it but I just can’t “get over it”.

I was told to speak about myself like I’d speak about my best friend.

“If you’re best friend was going through what you’re going through, would you tell her to man up and get over it?”

It’s a bit easier to start with talking about ourselves with love and support than it is to treat ourselves that way. Small steps.

Cool! Where in the world was this? How cold was it at the time?