First visit to Time Out

This is my first entry for a few days. I do apologise for not writing for a while, but my hand has been rather sore, so I have been taking it easy. Somehow I recalle managing to write how my hand got sore, but that is in another story.

Although having not written for a while, my jorney has continued and I have made a few valuable discoveries. Over the next few days I hope to be able to write about my experiences and what I have learned.

Tuesday, just gone, my partner, my neighbour, my daughter and I went for a walk to a place called Time Out. This is a place that supports people with mental illness. To qualify to get in, you must be experiencing, or have experienced, some form of mental illness. My qualification is anxiety and depression, for which I have been seeing counsellors, on and off, for over 20 years. At a few points I was even being medicated to try to alleviate some of the symptoms and help me work through some things.

Almost a month ago I was discharged from my current counsellor. She believes that I have what I need to go forth and prosper. Or something like that. This place is the next step in my journey toward better health.

As we entered the premises we were warmly greeted by one of the staff members. She proceeded to show us around and introduce us to other staff members and people who utilise this service. The environment was quite welcoming, and the visual environment was beautiful.

One of the things that this center offers is a lot of craft work. All around the center are works of art created by some of the people here. I must say the pieces we saw people working on, and on display was stunning.

As we entered the main room we met with a number of people working on their individual projects. Although they were working separately, I got the distinct feeling of unification in this place. People coming together in a safe communal environment, to aid themselves on their own wellness recovery journeys.

After being shown through, my daughter was invited to play on one of the computers in the computer room and my neighbour watched over her while my partner and I met with the manager. My first impression of the manager was that she is very approachable, friendly, and truly cares about the service that is being offered here,and the people.

She explained the service to us and was very informative without being intrusive, and showed us compassion and empathy. I felt that we were offered us a ’sense of belonging’ if we decided to enrol with the service. In saying this, we were also told that participation was not compulsory, and that attendence was encouraged, but not expected every day the center is open.

After our discussions we were shown through again, and then went outside to have a cigarette and coffee. We went out onto the deck, which is covered on three sides, and has a beautiful view of the yard at the back. It is a very serene setting.

Out here we were privileged enough to meet with people already enrolled in the service and conversation came easily. I am not a shy person, but I do find that I get anxious around people I do not know and if there is more than one person there.

After about an hour it was time for us to head home, so we said our farewells and were invited back on Thursday to listen to a guest speaker who would discuss an organisation called Temporary Solutions and a website called Balance. (I shall discuss these in further in another post later on.)

All in all, my first impressions of the center and the people are all positive. I am apprehensive, and yet I am not sure why this is. It may be because I am not used to being around people again. But I can work on this. I look forward to experiencing more through this service and progress further on my wellness recovery journey. Also, I look forward to writing more on this center and the services it has to offer.

This was my first visit here, and I have just come back from my second visit.

NOTES:

* As of yet I have not asked for permission to write about this center. I shall be seeking that on my next visit there which will be Monday or Tuesday next week.

* No names of individual people will be used without their prior permission before being published.

* NO other person’s personal experiences or journeys will be mentioned by myself, as their journey is their own and their privacy is paramount to me.