The Mental Elves
@thementalelves.bsky.social
I live with mental distress. Interested in alternative approaches outside the system and creating lived experience and peer support spaces. Harmed by critical psychiatry, mad survivor, forced to avoid services to prevent further harm.
Pinned
For the record, my issue with critical psychiatry is this. Baseline, they think they are so different but actually are one of the same.
1. It stops seeing me. It assumes everything I say is to maintain the "sick role". From this position, anything I say is warped.
1/
1. It stops seeing me. It assumes everything I say is to maintain the "sick role". From this position, anything I say is warped.
1/
Reposted by The Mental Elves
FML I'm so sleep deprived.
December 5, 2025 at 8:24 AM
FML I'm so sleep deprived.
Today I saw:
Jewels of raindrops dangling from delicate birch branches
Vivid yellow leaves of goat willow glowing
The first sign of a nearly full moon gently illuminated by a burnt orange sun.
Jewels of raindrops dangling from delicate birch branches
Vivid yellow leaves of goat willow glowing
The first sign of a nearly full moon gently illuminated by a burnt orange sun.
December 2, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Today I saw:
Jewels of raindrops dangling from delicate birch branches
Vivid yellow leaves of goat willow glowing
The first sign of a nearly full moon gently illuminated by a burnt orange sun.
Jewels of raindrops dangling from delicate birch branches
Vivid yellow leaves of goat willow glowing
The first sign of a nearly full moon gently illuminated by a burnt orange sun.
Finding today hard. Cried another river.
December 1, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Finding today hard. Cried another river.
I'm in tears. My whole system has been in chronic fight/flight for months.
I learned a new technique yesterday and I have just managed to do it on my own. The first time ever I feel control of my physiology.
That was an invisible Everest.
Reflections, kindness and support welcome. X
I learned a new technique yesterday and I have just managed to do it on my own. The first time ever I feel control of my physiology.
That was an invisible Everest.
Reflections, kindness and support welcome. X
November 18, 2025 at 8:20 AM
I'm in tears. My whole system has been in chronic fight/flight for months.
I learned a new technique yesterday and I have just managed to do it on my own. The first time ever I feel control of my physiology.
That was an invisible Everest.
Reflections, kindness and support welcome. X
I learned a new technique yesterday and I have just managed to do it on my own. The first time ever I feel control of my physiology.
That was an invisible Everest.
Reflections, kindness and support welcome. X
I feel satisfied with myself. Last night, a friend who has refused to sit with my distress came to me to ask me how I deal with a low mood. My rule is, if you're not willing to show up for the shit, you don't get to cash in on my wisdom. I reflected and asked them what they had been exploring. 🔥
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
I feel satisfied with myself. Last night, a friend who has refused to sit with my distress came to me to ask me how I deal with a low mood. My rule is, if you're not willing to show up for the shit, you don't get to cash in on my wisdom. I reflected and asked them what they had been exploring. 🔥
Reposted by The Mental Elves
I think the waves following an emotional flashback which was activated over 2 months ago has finally broken. I have no idea which way is up. Discombobulated.
November 15, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I think the waves following an emotional flashback which was activated over 2 months ago has finally broken. I have no idea which way is up. Discombobulated.
Dear world, thanks for giving me a kind and thoughtful disability employment advisor and a hug from a mate. Life feels futile and my efforts to change the bits I can, hopeless. 1/
November 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Dear world, thanks for giving me a kind and thoughtful disability employment advisor and a hug from a mate. Life feels futile and my efforts to change the bits I can, hopeless. 1/
At first I thought this was AI generated....his bluntness is refreshing
For Americans out there, Zack is the new leader of the Green Party here in UK. A refreshingly blunt and fair assessment of Trump I reckon. Well done Zack. 👏🙂
Zack Polanski on President Trump, "It's difficult to call him anything other than a fool"
"This is sociopathic behaviour"
"He is toxic, misogynistic, racist"
"I'm not a fan of Trump"
Christiane Amanpour, "It's pretty clear"
"This is sociopathic behaviour"
"He is toxic, misogynistic, racist"
"I'm not a fan of Trump"
Christiane Amanpour, "It's pretty clear"
November 13, 2025 at 10:21 PM
At first I thought this was AI generated....his bluntness is refreshing
I feel sad. What a day.
November 13, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I feel sad. What a day.
Waves of grief at the moment. Feeling so much in so much technicolour in a grey world can be really hard work. Hugs welcome.
November 8, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Waves of grief at the moment. Feeling so much in so much technicolour in a grey world can be really hard work. Hugs welcome.
Multiple truths
Life is so fucking hard.
The Beaver Full Moon looked so beautiful.
I think I might die from heartache.
Life is so fucking hard.
The Beaver Full Moon looked so beautiful.
I think I might die from heartache.
November 6, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Multiple truths
Life is so fucking hard.
The Beaver Full Moon looked so beautiful.
I think I might die from heartache.
Life is so fucking hard.
The Beaver Full Moon looked so beautiful.
I think I might die from heartache.
I never thought I would feel this bone achingly sad
November 1, 2025 at 7:49 PM
I never thought I would feel this bone achingly sad
Saw this recently:
"I'm not just tired, I'm trauma tired. Bone deep. Soul heavy. The kind of exhaustion that sleep can't fix. My body carries years of flight and flight and running on empty. 1/
"I'm not just tired, I'm trauma tired. Bone deep. Soul heavy. The kind of exhaustion that sleep can't fix. My body carries years of flight and flight and running on empty. 1/
October 26, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Saw this recently:
"I'm not just tired, I'm trauma tired. Bone deep. Soul heavy. The kind of exhaustion that sleep can't fix. My body carries years of flight and flight and running on empty. 1/
"I'm not just tired, I'm trauma tired. Bone deep. Soul heavy. The kind of exhaustion that sleep can't fix. My body carries years of flight and flight and running on empty. 1/
I sat in a restaurant near a couple of early pensioners. One of them said they wouldn't feel sad if they didn't wake up tomorrow. I could relate.
October 23, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I sat in a restaurant near a couple of early pensioners. One of them said they wouldn't feel sad if they didn't wake up tomorrow. I could relate.
Every now and again, I'm hit by the shock of the perniciousness and longevity of the impact of abuse. I feel so disabled by it and societies response to it. The invisibility and never ending nature of it long after the perpetrator is gone. And it surprises me each and every time.
October 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Every now and again, I'm hit by the shock of the perniciousness and longevity of the impact of abuse. I feel so disabled by it and societies response to it. The invisibility and never ending nature of it long after the perpetrator is gone. And it surprises me each and every time.
Whilst domestic abuse is headlining, resharing this paper which highlights how women go for help they are often pathologised and coerced rather than helped.
This too is an epidemic not just in MH services but with therapists.
1/2
journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
This too is an epidemic not just in MH services but with therapists.
1/2
journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Whilst domestic abuse is headlining, resharing this paper which highlights how women go for help they are often pathologised and coerced rather than helped.
This too is an epidemic not just in MH services but with therapists.
1/2
journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
This too is an epidemic not just in MH services but with therapists.
1/2
journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
My heart has hurt a lot this week.
October 17, 2025 at 6:16 PM
My heart has hurt a lot this week.
Reposted by The Mental Elves
Work coaches do not belong in GP surgeries.
October 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Work coaches do not belong in GP surgeries.
Reposted by The Mental Elves
Drusilla Modjeska’s new book honours forgotten women artists whose creativity was long overshadowed by famous men.
womensagenda.com.au/latest/the-d...
womensagenda.com.au/latest/the-d...
The daring women artists of last century were often sidelined as muses. A new book celebrates their brilliance
Drusilla Modjeska’s new book honours forgotten women artists whose creativity was long overshadowed by famous men.
womensagenda.com.au
October 16, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Drusilla Modjeska’s new book honours forgotten women artists whose creativity was long overshadowed by famous men.
womensagenda.com.au/latest/the-d...
womensagenda.com.au/latest/the-d...
Grateful for an electric blanket!
October 10, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Grateful for an electric blanket!
A "man" who had video footage of him raping her, tried to appeal being a rapist. They increased his sentence.
I wish this for all women.
I wish this for all women.
The man who appealed his conviction for raping French woman Gisele Pelicot has had his jail term increased from nine to 10 years.
womensagenda.com.au/latest/man-w...
womensagenda.com.au/latest/man-w...
Man who appealed Gisele Pelicot rape conviction has prison sentence increased
The man who appealed his conviction for raping French woman Gisele Pelicot has had his jail term increased from nine to 10 years.
womensagenda.com.au
October 10, 2025 at 4:48 AM
A "man" who had video footage of him raping her, tried to appeal being a rapist. They increased his sentence.
I wish this for all women.
I wish this for all women.
I wondered when they were going to end free bus passes. They are literally handing the keys to Farage & Co
“From 10th October 2025,the eligibility criteria for a free bus pass will be tied more closely to the State Pension age rather than the general age of 60…As the pension age gradually increases, this change will automatically delay when you can apply for a bus pass.”
stcnorthgolf.com/uk-bus-pass-...
stcnorthgolf.com/uk-bus-pass-...
UK Bus Pass Rules 2025: Major Changes from 10th October That Could End Your Free Travel - stcnorthgolf.com
UK Bus Pass Rules 2025: Major Changes from 10th October That Could End Your Free Travel UK Bus Pass Rules 2025
stcnorthgolf.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I wondered when they were going to end free bus passes. They are literally handing the keys to Farage & Co