Hi Tink,
Thank you for reaching out to us and sharing what you are going through. It sounds really difficult and we hope we can help.
Lots of us are feeling the impact of Covid-19. It’s been a difficult, sad, scary time. While it’s very normal to struggle, what you are experiencing is especially difficult. Whenever you are finding things overwhelming, or when it continues for a long time, it’s time to get some support.
Your GP is the best place to start.
Talk about your medical concerns such as the burning feeling you have had in your mouth and the bumps on your tongue towards the back. This must make eating very painful and difficult.
Your GP may complete some testing, consider medications, or refer you onto specialists. They may encourage you to see other health professionals such as a dietician for your loss of ability to eat and taste changes.
It’s also very important to discuss how you are feeling with your GP. They will ensure you get the support you need. It is important that you see a health professional who can work out what is happening for you. They can also tell you what treatment and support will be most effective for you.
Struggling with your mental health when things are tough is very common. With the right support and treatment, recovery is common – things can get better. Please know that you are not alone and with support, your situation can improve.
If you are already receiving support for these issues, and things are not getting better, let your health professionals know. Ask about what else you can do.
There are a few organisations that provide on-call support to people. Beyond Blue is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Beyond Blue help people who are struggling with how they are feeling. You can call them, chat with them online or email them. They also have forums you can join. Find out more here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support
If you ever feel in crisis, Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 13 11 14.
StrokeLine is also here to help. We are available Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm AEST. You can call on 1800 787 653. You can also email us strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au. On StrokeLine, we take the time to listen. We can talk everything through with you and work out what may best help you get through this difficult time.
Thanks for reaching out to us. We are so sorry for how you are feeling. We hope this helps, and StrokeLine can help further.
With kind regards,
Kath (StrokeLine)
