Depression and Anxiety

That's why although some don't agree, I believe what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. You can look back at how you've dealt with particularly difficult and painful situations and draw strength and confidence form those experiences.

No i don't agree with that because not all coping mechanisms people develop are healthy ones.

Besides, I should never have been abused in order to suffer in the first place thus having tools to deal with it now.

Also those tools I have are not quite the right ones, this is a vastly different situation.

It just hurts my heart knowing so many are suffering right now and I hope together we can put together a tool box and help each other through it.

I prefer "what doesn't kill you makes you stranger"

Surely everyone 'suffers' during their life time to varying degrees of course; some far more than others.

When someone's been able to develop and/or identify healthy coping mechanisms, those are the tools that are worth sharing. Of course what works for one doesn't always work for another.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stranger"; I prefer makes you stronger.

Smileless you have said how you feel, and I have said how I feel and my reasons behind it. You can argue further and invalidate my experience and my feelings or you can agree to disagree and move on.

It's just a saying.

For goodness sake not this again. Who is invalidating your experience? Why can't see the expression of a different point of view as simply that, without taking it as a personal slight and/or invalidation?

I'm more than happy to agree to disagree, just wish you could do so without making everything personal.

Moving on then

Making sure I remember to take vitamin D again because it can be hugely beneficial to mental health if you are deficient and some of us don't have access to outside space right now

I fell asleep listening to the rain- I slept like a rock- A chickadee woke me up ..

If you have neither, there are birdcalls on YouTube ..

m.youtube.com/watch?v=xX48Xv09HBI

And rain ..

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Go4YMAws6BU

I find the sound of rain a good aid to getting off to sleep and the sound of a clock ticking.

Starblaze said, "I feel as though I might have an advantage over many in this time as I have beaten these feelings before.

So many will be suffering this for the first time during lockdown. Especially our age group who have never had to live under this level of fear before."

That is what being emotionally healthier now has done for me during these interesting times.

As for "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger/stranger." I cannot disagree more. What doesn't kill you can/does damage you and teaches unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Also sometimes causes a dark sense of humour Holyhannah lol

Starblaze -- When it comes to "dark humour" oh the stories I could tell. LOL

I think my ability to laugh at my mums behaviour now is a life saver

Starblaze -- The moment when my husband and I realized we had the 'same mom', I asked him, "Did she sound anything like 'this'?" and then I did a version of my Ma. How to win a man in one easy step -- prove you have to act like that "on purpose" and that's not your 'normal'.

What's interesting is, when I actually tried to behave that way? It was exhausting even as a joke. It takes a lot of energy to be that constantly negative, nit-picky and judgmental. Especially when all I could see was the beautiful things in him that his mother tried to destroy. Goat love is good love.

So yeah, I have found a profound drop in my D&A as I grew emotionally healthier over-all. And the humour? Yes, my humour may be dark at times, but the rest of me is more like moonlight. I'm not a bright light that leads to a point. I am a gentle glow that tries to illuminate.

Or I could be a thunderstorm that is tossing out lightning... Bitter, angry, biased, immature, attention seeking, a 'gas-lighter', making up 'buzz-words' etc.

Perception is reality. When you can accept someone else's perception is their reality as viewed through the dirty kitchen window, You (as a healthier thinker) can happily keep hanging what you know are clean clothes on your line... Regardless of how dirty the neighbour 'thinks'/perceives your linens are. I sometimes forget that last one, which is when I can fall back a little.

I'm starting to wonder how long I can deal with this level of tired, stressed and frustrated

Starblaze, I think most people are wondering the same-

You're not shying away from confronting those thoughts, you're not mashing them down or turning away- You're looking them straight in face and feeling them fully-

I'm starting to wonder how long I can deal with this level of tired, stressed and frustrated

rosecarmel -- I think most people are wondering the same

I know I am. But one day at a time and count my blessings while remembering I've made it this far. And I still have my sense of humour...

We need other people at this time, we're all going through the same thing seperate, that's what makes it hard

We've had 6 deaths and a number of life-changing events occur in just over 2 years time- The first 3 deaths occurred within 3 months of each other, one of which was my husband- Now this-

I didn't even have time to grieve, it was all chicken without a head, autopilot-

Until now lmao ..

The other night I sat down cross legged on the floor and cried like a child, and was like "I miss you guys.. I really, really miss you guys . ."

Truth be told, if campgrounds weren't closed, I think I'd of thrown my belongings into storage and hit the road last week lmao ..

rosecarmel I don't know the right thing to say but I hear you and I'm so sorry you are dealing with that

rosecarmel -- My heart breaks for you. I find myself crying a lot as well. It's therapeutic but not very pretty.

Thank you for hearing it, Starblaze- Understanding goes a looooong way .. and it's appreciated by me-

Shower crying ladies, helps with the puffiness

No, HolyHanna .. I'm laughing .. Because it isn't pretty, as you say, but it's most definitely therapeutic- Thank you for the laugh