Black Dog 12

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HVDY good news of your brother.
Your day centre sounds a lovely place and they always have such lovely things on the menu.
Do you have any entertainment or speakers coming to visit.
I would think if there were something showing on your bubble echocardiography they would have been in touch by now. Hard not to worry though isn’t it.
My DH is keen on photography too but never did his own printing.
Ellie Anne glad you are feeling a bit more comfortable. It’s good of you to help out looking after the cats.
I expect it is a bit lonely there away from your local area. Good job it’s just a week. Don’t put yourself down for not volunteering. Many of us never do anything like that for the same reason you give. We think we’d be no good at it. I’m sure people would have got on fine with you if you’d done it. Don’t put yourself down all the time. You get on with us don’t you ?
Scaredycat Never sure if the news will be good or bad but I do know that when you are coping with something you don’t always want to be explaining things to others so I give them space and contact them now and then.
I ve just got a mental image of your DH driving around with you hanging out the window snapping pictures as you go past.
Annie hope today has been ok for you and you had something to eat. I have attached a couple of picture for you from our last cruise in Norway. Thought you would like to see the fjords.
Sweetpeasue and Joce and the other BD posters, thinking of you too.

EllieAnne You're certainly not a waste of space. There are lots of charities that would be glad of your help - I chat to a lady via Re-Engage. It's company for us both, as well. I'm also going to be visiting people in their homes, via AgeUk (the process is very long-winded, and has taken 3 months already). My cat has got a bit of arthritis (he's old and a bit stiff sometimes) but because cats are good at hiding their pain, I give him Metacam every couple of days or if he's meowing a lot and I've gone through all the reasons he might be doing so.

Anniebach an omelette maker? Also, I know it's not as nice as having your food on a plate, but could you put a ready meal into a microwave and eat it from the cardboard/plastic container? Ready-made salads?

ScaredyCat Yes, I always look forward to my husband coming home - he makes us a drink when he gets in, but always has done. I talk him half to death, even when I've seen people during the day. He's so easy-going and laid-back.

Well, I had my 1st chat with a lady re CBT. She was very nice, and asked me dozens of questions, I had to give scores of 0-8 to the questions, about how I've been feeling. She said I've got social anxiety (I could have told her that, I've been like it for years - probably all my life) so she's going to arrange CBT for 1 hour, weekly for 12 weeks, starting in a couple of weeks. She's also going to arrange for some psychological assessments for my concentration and memory. Hope everyone has a peaceful evening. My brother will - his electricity has been off since 5.30, so no tv, oven, hob, lights, kettle. Oh dear. x

Lovely photos, by the way, Doodle

My brother has been ringing me. An engineer has been round, checked his electricity meter, and the substation, found no fault. They're going to send someone within the next hour, to dig up the garden.

Thank you all for the encouraging comments. Our local pregnancy crisis centre closed and is now mostly done online .
Photos are lovely. A friend is doing a Norway cruise in July.
I volunteer for church stuff when at home but never expected to feel so isolated here. I’ve done a weekend before but that was ok. Dh will struggle with the lack of tv! She doesn’t have one. I can watch things on my iPad as long as I don’t watch bbc or live tv. But I don’t know if he can do that. He’s hopeless with technology.
Was wondering about nonnie this morning. Hope she is ok.

Hi all x

Doodle loved the photographs, thank you x I have only been
abroad once, that was to see Notre Dame and Chartres Cathedral, yes I am so boring x

Ellie Anne the weekend is here, well tomorrow, when are you
going home ?
Why wouldn’t people like you ? All here ‘are people’, we like and care about you, sending a hug to a very likeable friend x

HVDY great your therapy has started, I so hope you will benefit greatly from it x

How is everyone?

Doodle The day centre occasionally has a singer on (pretty old-fashioned) but we have a lot of quizzes and slideshows, which are interesting.

Anniebach How are you?

My brother rang me at lunchtime - he went to bed at 2am, left the engineers digging up his path! His wife (my SIL who has got dementia) had been very restless, wandering about round the house, with a torch. . The workmen had gone by 5am, apparently. His electricity is now on, and there's a trench, 4ft deep and 10ft long, at the side of his house. He said the men have got to return tomorrow to fill in the hole.

Doodle- love your photos - your DH must have really enjoyed capturing that beautiful scenery. I would love to go back to the Fjords - maybe next year I,ll pluck up the courage to cruise again.
Hope you are ok today.
HVDY- I think you are going to enjoy your home visiting when you get the go ahead. You will be such a welcome visitor so it’s mutually beneficial isn’t it.
I too hope your therapy will be of benefit - I think it as helped many people.
Oh your poor brother what a busy night he had - he probably worried about his wife too . At least he is connected again. Whenever we have been cut off it always makes you realise how much we rely on electricity and you get fed up after about 5 minutes!!!!
Somebody once told me that cats purr when they are in pain is that true? I know they hide it very well.
EllieAnne- hope you have a safe journey home. Oh dear your DH is going to be very bored without his tele. Maybe it will spur him on to embrace a bit of technology!Still he will be grateful when he gets back home.
Annie- I,ve never seen Chartres Cathedral it certainly looks very beautiful. I love them too and last Summer we went to Ely Cathedral which was really stunning and so big for such a small town . They are miracles of engineering and craftsmanship.
It must have been very interesting when you volunteered at your Cathedral .
You are the least boring person I can think of. You have done a lot of things that many people haven’t .
SweetPeaSue- hope you are ok .
Love to all

ScaredyCat yes, cats apparently do sometimes purr when they're in pain or are frightened (I've had several cats over the past 42 years and have known it). I'm looking after my neighbour's cat for a week, starting this evening. I'll go across to the house to feed her. I did that last year and barely saw her, she is rather skittish and would run off when she saw me. I hope she'll be OK this time.

Hello all. Glad you liked the photos. I love Norway it’s so beautiful and peaceful in the fjords.
DH is nursing a bad back. He fell in the bathroom the other day and was ok after but now it seems the pain has come on, it’s probably muscular but we have had a quiet day today.
HVDY it’s a really nice thing you do phoning people. Visiting for Age Uk too. So many people would be grateful for some company.
Your DH sounds nice. Does he work far from home?
I hope you find the CBT helps. I hope your brother and his wife don’t wander outside tonight with that big hole there. I’m surprised they left it like that.
The old time singers are quite often the best. Are you any good at the quizzes? I’m hopeless.
Ellie Anne you obviously do a lot of helping out others too. Is there any way you could help the online team of pregnancy crisis.?
I hope your friend enjoys her cruise. Norway is special
Your husband will have a quiet weekend with the TV.
Annie nothing boring about you. You’ve climbed Snowdon!!
You live in Wales and have the mountains. Nothing wrong with that.
Scaredycat I’m sure a trip to the fjords would do you the world of good. The peace and calm.
We have been to Winchester Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral. Loved them both. Hope you had a good day, did you walk?
Sweetpeasue and all other BD people I hope you’re all ok.

Doodle My husband works about 20 minutes away, he takes his car or scooter. He's quite an introvert but things don't worry him - he certainly has never had the MH problems we all experience here. He's always been willing to let me do whatever I like - I've had many times when I've just left a job without another one to go to. .I'm very lucky. I'm good at the music, film ane biology quizzes. I like rock or heavy metal, not old-fashioned music . My brother and his wife don't need to use their back door, but the workmen put a barrier thing around the hole. Oh your poor husband, he'll perhaps come out in bruises in a couple of days. Is his eyesight better now?

Hi all x

Candy how are you ? How is the EMDR therapy going for you ? Do feel comfortable sharing if you need to x

CoffeFirst how is the job hunting going ? Hope you find something you will find enjoyable x

Volunteering, we have spoken of this , I have said I was involved with mental health charities, the reason ? I had two
spells in psychiatric units in the 70’s, first time for severe post natal depression, second following the death of my husband,
both caused me to experience and see people’s reactions to
mental illness, I was shocked . This was the reason I became
involved with mental health charities.

I say this to explain when volunteering do find a cause you feel
strongly about, not just something to fill time.

How is everyone?

No doodle my training is out of date and I don’t want to get involved on on line stuff. I ll stick to pouring tea. A friend once told me to stick to that. I’m home now and thankful for safety.

HVDY I’m hopeless at quizzes. I can’t remember the answer to anything and my mind goes blank.
Nice your husband is happy to let you go your own way.
Yes thank you DHs eyesight has improved a lot. He is very pleased. He’s starting to turn a nice shade of yellow now. He’s not too steady on his feet so I’m following him around hoping he doesn’t fall again.
Annie whilst it’s sad you had such experiences it’s certainly been of help in understanding a lot of what others suffer.
I hope you’ve managed to eat something today.
Ellie Anne what a relief you are safely home. Hope the journey wasn’t too bad. It’s a long drive, I expect you’re quite worn out by that and a week away from home. Hope you relax a bit now and sleep well tonight.
Take care everyone x

Hi all x

How is everyone ?

EllieAnne- glad you are home safely. Hope the changeover went well, Enjoy a relaxing day today.
Doodle- Glad your DH is recovering well from his fall. I expect it knocked his confidence a bit. Didn’t walk Friday as it poured down all day.
HVDY- I love quizzes although I remember one we went to with friends and we felt really stupid it was more like University Challenge!! The Pub near my sister has great ones and it’s worth going because the landlord is such great entertainment??
Glad they made the hole safe at your brothers - it could have been dangerous especially for your sister in law.
Nothing worries my DH either which must be lovely as everything worries me!
Annie- you have done such good work for people with MH problems. I was certainly shocked sometimes visiting my Mum after some of her manic depression episodes landed her in hospital. It was particularly heartbreaking when she was admitted into what had been in those days known as the asylum - she was so scared. Thank you Annie for helping people as you have done.

Well yesterday was the Wedding I had been so nervous of attending. It was a lovely day and the ceremony was outside in a pretty garden - what a relief. In fact we were outside all the time except to eat so I felt more relaxed. The Bride looked lovely and we were so pleased to see her so happy after Three extremely difficult years for her. Why do I spend so much time worrying about things that may never happen?
I hope the sun is shining where you are today- it is lovely here.
Take care allxx

Hi all. Not been on for a few days. Two members of the family have had hospital admissions. Both are home now, although not fully resolved.
Scaredycat thank you for your kind words.
Anniebach Thank you and yes, EMDR does bring back the trauma but I think you have to go there in order to resolve it? I did choose a safe place but not a piece of music. I’m struggling a bit today but trying to do things to make me feel better. ?it works! You sound amazing doing your voluntary work and you are right, I do think it helps to have a connection with the charity. I intend to give some time to a helpline I use when things are bad but I just don’t feel like I’m in the right place just yet.
Doodle No, I don’t go to hospital for the treatment. I go to a therapist trained to do it. I have to pay but it’s quite expensive but my mother-in-law gifted me some money at Christmas so I decided I’d use that. I don’t have a bottomless pit though so I hope I’ve chosen the right treatment!
HowVeryDareYou thank you for your kind words.

I hope everyone else if having a good day and if not, then I hope it gets better. Sending ❤️ And hugs xxxxx

Scaredycat your Mum was a manic Depressive,now called
Bipolar, as did my Catherine ? You and I have experienced much the same . So happy you enjoyed the wedding
my love, do you realised how you have tackled Black Dog and
come out the winner regardless of the whatiferies ? x

Candy so sorry you have had concerns over two family
members, hope all will be resolved soon.
Yes EMDR does mean reliving the trauma , but with the therapy comes the time when the emotions the trauma caused
stop flooding your mind. I advised you leave volunteering for
the help line for quite sometime after your therapy finishes, give yourself time to heal my love x

Ellie Anne you did it, I remember how stressed you were about the drive when you went for a weekend but this time
a week ! ?

Pooh Bear to Piglet - for all here too

You are braver than you believe ,
And stronger than you seem,
And smarter than you think .

Hello Annie and all. Hope everyone is ok.
We are having a quiet day today. DH is still feeling a bit unsteady and not up to going out. Perhaps tomorrow.
It’s a beautiful day here and we are sitting on our balcony watching the world go by. The breeze is picking up a bit though. I’m still full of thé whatiferies and just hoping and praying all is well.
Scaredycat like you everything worries me. Would be nice to be calm wouldn’t it. That’s a nice message to Annie . I agree she’s been such help to so many.
I’m sorry about your mum. Must have been awful for both of you.
Oh I’m so pleased you enjoyed the wedding. I was hoping you would. It sounds so nice in the garden.
I’m exactly the same as you. Spend most of my time worrying about what might happen. Glad you had a good time.
Candy sorry about your family. I hope they are ok.
I so hope the treatment works for you especially as you are paying for it yourself. What a nice message to everyone. Thank you,
Annie I never realised manic depression and bi polar are the same thing. So many people needing help with depression and the like these days. It is good things are talked about more openly but I wish there was more help available for people and it wasn’t such a fight to get support.
I love Pooh bear. Thank you Annie
Thinking of all those who have posted here named or not. Keep plodding on and post when you are able. Even if not mentioned every day we do think of you. Take care all x

Anniebach thank you for your concern. The family members seem to be doing fine thank you. I have another session tomorrow so I feel like I’m plodding on and I hope I see an improvement soon. I hope you are ok.
Doodle thank you for your nice message. I hope you are ok.

Sending best wishes to everyone and hope all ok xx

Hi all,
I’ve not been on for a few days due to stress. I may have mentioned my adult daughter (lives at home) struggles with her MH and has ASD/ADHD. She barely leaves the house apart from maybe one day to do her college course. My husband has had an awful stomach bug of some kind, so far we are both ok. I’ve been worrying over that and work which is still a hassle.

I need the money so can’t just up and leave. I’ve just applied for another job, fingers crossed. I’ve just been feeling so under the weather and I think got myself down about things. I just wish I could wave a magic wand and it all go away!

Sorry, I hope everyone is ok.

Annie - thank you for explaining how you became involved in MH volunteering. This must have been very dark times for you to go through what you have. I completely understand how you feel so strongly about this.

Candy, welcome aboard. I’ve just been reading back on the posts.

I hope everyone else is doing ok.

Candy glad to hear your family are ok. Good luck with the session tomorrow. Hope you see some benefit soon.
Coffeefirst it must be so hard to see your DD struggle so much. Does she have any help from the MH teams or the Autistic society? Are there any groups your daughter could join locally? Sorry your DH has been poorly Hope he feels better soon. I think we all know that feeling of I wish it would all go away. Sometimes it seems to be one thing after another.
I wish you luck in your job application. I hope the right thing comes along for you soon.
Annie hope you have been ok today. Have you got close to venturing outside yet?
Hope all the rest of the BDG are keeping ok. x

It’s very strange having the house to myself. I’m eating more and still wanting to have a drink at night which I didn’t expect. I thought with less stress I wouldn’t need it.
The believers among you will understand this. I’ve actually been able to pray in the house. Usually I go out walking or in the car. These few days are really precious to me.

CoffeeFirst1 thank you for your welcome I’m sorry you are feeling stressed. I hope you and your daughter escape the dreaded bug - it’s going around in my area too and I hate them. I hope your daughter is getting all the support available, it’s hard when our kids struggle, I know. I hope you are successful with the new job but in the meantime, try and take just a little time for yourself - for me, walking helps clear my head a little.
Doodle thank you for your kind wishes. I hope you are well.
Ellie Anne I’m glad you are enjoying your time alone. Time for ourselves is so important I believe.

I’ve just put a post up about circulation booster machines as I’m having problems with my feet and legs. I really need to do my exercise as it’s one of my coping mechanisms so I’m keen to get it sorted. Hope everyone has a good day.

Doodle - hope you are doing ok today and the Whatifferies receding for a while. Hope your DH is improving daily. It must be so nice to have a balcony and have your own little window on the world. I love it if I have a balcony on holiday and can watch all the goings on. If only we had a worry switch - I have a new one now as we are going on holiday next week and so many fears to overcome. Must be positive and think how lucky we are to be able to go
Candy6 - glad your loved ones are doing well you must feel relieved. Hope you have a beneficial therapy session today .
Yes walking is great therapy so I,m sorry you are having problems. This morning it keeps going dark and rainy so I keep putting off my walk- will wait til it clears up a bit.Are you thinking of getting a circulation booster?
Coffee first- hope you,re still free of the bug. You have a lot to contend with right now . Perhaps you will have good news about the new job - take care of yourself .
EllieAnne- I,m glad you are making the most of your free time- no walking on egg shells for a few days. X
Annie- hope you are ok today. Yes we do have much in common and it means a lot that we understand a little of some of our shared experiences . Thank you for your kind words - trying hard to be brave.
Have you been able to have any different food this week ? Xxxx
To all Here and those who we haven’t heard from in a while hope you all have some light in your dayxx