Hi all. Well I don’t blame you for hopping off to bed HVDY when it was so late. It does sound like you are spot on identifying the bug. What a time of year to get a tum bug. I’m just glad you were well enough to see the family.
It sounds like you had a very packed day, Scaredycat. I can understand wanting to take those hearing aids out ☺️. Perhaps you will have to with 2 more days of it. I expect you will want a quiet patch at the end of it all.
That feeling of things being more normal, Ellie Anne - oh the relief? I hope you made it on the drive and a walk. It is very beautiful out there in the sun, the skeleton trees made lovely by the patterns of light and shade.
I am so glad your family are there for you and with you Doodle. It cant make up for all, but so glad that DS2 coming to the hospice with you, and I hope the rest of the day you were able to relax for awhile, you’ve been so busy. (Although the Christmas celebrations in church mean a great, great deal).
Costa seems to feature in Black Dogs, doesn’t it, Sweetpeasue. It is a bit of an even for many who need to “get out” in an unpressured way. I’m glad you managed the small walk and got some housework done, each bit a victory for you. Thoughts with DH, too x
I so hope the family poorliness doesnt reach you, you have enough on your plate: I hope that they can get better and nothing lingers
I woke full of lurgy and I’ve not just re-injured my knee, but some kind of nerve trapped damage on my neck.
Dear BD’s, its no good trying to tell me to put thoughts of MrA on one side, because its not just the event, its the fall out as regards those who I was close to at Quakers. Emotionally it was my safe space, my haven, my value and belief system.
It’s my long term state of Mental Health problems that I can’t compartmentalise as a mentally more healthy person could.
One doesn’t get 22 years of Mental Health support especially these days without it being judged severe and me being at risk. My various difficulties are a fact of life I have learnt to live with more than I ever, ever used to be able to, and I am grateful for this.
Like many here, I’ve had to give up thoughts of maybe ever being able to do this or that.
But emotionally and faith wise its brought up conflicts within that could really bring me down.
It troubles deeply me that a man of my faith principles could be violent and I am supposed to forgive him especially when he refuses to see what he has done. He talked about Jesus so much, he lived a respected and good life. How can I forgive? How can I recover my faith based on Peace and Love, the best sort of christianity?
And something I cant discuss with those I am closest to, my family, because they dont have any sense of the spiritual they are unable to see part of what troubles me, although my sister does understand what happens when the values central to your heart are challenged so profoundly.
Some of my fellow Quakers that I loved and trusted have been equally troubled and as you know some have taken sides to a degree. To get across how disturbing it was, I’ve has to reveal far far more than I usually would about the nature of my MH vulnerability to a group, only some of whom understand MH stuff.
I have taken some measures today that might help. I have started writing a diary again for my MH workers. I was lifted up this morning by a fellow Quaker - the one who is closest to me (she has a long MH history and comprehends everything really) asking of a coffee date, and she’d had a bad Christmas so reached out to me: it felt like a lifeline, she asking for my support.
I drove out, feeling very wobbly, to the quiet place me and abusive Ex used to go for peace, and actually managed a little cry, and wrote one of those letters one is unlikely to ever send, becuase although I wish we could meet and mutually recognise what was good, so our 11 years together isnt just written off by him as “al my fault” and denying the Good, its unlikely to happen.
Tonight I’ve contacted my first Ex who knows me well to have a phone chat on Monday about it all - he understands faith stuff you see as well as knowing me pretty well.
I’m feeling unwell enough CFS wise to know that I wont be able to fulfil my offer of art help with the abused women group. I haven’t the energy or the confidence. This hurts, it feels like a step backwards: but in the meantime before Christmas I did get news of a local art group for people with some MH difficulties that was very local: this could be what I need most, as everything upstairs is set up for doing art or sewing but I vent managed to do any.
I haven’t overcome the block that came way way back when I dropped a career in art in 2004 and has the total breakdown that I did then. Perhaps it matters more I do little bits for me rather than rushing onto helping others.
Like others here whose stories have come out over time, we haven’t been able in our lives to achieve what we might have done. I’ve two degrees, and am very well read and articulate, and only held down a job for brief periods - but poor mental health will out in the end and the best thing we can do is accept it and not self chastise.
Maybe the greatest achievement in my life was to raise a son who is happy and successful: my first Ex did manage to hold down a lifetime job but had his own problems due to an appalling childhood, and when DS was little it was probably the best of times, and he let me down badly when I was ill (he was unable to care for me when I got really poorly, to the extent he withdrew into himself and ignored my cries for help - we have talked this over and come to terms with it)
but was a really super great Dad.
For us to be able to raise a son who has not got the shadow of Mental Health in him, who chose a wife who is capable and emotionally very strong, and manages a very disabled granddaughter - well, that counts for a great deal. But he is currently, at our age, seeing a therapist, to help with his own lifelong shadows. (He also has, I’m glad to say, a good partner).