The positive mental health thread - part 4

[Spudlet]

Keeping it positive, keeping our sanity, people 👍

So that’s that then, I’ve been furloughed. Not quite sure how I feel to be honest. Part of me is sad and part of me is wondering if it might be an opportunity for growth and some different experiences.. trying to look at the positives

Brilliant!! It did cheer me up, thank-you! My favourite bits are...

Meanwhile, I plait my leg hair
And comb my upper lip.

I could learn a language
Do Pilates, play guitar
But instead I’ll lay here drinking gin,
and eat Nutella out the jar.

@millie2013 I’m sorry to hear that. Sometimes these things can force positive change for people that otherwise wouldn’t have happened. Hoping for that for you.

On that note, I’m finding this enforced unexciting life I’m currently living is pushing me in a direction I should have been going in for a long time... I’ve had such awful mental health problems over the last thirty years starting from when I was an early teen. In the last three years I’ve had a couple of nervous breakdowns caused by trying to come to terms with my childhood and my family history and am now estranged from my parents and sister. I’ve been kind of limping along ever since. I’ve developed fibromyalgia because of it all and suffered endlessly, and have not prioritised my health at all, just been constantly hurrying about picking up extra bits from the shops that I’ve convinced myself we need and scrolling through god knows how much crap online like celebrity gossip etc, it’s taken up all my time and has left me feeling run ragged and really unwell. Sometimes I feel so anxious that it’s like I’m out of my body. I keep thinking I must knuckle down and meditate, do yoga, slow down and recover but I never ever do.

But here we are now stuck at home and I can’t be running around here there and everywhere, and so having hit peak anxiety during all this and sick of the battle I’m suddenly taking control of my life and my health and trying to enforce real change. I’m 40 now and I just want to be in peace and happy.

Wonderful poem. Thank you for sharing it

I had a good day. I've kept really busy with work and that helps so much. I'm grateful for the sun too. I had another phone chat with an elderly guy who lives nearby and he was so grateful to be called. We have agreed to have a glass of wine together when this is all over.

I have a lovely ham for my supper. What little things have I been appreciated? Mostly being able to keep moving I think. And having peanut butter in the house. I love it.

Bunnyflop rooting for you. Sometimes pressing pause can do you the world of good.

@Bunnyflop a lot of people are using this time now to sort of have a recovery I think it's liberating. I've decided to do myself a self care package Ive ordered some bath stuff I like and more vitamins and I've promised myself I will actually do yoga in the evening now as it's been helpful for my anxiety.
Be kind to your self and I hope you do find your peace and also happiness.
I think us all going through this has sort of made everyone take a deep look at themselves and start changing things. Flowers for you

Brilliant poem! Pinkarsedfly

My biggest excitement was a bag of lovely potatoes that my niece dropped off.

Just finished work and come downstairs. Tonight's dinner is cottage pie for the third night in a row And there was enough to put another portion in the freezer.

I actually have to go out to the corner shop to "reset" my bank card with chip and pin so DH can use it contactless which didn't work yesterday. It's been over a week since I've left the house (apart from the garden).

Thanks for the kind words. Glad it raised a smile.

You deserve peace Bunny. This enforced slowing down shows how much of the shut that we force ourselves to do is just utterly pointless.

Bunny it really does feel like you could take something very positive from all of this, if you flip it on it’s head. ❤️

I can relate to the dashing here and there, it feels odd not being able to/having to do that

CheerfulBunny Glad it's not just me! Luckily I didn't say anything too incriminating (but I did have DCs whatsapping me saying MUM, MUTE YOUR MIC!)

Love the poem, absolutely hilarious!

And Bunny hope things get better for you.

I've just ordered some lovely eggs from Hotel Chocolate as a cheer up for me and my other half . Something to look forward to at least!

I was furloughed before self isolating. Felt a little upset at the time, now I'm looking at things in a different way. Realising I didn't enjoy it at all but on the treadmill and didn't have time to notice. When we do all get to the other side of this, I think quite a few people will be looking at their lives and deciding to do the things they always wanted to do and go to the places they always wanted to . I hope so.

Loved the poem! Thanks for a little laugh pinkarsedfly

We're all rooting for you @Bunnyflop

I'm feeling a bit meh now. Been the toughest day for me I reckon. Trying to remember what someone said yesterday- this is a tunnel, not a well.

I’m doing all these extra exercise videos and walking more and the consequence is that I’m bloody starving and we are meant to be saving food😳🔫

That poem’s made my day. It’s brilliant.

Lovely story for you. Friends of ours have been together 15 years, he’s got cancer with a matter of weeks to live. Their local registry office somehow contorted all the rules to send a registrar to their flat to marry them on Saturday. I have absolutely no idea how they managed it but how beautiful, it’s made me cry.

Oh how absolutely lovely @alsohuman

Alsohuman that’s lovely.

So many touching stories of good people around right now. It’s very heartening.

So I popped out to the shop at the other end of the road. Saw no one. It is sooooo quiet!

But the real positive is that the huge magnolia down the road is in full bloom. It's magnificent.

Alsohuman that is so lovely and touching

How lovely Also i can't imagine what that must have meant to them.

I had a lovely lovely run tonight. It did me so much good. I felt so free just being out and knowing I could stay out as long as I wanted (rural lane, zero people around. Just birds and bunny rabbits). The sun was going down and the views were lovely

I'm really struggling tonight. The logistics of WFH is really getting to me - our clients are being quite inflexible and expecting things to be done in the same way as it would were we in the office, and some things simply can't be. Everytime I turn on the tv it's either the news or a 'special' about CV , I've got to go out shopping tomorrow and I'm scared of leaving the house. I'm trying to be brave but I feel so overwhelmed. DH is being wonderful but I'm worried about him getting it, or my mum. I'm sitting with DH trembling on the sofa.

Sorry to sound so pathetic, just needed to let it out.

It’s wonderful. I want to treat it just as you would any other marriage and send them a card but what the hell do you write in it? If any of you have any ideas I’d really appreciate them.

Hugs Minesa if you need a good old cry have one. Or another thing I do to get stress out is to have a disco at home and throw myself about. Failing that-takeaway.
When you feel better can you speak to someone from work and see if they too are having the same issues?

Thanks Siameasy I usually do a couple of dance classes to get away from the stress and I'm really missing them.I'll investigate some on line. Work are really good and we've got a good support team. I just feel like bawling and can't see any end. Love this thread because I can come on and let it out and no-one will judge.