Andes up - who needs a rock to lean on? Rock on over here!

[ThatVikRinA22]

in honour of ed and her mountain ranges.....

welcome to thread 3 - this is a support thread for anyone needing a hand to hold while they get through depression or any other mental health problems - long term or temporary. All are welcome.

linky to old thread

hey all

ed - well done. my house is a tip but im afraid im not feeling terribly motivated to tackle it.

day 2 (feel like i should say that in a geordie accent like on big brother....)

ok. was out and about today - did some easy little jobs, got a bit of something to finish tomorrow....but made a to do list or i ill forget. Dealt with people again today. Feel a bit rusty but it was alright.

not in until late tomorrow.

No reply from DS disability team and he is very very down.
going to go and clean Pearly paws out in a minute. might try ringing uni first....
think DS wants to come home tomorrow for weekend. bloody hell. i was to support him but im cross with him.

Well done on the list and task completion vicar, I've just started using a list to write down what I've done/need to do as well, it helps. Is it hard to work out how best to help your DS? (I don't have children).

UA - Best wishes for the visit with your Dad, he does indeed sound very brave - and it sounds like he has made a good decision. Must be very hard for you though - it is OK to allow yourself some anxiety at a time like this, it would be anxiety inducing for everyone so accept how you feel and be kind to yourself xx I had to delete Bejeweled from my FB as i was in a war wiht my friend and it was sucking up too much time - now its candy crush

Ed - Brilliant, glad you feeling a bit more alive x

Vicar - Yay day two went well :) This is good. I love a good to do list i do!

Hugs to all you lovely lovely ladies xx You have no idea how much this thread is inspiring and helping me

well. ive done it again. im so impulsive! i now have 3 rats. i rang the pet shop to say how well Pearl was doing, and they mentioned that they had 2 of her sisters left, 8 weeks old.....

so i had to really didnt i?

they are all getting on swimmingly. they are gorgeous little fluff bundles. so i now have Pearl, Amber and Ruby. pearl is probably older by about 4 months....but they are all so lovely! They are all classed as adoptions because pearls sister gave birth to them all....2 litters within a very short space of time. She was pg when given up with the second litter.....

they are absolutely beautiful.

Oh Vicar ........a family of ratties..

Got to tell you that I am loving hearing about them . how do you think Pearl will cope ? She is such a lovey .

You sound good considering what stress this week has brought you . Your mentor seems helpful and understanding ........so pleased x

for the rattie girls and a scratch on her tummy for Pearl

ua - i have just had to scroll back - i missed your post. im so sorry.
your dad sounds like he knows his own mind, but i feel for you in this. its very hard.

look after yourself.

basset ive put them all in a smaller hamster cage to introduce them - they all seem fine! Pearl coping very well in fact - i think she needed company. And the two baby girls are lovely - just need a bit of handling but one is very forward and confident - the other not so confident but neither bite! hurrah! mind you - pearl has stopped that since being here so all is well. i was thinking of changing her name to Gnasher at one point....

Ah that is grand Vicar .......now you know the next request dont you ?
No hurry mind of course for us nosy rat loving folk .
Gnasher ?? bless her cotton socks .

pics?

will try to get some tomorrow.....they are hiding just now but that means tehy are all hiding in the same place so bonding should be happening!

they are all beautiful. all dumbo rats, pearl as you saw on the pic is a silver grey
amber is a lighter grey and white with a gorgeous stripe down her face
ruby is dark....nearly black. glossy and gorgeous!

Just popping in to say hello.

OK day at college painting, enjoyed sun with kids in the garden after, got DS's pirate costume sorted for school tomorrow! My DD who broke her leg v badly in Dec finally got back on her bike today can't tell you how pleased I am. And church meeting was OK. I felt nervous and wasn't very coherent, but its done.

Sending warm wishes to everyone, and esp UA with your dad, sounds tough, vicar with your lovely little family, and your attitude to work today is just brilliant. Basset, SPC, Lucy (wow you got loads done!) snowy, catmint, Ed and everyone else, sleep well. x

Aww i love rats quite jealous :)

Will wait in anticipation

been daydreaming
OH: your birthday is coming up Lady Basset ....now you have had ironing board covers and gardening secateurs the last two years. What would you like this year my lovely slave wife?

ME: A bonny dumbo rat .....oh and a cage and hammock [the ratty kind ]
A wee drive out to Pets at Home should do it instead of dinner sweetie.

Will wait in anticipation

Been daydreaming .................

OH: your birthday is coming up Lady Basset ....now you have had ironing board covers and gardening secateurs the last two years. What would you like this year my lovely slave wife?

ME: A bonny dumbo rat .....oh and a cage and hammock [the ratty kind ]
A wee drive out to Pets at Home should do it instead of dinner sweetie.

OOPS

Didn't want to say before, but it is usually recommended not to have a lone rat. to say that I had several lone rats over the years, but they did come out and play every day, and in fact my first one used to accompany me in a roomy handbag (or down my jumper) out and about when I was a student.

So it's excellent news that you have gathered the Three Ratty Jewels.

Can't seem to shake off tiredness, so just a general wave and nighty night from me.

i knew that spc....i was on it like a car bonnet.... (disclaimer - i do not watch geordie shore.....)

anyway.... i felt that to be a lone rat would be a lonely existence. even though she gets daily cuddles....

the other girls are gorgeous. cant wait till tomorrow when they can all get loose in the big cage....its got hammocks, rope bridges, tunnels, a wooden house....nuts hidden all over....a fun place to be if you are a rat!

Hi all.

vicar you are doing FAB
UA thoughts are with you. Went through similar this time last year.

I am not doing so well :(

I stayed in bed until about 3:15. I was just about dressed by 4pm
I did sort out lots of clean washing but there was 3 piles of it, about 2 weeks + worth.
I have been getting DD3s knickers off the bathroom floor every morning this week as I don't have any clean.
I don't think I have brushed my teeth in the evenings at all this week
I haven't eaten more than 1 meal a day this week (which has affected my taking of meds)
I am nauseous.
My mum has apparently had a nervous breakdown, been made redundant at work....possible unfair dismissal or constructive dismissal case. She is livining on charity food packages yet I am still so much of an arse that I can't pick up the phone to her.

Sorry, I just need to admit that I have fallen off the wagon.

I want to curl up in the rat hammock please.

ed
you have an open invitation to my rat hammock any time - you know that.

you are having a very bad time right now - just acknowledge that and work with it. its ok. its ok if you are in bed late. dont stress.
knickers to knickers
your teeth will survive
eating - well - just try. even bowls of cereal. rice crispies are my all time fave fall back food....

your mum - your mum is not your responsibility. hard as taht sounds - you are dealing with your own issues.

falling off the wagon is allowed.
so is getting back on it. when you are ready.
to you ed. dont feel bad. its a waste of emotion. do what you need to do. its ok you know.
x

im slightly worried re DS....he isnt answering his phone or responding to msgs.
he sounded so down this morning. he wanted to come home. he has failed his degree. no one from the disability team has called me despite 2 calls and an email.

i hope he is ok....its not like him to not reply. im going to worry now.....

vicar - Has he actually failed it? AIUI he has failed to submit his dissertation on time. Have you any idea whether he has actually done any of it?

I would ring his department, and ask to speak to his dissertation supervisor.

Ed try not to worry (!!) - hang in there, you missed a med, give yourself a few days until your med level is where it's supposed to be. I am so sorry to hear about your mum, similar happened to me workwise. But if you aren't well enough to ring, then you aren't well enough to ring.

I agree. Has he failed? Has he got the option to get a degree without honours? Resits?

I hope you have managed to contact him?

I've put a load of washing in.

I've agreed to collect DD3 direct from school which will get me motivated this afternoon.

Then I am taking DD3 out so will need to shower....

Right now I am in bed. Plam to try and complete this Candy crush level then nap

afternoon.

well, being back on shifts is weird.....consoling myself with the fact that ive only got 4 hours to do (and not thinking ahead at all to next week when its more)

Rats all fine and dandy - all let loose in big cage now - will leave them to explore and bond and get playing tomorrow.

So. DS. i think ive sorted it. i have learnt never to 100% trust his perception of things due to his disabilities - the disability team leader rang me today....we had a really good chat. She has managed to get an extension to his extension deadline (complicated) but has now worked with him to submit his extension application which she is confident he will get.
so
another disaster averted. I love my DS, but he is such a drain on my reserves of strength etc etc....anyway - i could feel myself getting stressed yesterday but not like normal - i dealt with it and its ok. He is much happier now, i now just have to train all my children to STOP BLOODY PHONING/TEXTING me when im in BED!!! This is why shift work is soooo knackering. Because no bugger leaves me alone to sleep.

right. am going to go and wash pots, and have a tidy up.

Vicar - that is good news about your DS, the university will support him and he is probably the sort of person that needs the final deadline to rally and get the things done (thats me right there!) but he'll do it i'm sure. Final year of degree is tough, but he'll get through i'm sure.

Ed - i am so so sorry that you are feeling crap. Vicar is right - you have to keep yourself well. To be fair, the only one who can sort your mum out is your mum just the same as we have to ultimately sort ourselves out. The last thing i would want is my grown up DD to have to deal with my breakdown at cost to her own MH.

Bloody weather, can you believe it, was on beach yesterday after school now am huddled indoors wishing i didn't have to go out but have been roped into helping with school cake sale. arggghhh - i need to learn to say no. I got bloody soaked on the way back from town this morning and went to lay in bed for a bit, but now have had to drag myself out to make cakes. never mind. Now the only question is - do i turn them into butterfly cakes, just ice them or leave them plain? They are chocolate and probably taste crap cake making not my forte

Hi all, im texting today from new smartphone! Quite exciting. But harder to post at mo... lucy bung some icing on job done. Sorry ed to hear yr having a rough patch x. Glad to hear yr getting on ok. Sorry this is brief but sending best wishes to all.

That last comment was for vicar x