Banishing the winter blues, warming each other up in The Village

[LEMoncehadacatcalledSANTA]

Err, we need a new thread guys - I know this is Vicar's job so i hope you like the name.

This thread is a support group for those with mental health issues and generally feeling crap, some of us are on medication, some of us have help.

So come on in, grab a stool at the pub, the fires warm and the welcome is warmer - stay a while or move right on in!

All welcome

Ha! im not very good at this!

Just gets better, doesn't it.

Just tried to apply for some freelance video work (that I'm qualified for) with my old uni's in house company. We were told keep in touch, there's always work for graduates.

Been told I come below current students on the priority list.

Had a moan to family - been told it's my attitude stopping me getting a job and that I don't like being told "no."

WHO DOES? Who likes applying for a load of jobs only to get rejected or have no reply?

And my in-work attitude was complimented by my last company - I was just venting. You know, that thing HUMANS do?!

I love my family, but sometimes they're SO unsupportive and make me feel worse than I do already!

Thought i'd pop my head round the door and say hello.

Day 28 of sertraline today and i am feeling like a human being for the first time in so long. still having ups and downs but my downs are more manageable -if that makes any sense!

I am quite looking forward to getting back to work soon. Doing something normal, seeing different people, being out of the house.

I'm glad your downs are more manageable, wetwetwetfan! All sounds good

Hugs Violet, sounds like you're doing all you can.

( voilet ) what a super busy day u had :)

snowy hope tonight goes ok for u.

I've just taken a zopiclone to go to sleep, stomach is hurting & sore! I need a good night sleep (fingers crossed)

Good night my lovelies xxx

Glad thing are better now wetwetwet & hope it continues the same way :)

I am Snowy and to be fair to mum and gran, mum is a nurse, gran an ex nurse, so they've always had a profession. They've never had to do this job searching business.

I've applied for a few tonight, fingers crossed :)

Fingers crossed for u voilet :)

Please roll on Monday so my 'd'c can bugger off back to school.....

Hiding in the bedroom because I am fed up with listening to teenagers arguing over an Xbox game.... it's a bloody game!!!! Supposed to be fun not warfare!

Should really get on with tidying and putting the washing away but procrastinating on MN is leading me astray.. ...oh well.

Fingers crossed, violet

Oh dear wetwetwetfan play nicely or they lose it?

That's my usual comeback snowy... think they (we) have just all had enough of each others company. They are off out tonight so a few hours peace from it at least.

Off to dr's stomach is killing me :(

Enjoy the peace, wetwetwetfan

I hope it's nothing serious, DumDum32

On the plus side, I've started knitting again - keeps my hands occupied.

Hi CiQ Sorry to hear your husband's being difficult - have things been any better today?

No problem Snowy and hoochy, hope you find it helpful I haven't read it all, just dipped in and out, but that was enough. What are you making Snowy? I'm thinking of starting knitting again too, but I keep getting into the habit of taking up crafty things only to drop them again in favour of a new 'project'

Sorry you're having trouble sleeping DumDum, do you know why?

That's a shame Nancy - at least you had someone to share the feeling with though. Hopefully things will get better before long.

OnDasher that's crap about your ex. Glad to hear you've been able to prove he was lying though. I went to a gossipy school so I sympathise about the town - hope you can get out soon as well. Are you likely to be able to?

Violet I'm in awe of the fact that you're a skater! I love ice skating, although I can't do anything more fancy than moving without falling over There's a rink not far from me actually, I really should go more often as it's one of the few things that are guaranteed to cheer me up. Hope your foot clears up soon. Sorry to hear about your family being rubbish too, parents can be really unhelpful about these things sometimes can't they?

wetwetwetfan I'm glad the meds seem to be working, I had the same experience with citalopram and apart from a few off days it's pretty much only got better (at least when I manage to take it regularly!)

I've had an ok few days... got a bit teary and emotional for no apparent reason a few nights ago, but it was better in the morning. Keep having weird dreams that mean I'm not sleeping very well but I've bought some Nytol now so hopefully it'll get better.

I saw some of my old schoolfriends yesterday, which was a bit weird - I used to really miss them but in the last year or so I feel a bit awkward whenever I see them and find myself wishing I was with my new friends instead. Hopefully they didn't notice I was being quieter than normal. I went home with one of them afterwards though and it was much nicer with just us and her boyfriend - she gave me a microwaveable cuddly toy as a late Christmas present and it cheered me right up I even managed to see them together without feeling jealous and/or lonely, which counts as an achievement for me

I'm making a poncho, here

I hope your sleep improves, TirAnna

Ooh, that is very pretty - how far have you got? And that's decided it - I'm definitely taking it up again after my exams are over, I have to learn to do cables sometime after all

I've only done 10 rows so far. It's actually a nice, simple pattern, doesn't need much concentration. I'd prefer to get back to my OU studies, but my concentration is shot

Busy day again today - job centre, nice lunch, and a bit of browsing the shops :)

Oh, and a nice email I've just picked up, that I've been selected for a phone interview for a part time job I've applied for

3 hours a day, 5 days a week, plenty of time to fit voluntary work and college in, and shifts that are short enough that after the nightmare of my last job, it'll ease me back in to work. And, the best bit?

Customer facing - NO PHONES!

Ooh, good luck Violet! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

Oh, and the lady who enquired about my wedding photography wants to discuss things further - woohoo! After feeling low yesterday evening, I needed today, I think :)

Ooh... love the poncho. What colour are you making it? I wouldn't know how to hold knitting needles let alone actually make something!

I wish I could skate too...I manage to stay upright most of the time but not sure if that counts as skating.

I need a hobby! Something cheap and easy to have a go at.... any ideas?

I'm making this colour.

Maybe have a look at kids crafting kits, they can be good for trying something, e.g. candle making.

Some people like adult colouring books here

Sometimes simple patterns are the best, not too much effort but you still know you've achieved something. Nice colour too!

wetwetwetfan how about painting? You can get starter sets relatively cheaply and it's something you can easily dip in and out of without needing to commit too much time to each piece. Or if you'd rather something that doesn't require as much design/thinking on your part then beading and cross-stitch are both easy but absorbing, and you can get free patterns online. Cross-stitch often takes quite a long time though so it might not be ideal if you're like me someone who tends to abandon things after a while

Good luck Violet! When's the interview?

Urgh, no energy today just felt like vegging. Met a friend for coffee with LOs.

Have finally attacked the chaos that was our bedroom.

V flat. Some days I can't feel the meds working at all.
Good luck with the job search violet

How are people today? ondasher , snowy , hoochy , lem , ciq and everyone else

Ooh lovely poncho btw. Are you taking orders?