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!

Thanks NN, the outside world doesn't see that though. Sorry you had a wasted journey. I hope your Feb is better too.

I'd rather not share photos.

Sorry folks - I just need to pass some info to Lem about adult colouring and some of you may also be interested.

OK - if you put in "Adult Colouring Books" on Amazon a lot will come up. There are so many to choose from. However if you are going to colour with felt or brush pens(which I use) most of them will "bleed" through the paper so you can only use one side. They would probably be ok with coloured pencils.

"Creative Haven" do nice ones, with pictures only on one side, so no bleeding through. I have 2 which are lovely - Square Mandalas and Lotus Designs, but I'm sure there are a lot more. Dover colouring books are good and I have "decorative tile designs" lovely pictures but you can only use one side because of bleeding through - also have Kaleidoscopic Design Colouring book by Dover (same problem though) but I like this one cus they don't take too long so good if your time is limited. I have a small book called "decorative mandalas" and only printed on one side. Maybe my favourite is "Pattern and Design" by Jenean Morrison, but it is around £7.00 but loads of beautiful patterns on one side only so no bleed through, and it has lasted me ages.

You can buy Pentel felt tips from Amazon for a fraction of the cost in the shops, or Staedtler felts which are half price (around £12) but they last ages and are really good quality. I use Papermania brush pens and Amazon have them in Paste/Vintage/Bright - they aren't cheap £14.99 but I got mine from a big shop called the Range and paid £9.99. They are really lovely but I wouldn't advise getting the pastels as they don't show up very well. Or you can get nice Berol brush pens for £6.99 (approx.) from Amazon. If you want pencils I'm sure they have loads of those too.

I get completely absorbed and have been known to stay up into the small hours to finish a picture. On bad days, it is the only thing that can distract me.........SO happy colouring to anyone who wants to distract themselves in a relaxing way.

hi nana ooh photos is a tricky one. I'm v tempted, but I also have mental images of everyone (like you do when you read a book) and I'm not sure I want them to be knocked down if that makes any sense!

Tell you what, we could post pics of celebrity we most look like in terms of hair style, face or something!!!

Feeling better for counselling. My counsellor said she felt angry about what these women had done at school and called one of them a cow which made me . Dh has got another piece of work too via a former colleague (that we worked with last week) so that is Fab

I'm glad you feel better for counselling, CIQ, it can go both ways (even if it makes you feel awful it can help).

I rang my psychiatrist today. She's said to up my antipsychotic, and I can take diazepam as needed. I'm glad I rang her.

Yes it can can't it - last week I felt worse, but not today which is nice.

Sounds like helpful advice from your psych. Really hope adjusting the meds help. Up to much tonight?

Me too. Just watching crystal maze on tv. How about you?

I have got addicted to Grey's Anatomy! Dh got a three month lovefilm subscription for Christmas - and all the series are on it - so I've been watching series 5 back to back over the last week!

Sounds good I've certainly found more to watch since getting sky.

I think some of us did pen self-portraits on an earlier version of this thread. I am a stout old hippy with long grey hair

Thsnks nana - that all sounds lovely. Would have to hide them from dd2 :) my dd1 is very atristic.me not so much.

My dp once said I looked like bette midler I am quite a big girl. Blessed in the norks department. Always been blonde but now short hair and reddy brown. Growing my hair a bit so I can get a decent cut. Last hair dresser screwed it up. I like being porky but know its not goodhealth wise. I have tattoos. Mostly not visible but I love them. Would love more but feel im too old. Im 43.

Good day yoday. Made a Facebook page for dp business and have had lots of likes.

Friend told me I looked tired and drained :(

Ooh NO I didn't mean posting pictures (I'd have no idea how to do that anyway.....) I just meant a pen picture a bit like Lem and TAC have done. I remember both of your descriptions from before and it's really nice as I have a "picture" of you both in my head.

I'm VERY old - oh god hardly dare say it to all you babies, but here goes ........I will be 70 on Saturday. Yuk Yuk Yuk. That is really old as far as I'm concerned. I am 5'2" (approx.) and sizewise, now let me think my weight just escapes me but I might remember it soon (!) let's just say about 2 stone overweight for my height. I saw a lovely thing on FB the other day that my DIL posted saying "I wish I was as fat as I was when I first thought I was fat....." oh god that spoke to me! My hair is grey (obviously) but I do get a good cut every 6 weeks so it's a medium length bob at the moment. Hmm what else.......I never wear skirts and don't possess any. This winter I have lived in leggings because they are so comfortable with that "forgiving" waistband and tucked into boots with a longish top they look ok.

I hate coloured clothes and only wear black, grey, cream, olive green or light brown.....my sons and DILs think it's a hoot ..... oh I do wear patterned tops but only if they are a combination of the above colours. I wear white T shirts in the summer.

I am peculiar about food - and a very fussy eater. I hate anything hot and spicy and any kind of sauces or anything that "runs" on the plate - so the yukky things are things like gravy and custard.....and any other kind of sauce. I don't like the texture of lots of things so no pasta or yoghurt etc. I like my food dry and I don't mind eating the same thing several times a week.

Look I'm sorry this is probably very boring and it's way past my bedtime. Had a good day today and glad everyone else seems to be doing well. SO glad you phoned the psych today Snowy and that you sound better than the end of last week.

Thanks for the pictures! Really nice to think about and I loved your wider description nana.

OK well I am 5'2 too, 10 stone (should be about 8 and three quarters really but am a sugar addict). Currently sporting a rather messy wavy brown bob, which I'm growing following a short hair cut for many years. (Used to have this hairstyle in Uni, one of my happiest periods so it has good associations, also feels less stern and more fun - my "resting face" is rather miserable and severe ). Apparently my eyes are my best feature - big and brown

I love colour and that's reflected in my painting, but I don't look psychedelic - today am wearing navy skinnies, red and caramel stripey top, caramel cardi. Enjoying this winters purchase of some biker ankle boots!

Well finished dd blind for her room
Was brave and said to "friend" at school - "oh I hear you had a good curry last week" and she said yes it was good XXXXX organised it. Which for anyone bothering to follow my paranoid story, is not what another friend told me. I want to know what's what because I'm finding it all rather confusing at the moment. If this "friend" doesn't want to spend time with me, I'd prefer to know as on the surface she still smiles and says hello to me in the playground... and then I can just put it to rest.

Need to tackle the money again...

Hi everyone.

I don't think I've posted in here at all, but I'd like too, if nobody minds.

I have bipolar, and severe anxiety. I'm incredibly stressed at the moment, because I'm being (in my opinion) bullied at work. I've taken holiday for two weeks, but I'll have to go back after that, and I'm petrified. I am waiting to hear back from a job that I've had two interviews for, I sent them a project yesterday morning, but nothing yet. It'd be the answer to all my worries if I got it, but the waiting is killing me.

I emailed my crisis team yesterday, because no-one is calling me back. I told them how bad my anxiety is, how out of control I feel. I just called and was told that the duty team are busy, but "hopefully someone will sort something out for me today." I'm not feeling full of confidence.

I feel lost today.

Hi caja - i can't post much as i need to put the lap top away and do soemthing!! :) anxiety is a bastard isn't it. I sympathise re the work situation, have you considered posting in employment for some practical advice? You shouldn't have to use up holiday because your employer is making you feel unwell :(

This is a great thread to post on for a bit of support, we don't always have the answers - who does? but its nice to know that there others that can empathise. Its always nice to welcome new friends to the "village" and hear about their stories - its not the fasted thread in the world but there is usually someone around at some point!

Can you distract yourself at all - i have to go and clean my house - i need distracting from that because i dont want to do it, but its getting ridiculous!!

Quick post it's my bday & yep u guessed it in hospital as per norm. Really wanna go home though don't feel like being here today. Will be celebrating it with my family later & may even get a cake this time :)

Hello to caja & welcome!

Sorry will post properly later.... Love & hugs to all xxx

Happy Birthday DD and for you. Hope you do have a nice celebration later.

Welcome caja really sorry to hear you're having such a rubbish time at work at the moment. Lem's suggestion re: the employment boards sounds like a good one. Or if your anxiety is just too much would your GP sign you off for a couple of weeks?

Hope you get some support from your crisis team too.

What might work on the distraction front? Any favourite reads/tv programmes/knitting (!) etc? I've had shocking day time tv on in the background this morning to keep me company.

Good luck with the cleaning lem!

happy birthday DD and nana for you on Saturday

im feeling a bit rubbish today - slow, sluggish, tired, sick. i ran out of sertraline and am paying for it.....makes me feel ill if i miss it.

also cutting right back on booze so think body is having a bit of a fritz.

am about to attempt to get off the couch and do something beside veg....need to tidy house and wash floors, make some soup (its all i feel like eating - not eaten anything yet today and feeling pretty bleugh....)

so here goes. 1,2,3....switching tv and laptop off and going to move......

oops, went back for a nap and left heating on. Deep sleep for 4.5 hours with interesting dreams, perhaps I needed it. However, am now all behind like the cow's tail.

hugs to all as must get on, but will reply to posts when am caught up.

Happy birthday DD and NN

You can do it, vicar! And so can you, TAC!

Transport was late by 4 hours

I'm exhausted.

Morning everyone.

I'll probably get signed off today, I think. I've got a meeting with my psychiatrist this afternoon. Usually, he is entirely useless, so I'm not holding out much hope. We just don't get on at all.

Still no news from the potential new job. Agent said that both directors have read my project, but need to discuss it. That doesn't sound good.

Had a big argument with DP last night.

I'm struggling, at the moment. I hope you're all doing better!

(And DD, I hope you had a lovely birthday yesterday!)

I have short light brown hair, round metal glasses and hazel eyes. I'm 5'2" and 13 stone

I hope you get some good outcomes, Caja I'm struggling too, more repairs needed on my flat.

Hi all, I'm a newbie. I have post traumatic stress disorder. I've just let 2 of my beet friends know and feel like I've given them an unnecessary burden. I have good weeks with a few bad hours scattered between. It's been a hard 2.5 years of denial but I'm beginning to feel positive about finding a way of coping.

We all have wings, we just don't know how to fly.

Welcome, BockWurst

Hi all,

Thanku for the birthday wishes... It was a good nyt yday with family... Felt normal for a change
Got myself a haircut (kind of bob cut with a side fringe and lots of layers) I'm 5'2" light skin and black hair & 14 stones :( need to loose weight!

Welcome bockwurst :)

Hope all r doing ok today. I just got home from hospital... Going to jump in a nice relaxing bath to get rid of this headache!

Have a good day all :)

Hi *BockWurst" welcome. Sounds like a really brave step opening up to two of your friends - I've been there and its not easy. I'm pretty sure if they're good friends they won't feel its a burden, they are probably really touched you've been so open with them.

Lovely to read everyone's snapshots. Is it just me, or is almost everyone 5'2" !