New back pat list of what we managed to do today however small

[notagiraffe]

Used to have a thread like this and it died out.
This is for people struggling, either because of depression or AD side effects, to be very productive. Let's pat ourselves on the back for what we did manage to do, not what we didn't.

Today I worked at a food bank for two hours. Very busy.
Planned a lesson.
Will teach for two hours this evening.
Cooked healthy tea for family.
Tidied kitchen and put a wash on.

That's it really. Intended to go into town to run errands this afternoon but was too tired. Not a lot but not quite nothing either...

Anyone else?

Sorry I just joined in by the way. I like the idea of trying to focus on the things that I have managed to do rather than let the ones I haven't dominate my thoughts.

Hi.

Today I drank lots of water and left work an hour early. I wanted to do something nice with dd but not much money or energy so we went to Tesco and I let her choose a tub of any ice-cream she liked. Usually I overthink things and try to get a cheap ice-cream or a less unhealthy one but I chilled out. Surprised how good it felt not to worry about such a little thing. Tonight I got my clothes ready for work tomorrow and prepped breakfast.
Tricky, I remember how exhausting it was with very little children. You are doing brilliantly if you focus on them instead of housework etc. Something I found really helpful was buying 5 inexpensive supermarket sets of school uniform e.g. those white polo shirts and socks etc. That meant one load of school washing at the weekend got me through the week even if I was too tired to do laundry and the uniform got covered in paint or mud. My dd's school sold second-hand uniform cheaply which made it possible to have spares.

Hi Hannah - yes just jump in. Good list. I admire the nail painting. Been on my list of things to do for two weeks! You've inspired me to actually do it tomorrow!

Hi DeepDark - sound slike a period of massive adjustment for you - DH around and DC gone. Can take years to settle into it. Big back pat for planting the day you bought. Not sure i've ever managed that!

Hi Searching - yes letting go of fretting over unnecessary things is so liberating. Back pat for that!

Finished teaching. Had glass of wine with DH. Shattered. bed.

You've all had mega days. Well done. Giraffe that day was a feat for anyone! Work, voluntary work, birthday. Hannah - makeup is something I never manage to get round to, so well done.

I've been off with the fairies for a few days, done very little housework, a little gardening, got kids to school and then slept a lot or frittered hours away online. Today I've had a fairly productive morning and I'm about to have lunchtime nap as got a busy pm today (by my standards).

Today:

• wrote a to do LIST
• worked through it - lots of texting and arranging various things for the weekend, making appointments
• hung a wash out (got rained on, oh well) and put another in
• folded clothes which have been lying around for a week

I have cooked properly the past 3 days which makes me feel good too. Like I'm taking care of my family and myself. One day was just jacket pots but I managed to do proper veg (ie not frozen!) and yesterday was a good meal. Today is frozen food as we have eye appointments and then football.

Night night. Time for a little nap.

Merry I'm mega impressed you actually worked through the list. I'm really good at writing them but not so great at doing anything on them.

So far today I managed to take madam to a stay and play(so so so proud of myself. Took over an hour to work up the courage to leave the house and had an anxiety attack but still did it) and have had the health visitor around for an assessment. Been referred for some CBT so touch wood might be getting somewhere.

Doctors this afternoon. Dreading going back on medication. Am I allowed to ask for you to keep your fingers crossed for me?

crossing fingers for hannahpan - at least that will excuse the typos.
Today woke in a lot of pain, so stayed in bed until painkillers kicked in.
DH helped me change the bedding and carried the dirty stuff downstairs for me. It is, of course, raining here today, and windy, so he might not be going out to do his hobby (waa - I love my alone time) Even when he's in another room, I'm still aware of him in the house.
I spent about half an hour moving stuff from one bookcase to another in the spare bedroom. That room WILL look nice eventually, if I can only make myself do it.

Thanks for the crossed fingers but that was awful. Just got back from the doctors, poured my little heart out and they literally had nothing to say.

I've been prescribed Sertraline. Does anyone have any experience of it? He was the least helpful GP I've ever met and had no idea what to do. Not exactly reassuring.

Sorry to hear that Hannah. I have only one gp that I will see when it comes to my mental health as she is very kind and knows me well by now!
I haven't tried sertraline but I hope they help you.

Sorry about your bad experience, Hannah. I've seen loads. Only one was awful and basically talking about coming off ADs 2 months after I'd gone on. I didn't complete whole list, just the easier bits. Stairs were not hovered.

Let us know what the Sertraline is like. I used to wake in the night every couple of months with a racing heartbeat, sweating and difficulty breathing, feeling faint, pins and needles in hands and feet. It was very, very scary. I haven't had that since the ADs so wonder if it was some kind of panic attack whilst I was sleeping till it got so bad I woke up. Anyway, I am SO relieved about that. I thought I had a heart problem!

Ds2 needs glasses!
Easy food today

2 more loads of washing done. DH did go out, so, being a contrary cow, I moped around, feeling lonely! Set up recycling box and a bin in dining room ready for some sorting.
Pigged out on good bread, nice cheese and chutney for supper.
So sorry for you hannah, but I hope the sertraline works. I have yet to find an AD that works for me. I'm lucky, Vitamin D, sunshine, exercise and good company work fairly well for me.

Hi everyone,
Was at a funeral of a close relative yesterday then had house full of other relatives staying over. Feeling wiped out today, so not even attempting to do much. Put on a white wash. Going to go to a gallery and look at some paintings. Will cook a healthy tea tonight (not sure what) as DC had take out Chinese last night and for breakfast

Hannah - I really hope the Sertraline works for you. And book with another GP next time. Some of them are useless at handling MH issues. Find one who you feel comfortable with. So important.

Sertraline's helped several of my friends, but didn't work for me. Think, like Deep Dark, nothing really works for me anymore. Citalopram did until it stopped but the others don't. Really need to find an alternative.

A trip to a gallery sounds amazing giraffe, I always find that they calm me right down.

Thank you guys. I've started today and I'm so jittery - think it's just nerves because of going on medication and I'm so desperate for it to work if you know what k mean.

Today has been a weird one so far. Gone into town and picked up some bits I forgot to get the other day and had my stepmum round for lunch. Going to go get madam weighed because I'm sure she's not put much on recently. I felt like I managed to get loads of housework done this morning too but I've just sat down in the living room and it still looks like a bomb has gone off.

Also, my condolences for you and your friend.

evening all
hannah so sorry GP app was awful, but hopefully the sertraline at least will help.
notgiraffe sorry about your relative. Hope you had an easy day today
deepdark bread cheese and chutney sound lovely!

I've had a fairly busy couple of days at work, haven't managed much at home as a result.
I am now off my citalopram (whoohoo!) I am really hopig I can stay OK without it this time. I am trying hard to eat better, and I have now been for short run 3 times, so will gradually build up the exercise...I have also been taking Tyrosine. and I have noticed I have managed to stay up a bit later the last couple of nights....fingers crossed!
I am working tomorrow and tomorrow night . May then end up sleeping Saturday morning depending how busy the night is. Hopefully going to a local family fun day Sat afternoon, then school summer fair on Sunday...

Hi Cute - you sound like you are doing really well: off Ads, running and Tyrosine helping - pat pat pat!
Feeling much better today. Spent all of yesterday in bed after the funeral. Did nothing but go to the gallery in the morning - which was beautiful but I felt really numb, stuck on a white wash and helped DS with his physio. That was it. Didn't even cook. DH did it.

Will make an effort today and make a list. DM is going into hospital for a minor op, back out today, so will to schlep over to the other side of London to check she and DF are OK. (They're not but refuse to admit it!) Going to cook for them this morning so they have some proper food for tonight as DF is not the most confident cook.

Got to shop for DS2 who's off on a school trip and tonight am out to dinner with friends, celebrating some good news her DH and my DH have had in their respective careers. At least they are doing well!

morning all
giraffe hope you enjoy this evening. socialising is one thing I just can't seem to face at all any more....

I'm working today and tonight. Aiming mostly to just survive that!
I have made a decision though to not take on any more extra hours at work for a while. We do need the money, but tbh it is really not helping with my general well being or my mental state. Feeling quite impressed for prioritising my well being for once instead of meeting every one else's needs and running myself into the ground.

Hope everyone has a good day.

We do almost no socialising. But this is a close friend who also struggles with MH issues and there's just the four of us, so no one has to be on best behaviour.

I need a job. DH is feeling very bleak. Partly because of the funeral this week and partly money worries. He's had some great career news but it doesn't mean more money.

Hi everyone.

Big back pat for prioritising health unicorn - it's so important.

Another day spent almost entirely in bed, but at least I:
Got up this morning and went for a very short run with a friend
Had cup of tea and catch up afterwards at outdoor cafe table in sunshine (Vit D)
Had bath and washed hair
Took DS shopping for things he needs for school trip.
Caught up with my auntie, my mum and my brother in three long phone calls (useless on phone when I'm unwell usually so that's oddly quite a big thing for me.)

Still to do today:
change bed linen
DS's physio

Now in bed (again) but at least am ordering presents for DC's birthdays online.

Hi giraffe, think that's still a decent list there, back pay for getting that done

I've been oddly productive today but it's been mainly to keep my mind busy, my close friends cancer has come back and I'm scared about what it means tbh
So I've

Cleaned the kitchen
Cooked a roast dinner
Dewormed and defleaed the dog
Did 3 loads of washing including the outfit ds1 wants to wear to a party tomorrow
Had a bath and bathed the kids
Sorted out some furniture for the council service to take away this week

Getting ready for work now

afternoon all
giraffe I think that you achieved a fair amount yesterday , even if some of it was done from bed! Would you feel up to working do you think? What sort of job might you consider?
holy sorry to hear about your friend. well done for getting lots done though

Well, yesterday I took dc to a local music festival for the afternoon. It was actually really good and I actually really enjoyed myself (doesn't happen very often)I'm really glad I managed to go - I have driven past it for the last 2 years and thought it looked good but have never quite managed to summon up the effort to go! (I'm even more impressed because I was up at work until 2am sat morning, then had to go in for another aorund 10am sat morning, so really had an urge to spend rest of day in bed!)
Then this morning I took dc to school summer fair which they seemed to enjoy.
Did have a little mini nap when I got back, and am now quite knackered!

Haven't managed to do much housework though...need to tackle the mountains of washing next I think!

hope everyone's day is going OK.

Unicorn and Holy those are very good days by any standards. You've both been busy!
Better today, probably because the alcohol from Friday is no longer dragging me down. Need to learn I just can't tolerate more than one glass. A whole day is lost every time I have more than one glass.

Today so far:
dropped DS1 off at a meeting.
Took DS2 swimming. Did 26 lengths.
Shopped for DCs birthdays and final stuff they need for various school trips.
Took them out for pizza lunch as a treat as life has been a bit serious recently.
Let them mooch around the shops afterwards.
Hung out laundry and put in another load.
Laid out DS's school trip stuff to pack.

Will make dinner later and help him finish packing.

Not sure what job I'd suit, Unicorn. I love teaching 1-2-1 or in small seminar groups but am absolutely useless at staff room or office politics etc. I find I get on brilliantly with students but am just clueless with staff peers.

Hi, I hope I am ok joining this thread?

I have had a relapse recently and suffered terribly with the big D, but after a few weeks of lethargy and lack of productivity and am proud to say :
I shaved my legs and painted my nails, this is huge I have struggled to wash my hair recently. I am hoping this is a sign things are going to improve.

Fingers crossed xx

hrt hi , welcome. WELL DONE ! That is a big achievement. I think doing something to care for yourself is a great place to start. well done

I'm not great today. I have been quite tearful and on edge and short tempered I am going to try to be gentle on myself. I am really worried that once again I am not going to be able to stay off my antidepressants.

what I have achieved:
Got dc to school
been to work and did bare minimum to get through the day
collected dc form school and took to park (only managed 20 mins and shouted at ds2 on way home )

and that's it.
Got to go to meeting for dd1 tonight.
Planning on being tucked up in bed with my book by 9pm.

Hi HRT and welcome!
Unicorn, sorry to hear you've had a teary day. Could just be the adjustment to coming off ADs. Pat to HRT for taking care of yourself and to Unicorn for not overdoing it.

Had a good morning
wash on
checked DS had all his kit before going off on school trip
weeded patio
long chat with DSis on phone about caring for our parents now they're so old and frail.
planned some work for summer and emailed it round clients. Had some take up already
contacted friends about a day out tomorrow and some clients about an end of project drink in the evening
followed up a new client enquiry
emailed DS1's teacher re his GCSE options
went to shops
made curry
also napped for one hour and cancelled seeing my DBro tonight as I can't be bothered to schlep into London for an hour and don't want to drink.

That's it for today. Will fold laundry and clear up after tea then just relax

Unicorn I'm impressed you're reading. I can't focus to read these days. I fancy picking up a book but my concentration wanders.