Monday Morning. We can all do this.

[WingsofNylon]

I find the anticipation of the coming week hard on my mental health. I'm going to guess that others do too.

Whatever you are facing, you do have the strength. Even if you don't feel it yet.

I can do it, you can do it, we can all do it!

Come and share words of encouragement and your Monday aims.

I'm going imagine I have a team of enthusiastic cheerleaders behind me all day. Backing up every positive decision I make.

Yay! That's great news. I'm really glad for you.

I'm also glad to hear that all the cats are safe. I do love a black cat. The best part of my current therapy sessions is getting to see multiple cats before and after.

Today I was told that as of December I am redundant. It wasn't a surprise but it still upset me. All I wanted to do was turn to food to smother my feelings but instead I went for a walk. So that's something.

Feeling mixed up today, also have the onset of a cold which tends to interact with my mood. Have dosed up on Lemsip and am going to the office today, have back-to-back meetings but my head feels all fuzzy.

Am looking to get a cat myself, a propos very little.

Congratulations @WingsofNylon on going for a walk when feeling upset, these things are not always easy. Sorry to hear that you will be redundant as of December, sending your way.

Waking up to this view on a morning works wonders for my anxiety :)

Trying not to think about the flight home too much!

That's a lovely view to wake up to :)

I am going to the GP later on to hopefully discuss medication of some sort. Did call last Tuesday but urgent would appear to mean one week's time. Feel like I didn't really get my point across last time so am taking DH with me today

I now have sertraline. Was glad I took DH along with me. There was also a person observing so quite a full room.
Haven’t taken ADs for over 10 years but remember being sick with them. Not sure whether the nausea I have is actual or psychosomatic.
Only working until 1 today as picking children up from the station this afternoon (they’ve been down south seeing grandparents. First time on a train on their own but they are 13 and 14 so we all felt it was fine).

Not keen on getting out of bed but must do it I suppose (I work in the converted garage in our garden so do at least leave the house to go to work I suppose)

Think the sertraline is helping a bit or at least no awful side effects. Am being awake in the night but that was happening anyway. And no sickness which I have had with ADs befoee

Glad to hear it's helping @MirandaWest :)

I had awful sickness with sertraline and am now on mirtazapine. It knocks me out on a night and only negative side effect so far is the impact on my sex drive. Feeling quite sorry for my husband at the moment!

I survived my first week! I'm exhausted. Have a day off tomorrow and I'm doing nothing. I've walked over 50,000 steps this week! Hopefully my stamina will improve and my colleagues think I'm not totally useless

@NewYoiker Congratulations! I am internet-stranger proud of you.

I could use your support folks. I am trying to apply for a job (common theme on this thread!). I am in procrastination central. I need to update my CV and write a cover letter. Instead I am procrastinating by talking to everyone I know who might have a relevant opinion about whether I should apply for the role or not. (Answer: I should, this much is clear but does not seem to have stopped me from procrastinating by seeking endless reassurance.)

I also have an important work deadline by Tuesday for my current role. The two combined are stopping me do either due to fear of failing one or both objectives. I'm sort of blinded and stuck.

I am actually going out today, planned vacation day and doing something, hoping to return to the two projects above with a clear head this evening and use my time away from my laptop for a recharge to knock both deliverables out over the weekend. If not I have a little wriggle room on Monday but not much.

Thanks in advance guys.

I've had a very stressful week - home stress has contributed along with tiredness and the relentlessness of work. I am not going to give in to negativity though I'm going to rest and remember all the hard work I've done this week.
Re advice :
For procrastination I break down and name the jobs to be done . Short break cup of tea. Then I read it through and label the most immediate or vital as'1' . Short break cup of tea. Then settle to do all numbered'1' . Then break and do something pleasant.
Continue in bite size chunks congratulating self along the way.
If it's become too anxiety provoking to start, ask someone to help you start by sitting with you and looking at it together for s few minutes.

Erinaceus - also try mindfulness where you focus intently on the task , not getting sidetracked into a spiral of rumination and worry about other undone tasks, what people will think etc.

Thanks @nomoreusernamesfree I've made a small start this morning by digging out my CV to update. Fortunately I have a recent one to work from so it is a case of editing it not a complete overhaul.

Well done. I find when I start an avoided task other avoided tasks or problems come into my mind .. by tolerating these but then focusing and doing it bit by bit I can start and then of course it all gets easier.

I made lots of progress yesterday and am hoping to get the application in today so that it’s out of the way. I came to a friend’s house to go to the fireworks last night, which was ace, but somewhat embarrassingly could barely stay awake over dinner at another friend of hers’ place. I’m just burnt out right now and in survival mode to be honest, especially this job application is causing me significant emotional stress. I really want the job! Which is good but also creates some strong feelings for me and I’ve got other stuff going on as well.

I ended up staying at my friend’s which is fine but I’d prefer to have had the entire of Sunday in my own home, now I face breakfast with her kids whom I adore and then I have to battle the train and tube to get home and then it’s bacj to work tomorrow. 😴

Well done excellent news on the application . You did what was right for you yesterday - today just be mindful in each moment and get home to chill as soon as you reasonably can x

Sounds like everyone has made progress of some sort. Applying for jobs is always arduous but worth it to get the right role. I have been working on lots of applications recently. I hate how much they differ, questions, personality assessments, online forms...ust accept a PDF of my CV and cover letter and let's all get on with life!

This weekend there was a family emergency and while all seems okay now it was scary and draining. Tomorrow I have a private appointment at hospital and I'm nervous.

Cheering all of you on for tomorrow though.

I am finding taking anti depressants seems to be suiting me well. Still got underlying anxiety but the paralysing part doesn’t seem to be as present.

Also told DS and DD anout the anxiety and the fact I’ve seen the GP and got antidepressants. DS who’s 14 was just “oh. Yes” about it whereas DD (13) said “I’m so glad you’ve been - I could tell you needed to”. She is the one with the anxious tendencies so I suppose sees it more in me.

Will see how this week goes. DH is away which I find a bit anxiety making but hopefully will all be OK. DC back to school
tomorrow which may be interesting...

Good god the Sunday night fear is real  I feel dreadful tonight

Oops posted too soon! I did some batch cooking today made 25 meals for the freezer :) hopefully this will save us some money! I'm so nervous about tomorrow I feel sick :(

I'm
Off on Wednesday this week as I hadn't realised I get one day off in the week so that's nice it breaks up the week a bit ❤️ on Friday my last day off I slept til 2  I've been falling asleep so early lately it's like my brain just can't comprehend!

Good luck today everyone. I'm stressed and tired after a stressful work week last week and some major stress over the weekend at home.
I'm planning to stay mindful and in the moment in my days work today .

NewYoiker oh yes! I can't forget the stomach churning fear that prompted me to start this thread. Are you feeling a bit better today? Batch cooking 25 meals is so very organised of you. Well done. Ive never managed that.

Miranda I'm so pleased to hear that. I really suited citalopram, not so much others I tried. The best way I managed to describe it to an anti medication friend was that they just slowed the car down. I was still the driver and making all the decisions, just at a much less scary speed.

Hi folks, I don't really have the bandwidth to reply to everyone right now, but this thread is in my thoughts - does that count?

I have managed to submit a job application just now this morning, please keep your fingers crossed for me. I am congratulating myself for even getting the application submitted as it took a lot of work to do so over the weekend when my physical health is a bit battered (just a cold but still makes me feel rotten) and my self esteem is still fucked from all of my MH stuff in recent years.

Whether I get an interview or not I feel as if what I already achieved was not nothing, CV is updated now so can keep an eye out for other similar roles, and so on.

Sending best wishes to y'all.

Well done @erinaceus, that’s a great step! You should be very proud of yourself.

Had a shocker of a day yesterday, one of those where anxiety completely took over and I felt paralysed - just totally unable to do anything. Keeping everything crossed for a better day today or my workload is going to collapse on me. Avoided yesterday which I’m proud of although I still slept badly so I feel slightly cheated. Thinking of us all - KOKO (keep on keeping on)

KOKO is a music venue/club near Mornington Crescent...I’ve not heard it used in this way before. I’m going to have that.

“I’m going to KOKO” etc etc

Thanks for your kind words @DollyWilde