I can’t cope

@Captain24 if only all of us that are struggling could find just that one person that gave us the support we need.

Tonight is tough, I'm exhausted mentally and emotionally. I'm safe and I'm in bed.

I’m sorry it’s tough for you @MissGremlin. The exhaustion is hard. I’m glad you are safe though

Anything I can do to help you?

Not sure if everyone's forum went down for abit or just mine / laptop? O.o

Back now though on my phone at least!

@Captain24 thats fine, but also know that nothing is too heavy for me. I am involved in a support group for things that arent allowed to be talked in depth on the forum too, so i'm OK with sitting with challenging feelings in others as well as myself. Sending hugs.

Going for a little drive to a cafe is soo nice 🥰 especially when its a country road rather than a city road!

My ex and I do a "shared custody" of the dogs lol. I have them during the week and he has them on weekends generally. But if someone is going away or sick or whatever we're flexible. The other week he stayed overnight in the spare room because it was too hot at his place (i didnt want to have to be on dog duty, so i said he could sray here with the dogs instead of just the dogs haha)

@Captain24 just knowing that you are here in this space helps sweet.

Mine went down too. I thought I must have been in trouble. I was just about to email and ask what I did wrong but then it worked @AlwaysMyself I thought it must have been a different way to ban me.

I was in a support group but I didn’t like it. It was a really strange concept and we didn’t really talk about ourselves. Only twice in the meeting was it opened up for someone to talk. There was one day that someone said something similar to something I was talking about on here and I spent the whole meeting with tears and not one person asked if I was ok. I’m glad the meetings were cancelled and that I don’t have to go anymore. It’s not what I thought a support group was and now I’m scared of them. It felt like toxic positivity.

It's actually a pretty drive. Really it’s all pretty nice out here. Some of the views that I drove through today are pretty amazing. City people would be shocked at what we take for granted.

That’s really good that you do that. The dogs are family and love you both. I’m glad you are able to work it out with each other. Plus that you were comfortable with letting him stay.

I was kind of hoping for some wisdom today that I could share with you to help but all I got was a really helpful assessment of where I’m sitting mentally but that there was nothing I can really do. So that wasn’t very helpful for you. I’m sorry @MissGremlin

@Captain24 oh don't be sorry sweetheart, I'm really glad you could get some helpful information to know where things are sitting for you at the moment. It's frustrating that it's just a waiting game until it lifts but i know you are strong, you'll get through this and we will be with you every step of the way ❤️.

Lol @Captain24 good to know it wasn't just me haha. I submitted a tech support thing with a screenshot. I wonder how many they will get 😋. But as a former-web-dev I know how useful a screenshot and as much info about it as possible is.

I don't think I would stay in a "support" group like that either! Yikes! This is the only support group I have been involved with, so I guess I don't have anything else to compare with. It is all peer-sharing talk -- no "topic lecturers" or learning, etc. It is just listening to each other and being heard. People only allowed to offer suggestions/ideas/solutions if you invite/want them (which is really good practice for me, because I am by nature a problem-solver!). The facilitators are pretty good at checking in with people to see how they are and if they want to also share, but also not having any pressure to share if they don't want to.

Actually, I'm glad my first experience of a peer support group has been like this, because if I had an experience like yours i don't think I would want to ever try a different one again!! it would take some convincing that it would be a different experience for me to do so! (reminds me of my reluctance to go to the Medicare MH centre to enquire about their social peer support group, because I had a negative experience with the service 18 months prior. but i did, and hopefully will get to join that 6-week social group next month sometime).

While it’s not helpful, I at least have some answers and support. If for some reason I don’t go to work on one of her work days she will try and make time to see me. I don’t see her now for 3 weeks. That’s a really long time right now.

I feel really guilty that I have all of this and you don’t @MissGremlin. I actually feel really bad for talking about it.

Aww @Captain24 I am so very glad I can make you smile. That puts a lil spring in my step, for sure!!

Hmm... I guess 'productivity' is subjective hey!! I mean, to me, anything that benefits my overall mental, physical, and social health is a way of being 'productive' - whether that's keeping a clean house, being diligent about engaging in nourishing activities (like I've been pushing myself lately to read more, rather than just cycling through the same old comfort tv shows), making sure I'm balancing out my diet, or even just letting myself sleep in on weekends, I say all of that is 'productive' because it 'produces' a more balanced life.

Packet mix meals are so valid!! I do that all the time too, I mean it's rare for me to have enough time/energy to cook stuff from scratch. Curries in particular are a very involved process, and I try to remind myself that I am not 'a whole community who can delegate' - you know like, one person grinds the spices whilst another person prepares the fire, and yet another person cooks the rice whilst another person prepares the meat... 'Rugged individualism' is my least favourite modern trend methinks!

Hope you and your pups have survived the heat okay hun!! 💜