Send 'smooth-sailing' sentiments to Spirit_Healer!

@Spirit_Healer

I love a good ham and cheese toastie and yours looks so good. Its great to hear that you're out and about and keeping active. That's something I know i need to be a lot better with, so well done to you. Keep kicking those goals!

@MJG017 @PeppyPatti @rav3n @Former-Member @tyme @Ru-bee @Jynx thank you for being proud of me ☺️

@Glisten , your words make a lot of sense. I just came across this (bottom) paragraph in Brene Brown's 'Atlas of the Heart' that echoes your sentiments:

I just came back to my unit after having dinner with my parents. I left my dinner medication pack in a different bag and forgot to bring that one with me. My Dad was ever the anxious parent about setting up phone reminders, etc, to remind me to take my meds as soon as I got back to my unit.

It's so ironic since Mum and Dad initially delayed seeking help for me the first time, 17 years ago, during my first episode, because they didn't want me to 'become dependent' on medication.

I told Dad several times tonight to 'stop worrying about me, please!' His anxious parenting borders on coercive control. And I am an adult!

It's times like these that I really cherish having my own place to return to.

@Shaz51 @Oaktree @creative_writer

@The-red-centaur @Healandlove

@Spirit_Healer

I'm not a father. But I do wonder if I had a daughter I would probably be a bit over protective as well. It would be with the best intentions and maybe a guy thing where we tend to see everything as something we need to fix.

Having said that, it must be so confusing and frustrating with the full 180 and the "don't use meds" to "take your meds!". So like I said, I can understand why he worries, but you are an adult and he needs to accept you are looking after yourself. And that it doesn't mean he's not your dad, just that he has to trust you to help you.

At least you have your own space now to go to when it becomes too much.... like tonight. Hopefully in time, he will find that balance. Give him some time, us men can be a bit slow at times. 😂

Love this @MJG017

What a heart.

@Spirit_Healer my respect for you grows evermore.

I'm actually getting just normal beautiful support aTM, like what you get from your Dad. It feels so decently normal.

Hey @Spirit_Healer , how are you?

Are you back at work now?

I just read that you might take another month off @Spirit_Healer

Btw, congrats on your toastie!!!

Thank you, @tyme @PeppyPatti and @MJG017 for your thoughtful responses.

I have been continuing to sleep between eight and ten hours a night, for the past week. Last night I slept ten hours, even though I must've napped for one to two hours during the middle of the day. I just feel an overwhelming need to sleep. I might be oversedated by medications (antipsychotics and mood stabilisers). I will raise these issues with my psychiatrist when I see him next week. (I was frustrated when he cancelled our last appointment because of unplanned sick leave, and I had to make a cancellation appointment.) My concentration is also affected - I find it difficult to read more than a few pages of a novel. And I'm usually very good with my attention span; my job requires me to read a lot.

I am currently visiting friends interstate. They live in a regional area and their property is really nice, with a view onto a lake and lots of greenery. It's a nice change of pace from my metropolitan-capital-city lifestyle.

Here are a couple of pictures of rainbow lorikeets frolicking on their balcony:

My psychiatrist says that next week I can arrange the appointment that my boss has been asking for, to discuss my return to work.

It's such a relief to be feeling more 'myself' and in control. It's been such a journey for me, these last four months!

@Shaz51 @Former-Member @rav3n @Ru-bee @Jynx @Oaktree @creative_writer

Wow. Lovely pics! @Spirit_Healer

When you return, I wonder if you can slowly ease yourself back into work. That is, start with 2 days? It sounds like the medication is quite strong.

What are your thoughts about what you are going to do once you return from interstate?

In a way, I'm glad you had some time a way. I hope it was refreshing for you.

@Spirit_Healer getting enough sleep is important but if your concentration is affected I'd say an adjustment may be needed with your medication, so I'm glad you are raising that with your psychiatrist.

Your friends property has a stunning view and rainbow lorikeets are beautiful to watch, thankyou for sharing those pictures. I hope you continue to enjoy your time there 😊.

I hope you can ease back into work slowly.

You have come such a long way these last few months and I'm so proud of you, you are doing an amazing job ❤️.

Love those birds.

We are here for you darling.