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~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

JynxModerator14 Nov 2025, 4:58 pm AEDT

~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

Hey hi hello! Welcome to the second iteration of...

~ The Toolshed ~

I decided to make a new thread, as the first one had errors and phantom pages, and was getting quite long! You can still find all the amazing pics, inspiring quotes, and uplifting messages of the first Toolshed here.

What is the Toolshed? Ain't a place to hang your hammer! Hehe this is a space where we can share the things that have helped us in our recovery. Tools, coping skills, inspiring ideas, and messages of hope and growth, is what this space is all about!!

You can stay connected and up to date on this space by favouriting, or by subscribing to the thread - head to the top of the page, and find the three dots to the right of the thread title (next to the star), click, and from the drop down menu you can 'favourite' or 'subscribe' - and clicking the star itself will also favourite the thread for you.

Favourite threads are then always available in your favourites list which should appear on the right hand side of most forums pages - or you can go to your profile and scroll down to the 'Favourites' section under your recent posts.

If you subscribe, it means that you will get a notification every time someone posts something new in the thread. So up to you if you simply want it to be always accessible, or if you want all the updates, or both!

I invite anyone who wishes to contribute to do so! It doesn't have to be pictures, it can be discussion, questions, videos, whatever you like! So without further ado, here's my latest batch!

Tagsalad (alphabetical order stolen from @Former-Member hehe):

@AlwaysMyself @Appleblossom @AuntGlow @avant-garde @Blackcloud @Bow @Captain24 @Chasingsunsets @creative_writer @Cuddlebear @Dimity @DownMoreThanUp @MissGremlin @ENKELI @GezzaP @Glisten @heartathome @Jacques @Judi9877 @Kashmina @lonemushroom @Meowmy @MJG017 @Mustang67 @NightFury @Oaktree @PeppiPatty @puppydoglover @rav3n @RebelliousAngel @REDLINEZ750 @RiverSeal @Ru-bee @Shaz51 @SleeplessRaven @The-red-centaur @Till23 @tyme @0ddsidian

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In response to: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

Flutterbug9Senior Contributor30 Nov 2025, 11:46 am AEDT

Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

Home feels wrong, it’s missing 2 furry occupants @Jynx @MissGremlin @Cuddlebear @Bunniekins @AlwaysMyself

Listening to CD as I write this.

time at cattery went well. By time I was coming away my male was sitting in outdoor run laying down his orders.

lady who runs it said she attempts to pat both every cat twice a day.

Still feeling anxious, just as bad as last couple days. Just need to get through rest of today. Have few chores to do which will help

In response to: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

Mustang67Senior Contributor30 Nov 2025, 12:02 pm AEDT

Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

Sometimes I feel this writer is writing about me. She is very talented.

She’s been down all the wrong roads, asked all the wrong people to love her and trusted the wrong partners with her heart.

The price she paid was more than simple heartbreak sometimes..it was more often became the deepest cracks in her soul that she carried with her.

Over time, she learned how to turn the pain into power and let go of the people in her life that tried to devalue her and make her doubt her worth.

You see, that woman with a gentle smile and brave heart has endured more anguish than most of us will ever know. Yet, she still keeps going, keeps loving and keeps giving of herself when most would have stopped.

She hasn’t let poor choices and bad people change who she is except to make her stronger, wiser.

She’s no fool but she’s never going to let the pain make her stop loving with every bit of her heart either.

During the darkest times, in her lowest hours, she clawed her way out of the deepest places and fought for the light that she so desperately deserved.

That’s when she forged her iron clad spirit through the flames of struggle and decided to never again let anyone else determine who she was or what she was worth.

That truth- the one she clung to hardest when life went wrong- that’s what brought her through and always fuelled her rise from the ashes.

She’s more than just a woman with a heart of gold and a spirit of fire, she’s a warrior determined never to stay down or become bitter about love.

So, no matter the storms that life brought crashing down all around her or the fire that threatened to engulf her life in flames..

She always managed to find her way, keep going and stay optimistic, even when things went terribly wrong.

She wasn’t beautiful like you or me, she was gorgeous in the way that the deepest souls shine the brightest..

Because once you got the smallest glimpse of her wondrous depths, you’d never be the same.

But then, when you meet a creature like her,

Why would you ever want to forget a moment in time like that?

With a twinkle in her eye and a smile in her heart, she’d captivate anyone,

Because she knew her worth. Always.

And nothing or no one would ever change that.

Ravenwolf

Here's the link to the book!

https://theravenwolf.com/.../strong-woman-arisen...

@AlwaysMyself @Appleblossom @AuntGlow @avant-garde @Bow @Chasingsunsets @creative_writer @Cuddlebear @Dimity @DownMoreThanUp @Dreamy @ENKELI @Glisten @heartathome @Judi9877 @Kashmina @lonemushroom @Meowmy @NightFury @Oaktree @PeppiPatty @puppydoglover @rav3n @RebelliousAngel @Ru-bee @Shaz51 @SleeplessRaven @The-red-centaur @Faith-and-Hope @Faith @Emelia8 @Bunniekins @Asgard @Harmonium @SmilingGecko @Ainjoule @Bon_courage @fruitisgood @Bow @Flutterbug9 @Sugarshack @LostAngel @Sunnyside226 @balance37 @EternalFlower @BlueBay

In response to: Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

BunniekinsSenior Contributor30 Nov 2025, 12:10 pm AEDT

Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

@Flutterbug9 its really hard sweetheart but they will be fine. its like sending kids off to school on their first day is a nightmare for the mum more so than the kids. am here on and off this arvo if you needs to talk. hugs and hugs bun xxx

In response to: Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

CuddlebearSenior Contributor30 Nov 2025, 12:34 pm AEDT

Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

@Flutterbug9 Hello lovely. How are you feeling? I’m sorry you are having anxiety. It’s so tough to live with that. Is there anything that helps even a little?

Your fur babies are at the chattery. That sounds hard for you though it sounds like the lady taking care of them is doing a really good job.

Sending lots of hugs and love. We’re here if you need to talk.

In response to: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

CuddlebearSenior Contributor30 Nov 2025, 12:46 pm AEDT

Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

@ENKELI How are you? How’s your day?

Gee that is awful what happened to you seeing the new GP for mental health. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I am glad your usual GP was able to help. As you know I’m having some issues with my GP and medical people differing in opinions. Leaving my current GP would be a huge task as I have complex medical conditions and seeing someone now could go really really wrong. My current GP has known me for years and I’m hesitant to leave due to him having knowledge of me and my health.

Are the meds you are on now helping?

How was the show you are watching?

In response to: Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

Flutterbug9Senior Contributor30 Nov 2025, 2:19 pm AEDT

Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

Thanks @Cuddlebear. couple years ago was first time my cats were in a cattery. Response when I collected them was ‘they were both fine, we didn’t see them the entire time’. I’m using different cattery this time, those words playing on my mind last few days. Feeling more settled after seeing how ‘their room’ (as the cattery owner referred to it) was already set up and watching her interact with my 2.

one of their things I fight against in my head is fear of abandonment, linked to few events in early to mid 70’s. Seem to get it under control then something happens and it breaks free of its cage

In response to: Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

Flutterbug9Senior Contributor30 Nov 2025, 2:26 pm AEDT

Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

Love then analogy with primary school @Bunniekins

so, so true. After being at the cattery and seeing the lady interact with my cats I could feel the nerves and panic starting to slowly fade

In response to: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

CuddlebearSenior Contributor30 Nov 2025, 4:15 pm AEDT

Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

@MissGremlin Hello lovely how are you?

I’m sorry you are going through this I really am. The emotional roller coaster followed by heaviness is not at all easy to sit with. Do you find any relief from crying? I find some relief after crying but then a real heaviness sets in.

Have you been able to eat some food?

Yes the shops are getting very busy and I hate it. Too many people and very overwhelming. 😞 I’m really glad you did go and get the things you need.

I’m glad Caspar is there and snuggling and licking your tears plus Wilbur seems to like licking tears.

Have you been able to do any jig saw puzzle? Watch any movies you like?

I am in a minute by minute survive. Had a terrible appointment with GP on Friday. I just can’t see a way forward. Everything has fallen apart and I feel defeated and a lot of fear for the future.

In response to: Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

CuddlebearSenior Contributor30 Nov 2025, 4:19 pm AEDT

Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

@Flutterbug9 I’m glad you went to the concert. They are a band I like. Connecting with people is a medicine in itself isnt it. I’m so glad you got to chat to some others at the concert.

I can relate to fear of abandonment and I’m sorry you’ve experienced it too. I was abandoned by my father at a young age and it’s affected me a lot. Since becoming unwell my friends have done same thing and I have no family other than my adult child.

I am glad the lady looking after your fur babies had provided you with some reassurance thwt they are being well taken care of and are happy.

In response to: Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

JynxModerator30 Nov 2025, 4:33 pm AEDT

Re: ~ Toolshed 2: Power Tools for Recovery ~

Oh @Cuddlebear I really feel for you hun. I can imagine it's like being at war with your own body. If there's anything you wanna chat about or anything we can do to support you this evening, let us know.

I send you many squishy hugs!

(づ๑•ᴗ•๑)づ♡

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