Night Shift

Hi @eth, if you feel like it, would love to hear how the day went in more detail. Makes me happy that you enjoyed your birthday much more than usual and got out and about more than you have been doing in recent weeks.

Hi @Former-Member, even though you may not be up, wanted to respond to your post. Never any offence for me with you posting exactly as you need to or wish to. I think that's how the forum best works for everyone really. Big congrats on getting out of the house more. That's how our 'self rehabilitation' starts and continues I think: one small step at a time (which tends to strengthen us enough for more steps that are easier over time). At least that's how it's worked for me over the past year. Good news too that you have decided to go with the medical exploration. Middle of the night hugs to you.

@eth, yes, it's much more peaceful without the lurid dreaming. Big day here yesterday too really. 90 minutes beach walking. Cooking class (went well). Partner has developed a 'men's health problem' that he's really a bit scared about. He went to the doctor's and is having ultrasound on Friday. Has a week off work that might be extended. I'm a bit concerned for him too. But, as the psychologist has flagged to me, and I've been passing on to partner, not much point in worrying too much in advance of knowing what there is to be worried about.

@Former-Member I'd just like to agree with the message Mazarita just posted to you. Wishing you the best outcome with your medical situation.

@Mazarita the day started with phone calls and messages from so many people it blew me away. Such positive reinforcement that things have changed a lot for me in the last years. And that even though I'm alone a lot I needn't feel lonely, lots of people care about me. Wonderful.

Then I spent 2 hours at the Dr's having a pretty good chat and sorting several issues. More medication for the flu' I'm fighting (which may be stimulating me a bit tonight I think) and an increase in one of my bipolar meds but it's not available til tomorrow from the pharmacy. All the old 'what ifs' about adjusting the meds but ultimately if I don't give it a try I won't know if it helps. The aim is to get me sleeping better and not being as down as I have been in recent times. The Dr will see me weekly for support in the transition period and also let the psychiatrist know what is going on. I haven't seen him for 6 months and am hoping he says for me to come in and that he will still bulk bill me.

After that I went for lunch with my neighbour friend who is great company and had a somewhat disappointing seafood laksa in the food hall at the shopping centre across town. I had thought we were going to a Japanese restaurant but she insisted on shouting me so I couldn't insist. I also had to drive us there and it turned out she wanted to shop for a while after we ate and spent 2/3 of the meal time on the phone! I am not a window shopper and usually avoid that huge shopping centre as much as possible but the good realisation afterwards was that I hadn't had any anxiety through the whole thing. And she has made me a member of her family over the last 5 years so I shouldn't really complain or be surprised. I know she just loves to shop! Oh well.

Then I went for an early dinner with my main man and absolutely loved it. I had marinated kangaroo fillets with chargrilled prawns and a macadamia potato mash with caramelised balsamic vinegar. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!! And 2 glasses of beautiful sauvignon blanc as I wasn't driving and I was celebrating. He is fantastic company and always very entertaining whilst as down to earth as you will ever meet. We've seen each other on and off for over 10 years now and consistently for the last 6. I think I spoke a bit about the relationship last year.

So - that was my happy birthday! I should be so tired but at least I am happy.

@Mazarita sorry to hear about your partner's health problem. Hoping diagnosis is straight-forward and that there is a good treatment available.

@eth,

It's heartwarming to read you saying, '...even though I'm alone a lot I needn't feel lonely, lots of people care about me.' So true. I for one have really come to feel close to you over our time chatting on the forum, care about you, and look forward to our chats. I know I'm not the only one.

I'm also really glad to hear that you had that extended session with your doctor. Two hours, wow, that's a good doctor to give you that amount of time. Even though it's not necessarily what you want to be doing on your birthday, sounds like a kind of birthday gift in a way. Fingers crossed everything works out as hoped with the psychiatrist.

Funny story about your neighbour's antics on your birthday. I have a friend like that who has really drawn the focus onto her in various ways on my birthday. But, like you, I mostly see this as just one of those odd quirks and the friendship is long, deep and rich in other ways.

Awesome that the time with your man friend was great. I do remember you speaking about him last year. I remember fondly and pretty clearly most of our conversations back then.

Feeling any better today from the cold/flu? What I thought were symptoms of me coming down with something on Sunday is, I think, just the chronic throat problem and change in the weather acting on my body. So relieved there's not really a cold or flu on top of those things.

Awww thankyou and right back to you @Mazarita. What did you get up to at cooking class today? Glad you got there.

@eth, big ole sentimental softie here when it comes down to it. Cooking class: participated in making an egg breakfast dish, did dishes, ate food, saw some other participants I'd seen before at this mental health community centre. Met some others. Managed okay with the slightly difficult personality quirks of some of them. Received a bit of instruction about food groups along the way. Another four weeks of it, which might kick me into a bit more action on the cooking front at home.

@Mazarita sounds like you are having a more positive experience at the centre than I did when I was going to a mental health drop-in centre up here a few years ago. The cooking classes were really good but there were mostly people there who I tried and failed to communicate with for various reasons, including a couple who acted really darkly and inappropriately and the staff didn't handle it properly. Am remembering so much of it right now. I eventually fell out with one of the staff and then she made things very difficult for me. I haven't been back, tho maybe after such a long break it might be worth giving it another try. I will give it some thought. Unfortunately that same person was also the co-ordinator of GROW so that didn't work out for me either. She was a very controlling, domineering personality and never showed empathy in my experience. I don't know what she was doing in that line of work.

On a lighter note, I love learning more about cooking. I like watching cooking shows on TV and now there is a whole chanel of them on free TV, chanel 33. I also google things and print out recipes to try, spending time planning shopping lists and giving things a try. Sure, you get some fails, but you always learn from them. One really yummy egg brekky you might like to google is ranchos hueveros - easy to make and good for any time of day really. If you like mexican! There are versions with or without chorizo sausage.