Dialogue with Sane forum Forumites

Hobbies and interests can be some of the best tools on our recovery journey!

For sure @Former-Member I played Bach in my flat in St Kilda while I was working at Social Security doing my HSC and coming off Heroin and Coke and all that stuff.

But I think that the "war" against drugs needs to be teased open and all manner of addictions addressed ... not just putting down those with substance abuse. 20 years after I stopped using I was still finding it difficult to get proper medical care due to bigotry.

@Former-Member You are right about hobbies and interests. I need to work on refinding and/or reconnecting with some of them.

I also agree with what @Appleblossom said in response to @Former-Member about plodding. If we're plodding, it means we are still moving despite whatever else is happening.

@PeppiPatty @Appleblossom @chookmojo and whoever is interested in the TED Talks coming up in our discussions and/or my first appointment with the addictions psychologist...

I watched Gabor Mate this morning and mentioned it to my new psychologist. He then brought up Johann Hari as well, who we watched earlier in this discussion (or another one, I can't remember now). One of the things my psychologist suggested to me is that I may be demonising myself for my addictions, in a way similar to what is done to addicts in general by society at large. It reminds me of stigma about mental illness and how we can stigmatise ourselves for 'having' a mental illness. I agree I probably do both of these things to myself without meaning to. I do carry a fair bit of shame. My psychologist suggested it may be important to address this because it tends to be self-defeating with addictions to think of yourself so badly with it, as it also is with mental illness. I now have to tally up my addictive behaviour throughout the week and practice mindful breathing in a disciplined manner twice a day (in addition to the informal ways I usually do this). I'll be seeing him weekly until the Medicare subsidy runs out in 10 weeks or so. He is bulk-billing me too. I so appreciate that. It was a good start, mainly just getting to know each other really. He was very easy to talk with.

@Appleblossom Yes, I thought we were maybe pushing the line with those messages that were deleted, seeming to drop hints and clues etc. But the fact is I don't think you and I have ever met in real life and probably don't know of each other either in real life. But there may be a 'six degrees of separation' factor in people we mutually know or friends of friends knowing friends of friends etc relating to Melbourne arts culture. We are contemporaries and I also saw bands you mentioned. I used to love dancing in pubs and clubs when I was younger.

That's awesome, I LOVE the new name!!! Hey @PeppiPatty, cool to meet you (again).

Thanks, @Former-Member. I'm trying to find hope wherever I can. Sorry if I overshared every little detail. I was a bit hyped up afterwards. I often feel that way after psych appointments.

Hey contrast on the new name @PeppiPatty! I'm glad you didn't change your profile pic at the same time or I would have been lost!

OK I have been reading some other people's replies and I am getting the context a bit better now.

Supports:

My youth housing worker, who was awesome and fun and watched Monty python with me and was someone I stayed friends with for years and years and still think of as one of the best people I have ever known. He was someone who valued the freak in me and reinforced that being me was something valuable.

My NLP trainer, who taught me so much about getting my mind under control.

My best friend for many years.

One of my ex-boyfriends, who turned out to be a much better friend than partner!

Two clinical psychologists I have worked with and my current GP. Five different personal trainers over the years!

A long list of critters who have been cried on and cuddled and who have patiently listened to my woes and bathed me in love.

A handful of good friends who have stepped up when needed.

Last but very, very far from least, my husband!