woah it's 2016

yes, i already have a billion things to do for 2016 and need to keep positive

Do you have a mental illness, LJ? And if so, is it one of the more heavily-stigmatised ones? Just wondered as your life situation sounds very 'normal'. I've been sitting in for the best part of the last year! I have some exciting goals at the moment but have had them for the past year and haven't really made the right effort to move towards them. But there's no time like the present! I'm curious about the answers to my questions, if you feel comfortable providing them. T 🙂

Hi Terry,

I have PTSD and MDD. I completely fell apart last January and ended up in hospital for all of February and took all of last year off of work. Had lots of other stuff happening throughout the year too, so I kind of think/hope that a lot of my symptoms have been situational as well. Not sure that these things are overly stigmatised as much as others though. Yes it probably does sound rather normal...

I really want to get back to work for a number of reasons (it will be good for me to feel like im achieving something, being purposeful, good for family court to see that im recovering from my mental illness etc) but my psychiatrist isnt as confident, so im working really hard to maintain a routine and get on top of everything and get through everything more independently this month (i have a support worker who visits a couple of times a week).

What are your goals at the moment if you dont mind sharing? Do you have a formal diagnosis?

lj

wow, you are brave! I do a lot of work but mostly from home - i'd like to be in a workplace but i have BP (heavily stigmatised) and even 'though my work is good the stigma gets me sooner or later. i must admit, 'tho, that disciplining myself to work from home can be hard.

my goals for 2016? i'm not sure i want to share them but, basically, i want to make a positive impact on the world! i'm actually bringing out two books this year. it's not very modest for me to say so but i am a multi-award-winning writer, not just a basket-case. in fact, being a basket-case is more of a hobby, if you'll pardon a little levity on the topic!

It does actually sound like you're quite a powerhouse overall. More strength to you!

Thats great about the writing and two new books is awesome (i think you're allowed to be proud of your great achievements!) Yes I understand that (even with the levity) of being a basket case as a hobby. I've always been successful as a teacher/academic and somehow manage to put on the professional persona mask for work... at least until i completely did the belly flop last january... but in someways i think i needed to fall apart to kind of learn how to get help.. be really honest with others who actually could help and even though i think im ready to get back to work now i probably did need to learn how to slow down for a while.

I love your goal! And hope that you can start working towards it in someway if you feel up to it this year.

LJ

wow if you're new to dealing with mental health services then you should know that psychiatry is a very imprecise science and mental health services overall are terrible, but you will 'get through' somehow. Personally speaking, my solution to everything is rum 'n raisin chocolate in massive doses. actually, incredibly fortuitously, chocolate is actually good for depression. obviously you can only have the stuff in reasonable doses 'tho! talking stuff out is very good for keeping depression at bay and Lifeline (131114) can be good to talk to if you don't have anyone else to talk to at some point. cheers. yes, i am going to win the pulitzer this year, i hope! :0

i strongy suspect i won't win the pulitzer but i figure i can still tell everyone that i plan to win it, anyway!

Oh the organisational skills of a teacher are a force to be reckoned with!
My organisational skills were one of my biggest strengths as a teacher. Something to do with scheduling and brainstorming fun lessons that I really enjoyed.
Though I sometimes have similar experiences as you. How can I be so good at organising and planning in one area of life... and not so much in others. Much of it had to do with avoidance - not actually being a poor organiser for me 🙂

So many exciting things happening for you :). Can I ask what year you have this year? (don't answer if you feel like it's revealing too much!)

I have year 4/5's this year, it's a category 2 school so i have a small class size which is awesome! My last school was generally 30/31. I love middle primary so it suits me well now to start getting my head around the curriculum changes that have happened in the last 12 months!

hmmm avoidance may be part of it for me too @NikNik . But i think things are moving along ok at the moment, I think i also hate the speed at which some things happen too! everything at once or nothing! So i might be dragging my feet a bit too...

I have a moving in date now for the new house/masonette whatever its called so its kind of feelng a bit exciting too, to be on our way to having our own space again!

LJ