With coffee .... without coffee. A place for us coffee lovers and coffee!

Hi @Maggie

I'm glad you are home from hospital and can have the best coffee ever

Being our own personal baristaIt's so great when we can make it for ourselves - however we make it

All the best with being back on your own turf - it has to be a culture shock - back in the days when I had breaks because of my reactive depressions the house always looked so SMALL when I got home - and the clutter that accumulated was MASSIVE -

It's great that you have been then and come home again

Dec

Hi @Gazza75

I have definitely had my first coffee this morning - first thing I did after I got up - really cold morning this morning and I had the both heaters on all night - normally I just have the A/C on low but it was chilly to a major degree last night

It's a wonderful sunny day right now - glorious to pull up the blind and see the shine shine in - it drives the bleakies away fast then -

You are a really supportive writer and great to have you here on the forum - I read that you had an involuntary admission into the public system as I did many years ago - well - I went there voluntarily and found - yes - not much happening that I thought was helpful but I did learn to look after myself -

And you stood with your brother when he went through a bad time after no one gave you much support during your hard time - how great is that! - fantastic stuff Gazza

I wonder if you have thought to start your own thread in Our Stories - most of us do - then you have all the bitznpiecez in the same place and we can all read back and get your picture - which already seems pretty amazing

I hope you have a sunshiny day wherever you are - it's so great you have joined us

Dec

Well - maybe not this frosty - this is Melbourne after all

Hi @BryanaCamp

I did get over the bleakies - I booked my trip to the Sunshine Coast to see my grand-daughter - easy once I started - checked with my daughter and son-in-las about when they are going and then with my gd to see when it was right with her - rang Flight Centre and booked my flight and accomadation and then unwillingly went out into the cold and icy wind and rain and paid for it - all done - I have a couple of weeks to organise myself but I am getting used to that by now

It's great you are close to your siblings - it's true it might be harder to support your sister through her divorse because you haven't been married - it might seem like that actually - but just listening to her and accepting what's happening and what she says can be really great - I found separation, property settlement and divorce seemed to bring out the worst in me - and my ex as well I think though he shared so little of himself I could not really be sure after all these years

Having someone listen without giving advice - someone just accepting how this is - and it is different for everyone - it is a difficult time to go through and just being there for your sister is enough - no one can really fix anything - it's something people just have to go through sometimes and for me it is really great that I did separate - it's sad but has to happen some time - I am so glad you can be there for your siblings - and emailing your brother through his psychosis is a wonderful thing to so too -

It's a truly fantastic thing to hear that you are accepting of your siblings and listening to them - not everyone has that support

All the best Bryana - you are a great person to have on the forums too

Dec

Listening really helps

Hi @Owlunar ,

I'm glad your having some better weather in Melbourne. I thought it was clearing up here, but, the rain has returned. I missed my opportunity to get outside and get a brisk walk in. Not to worry. Yes, I had an involuntary admission just over a year ago. It was hard to accept at the time, but, looking back I definitely needed it. It's a shame that it was mostly through someone else's doing rather than my own actions. I didn't take care of myself enough and paid the penalty. I wouldn't really change anything that I said or did despite how it all went for Me.

My mum at least has some sympathy and understanding about what happened. My dad said some horrible things to Me at the time, he has his own personal baggage, but, I didn't need that on top of everything else I was tryng to juggle at the time. He basically said it would be good if my brother died. He doesn't know how lucky he is. They were responsible for my hospital visit.

I'll thnk about putting my story down, i just worry it would be fairly easy for people around here to figure out who I am. In truth its my brother that is the amazing one, he's come such a long way in 13 or 14 months. I've never been so proud of him, the mental toughness he has, especially those first few weeks. He was very very lucky. Amazing doctors and care.

Thanks for your encouragement and support Dec, it means a lot. I'm glad you are heading north for a bit of a break soon. Something to look forward to. Look forward to hearing from you soon and reading your wise words around here 🙂

Hey @LadyleahRDBloom A cinnamon sprinkle in my coffee, raspberry dark choc and a mandarin is my lunch today. Yum

@Gazza75 Sceptism about mental health issues is usually wise.... but you have a great presence on the forum. We are lucky to have you.

Years ago A fellow I distantly knew, did his neck after a triple somersault. Makes you think. The instinct to drive oneself to excell can come to a difficult end. WHere is the reasonable line? Today's world is so risk averse compared to the world I grew up in before OHS bloomed. There pros and cons ...

Take Care Mate

Hi @Appleblossom , I have always been pretty trusting of doctors and people in the medical profession, but, its hard when so many of them seem process driven and to be going through the motions rather than taking genuine care of patients. I consider myself fortunate in that my needs are not great and my condition is not that severe. Essentially my condition is around self esteem and all the negativity I now feel about my weight gain and struggles. I find myself doubting some of what my psychologist and GP is saying because I know my body better than they do. I'll know better in a month or two if I'm heading in the right direction.

I think you are right about driving ones self to excel coming to a diffucult end, it certainly did for my brother and it really didn't need to. He should of known better given what he did for a living. He might of been willing to risk everything, but, I don't think he really considered the effect it would have on his family. He had to take a 'package' as he's to proud to work again. He's very fortunate in being in a position to do that. I to grew up mostly before OHS.

Thanks for your support. You, like many others here are so wise, considerate and kind. There are so many fascinating stories and incredible people here. Take care and enjoy your lunch. It sounds yummy and puts my chicken noodles to shame LOL 🙂

@Gazza75 I was trusting too, but one thing I learned from my ex was his attitude to health care. They used to holiday with medicos ... mayo clinic types ...he was incredibly assertive ... sometimes overdoing that ... but the old days of them having my total trust are over, and also specialisation and the body are so varied and tricky... so its not all their fault ... just the way it is. I am not into doctor google but I check all my family's health facts, double and triple check them if needed. Best work with collaborative model - your know-how plus theirs.

The labels are just an approximation ...believe me. I am the daughter of 2 schizophrenics and I married one.

thanks for your well-wishing @Gazza75 . My aunts were brilliant as always & happy for me but it was a little over-shadowed by the passing of one of my elders, he was in his nineties so had a good run but it still brings a cloud of sadness over the present time.

You're a good uncle to your nephew and given that he's still in his developmental years it is very beneficial that he has a kind uncle in his life, don't undersestimate that.

I enjoyed my celebrations on the weekend but it wasn't quite the same not having my closest friend there, it was like there was a big hole. I guess maybe she's going thru her own anxiety & depression issues or whatever, it's just a shame that she couldn't be there for the happy times after supporting me thru the yucky job searching times.

Hope your Monday went well at work, speak tomorrow

@BryanaCamp, I am sorry to hear about the passing of one of your elders. I hope you and your family are coming together and holding up okay.

It's a real shame about your close friend not being around to celebrate your success. Maybe after she sorts out her own issues you can reconcile and do some catching up. I'm sure that she will be very proud of the progress you are making. It's funny how sometimes in life, everything seems to happen at once. How are you going with waking up a bit earlier? I sleep like the dead, not even a bomb wakes me up so I have to go to bed pretty early to make sure I actually wake up on time in the mornings.

Enjoy your coffee and have a great day.

thanks for your condolences @Gazza75 , you're always so understanding. The whole extended family is coming together so that's nice.

Yes, you're probably right about my friend, maybe I should give her some space. I was going to send her a message asking if she was ok but that may crowd her.

I'm not going especially well with getting up earlier, struggling! I still have the rest of the week to get it together so that's good. It's good that you sleep deeply, give your body all the repair time it needs each day. I've got my hair cut & got some new work clothes so it's good to have that prep out of the way (not my fav activites).

Hope you have a good Tuesday & the sun shines through, enjoy your decaf

hi @LadyleahRDBloom @Appleblossom @Owlunar @Former-Member hope you're enjoying an invigorating coffee - I've had two and will try my hardest to do some exercise today. Have a good one