Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Well I tidied a little more, minimal but I got started again. And I did a little in the garden. Small wins but they count as I'm still low.

Tomorrow I'll have my psychiatrist - i wonder if it will be the last time. It's been.over 20 years. I dread being without mental health care.

I hope work went well today for you @NatureLover and that success carries over into whatever you do tomorrow.

Well done on tidying the kitchen a bit on Weds. And for doing tidying and the garden yesterday. Did you have any luck finding the papers you wanted?

Do you have another psychologist appt in place after she cancelled again? (Not sure if its a "she", sorry)

I had a good day at work yesterday. Today is errand day (every Friday) then I'm socialising on Saturday which will be a step up from how I've been living lately - what I mean is, I'll have to step up to manage it. I've asked for that elusive thriller book for Christmas from family as they asked me for Cmas gift ideas.

Good luck with your psychiatrist today - I am really hoping they refer you to another psychiatrist before they leave 🫂 20 years is a long time.

@Dimity 💚

I haven't delved far enough for the papers yet @NatureLover. I've lined up two appts with the psychologist - there's been a long wait to see her in person and I'm trying for another phone appt with her in the interim.

Sounds like some positives for you - good. Things for you to look forward to.

My psychiatrist said we'll keep going, but I had a nasty fright when his phone dropped out and return calls fell through - I feared the worst. He rang back later.

I picked up a bag of litter on my walk. It makes me feel better and more hopeful about dealing with my own stuff.

Best wishes for tomorrow.

Am so pleased and happy for you that your psychiatrist is continuing, @Dimity 🙂

Also that you have 2 appts lined up with the elusive psychologist.

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@Dimity wrote:

I picked up a bag of litter on my walk. It makes me feel better and more hopeful about dealing with my own stuff.

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Ah yes, I see 👍

I'm not looking forward to going out today...it's at a big shopping centre where we always meet, which is half-way between us. It'll be a challenge...I'd rather hide at home. But I know my psychologist would say it'll do me good to challenge my agoraphobia and germophobia. Also challenging my depression and anxiety I guess.

I'm liking the few pale bursts of sunshine this morning. I need to water my pots. I have rhubarb and salvias and mint (as I like the scent). The rhubarb and salvias were given to me. I don't have too many pots though as the large communal garden is already a big watering burden in summer.

I hope you can get outside for some gardening therapy today...

I understand how challenging today must have been @NatureLover but I trust the time catching up with the person you were seeing made it worthwhile and even enjoyable...

Rhubarb and mint are both quite thirsty... I lost my rhubarb through neglect. The mint and lemon balm have survived, coming back after I thought I'd lost them. My black'n'blue salvia is flowering again but I'll be lucky if the bluebanded bees revisit. I didn't see any last summer. I have a new red salvia that hasn't flowered yet. I used to have a lovely pink one.

Yes I could do with some gardening therapy. I need to challenge my depression and anxiety too.

Hi, am feeling quite low this morning so am just popping in briefly. Saturday went OK thanks but I was glad to get home. Yesterday was a write-off and today is a struggle. Ho hum!

Thanks for telling me mint and rhubarb are thirsty, I didn't know that. Your black and blue salvia sounds fascinating 🙂

Did you get out into the garden yesterday? @Dimity

Understood @NatureLover . Thanks for making the effort to pop in. Maybe we're like weighted bowling pins that sometimes wobble before standing up again. I'm wobbling a bit myself but not floored.

Yes I did a little gardening yesterday. There's always more to do. A couple of my potted cacti are out, red and pink, have been for a while but they're good to see. I didn't really achieve anything today. I've still been making the effort to walk every day.

It will be very warm this week. I'll have to get back to watering.

Hoping you feel better tomorrow. It might be a good time to try writing. You can start with a few words, walk away and leave it until you have more to say... the blank page can be daunting but flow will come.

@Dimity I like the image of weighted bowling pins 🙂

I'm feeling stronger this morning and went out for a walk at 6am - it was lovely out. Unlike you, I stop walking when I'm depressed. I also watered this morning, and yes, the heat this week might be a shock. Work yesterday went well with some laughs which definitely helped my mood.

You're right about the writing, and I hope to start that today. I spoke to a friend about stream of consciousness writing and she said she had even done non-dominant-hand stream of consciousness writing! She said very strange things came out as it was using the other side of the brain or something. That's a step too far for me right now! Thanks for your encouragement about the writing ❤️

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@Dimity wrote:

I'm wobbling a bit myself but not floored.

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I'm glad you're not floored. I hope that today is a better day for you. Sending wishes for strength and hope for you... 💚

It's good to hear your mood has lifted @NatureLover - your work often seems to help.

Interesting re the journaling with a nondominant hand. It would be slower and more difficult I imagine.

I was unwell today, perhaps it was exacerbated by the sultry weather. I think I'll be talking to my psychologist tomorrow but had no confirmation of the appointment. Feeling trepidation. Gosh I hope it works out. I didn't get much done today - had to wrestle with vacuum cleaner filters then got bogged down trying to curate my email account. The storms meant I had to curtail my walk.

Here's hoping tomorrow is a good day for both of us.

Oh gosh @Dimity , I've just read through the thread where you replied to the angry bipolar person, and am sooo impressed with your response! You calmed them down and pointed them in the direction of help that they could relate to. You were there when no-one else could manage to help that person - you hit just the right note. I had no idea what to say to them myself. A huge well done to you @Dimity 🙂

And you did this on a day you felt unwell!

Yes, work helps my mood often, and helps to structure my week. I am meeting a friend for lunch today so will have to get myself together by then.

I really hope you can have the appt with your psychologist today despite no comfirmation... 🤞 And that you feel a bit better today.