Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Thanks @NatureLover you're very kind. I could hear the distress underlying their anger and wanted to acknowledge it.

You're doing well to have another outing. I hope it went well.

I couldn't speak to my psychologist because of the Optus outage. It wasn't a good day. More family dramas. I'm stuck and I can't fix things.

Good night for now - good morning to you when you read this.

Very sorry to hear you couldn't speak to your psychologist @Dimity 😞

Also that it was a bad day yesterday and you felt stuck and helpless 😞

I hope things look a bit brighter today...

My long lunch went well yesterday, but am not feeling any get-up-and-go today. Stomach feels funny too. Going to struggle to make it in to work I think.

Goo luck today with whatever you decide to do 💚

Sorry to hear you're not feeling quite right @NatureLover . Hope the queasy feeling eased.

I'm worried about things at the moment and really need to deal with the stuff stored offsite somehow. I'm missing my old helper. I'm also trying to fix my new stick vacuum - I've cleaned all 4 filters and it's still not working properly. And there's family issues. The background clutter doesn't help. Time to get moving again.

Happy Friday @NatureLover .

Hello dear @Dimity ...I'm sorry you're feeling so stuck and anxious. And that's not good that your new vacuum cleaner has broken already! Is it still under warranty? (Although that's a pain, I know)

Also sad to hear about your family issues, which sound insurmountable from the impression I get 😢

I went to work on Thursday but left early. Yesterday I was derailed by a call at 7am saying that a friend of mine had 2 large brain tumours and had been rushed to hospital straight from the MRI, awaiting brain surgery. This poor lady has been battling breast cancer all year and had just completed treatment a week ago.

Today I need to tackle my small kitchen bench and stovetop which have become unfunctional again. Plus laundry as it will be a good drying day outside.

What do you have planned for today (or Sunday)?

Sending care and hugs 💚

Hello @NatureLover

Yesterday's news must have been a shock. I'm so glad your friend is able to get immediate care and treatment. Are you OK? I know you'll be supportive of your friend but you'll need reserves of support and selfcare as well - things haven't been easy for you.

I had a better day. I'm making an effort on several fronts - health, house, family. Trying to work through the fear and reach out/take action anyway. And I think I've unblocked the vacuum cleaner. Tomorrow I'll catch up on chores after being out yesterday and today, and process my latest efforts.

It must be hard for you to stay on top of the kitchen when you have so little working and storage space, and only shop once a week. I hope you succeeded today... if not there's always tomorrow.

Take care.

@Dimity Was so pleased to get your mesage and hear that you sound brighter and stronger 💚

Well done on unblocking the vacuum cleaner, and for making efforts despite your fears. So pleased you had a good day.

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I'm OK although very worried about my friend. Haven't achieved any work on the kitchen yet. I went out walking early this morning before even a cup of coffee. It was cold but refreshing. Unfortunately I want to go and lie down again, but will try to stay up.

I was so impressed with your memory and that you are such an attentive friend. I'm grateful for your friendship.

Aw thanks @NatureLover . I really appreciate your patience with me when I've been backsliding. It's been very encouraging.

Just chores today, I didn't feel well. But I want to sort more stuff for the opshop, and there are still those papers I didn't get to. I've found it hard to get up lately and have been attending to the cat then snoozing again. I'm a bit worried about the next couple of weeks and whether I can follow through. We'll see.

Best wishes for tomorrow. I hope you got somewhere with the kitchen today.

Hi @Dimity , I've just discovered on another thread that 2 services now have a 24/7 online chat! Lifeline 24/7 Webchat and BeyondBlue 24/7 Webchat ! Did you know? I'm excited as I think these are new services.

I'm sorry you weren't feeling well yesterday 😢 Well done for managing chores despite that.

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@Dimity wrote:

I'm a bit worried about the next couple of weeks and whether I can follow through.

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Is there anything coming up in the next 2 weeks that you're particularly worried about?

You are also very patient with me when I backslide and don't achieve anything for days or weeks. Which I didn't yesterday, apart from laundry. But I'm feeling a bit more energy today, maybe as it's a work day so I have to step up. I've already rinsed and tidied away some recycling.

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@Dimity wrote:

I've found it hard to get up lately and have been attending to the cat then snoozing again.

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I was thinking about this. I think that being a night owl must make it doubly hard to get up in the morning. I feel fortunate to be a morning person as some mornings it's hard to get up due to depression. Not severe depression or anything. But being a night owl would make mornings very hard, I think.

I hope when you wake up you're feeling better than yesterday and can achieve some things that you'd like to...

It's good to know those services are available @NatureLover but I think I'd prefer to speak to someone in a crisis.

I have a looming deadline in just over a week and need to work towards it but am very anxious about the steps to get there.

And I saw an osteopath who saud I need to go back to my gp - not easy.

Yesterday I came across a site called MindSpot which had "the big five" goals for mental health - they seem sensible but I'm not sure they're attainable eg social connection.

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@Dimity wrote:

I have a looming deadline in just over a week and need to work towards it but am very anxious about the steps to get there.

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Sorry to hear - this does sound daunting. Is there any way I can help encourage you with it?

And it sounds like your GP is not trustworthy? 😢

I looked up the Mind Spot 5 goals you mentioned, and I don't agree with the "Goals and Plans" one. I find that sort of thing negative in my own life, resulting in depression, shame etc that keep me mired down. Plus the "Social Connections" one is not always possible for people, you're right. Mind you, they didn't say that the social connections had to be face-to-face, which was good.

Yesterday before work I managed to do 45 minutes' work on my kitchen - amazing, as I don't usually do any tidying or cleaning on a work day as I'm too tired from work. I completely cleared the stovetop and the small kitchen bench, and rinsed and squashed all the recycling and put it in the bin. Amazing! Today I can hardly face tackling anything, lol. Another way in which work does me good.

This morning I have my second Shingles vaccine - you need two of them 6 months apart, and they each cost $280!! But I've heard frightening things about Shingles, so I decided to invest in it. Lucky I've stopped shopping recently (only grocery shopping now).

Hoping you feel brighter this morning...

@Dimity