Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi @NatureLover yes I try hard at the "maintaining". Barely chugging along sometimes. I do shut down online too - it sometimes takes ages to string thoughts and words together. But today my DASS assessment came back as extremely severe depression so maybe that explains it. My psychologist - yes I choose to see her in person - is going to push me through 9 months' therapy total.

We'll always have slumps - let's call them rest days. One of my first priorities is to reclaim the mornings - I might be able to double my productivity.

One of the complications with my gp is the administrative stuff that's just been put in place with My Medicare, referrals, and team plans. And I'm not confident of finding someone better (I'm probably a difficult person).

Fingers crossed we can move forward tomorrow! You need to prepare for your friend and I need to think about stuff for the opshop. Onwards and upwards, step by step.

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@Dimity wrote:

But today my DASS assessment came back as extremely severe depression so maybe that explains it.

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Hi @Dimity , I'm so very sorry to hear this, and I really feel for you 😢🫂

I think you're incredibly amazing to even keep "maintaining".

I had to google the DASS assessment.

I like that you call the slumps "rest days".

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@Dimity wrote:

One of the complications with my gp is the administrative stuff that's just been put in place with My Medicare, referrals, and team plans.

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Ahhhh, I see. How long does the plan last, with your treatment team? Does it expire in 4 months or a year or something?

I think we're all difficult for our treating teams, as we have complex mental and physical health needs. I know my GP hates that I prioritise my MH over my diabetes.

I have only just crawled out of bed at 9am. I got up at my usual time between 5 and 6, had a cold drink and went straight back to bed. I'm feeling very fragile this morning for some unknown reason. I've decided to take things very gently today and just do a bit of gentle, easy watering and pottering. Maybe sit in the sun with a book. I'll try to do the Stream of Consciousness Writing later today.

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@Dimity wrote:

I do shut down online too - it sometimes takes ages to string thoughts and words together.

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I"m sorry to hear. I thought you were just reserved and private (which you may be too, and which is perfectly fine). I appreciate that you share with me, so we can be friends.

(I remember my grandmother used to never share anything about herself in some misguided idea that it was selfish or unchristian or something. But it meant that we never knew her, even when present with her, and I made a decision never to be like that. Not saying of course that that's your situation! Just saying that I value when people do share themselves with me, especially when they are private people. It's an honour.)

I'm thinking I'll ask my friend if we can meet at a cafe instead.

Good luck sorting stuff for the opp shop is that's your task for today. Sending hugs and care for your extremely severe depression 😢 💚

Hi @NatureLover I too felt fragile and went back to bed. Did your day improve? I dragged myself to the library then shopped for treats I can't get at my usual supermarket.

Interesting that you say you prioritise your mh over your diabetes. I'm only prediabetic but my experience is that I need to treat both in tandem with healthy eating and exercise. The free Diabetes Victoria Life! Program personal coaching made a big difference. The emphasis on 2 fruit and 5 veg, and walking daily, in particular. My coach was really nice and very encouraging.

I guess I'm a bit quiet and reserved but not secretive, other than trying to maintain anonymity especially for my sister's sake. People say I'm intelligent but I'm definitely not quick-witted. I may be neurodivergent.

Watering and pottering was a good plan. I'll try it tomorrow. If the pottering leads to decluttering, even better.

Hi @Dimity , yes, my day improved thanks, helped by the sunshine. Did your day improve? You mentioned going to the library - was it for books? 🙂

I definitely prioritise my MH over my diabetes as my MH is much, much scarier, especially the severe depression. Not that it's been severe for 15 years now, but it's still debilitating sometimes.

You're definitely intelligent! I don't know much about neurodivergence, but if you feel like explaining, I would welcome that.

I took it easy yesterday with watering and some gentle tidying including putting rubbish out in the bins and some light pruning, also for the bin.

Today is an errands day out and about, as I usually do it on Fridays but this Friday I'm meeting a friend for lunch. I've carefully worked out a schedule of when to borrow library books to tide me over the Christmas /New Year break. If I borrow 10 today and then 10 on the 15th when I have my psychologist appt, that should hopefully be enough. I need them to get through.

I hope when you wake up you feel less fragile and OK to face your tasks today...

That sounds like quite a productive day yesterday @NatureLover . Well done. I hope today went well too

My library visit was basically for a meet-up. I so wish I could settle to read. I'll get there by first tackling the incidental reading in sorting books and papers. Today I added a few clothes to the opshop bag. My chores took a while too. My walk was an effort. But I sent 6 Snap Send Solve reports. I used to feel like an environmental warrior but now I feel more like an unwanted vigilante.

You seem quite good at planning ahead. I hope your 20 library books are sufficient until the New Year. I bought stamps and cards yesterday but still need to buy some gifts, especially interstate ones.

Best wishes for tomorrow. I'll hope to either garden or shop, especially if I feel better than today.

Hi @Dimity , well my errands day didn't eventaute - I couldn't make it out. Which means more stress today as I need to go to those places on the way to / from work.

However I did put all the 3 types of rubbish in to the bins ready to put out today, plus some more pruning for the garden bin.

I hope your meet-up at the library went well. Well done on your achievements yesterday, especially as you struggled to achieve them, it sounds like.

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@Dimity wrote:

I hope your 20 library books are sufficient until the New Year.

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This made me laugh - you know me well! No, 20 aren't nearly enough, but I currently have 19 out on loan. Plus 20 on reserve - although most of them are long reserves, where I'm 17th or 46th in line.

Good luck with your gifts shopping. I hope you can do the gardening or the shopping, that you feel well enough. 🤞

Well at least you had some successes yesterday @NatureLover . I hope the errands today weren't as stressful as you feared.

I didn't achieve much today but felt happier. I started a new thread and I wrote some Xmas cards, then picked up a mail order from the post office. I've added a few books to the opshop pile, but I still don't have enough to justify a trip.

Enjoy your lunch tomorrow. I'll play it by ear, as I've been unable to make and follow plans lately. I'll potter and regard anything I achieve as a bonus.

Hi @Dimity , your new thread is great and looks very valuable!

Am sooo glad you felt happier yesterday 🙂 💚

I do so admire how you keep working a little bit at a time (re the books for your opp shop pile).

I was able to leave work early and do my errands yesterday.

I'm starting to psych up again to tackle the boxes in the shed. I'm aiming for January. I try this every year as January I feel the strongest mentally, due to it being my favourite month of the year - a fresh start, plus sunny.

The house is almost unfunctional again. Ho hum. A not tackling it today as I have a long lunch. But I'll do laundry. I've tried three times this morning for my early walk but it's been drizzling each time. I'll try again shortly.

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@Dimity wrote:

I'll play it by ear, as I've been unable to make and follow plans lately. I'll potter and regard anything I achieve as a bonus.

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Good luck! 🙂

Hello @NatureLover did you get to walk after the drizzle and later enjoy your long lunch? Your house might have slid a bit but I admire how you can gear up and get a lot done at once.

I feel touched by the helpful advice I've had from the new thread, and hopefully others like it too.

I felt unwell today and it was an effort to get to the pharmacy and supermarket. But I'll aim to go to the opshop early next week as I've sorted more stuff.

Looks like rain tomorrow.

Take care

Aww, well done @Dimity for achieving the shopping, the chemist and sorting opp shop stuff while feeling unwell! I think you are amazing.

I can't sleep (it's 11.30pm Fri night) so I wondered if you were also up, but I think you might be trying to reset your sleep schedule. I thought I'd get up for a while to see if that made me sleepy.

Yes, I got in a walk plus some more pruning plus watering this morning. Plus the long lunch with my oldest friend.

Thanks for your kind words ❤️

So glad you're benefiting from your new thread 🙂