Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

A warm winter? Bring it on! I don't like the cold 😣

I don't think I have a photosensitivity sticker on any of my meds boxes. But I will raise it with my psychiatrist next month.

Another day at home today, which is nice. Am trying to slowly work through a backlog list of tasks.

Are you still feeling shut down?

Good luck with working out what to do about your family situation and whether to get the legal and financial protections for yourself.

Hope you can stay warm!

@Dimity

Hello @NatureLover not quite as cold thanks. Trying to get more done but only achieving an infinitesimal amount. Got into the garden today which helped a little.

Hope your backlog is decreasing. Mine is increasing - or maybe I'm just more aware of some of what needs to be done.

I trust your workday went well today. It can't be easy for everyone being in a transitional stage.

I realised a few days ago I'd put on a lot of weight after my hospital stays. A lot. Which probably hasn't helped my energy and motivation. Ì realise it was probably caused by the medication changes and as I'm back at the maintenance dose I'm trying to figure out how to redress it.

Well done on achieving garden work, @Dimity .

Weight gain from medication is difficult. Good luck trying to redress it.

There was a shock development at work yesterday that I can't go in to on a public forum. But I will be leaving work. Too many abuses there now. I'm just taking 48 hours to confirm it to myself so that I'm not acting out of anger or upset, and to compose my resignation letter to HR.

It will be a massive change after nearly 20 years. However I have some ideas of other charities where I'd like to volunteer, in a similar admin role if possible. If those don't work out, then there's always the local library, which takes volunteers.

Suffice to say I slept very badly last night despite the sleeping tablets. Am still feeling the shock, although not anger or upset any more.

I hope that you feel up to and can make some desired progress today 🤞

Oh dear @NatureLover that's bad news. Are you OK? Sending love hugs and moral support

I'm glad you're able to think proactively about your options.

Please enjoy some of the winter sunshine today. I trust it helps with the SAD.

Take care my friend.

Thanks for your lovely care, @Dimity . ❤

I think I'm OK, thanks. I composed my resignation letter, and a friend's daughter who is a lawyer looked it over and made some changes for the better. I'm planning to email it to the HR manager tomorrow, after I go into work to leave some handover instructions and my volunteer uniform. I am not mentioning any of the abuses in the letter.

I reached out to 2 organisations yesterday, but one isn't suitable it turns out, and the other hasn't replied yet.

I'm thinking it's OK if they don't reply, as I might take some time to grieve the lovely job I'm leaving, plus maybe do some work on the boxes in the shed (depending on the S.A.D.).

Leaving is still a massive shock to the system, even though I feel I'm thinking clearly. I've also talked it through with other volunteers there. Some of them are leaving too. If the general public knew about the shocking abuses there, donations would stop (it's a big charity).

Thanks for listening. ❤

I hope you are OK and able to do little tasks here and there 🤞

It's very unfortunate you've experienced or witnessed abuses at work @NatureLover . I understand you can't discuss them here. And whistleblowing is extraordinarily difficult. I admire and respect the careful way you're responding and acknowledge what a big step you're undertaking by leaving.

Are you checking in with your psychologist? This must be very upsetting for you and you're vulnerable, especially at this time of year.

Big hugs 🫂 💚

Please take care. You've achieved so much at home, I trust it feels a safe space in contrast to your workplace and general agoraphobia. And you have this virtual space. And diversions into books. You mean a lot @NatureLover and I trust you'll navigate this difficult passage safely.

Thank you for listening @Dimity ❤ and for acknowledging how painful it is for me to leave the workplace I've been happy in for nearly 20 years.

I know I'm not strong enough to be a whistleblower. Plus we all had to sign a confidentiality agreement many years ago 😣

I don't seey psychologist for another 2 weeks or so. I wonder what she'll say.

Thank you for your hugs, kind words and care ❤ Especially when you're feeling so low and frozen. Sending some back to you 💜 xx

Hoping you're OK @NatureLover if you've sent in your resignation email and made your final visit to work

Sending good wishes @NatureLover . Be gentle on yourself tomorrow.

Thank you for your two kind and lovely messages yesterday, @Dimity ❤

It's done. I sent my resignation letter yesterday afternoon. I've been warned by friends that the management may try to get me back, as no-one else does my work. So I've prepared a response in case.

On the other extreme, a whistleblower is about to act, coinciding with my resignation. I only found out about that last night. So I hope they don't think the whistleblower is me. That could bring a world of trouble down on my head. They already wrongly and viciously sacked someone in a rage, after assuming wrongly that that person complained. It was someone else who complained.

I feel sad that a happy workplace turned so toxic. But I feel it was right to leave.

I have some feelers out to other charities. But I'm hampered by distance (my agoraphobia). To tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind having 6 months off - I could work on the boxes in the shed, if my S.A.D. isn't too bad.

Thank you so much for listening. It's going to be a massive adjustment.

How are you feeling? How is your back? Do you still feel shut down?

Sending care ❤