Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

40 mins is a long drive @NatureLover , the office must be quite a distance away. I trust petrol costs won't add up.

The counsellor seemed very uncomfortable during the session - her fidgeting and body language were quite unsettling although I did my best to maintain the conversational flow. The session wasn't very helpful beyond updating her on what was happening. I've actually spoken to a psychologist who would be very expensive but might address my issues better.

Home help tomorrow. I'm ashamed of my clutter, it's getting worse... piles of paperwork.

Oooh, that's exciting about the other psychologist, @Dimity ! I reckon my 2 good psychologists have made a world of difference to me. I'm not living out of my damage any more, but am able to thrive despite 6 conflicting MIs plus 7 chronic physical illnesses. Do you think you might be able to afford it?

Yes, the small office is quite a distance, but I'm wanting to make a difference in helping others and this company does that. I could volunteer in my local library which is 2 minutes away, but setting up tables for art classes etc. doesn't really help the disadvantaged much. (Mind you, I'm a big fan of libraries!) The small office is like the big office I was at, in the same field of helping others I mean (it's another charity). So my skills and experience in dealing with/for the poor and disadvantaged are relevant.

I expect the amount of paperwork you have while sorting out your finances and legal issues is enormous.

I hope the home help visit goes well today. I'll be interested to know who comes, and how you find them today.

Ooooh @Dimity @NatureLover ,

I feel like I've missed so much of the last few posts!

@NatureLover , how pleasant it sounds that you had visitors. Hope it all went well. I didn't realise you were working at the moment - my bad!

As for grapefruits, I'm with you! @Dimity @NatureLover . I have at least one everyday. I have this keen liking to them, and when I'm not eating them, I crave them so much! Even right now as I sit here, I'm wanting to go downstairs to get a grapefruit. Weird eh?

Also, I've never looked into it, but why cant you have grapefruit with some medicine? I remember seeing a sticker on some medication that says not to have with grapefruit. Do you know why?

Missing you both. The sun is so lovely over here.

Hi @tyme . My BP meds used to have that sticker. I just investigated on google. It's an enzyme thing. You can end up with muscle damage and kidney failure although it's rare. Ii guess I've been living dangerously.

Gosh @NatureLover I admire and respect you for flourishing in many ways despite your battles. That's a lot to cope with.

It's interesting how you're drawn to helping people in that way, at the coalface of addressing need. Again, Respect.

I can't commit to the psychologist longterm as it's just too expensive in my current circumstances, and she understands that. And we had to compromise re frequency of sessions, which she thinks need to be more frequent than I'd intended. I'll see how it works out. I'm expecting to get some assessments to do. She said she'd email them.

I checked another legal draft this afternoon. Then I'll have to finish the Advance Care Directives. I wonder how many people know you can express your wishes ahead of time re critical medical care and involuntary psychiatric admissions.

Once the paperwork is finished I'll have to think about the house and garden. I made a big effort before home help today. She was asking me (nicely) about the stuff although she hadn't seen the spare room where I'd parked the cat.

Thank you for your lovely post, @tyme . I've always worked a volunteer job, I just changed it recently.

As for grapefruits, my sticker on medication says something about potassium? (I think it's potassium)

Thanks for your kind words, @Dimity . ❤

I feel upset for you that you can't afford the new psychologist ongoing. But I'm glad you're able to make a start with her. Will you stop the counsellor? Would a MHCP cover part of the new psychologist's fee, down the track once your current MHCP is finished?

I filled out something when I drew up my Will, but I don't think it was an Advance Care Directive. It might've been a Power of Attorney.

It's nice to hear you say, "When the paperwork is finished". That means you can see an end in sight.

So the new home help is OK? Is it the same lady who came last time?

I've been accepted as a volunteer by the small charity, but I haven't heard yet if there's an admin assistant role. I know there's a practical hands-on role, but I'm not sure I'm up to that physically.

Psychologist appt today, and am looking forward to it as she cancelled last month. There's too much to get through so I've prioritised all my issues. I print out a document for her to read each time - it's quicker for her to read it than for me to explain it all. I'm better with writing than I am with speaking.

Today's document is 5 pages, single spaced! I report on each of my 6 MIs, and then bring up issues that are troubling me or that I'm not coping with. I want to switch from working on my Hoarding Disorder to working on my Agoraphobia for a while (in order to be able to drive to the small charity).

I hope you feel OK today 🤞

Not sure if this links to your conversation, but I've been grave plot shopping recently... is that weird @NatureLover @Dimity ?

Great to see you all.

I hope you get the admin side of life sorted. It can be so painful sometimes.

It seems your work on the hoarding has really borne fruit @NatureLover .I hope working on your agoraphobia will succeed too.

I'm ambivalent about the counsellor. Yes I guess a future MHCP might help towards the psychologist if I swapped from the counsellor.

I've been through several drafts of will, also did powers of attorney. Burial plot is an interesting one @tyme . I'm sure my father would have preferred himself and my mother to be buried but others made the decisions. There were lots of problems around my parents' estates due to family dysfunction and possible malice. Which is why I'm being so careful. I haven't actually given instructions, I presumed I'll be cremated. I'm also concerned I haven't given instructions about the cat. Someone I know is donating their body to "science" for anatomy students. Maybe this paragraph needs a TW.

You're very thorough in preparing for sessions @NatureLover . I've never had a good enough relationship with a therapist to plan ahead and anticipate what will be covered, except perhaps briefly with EMDR.

I think it's sensible to plan ahead re grave plots, @tyme . Also considerate, as that way your family doesn't need to make any decisions in their time of grief.