Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

So glad your day out plus the craft group were enjoyable!

Are there any early signs of a psychotic relapse?

My asthma isn't really improving, but I'm so glad that it was OK last Friday in the extreme heat that I don't mind at the moment.

I've got a lunch today but am struggling to get ready and am dreading leaving the house. It's not the lunch that's the problem, it's my agoraphobia playing up.

Sorry you're not coping well 😥

Good luck with the psychologist today. Can you tell her about your fears of a relapse?

@Dimity

@Dimity ? Your post appears to be blank.

How was your psychologist appt yesterday?

I made it to the lunch but not the chemist, post office and supermarket as I'd planned. So I need to do those today. Would prefer to stay home.

Hope you feel OK, or at least like you can get through today 🫂

Hello my fellow friends @NatureLover @Dimity @scruffypuffball @Appleblossom - seems like ages since I last 'saw' you.

I'm reading up on all those house inspections, weather changes, physical and mental health challenges....

Good to see you all.

Good to see you too, @tyme 🙂 Thanks for popping in.

I'm.not doing well - my agoraphobia has worsened and I can't seem to leave the house. Not even for an early morning walk. My neighbour offered to go to the chemist and post office for me yesterday. Today I'm going to take him up on it. I'm depressed as well. My anxiety is also bad and my house is a complete mess and I can't face it.

I'm due to go out both days on the weekend but it's not looking likely.

@Dimity

Oh @NatureLover 🫂

Sorry to hear about the crippling agoraphobia. And your ongoing asthma. I'm glad your neighbour is looking out for you.

I can relate to the depression anxiety and overwhelm. Just do what you can. Eat, sleep, laundry. Reading. Deep breaths while looking at the garden (if you can take soothing deep breaths when you have asthma...)

Take care.

@NatureLover just saw this poem and thought of you.

I go among trees and sit still.
All my stirring becomes quiet
around me like circles on water.
My tasks lie in their places
where I left them, asleep like cattle.

Then what is afraid of me comes
and lives a while in my sight.
What it fears in me leaves me,
and the fear of me leaves it.
It sings, and I hear its song.

Then what I am afraid of comes.
I live for a while in its sight.
What I fear in it leaves it,
and the fear of it leaves me.
It sings, and I hear its song.

After days of labor,
mute in my consternations,
I hear my song at last,
and I sing it. As we sing,
the day turns, the trees move.

- Wendell Berry, Sabbath poem I, 1979, from A Timbered Choir

That's a beautiful poem, thank you, @Dimity .

My neighbour got my meds and posted my birthday cards with a minimum of fuss. Grateful for him.

I'm trying to stay up and do work today. Psyching up to do a laundry wash.

I really hope your eyes ease very soon 🙏

Hoping you felt at least a little better as the day progressed @NatureLover . I trust you feel able to reach out to your psychologist and gp if you need to.

The optometrist said my eye drops are working (good) but agreed I might be allergic (not good) and said to hang on for a month until I see the specialist again (dubious).

The psychiatrist agreed I could/should increase my meds to get through the next week.

I have a mountain of laundry to fold and another mountain of dishes to wash, a caterwauling cat and a blustery wind. Not insurmountable.

Wondering whether to follow up on latest family problems or give up. Psychologist said yesterday not to think about them for a while but they're fairly pressing timewise.

I'm thankful things aren't worse for me, and that you have at least one kind neighbour as a backstop.

We'll muddle through.

Oh dear @NatureLover ,

I'm sorry to hear about your agorophobia. That sounds incredibly hard. Does it help if others come and visit you instead of you having to go out?

Do you have supports who can work with you?

Can you think of anything we can do as a community to support you through this?

Hi @Dimity