Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi again @Dimity , I'm having a break after 3.5 hours' tidying. The smoke detector check people usually ring at 3 or 4pm and say they're coming at 8am the next morning! But truth be told, I wouldn't be tidying if I didn't have some rare energy today.

I cleared all the bags on the floor, and found I'd bought 4 pots of Promite and 6 packets of wafer biscuits! 😂 But luckily I will eat up both of those foods, so it's not a problem.

I'm reluctant to start reading in my break now, as often that means the end of tidying for that day.

Thanks for listening.

At least this rain will be watering both our gardens.

Well done @NatureLover that's amazing.

I'll reply properly later....

@NatureLover you've done very well.

I've stocked up recently too and am running out of space. I normally try to stick to my list of foodstuffs I need to replenish but I've bought more ready meals lately.

It was lovely to have the rain.

Yes thanks, I'm sleeping... sleeping more than usual, with being unwell. Feeling more and more depressed and fatigued. I'm not getting chores and decluttering done.

The succulent pieces have put out a lot of new leaves but I doubt they've put out roots to the same extent, if at all.

I'm feeling a bit lost.

But you should feel proud of your efforts today. I hope you have a good day tomorrow.

Thanks, @Dimity . I ended up doing 5 hours' work on the house. Much needed. But the long kitchen bench is still full.

I'm glad you've bought more ready meals - that's another way to nurture yourself.

"Depressed, fatigued and lost"...I'm sorry to hear 😥

Can you take the pressure off yourself to do chores and/or decluttering while you're unwell?

An official work day for me today, and tomorrow too. Due to being a busy work week. But I do need to pop out to the chemist for my monthly meds, which somehow I missed last week. That's a worry, as I'm usually on top of them. I stuffed up last month's meds too.

I hope your succulents do survive.

5 hours is incredible @NatureLover . I hope you can see and enjoy a real difference.

I don't really like buying ready meals, they always seem highly processed and lacking in vegetables I have to try to compensate for. And there aren't many vegetarian options (I eat very little meat).

I tried to do some cleaning and decluttering today as I feel worse when I don't. My average mood score last week was 1.1/5 (the lowest possible rating is 1).

I use a pillbox each week so I can see at a glance if I'm on track with my meds. It usually means I have a few days' warning of running out. Some people get a Webster pack.

The house is very quiet without Tiger.

I've cancelled for craft group tomorrow, I've hit a wall with it. I'm booked in for a haircut but would rather not go out. However I need to print a referral as I was unable to upload it to the surgeon.

Enjoy your work day tomorrow, it sounds as though the iron might have given you the boost you needed.

Thanks @Dimity , yes, am enjoying the neater house although it's not all done.

You know, I forgot about the iron infusion - that must be where the energy came from, you're right.

Sorry to hear your mood was so low last week. Do you think it was partly related to being sick? And of course you must be missing Tiger 😥

You're right about the ready meals. However, I figure they're better than eating nothing (which I often do at night).

Did you make it out for your haircut and the referral printing?

I had a busy work day and also slept in, hence no forums this morning. Tomorrow I have a lunch and it's about 50 minutes away, so quite stressful for me. It's to keep up with an ex-staff member from my old job who moved away. 6 of us are going. The catch up will be good but the drive...we'll have to see.

I found it cold outside today. That's the end of the warm weather now I think. The leaves are falling so I need to rake soon.

Sending care...

Thanks for posting this evening @NatureLover . Yes I got the errands done but was worried by things at the hairdressers and probably panicked. Had a health scare and went to an urgent care clinic. My blood pressure was dangerously high for a while. It resolved quickly and I was embarrassed. It feels like more reason to be stigmatised for mh.

I don't know what to do. There's nothing I can do, really. I don't feel there's anyone I can talk to about it.

I hope you're not too worried by the drive tomorrow - hopefully catching up with everyone will make it seem worthwhile.

Oh no re your health scare, @Dimity ! Dangerously high blood pressure is a worry.

I'm sorry you felt embarrassed though. High blood pressure is a valid emergency.

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@Dimity wrote:

I don't know what to do. There's nothing I can do, really. I don't feel there's anyone I can talk to about it.

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This makes me sad to hear, my friend. Do you feel you could talk to me about whatever it is? But maybe it's not something you want to write on a public forum. 😢I'm sorry you feel so trapped / hopeless about it 😢

The drive yesterday went OK thankfully, and the lunch was great.

Today is miserable gloomy weather so I've had my therapy lamp on extra. But the rain is good for the trees and plants. I slept in this morning till 7.30, but it doesn't matter as I'm just at home today with no volunteer work on.

Good luck with your surgeon today 🤞

I'm glad you enjoyed your day out @NatureLover . Yes very cold and wet today.

The surgeon was OK, I go back Monday. If I have surgery it won't be for at least a month.

I'm tired of being miserable. I'm not on top of my physical or mental health, and I want to "fix" my self-efficacy and resolve the long-standing problems. I feel I can't do it by myself. I have a virtual friend who keeps busy and active and has achieved a lot despite being widowed but I'm not coping. The surgeon told me to extend my antibiotics yet again. And I forgot to walk today. I've browsed some potential support worker profiles but will need to choose between allied health the gp recommended and said she'd give me referrals for but didn't, and psychology and support. I'm behind on everything. Once I get the infection behind me I might be able to start again.

I hope the light box won't make your skin conditions flare up. Did you ever settle on a good soap?

HI @Dimity ,

I'm sorry things are so exhausting. I hear you. It's like one thing on top of another and another. I'm glad you are able to share some of your challenges here and connect with the community.

@NatureLover , I hope S.A.D. is not too bad this year. It seems as though you've only just gotten out of it and then it hits again.

You are not alone.