Mental health check-in

[Punchy]

Hey y'all, just thought I'd check in. Did a couple months of online therapy and been on an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety for about 3 months now and doing a lot better. Had a rough year before that, pretty much non-stop panic attacks and mental spin-outs. Stupid shit, my own shit, but for some reason it all crashed down on me at once. One of the things that stuck with me from my therapy sessions, which I still haven't really implemented, is that I need to establish and work toward some long-term goals. Short-term stuff has been easy, especially since i've been home on quarantine - I learned how to can food, have been working on cooking and such, and I finished my Associates coursework and started on my Bachelors in Criminal Justice. Wife and I have both been doing school, her for her Masters, and we kinda decided that we wanted to do the same thing at the end of all of this. Our plan is to start a former-felon reentry program in our county. We've both researched enough to have an idea of how to structure it, but that's why we're finishing our schools.

Anyway, hey girl, hey!

 

[MonkeyZero]

Hey y'all, just thought I'd check in. Did a couple months of online therapy and been on an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety for about 3 months now and doing a lot better. Had a rough year before that, pretty much non-stop panic attacks and mental spin-outs. Stupid shit, my own shit, but for some reason it all crashed down on me at once. One of the things that stuck with me from my therapy sessions, which I still haven't really implemented, is that I need to establish and work toward some long-term goals. Short-term stuff has been easy, especially since i've been home on quarantine - I learned how to can food, have been working on cooking and such, and I finished my Associates coursework and started on my Bachelors in Criminal Justice. Wife and I have both been doing school, her for her Masters, and we kinda decided that we wanted to do the same thing at the end of all of this. Our plan is to start a former-felon reentry program in our county. We've both researched enough to have an idea of how to structure it, but that's why we're finishing our schools.

Anyway, hey girl, hey!

Fantastic! I work in mental health and substance use and I applaud anyone who wants to make a difference. We don't do court ordered anymore but it is a much necessary area. I realize that's not what you're specifically talking about but thank you for wanting to be involved.

 

[Punchy]

Fantastic! I work in mental health and substance use and I applaud anyone who wants to make a difference. We don't do court ordered anymore but it is a much necessary area. I realize that's not what you're specifically talking about but thank you for wanting to be involved.

It's rough man. So much ego. "I'll be ok, I just need to tough it out." Bullshit. Took me a long time and some very hard days/weeks/months to get help for myself.

The correctional facility where we work is starting up an inmate substance abuse program (like it shouldn't have already been a thing), and my wife is involved with GED and college education, so we're kinda already training for the track we want to eventually take. It's hard to see guys who have made that turn in their lives but still be stuck because of draconian sentencing and parole laws. We've both researched recidivism rather extensively, and while some inmates really are irredeemable, some are ready to just go home and be with their families and start again. So much of the program with the guys I see is their groups - AA, NA, whatever. Some of them are also involved in victims awareness type stuff, but it's hard for them to leave the terminology and mindset behind while surrounded by those who are, uh, hardened, for lack of a better word. "When I caught my case" is a common phrase, alleviating them of the responsibility of the crime. They don't even know they say it, but when you point it out the conscious ones hem and haw and know they fucked up.

But yeah, I've only been there five years, and my wife 2, but we're looking at ways to improve the system. I guess that's a long-term goal

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I am watching the All in WA Covid 19 relief concert again, and am just feeling stunned that we are back where we are, and even worse, than when I saw it the first time.

Really fucking pisses me off.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Hey y'all, just thought I'd check in. Did a couple months of online therapy and been on an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety for about 3 months now and doing a lot better. Had a rough year before that, pretty much non-stop panic attacks and mental spin-outs. Stupid shit, my own shit, but for some reason it all crashed down on me at once. One of the things that stuck with me from my therapy sessions, which I still haven't really implemented, is that I need to establish and work toward some long-term goals. Short-term stuff has been easy, especially since i've been home on quarantine - I learned how to can food, have been working on cooking and such, and I finished my Associates coursework and started on my Bachelors in Criminal Justice. Wife and I have both been doing school, her for her Masters, and we kinda decided that we wanted to do the same thing at the end of all of this. Our plan is to start a former-felon reentry program in our county. We've both researched enough to have an idea of how to structure it, but that's why we're finishing our schools.

Anyway, hey girl, hey!

Hey man, so good to hear!

 

[sunvalleylaw]

This is from my cousin, whom I rarely, rarely see, but love dearly. She is a beautiful musician and artist and in my opinion, writes well from the heart. I light a candle for any of you, and for her, and for myself and loved ones. I appreciate this thread.

 

[MonkeyZero]

I have 2 kitchen staff. Total. One has an extreme case of COVID (I'm actually pretty worried about him) and the other has back and leg issues and had to leave to go to the hospital today. One of my housekeepers fills in to cook but guess what? She also has COVID, no symptoms. My maintenance guy quit. We are preparing for our 3 year Joint Commission Survey and I have 3 days to get my documentation uploaded as it is a virtual survey. I am also working on an expansion project to get more beds for the facility. They want it done by mid January and I can't find a vendor that can get me furniture before February or March. I am about to fucking lose it.

 

[Brian Krashpad]

...I am about to fucking lose it.

Zoinks. Mojo sent to you and all that need it.

It breaks my heart to see all this suffering, so much of it needless; due to the incompetence, stupidity, and self-centeredness of others.

My daughter is a new health-care worker (invasive cardiovascular technology) and should be getting her vaccine within a fortnight. My son is an "essential worker" in a Publix grocery, so I hope that he's up for one after the health care and aged/nursing home peeps.

 

[Mark Wein]

I have 2 kitchen staff. Total. One has an extreme case of COVID (I'm actually pretty worried about him) and the other has back and leg issues and had to leave to go to the hospital today. One of my housekeepers fills in to cook but guess what? She also has COVID, no symptoms. My maintenance guy quit. We are preparing for our 3 year Joint Commission Survey and I have 3 days to get my documentation uploaded as it is a virtual survey. I am also working on an expansion project to get more beds for the facility. They want it done by mid January and I can't find a vendor that can get me furniture before February or March. I am about to fucking lose it.

ugh. MUCHO MOJO.

 

[PunkKitty]

Mojo

 

[Punchy]

Mucho mojo @MonkeyZero. Hope you get a break soon.

 

[2manband]

I'm feeling pretty good about things this week. Have some time off work and I'm getting out to do some hiking. Getting lots of sunlight, eating and sleeping well.

Next week I'll be buried in work and family obligations again and never have a single damn minute that isnt already committed to 3 other things. But this week has been very good for the burnout I was experiencing.

 

[Punchy]

I've been mostly stable lately. Meds help. Starting to get back into a couple hobbies I enjoy, albeit slowly. Any little bit helps. I think that's my biggest takeaway - it doesn't matter if it's a big or a little thing, any stress reducer you can participate in helps. I've found I'm not nearly antisocial as I thought and enjoy talking with (some) people at work. It actually makes my day better. There are a few folks where if I don't see or hear from them regularly it causes me stress. All learning. Now I know. So I'll call or text even though they're curmudgeons and hardly ever get back to me. Makes me feel better that I reached out

But work is a disaster area, we're all considered "essential" but apparently without the added benefit of feeling needed, if that makes sense.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I have 2 kitchen staff. Total. One has an extreme case of COVID (I'm actually pretty worried about him) and the other has back and leg issues and had to leave to go to the hospital today. One of my housekeepers fills in to cook but guess what? She also has COVID, no symptoms. My maintenance guy quit. We are preparing for our 3 year Joint Commission Survey and I have 3 days to get my documentation uploaded as it is a virtual survey. I am also working on an expansion project to get more beds for the facility. They want it done by mid January and I can't find a vendor that can get me furniture before February or March. I am about to fucking lose it.

Sending my mojo too. Thought I did this morning, but maybe I didn’t hip post. Anyway, sending mine.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I am in a really enraged state right now. I need to check in with some breathing and grounding exercises. Probably some bi-lateral. Just thought of that as I typed this. Probably gonna have to be diligent about that stuff for a few days.

 

[Flamencology]

Feeling anxiety / wanting to scream today.

Largely due to cabin fever, I suspect, inability to get out of the house much due to chemo.

 

[frunobulax]

Ive been feeling more cabin fever. A little more stress with the post-holiday surge and new variants and the complete cock-up of vaccine distribution. what looked like maybe late Feb for getting my jab is realistically looking more like April.

And WFH is becoming soul-destroying, so against better judgement, I'm still doing some field work just to get out of the house.

Gotta hold on for a few more weeks/months before there's change, I suppose. And i've got a couple of new musical ideas to turn into projects to keep me amused. And got a clean bill of health at my last checkup. all in all, I shouldn't be complaining.

And. Got carts loaded up in Sweetwater and Reverb in case I need some retail therapy to feel better.

 

[Brian Krashpad]

Mojo sent to all who need it. Actually left the house twice in one day yesterday, which probably hasn't happened in about a year. First trip was over to UF/Shands Teaching Hospital to get an "underlying condition" letter from my ENT doc, documenting my immunocompromised status for purposes of eventually getting vaccinated. Then in the evening Mrs. K and I went to pick up take-out food. Needless to say, we do NOT eat in restaurants.

My daughter (invasive cardiology technologist) has now received both her shots, and my wife one. So once Mrs. K gets done, we need our son to get vaccinated, as although he is healthy and young, he is an "essential worker" as a greengrocer, and has to interact with the public on a daily basis. Unfortunately our idiot Governor has decreed that municipalities cannot enforce masking requirements with any penalties, which of course only encourages stupidly dangerous behavior that endangers my family and friends. Fuck that guy.

Speaking of things that haven't happened in about a year, the first of one of only a handful of times I've left the house, since the shit hit the fan, was to sit for a photograph, that a local photographer was doing for a gallery of local musos, in reaction to the then-oncoming pandemic. She tried unsuccessfully to get public funding for an actual physical gallery showing, so now she is going to post them all online instead. Which is probably safer anyhow. There should be around 60 photos! Anyhow she finally sent me the photo she's using for me, earlier this week. Glad I turned out to be a little bit prescient.

 

[Motorik]

Mojo sent to all who need it. Actually left the house twice in one day yesterday, which probably hasn't happened in about a year. First trip was over to UF/Shands Teaching Hospital to get an "underlying condition" letter from my ENT doc, documenting my immunocompromised status for purposes of eventually getting vaccinated. Then in the evening Mrs. K and I went to pick up take-out food. Needless to say, we do NOT eat in restaurants.

My daughter (invasive cardiology technologist) has now received both her shots, and my wife one. So once Mrs. K gets done, we need our son to get vaccinated, as although he is healthy and young, he is an "essential worker" as a greengrocer, and has to interact with the public on a daily basis. Unfortunately our idiot Governor has decreed that municipalities cannot enforce masking requirements with any penalties, which of course only encourages stupidly dangerous behavior that endangers my family and friends. Fuck that guy.

Speaking of things that haven't happened in about a year, the first of one of only a handful of times I've left the house, since the shit hit the fan, was to sit for a photograph, that a local photographer was doing for a gallery of local musos, in reaction to the then-oncoming pandemic. She tried unsuccessfully to get public funding for an actual physical gallery showing, so now she is going to post them all online instead. Which is probably safer anyhow. There should be around 60 photos! Anyhow she finally sent me the photo she's using for me, earlier this week. Glad I turned out to be a little bit prescient.

That's a badass photo. Hope everything goes well for you and yours. Stay safe.

 

[rhino]

Feeling anxiety / wanting to scream today.

Largely due to cabin fever, I suspect, inability to get out of the house much due to chemo.

Do it into a microphone and track it! You and @Jbird could do a collab that should never happen but that should totally happen.