Hot Chocolate Anyone ?

[Faith-and-Hope]

Hiya @Zoe7 ..... 🤗💕

Welcome to "the far side" ..., Carers forum .... those of us who frequent both twin-forums affectionately refer to both sides that way .... lol .....

I have got an almond milk latte on the go, if anyone wants to try it ? Has a vanilla shot in it and cinnamon on top.

Not going to try to type everyone's name right in my phone .... so ....

Hi Everyone ...., 😊 💐 ☕️ 🍪 👋 💕

[Former-Member]

@Former-Member    Hello there, nice to meet you.  Hot drinks cart should be making the rounds soon 🙂

@Former-Member   Yes I love the dolls to explain how it feels to peel this stinky onion.  No, I have not had any therapy at all.  I did look into what I was doing versus what was out there. Ironies of ironies I was actually working on a thesis regarding conscious awareness right before my world crumbled so I have drawn from that and researched studies that are now being done in a similar vein. So I'm sorry but I have nothing to give you when it comes to therapies or their benefits I'd actually be really interested in you sharing your experiences so I could garner some understanding of how that works and the effects you have felt or haven't felt. 

I find breakthroughs have hiccups but once those settle and I get used to that new normal, I have another one.  I think the trick is to identify them and appreciate them, because each small step will get me to the end. So each step is as important as the next.  If I appreciate even the small ones it brings home to me that despite the journey ahead, I am making real progress and am "getting there". I just think, for me, that is so important or I would feel a lot more helpless and indeed hopeless. That to me is the wrong state of mind to be in if I'm going to eventually win this battle cleanly. That might be unclear and I'm sorry if it is.

It wasn't like that for the longest time (years), it was just that vortex of blackness and me trying to escape. Then one day out of nowhere, I popped to the surface and could breath. and look around.  I was shocked and surprised, but there it was. It lasted only minutes before I was taken down again but right then I knew there was hope I knew something had cracked and I knew I was going to come out of it.

LIke a chip in a windshield that would lead to a crack and then finally the pane (pain) would be shattered.  The relief that brought was indescribable. I did go down again, but not long after (relatively) I popped back up this time for longer.  Then after a month or so of that, with longer and longer surfacing, one day when I popped up a liferaft was bobbing on the surface and I dragged myself into it.  I was floating in that liferaft, like a bereft scraggly survivor with parched sunburned skin and raggedy clothes and I was l loving it.

Only a few days later it beached and I crawled onto the sand enjoying the sun as the water lapped around me, feeling that firm support underneath me for the first time in so long I couldn't remember. From nowhere I suddenly had fresh water to drink, and saw shade from the swaying and welcoming coconut trees that lined the other edge of the sand.  Since then things have just evolved to the point I am now; fairly autonomous, pretty much free of the grasp of those invisible tentacles that had me entangled for so long. 

hahaha see talking in riddles, parables and satire.... actually I clearly understood you so that might be an indication that you were too. I don't know why I do it but it's just the way my mind works. Scary isn't it? 😛

As for profession, I used to work in the mining industry but I've since gone to formal study. I have also been writing a book, which I am about 2/3 through after about 10000 restarts - yes might be an exaggeration but I think it's close 😛

[Zoe7]

@Former-Member I am sorry but I can't eat white chocolate - the good news however is there will be more for you!!

@Faith-and-Hope it is a bit weird crossing over to the 'far side' - a whole new experience for me - hey look at me - trying new things lol

I will try an almond milk latte with vanilla shot and cinnamon - don't usually partake in coffee beverages but that sounds too good to resist!

[Former-Member]

Ha ha, sorry @Zoe7.  Yep I expect all those email notifications from people who care about you, will keep you busy for a while.  Why not add a few more?  

Glad you could join us for a cuppa.  Mmm, the teapot is now drained and the plate of coconut biscuites is depleted.  

Well, I'm going to take a break now and do some mindfulness on the 'Smiling Mind' website.  Does anybody else use it?  I'm only just starting.  Then perhaps I may even get in a little early afternoon sleep.  I feel so very tired, I need to at least get some rest, even if it doesnt result in sleep.

[Former-Member]

@Zoe7  Yes I am with you, I don't do the white chockie thing...  but the rest I'll take it as it comes 😄

@Faith-and-Hopeyes I noticed that last night, that this was on the other side.  Then I decided to look at those posts and ended up writing a damn novella and apparently haven't stopped since!  I need to. It's like all this crap just keeps spewing out of me. So I think it's time for a cuppa and slice of cake break 👍🏼

@Former-Membersee what you started, now I've gone and filled the thread with my cr@p!  Sorry.  Talk about creating a monster @Zoe7 ,  I created one myself by visiting this side last night.  I should look into that smiling mind site, did someone mention there is an app?

[Faith-and-Hope]

Lol @Zoe7 .... I love that - pancake in a cup ..., ❣

The LE and Carers forums complement each other so well they are really Siamese twins ..... there are carers with mi issues themselves as well as for those they carer for, and carers in general can be so loaded with commitments that they forget to prioritise themselves at all. There are LE forumites with no close support network, so they are in fact self-carers in the same sense as a carer-carer operates ..., and the pearls of wisdom and support that flow backwards and forwards are amazing.

Cuppa here for you anytime.

I've got some energy this morning, so I'm out walking .... with a coffee shop stop to clear my head of home commitments first .... and opening a few emails (free wifi).

❤️

[Faith-and-Hope]

Hi @Former-Member ..... 😊

Those who know me here know that my mind works in word-pictures and metaphors ..... so if they can survive my novellas, they can survive yours ... ❣

It's often at times like this that supportive advice, or the sharing of a coping mindset emerges and helps others who are reading along .... in fact, it can be the God-send they need in the moment, so please don't feel you need to apologise. There are times when things need to be bumped to another thread, but they become quite obvious and the mods are really good at sorting us all back out when we get into a bit of a tight spot ....

All Good ..... 😄

[Former-Member]

@Faith-and-Hope @Former-Member @Zoe7 @Smc 

Ha ha, now thats kind of funny.  I wasnt aware that I had 'crossed to the other side' of the Forums. Mmm, it feels a little weird now.

In reality I am actually an official carer for my husband who has numerous mental and physical health problems. He is a TPI ex Navy veteran. So I guess its appropriate that I can visit this 'other side' as well?  Isnt the heading this thread is under called "Looking After Ourselves"?  Well that can apply to each and every one of us I reckon.  Nobody is out of place here.

[Zoe7]

@Former-Member I actually need to avoid that website at all costs - the very first voice I heard on the app sent me into a downward spiral - so definitely off my list! 

@Faith-and-Hope I do love pancakes - yummmmmy!!!!! 

I suppose we could say I am caring for myself (sometimes lol) and I do have my fur babies to care for - I think Toby definitely has MH issues - maybe that is just feeding off me but he does show signs - especially when I have to leave him (poor little baby!!!)

@Former-Member Speaking of writing cr*p - have you seen how much of that I write - probably not so much in the last few days but OMG before that - well you will get the idea soon lol

[Zoe7]

@Faith-and-Hope @Former-Member @Former-Member

I need a break for a while - lovely to share this time with you all here - see you back on the 'other side' later on xxx