Your Mental Health

[Matlock]

Something I didn't expect but seems to be happening with this mental health malarkey is how much more I'm enjoying my boozing. With the therapy, and getting to work (and more, which is all part of the plan,) my drinking is a lot more fun. Not only that but the nights out seem to be cheaper (I've been bought a few pints here and there,) and I don't feel as awful in the morning.

So there you have it. Therapy? Good for mental health! Good for enjoying your gatt!

The difference between wanting a drink and needing one!

 

[Iúr]

Something I didn't expect but seems to be happening with this mental health malarkey is how much more I'm enjoying my boozing. With the therapy, and getting to work (and more, which is all part of the plan,) my drinking is a lot more fun. Not only that but the nights out seem to be cheaper (I've been bought a few pints here and there,) and I don't feel as awful in the morning.

So there you have it. Therapy? Good for mental health! Good for enjoying your gatt!

In time of trouble and lousey strife,
You have still got a darlint plan
You still can turn to a brighter life -
A pint of plain is your only man.
by Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan)


Not the answer to mental health issues but I found the camaraderie of a night out drinking in my younger days something that helped enormously

 

[Clairecarebear]

@MerchantOfEnnis I hope this week has not been worse than previous ones for you, and please God a little better.
Some very good advice given, and I certainly agree that GP is first call, but I would (if not already) discuss with your wife. Medication is an option, particularly in the immediate term. However, many find that stopping it causes great difficulty, a feeling of going from feeling nothing, to suddenly feeling everything in massive tidal waves.
Quite often the ideation you are experiencing is not tied to one specific thing that you can pinpoint, (or it may be in your case), which can lead to it being difficult to articulate, particularly if part of the process is something regards your better half that you fear broaching. A lot if times I hear from people they feel their only option is to cause themselves distress in order to avoid potential confrontation.

If you pursue the counselling route, remember the most effective counselling is with someone who fits your needs and you feel heard by. Changing counsellors if this is not the case is perfectly fine. The difficulty is that, particularly with men, they are looking for answers that counsellors cant fully effectively give to the reason why something is happening. It is more about helping you process and manage your situation.

I wish you the very best. Too many men shut off their feelings because of expectations so please do look after yourself.

 

[Two Pour Bore]

Really good article this, and it's something I've written about for publications, too.

Loneliness in modern Irish life — and the case for rebuilding community

Ireland's young people are some of the loneliest in Europe. Sarah Finnan asks whether reviving our sense of community could be the cure

www.irishexaminer.com

I don't know what's happened recently but I've been pacing my yard since 6am. I spent pretty much half of yesterday, when I was at home, in tears. I had to go out and "be among people." And ended up in tears in bars, multiple times. People cared. Two big conversations from people, hugs, people getting me drinks but there's no level of understanding behind their words, even if there is a huge amount of compassion. I'm not sure even I understand what I've been through, although I'm getting there.

I go to the pub as much as I can. It's a place to sit, and drink, and be among people. It feels like something.

Writing my novels has always been about connecting with people. Telling my story, even if it is fiction. Being seen. Being understood. And I'm not unique in this way. There are so many people experiencing this isolation. It's destroying people, and lives. And worse, for some people it's warping them, and changing any goodness we have in the world.

 

[Swanforthelough]

Really good article this, and it's something I've written about for publications, too.

Loneliness in modern Irish life — and the case for rebuilding community

Ireland's young people are some of the loneliest in Europe. Sarah Finnan asks whether reviving our sense of community could be the cure

www.irishexaminer.com

I don't know what's happened recently but I've been pacing my yard since 6am. I spent pretty much half of yesterday, when I was at home, in tears. I had to go out and "be among people." And ended up in tears in bars, multiple times. People cared. Two big conversations from people, hugs, people getting me drinks but there's no level of understanding behind their words, even if there is a huge amount of compassion. I'm not sure even I understand what I've been through, although I'm getting there.

I go to the pub as much as I can. It's a place to sit, and drink, and be among people. It feels like something.

Writing my novels has always been about connecting with people. Telling my story, even if it is fiction. Being seen. Being understood. And I'm not unique in this way. There are so many people experiencing this isolation. It's destroying people, and lives. And worse, for some people it's warping them, and changing any goodness we have in the world.

Misery in life is optional….

I’m sober many years and the thought of never having a drink was ridiculous and had decided to drink myself to death but thankfully somehow found a way out and wouldn’t swap this life for my old in a million years. Yes bars were the places I thought I could find conversation and camaraderie but in reality you just meet those who feed your habit or they need you to feed theirs…

There are loads of places, organizations one can find social activities in…..you cannot have one foot in recovery and one foot in the life that dragged you to hell as hell will always win out..

 

[fed up]

Misery in life is optional….

I’m sober many years and the thought of never having a drink was ridiculous and had decided to drink myself to death but thankfully somehow found a way out and wouldn’t swap this life for my old in a million years. Yes bars were the places I thought I could find conversation and camaraderie but in reality you just meet those who feed your habit or they need you to feed theirs…

There are loads of places, organizations one can find social activities in…..you cannot have one foot in recovery and one foot in the life that dragged you to hell as hell will always win out..

Hand on heart I have never been happier in my life since turning away from that scene.
I don't and won't preach to others as I believe it's something they have to figure out for themselves.

I didn't even know that subconsciously I was self analysing and it led to me just walking out of an off licence and never picking up a drink again.
That was some strange shit that day as nobody I knew would have predicted it from me.

Had they pushed I'd have rebelled because that's my personality, thankfully I still had a bit of grey matter left in the background that brought me to my senses.

Edit:
If you can drink responsibly then enjoy it, but I was never that person unfortunately.

 

[Iúr]

I found for me there was a time and place for alcohol in my life, roughly between the ages of 18 to 25. I didn't consider myself as having a problem with drink but I don't drink now and am in a much better place in life not solely because I don't drink but it's a contributory factor.

 

[Two Pour Bore]

Thanks for that fellas. It's a work in progress and I'm still figuring stuff out.

I think a lot of my most recent turmoil was/is how much has changed in my life. In the space of six months I've got my own place and am finally on course to getting all this sorted. It's really fucking hard work, and it's not all sunshine and roses, but it's worth it.

Particularly, recently (i.e. the last couple of weeks) I've had a load of medical stuff crop up, including something I've been putting off for decades, my "support network" was away for a bit, I'd managed to get the new place somewhat into a routine, my sleep was better, my drinking was slightly reduced, , my finances were looking a little more organised, etc. Then the new work (experience) thing cropped up in a big way. And the work is real feast or famine stuff, where you might be doing something non-stop for a while because it's there, and you have to get going, then it'll be a few weeks, or maybe longer, of waiting around. I hit my first proper "busy period" when the work came in, was going like the clappers, and because it was all new to me I wasn't sure on how to re-adjust and look after myself. I suppose it hit my like a fucking truck, and I took a knock to my routine, mental health and emotional health.

The difference between where I am now and where I was this time last year is fucking immense. And I'm incredibly lucky that I do have the support I do (and part of it is not being totally reliant on absolutely shitey, under-resourced, under-funded, over-worked, burnt-out state and HSE services.) What I'm doing, in a way, and being open about it on here, is part of a responsibility I feel. It might be misguided but I do feel the the responsibility to talk about this stuff as a help to others, especially in opening up. It has consequences. I've had absolute cunts bring up stuff I've posted on social media, online, etc. in underhanded, nasty ways. Trying to get a rise out of me. Trying to torment me. But fuck 'em. They're arseholes doing no good for anyone and only out for themselves. Like I said, maybe misguided (and arrogant to think people would look at me and see hope for themselves) but I do it because if it helped even one person it's worth it. And I know me being open, and talking to people about this stuff, and even just taking the time to talk to people has saved lives. Certainly at least one. That's why it's worth it.

Fuckit, it's even the same with my cooking. I know the photos of my food sometimes look like "dog's throw up" and I'm no fancy chef, but if there's a single person out there who gets a bit of a kick from seeing the absolutely ridiculous grown-up student food I cook it'd make my day.

 

[sigourney's knickers]

I worry about my tilt switch.

Usually metronomic.

It's hanging south now.

Kinda just resting there. Takes a lot of effort to swing northwards.

I'll hang south for now.




Only so many hits, literally n metaphorically.

 

[Great-Bit-O-Stuff]

Feeling low