For those that questioned why I didn’t attend the game last Saturday, this was why. My daughter asked me to go to the Pride parade with her, have a few drinks, a meal, and generally have a catch up on her life and her website project. She doesn’t live with me so I don’t see her that often so face to face time is very valuable

I’ve highlighted one particular part of her social media post from today. That is a nod to WWays. She was stunned by the response from here. I thank all of you that contributed feedback once again for your support.......

 

 

As some of you may remember, a year ago I set up a website that allows people to submit and share their personal stories regarding mental health, encouraging people to use their voice and realise that they're not going through this alone.

The response I received was absolutely insane. That insane in fact, that I shut it down after a few months as I couldn't cope with managing the website alongside my own mental health.

But now I'm back 💥 I'm in a better place with my mental health, I'm currently in the process of purchasing my first home, and next week I start my dream job as a Teaching Assistant in a special educational needs school.

So I've decided to relaunch my project. A website where you can anonymously submit your mental health story, in the form of poetry, short stories, song lyrics, or simply anything that expresses you.

www.mindofourown.co.uk

Edited August 27, 20196 yr by MancWanderer

Glad you are on the mend @kent_white - stay well. 

10 hours ago, kent_white said:

Right - I've got a bit of good news here. And maybe something to read if you're down or struggling. 

I've not mentioned it on here previously, but I've been off work since just before Christmas with mental health problems. Quick synopsis - break of of relationship, dead dad, stressful job and trying to complete a masters got well on top of me and I completely broke down. 

I couldn't eat, sleep or get out of bed. I thought about suicide every day and couldn't get the thought from popping into my brain and ruminating on it. Even if I knew in my heart of hearts I'd never follow through with it. I genuinely didn't think I would ever be able to recover from this episode and that my life was over.

Fast forward a couple of months and I'm ready to return to work. In fact I'm really looking forward to it. I'm exercising again - going out and enjoying life and am optimistic about the future. 

If you're going through a shit time (and all of us do at times) then just know that it DOESN'T last forever (even if it feels that way right now).....

If anyone's struggling and needs a chat - you can always DM me. Always! 💪👍

Good stuff 👏🏻

 

Our Maud said she will have the keckle on 😉👍

I don't know you mate but that's great news Kent.

23 hours ago, FrancisFogarty said:

I finally finished at the end of January and hated it at first. I still never get a minute, mrs Fogarty never stops. There's always something we NEED to do.

I miss the people I worked with (some of them) and all of the people I supported. I'm getting used to it now, sort of but at the beginning of January I never went out the door properly for two weeks. I blamed it on the weather or anything I could think of.

Finishing work is not to be lightly undertaken in my opinion.

Retired aged 51. 

Best thing I ever did - love it.
Missed absolutely nothing about work from day one. 

Now lots of exercise daily and lots of travel.

If you can afford it, then do it I say, but each to their own. 

Edited February 17, 20242 yr by captainmed

30 minutes ago, captainmed said:

Retired aged 51. 

Best thing I ever did - love it.
Missed absolutely nothing about work from day one. 

Now lots of exercise daily and lots of travel.

If you can afford it then do it I say, but each to their own. 

A part of the 'problem' for me was I loved the job. I worked in a day centre for people with disabilities and in truth I haven't worked a day for the last 14  years. 

You're quite right though, to each their own, and at nearly 70 (with a 74 yo wife) I and probably some of the staff thought it was time to go.

1 minute ago, FrancisFogarty said:

A part of the 'problem' for me was I loved the job. I worked in a day centre for people with disabilities and in truth I haven't worked a day for the last 14  years. 

I understand that.

Fair play 👍🏻

1 hour ago, FrancisFogarty said:

A part of the 'problem' for me was I loved the job. I worked in a day centre for people with disabilities and in truth I haven't worked a day for the last 14  years. 

You're quite right though, to each their own, and at nearly 70 (with a 74 yo wife) I and probably some of the staff thought it was time to go.

Could you not do it on a part-time or voluntary basis maybe?

7 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Could you not do it on a part-time or voluntary basis maybe?

I was only doing two days a week anyway.

They had asked me to go back for a couple of months at first, when COVID started. That was over two years ago, then people left then they were short staffed and I just never got round to finishing.

46 minutes ago, FrancisFogarty said:

I was only doing two days a week anyway.

They had asked me to go back for a couple of months at first, when COVID started. That was over two years ago, then people left then they were short staffed and I just never got round to finishing.

Ah right, fair enough

Thanks again to all who've past on their best wishes. I only get one like a week so I can't like all the comments! 😁

Keep on keeping on chaps! 👍

6 hours ago, kent_white said:

Thanks again to all who've past on their best wishes. I only get one like a week so I can't like all the comments! 😁

Keep on keeping on chaps! 👍

Your A Cunt 

Glad your ok now pal 

8 minutes ago, little whitt said:

Your A Cunt 

Glad your ok now pal 

I can’t ignore this.

It’s you’re!

7 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

I can’t ignore this.

It’s you’re!

It's Little Whitt ffs.

4 minutes ago, DazBob said:

It's Little Whitt ffs.

Really? Whoosh.🤷‍♂️

On 16/02/2024 at 11:39, kent_white said:

Right - I've got a bit of good news here. And maybe something to read if you're down or struggling. 

I've not mentioned it on here previously, but I've been off work since just before Christmas with mental health problems. Quick synopsis - break of of relationship, dead dad, stressful job and trying to complete a masters got well on top of me and I completely broke down. 

I couldn't eat, sleep or get out of bed. I thought about suicide every day and couldn't get the thought from popping into my brain and ruminating on it. Even if I knew in my heart of hearts I'd never follow through with it. I genuinely didn't think I would ever be able to recover from this episode and that my life was over.

Fast forward a couple of months and I'm ready to return to work. In fact I'm really looking forward to it. I'm exercising again - going out and enjoying life and am optimistic about the future. 

If you're going through a shit time (and all of us do at times) then just know that it DOESN'T last forever (even if it feels that way right now).....

If anyone's struggling and needs a chat - you can always DM me. Always! 💪👍

Fuck. Reading this made me well up. I’m glad you’re doing better. 
 

I also feel like I’m coming out the other side. Medicated to buggery like, but I no longer cry or lose my shit to the people I love the most. I’ve learnt I can’t control everything. What will be will be. As long as my kids and close family are happy, I crack on and let all the others make their own mistakes in life. 

On 17/02/2024 at 19:26, little whitt said:

Your A Cunt 

Glad your ok now pal 

😂😂 - thanks mate! 

Well this weeks been pretty shit, hopefully next week will be better, but i doubt it..

 

Black dogs threatened me a few times this week

 

Right. A very close friend of mine has been diagnosed with clinical depression this week. Apparently it's been quiet a few years in the making. It has come as a shock to me that I didn't see it. It's a possibility that my blindness to it was my fault. Anyway, it seems meds and counseling are the next steps for them. I won't lie I'm a bit ignorant on the subject. I'm definitely going to have to Google up on the subject. 

5 hours ago, Underpants said:

Right. A very close friend of mine has been diagnosed with clinical depression this week. Apparently it's been quiet a few years in the making. It has come as a shock to me that I didn't see it. It's a possibility that my blindness to it was my fault. Anyway, it seems meds and counseling are the next steps for them. I won't lie I'm a bit ignorant on the subject. I'm definitely going to have to Google up on the subject. 

It's not your fault pal, some are great at hiding it. 

You just need to remember it's just like any other illness and mostly boils down to chemicals. Just like if your friends body didn't have enough white blood cells or too much sugar in the blood.

From faulty mood regulators to depleted serotonin stocks, dopamine running on fumes or receptors out of action, the brain and its components are just like any other part of the body. If a bits not working as it should be we are in trouble.

The task is now to get your friends components working correctly. Lifestyle, meds, therapy etc. 

Looks like they've made the first step and that's the biggest step of all.

You just hang in there, they'll probably just want you to be you. They might not want their pal all of sudden changing and fannying round them... or they might.

Glad they are getting help and remember it's nobodies fault. Brains are fucked up.

7 hours ago, Underpants said:

Right. A very close friend of mine has been diagnosed with clinical depression this week. Apparently it's been quiet a few years in the making. It has come as a shock to me that I didn't see it. It's a possibility that my blindness to it was my fault. Anyway, it seems meds and counseling are the next steps for them. I won't lie I'm a bit ignorant on the subject. I'm definitely going to have to Google up on the subject. 

It's not your fault. People can hide it whether through embarrassment or just wanting to ignore it 

Just be yourself and maybe go for the odd pint extra a week with them, something simple but it can mean the whole world. Being all of a sudden too full on, whilst being well intended, could have the opposite effect

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

It's not your fault pal, some are great at hiding it. 

You just need to remember it's just like any other illness and mostly boils down to chemicals. Just like if your friends body didn't have enough white blood cells or too much sugar in the blood.

From faulty mood regulators to depleted serotonin stocks, dopamine running on fumes or receptors out of action, the brain and its components are just like any other part of the body. If a bits not working as it should be we are in trouble.

The task is now to get your friends components working correctly. Lifestyle, meds, therapy etc. 

Looks like they've made the first step and that's the biggest step of all.

You just hang in there, they'll probably just want you to be you. They might not want their pal all of sudden changing and fannying round them... or they might.

Glad they are getting help and remember it's nobodies fault. Brains are fucked up.

Good post

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

It's not your fault pal, some are great at hiding it. 

You just need to remember it's just like any other illness and mostly boils down to chemicals. Just like if your friends body didn't have enough white blood cells or too much sugar in the blood.

From faulty mood regulators to depleted serotonin stocks, dopamine running on fumes or receptors out of action, the brain and its components are just like any other part of the body. If a bits not working as it should be we are in trouble.

The task is now to get your friends components working correctly. Lifestyle, meds, therapy etc. 

Looks like they've made the first step and that's the biggest step of all.

You just hang in there, they'll probably just want you to be you. They might not want their pal all of sudden changing and fannying round them... or they might.

Glad they are getting help and remember it's nobodies fault. Brains are fucked up.

 

3 minutes ago, DirtySanchez said:

It's not your fault. People can hide it whether through embarrassment or just wanting to ignore it 

Just be yourself and maybe go for the odd pint extra a week with them, something simple but it can mean the whole world. Being all of a sudden too full on, whilst being well intended, could have the opposite effect

I have never really been confronted by an issue like this before. But I've always been sympathetic to folk with them. I've never been one that thinks to themselves, pull yourself together for gods sake!

The closeness of our relationship puts me in a position were I can significantly help. Not because I have to (but there is some of that in it). But because I want to. Small steps as they say.

8 minutes ago, Underpants said:

 

I have never really been confronted by an issue like this before. But I've always been sympathetic to folk with them. I've never been one that thinks to themselves, pull yourself together for gods sake!

The closeness of our relationship puts me in a position were I can significantly help. Not because I have to (but there is some of that in it). But because I want to. Small steps as they say.

It's good that you're in a position to help though

Thing is, and only talking about my experience, is don't go in too full on and certainly not too soon

They just might want to be around people they don't know. Being around people they do can bring on embarrassment, don't want to be there etc 

But as your close, maybe go round as you usually would, go for a pint whatever. They might not open up but I'm sure they'd appreciate it

Wrong thread

 

Edited April 27, 20242 yr by Gonk

11 hours ago, DirtySanchez said:

 you usually would, go for a pint whatever. They might not open up but I'm sure they'd appreciate it

Maybe a couple of pints but don't go mental