Monthly Archives: April 2018

Everyday Inspiration; Day 1: I Write Because…

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I write for a multiple reasons. Reasons, I had planned to write about and reasons that were unexpected. Let’s start by why I started my blog. I started my blog for two main reasons. The first reason was to help educate people who don’t have lived experience that folks like myself who do have lived experience can live a productive life. It may not be productive in the eyes of a “normal” person but productive from my perspective.

The second reason I started blogging was to give those who struggle with a mental health condition/challenge that there is hope in choosing to live in active recovery whatever that may look like to the individual reading. Yes, I’ve shared by heartbreak and struggles here but I’ve gotten up and wiped myself off and hope that what I share give those who have lived experience some sort of hope.

There were some unexpected reasons I blog. The first happens to be advocacy. I didn’t realize that I could advocate here on my blog. Advocacy is something I love to do and am proud that I am able to do it on my blog. The other unexpected reason I write is that I have found that it helps me with my own recovery. My recovery means the world to me.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate all of you because if it wasn’t for you the reader I would not be writing on this blog. Thanks, again. Peace Out, World!!!

Monday Night Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I’m sitting here thinking to myself how I can can more readers. The only thing I can think of is to do another WordPress course. I am going to do one I have already done before as it was somewhat easy for me yet it gets me the readership I want. Maybe when I do Finding Your Everyday Inspiration I can use different tags as that will help me gain more readers. I’ve been blogging for nearly four years and I don’t have as many followers as I would like. Part of me is okay with this while the other part is not. It means I am not reaching as many people as I want.

My anxiety is acting up tonight which isn’t very helpful for me when my depression is acting up. I’m not sure why it is acting up but is. That is why I decided to read. It helped with the anxiety for a while. I think reading has helped me a great deal the last few weeks and I am grateful for that.

I am still figuring out ways to supplement my income. One way I am doing it is with the advertisements I have here on my blog. I’m thinking of other ways to earn money as well until I am able to go back to work. Not sure how else to it but thinking of ways.

Thank you for listening to my ramblings. Peace Out, World!!!

It’s Been a Meh Monday

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It’s been a meh Monday. A Monday that included depression that wasn’t being helped by the weather. The weather has been dreary and rainy even for Seattle. You know its dreary and rainy when Seattleites  start complaining about it.

I discussed my depression with my therapist during our fifteen minute check in today. We came up with a plan on how I can combat the depression for today. Of course, going to art group was on the list of things to do. I also discussed that when I get home after art group that I could do some painting. Which I’ve already did one painting and planning on at least starting another one as I find it relaxing. We also came up with the idea of working on one of my workbooks. We also talked about making sure I am eating and staying hydrated as that can help me combat the depression.

The weather today is good reading curled up in your bed weather. Something I will be doing after I am done with this post. I am enjoying the book immensely.

Thank you for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Monday Morning Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I didn’t get any sleep once again. I’m getting frustrated with not being able sleep. All I want is to be able to sleep. I don’t think it is too much to ask for me to get a decent night of sleep.

As much as I want to go to sleep right now, I think it wouldn’t be wise as my sleep schedule would get even messed. Not only that I wouldn’t be able to follow through with the plans I made today. I plan on going to knitting group as I want to lean how to knit. I also plan on going to art group as you all know art helps me express my emotions.

Thanks for reading. Peace Out, World

 

Mr. Sandman Skipped Me, Again

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I am having trouble sleeping once again. I’m getting frustrated with not being able to sleep. Sleeping is vital to one’s recovery or at least mine which is why I am wanting to be able to get a decent nights sleep.

Since I am unable to sleep I have been working on one of my workbooks. Actually, I think I’ll work on the mindfulness workbook as it might help me get into a wiser mind. Mindfulness has been helping me with a great deal of things like sleep.

After doing a workbook I think I’ll read a few pages in my book. I am really wanting to finish is soon. I have only been reading ten to twenty pages at a time due to lack of concentration from depression.

Depression sucks just as much as insomnia but that is why I am doing some things this next week to help with them. Things that I didn’t put in my Weekly Plans post as I realized that I could do the activities after I posted it. The activities that will help with the depression are peer run groups at a peer run community center.

Thank you for reading. Have a good work week everyone. Peace Out, World!!!

Sunday Night Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I am still pushing through the depression. Depression that appears to be lingering. Lingering a lot longer that I would like it but I know without shadow of doubt that all this will make me stronger in the long run. As I am fighting through the depression and realizing the strength I have, I at least have hope. Hope that I know things will get better. It may not feel like it at times but it will get better. I know things will get better because it has happened before.

As I think about when I was doing “well” I know it involved me working. Not working is not exactly helping my depression but I know that my new therapist will help me find the structure I need. That was very much apparent during our first appointment. He thinks me working would be beneficial for me and I agree.

Having a therapist who appears to be on the same page as me a good thing. I am hoping that I am not getting my hopes up to high about this as I tend to do that a great deal. I do like that fact that he has an “odd schedule” for working at a community mental health agency.

I think I’m going to go and listen to music while I work on one of my workbooks. I haven’t decided which one quite yet. It appears that music and my workbooks have been helpful for me the last few hours and that is a good thing.

Thank you for reading. Have a good night. Peace Out, World!!!

Grateful Even For Depression

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I’m sitting here grateful for the shit I have been through. Yes, even the negative and bad shit. I am grateful for it as it has made me who I am. Yes, my depression is still slightly acting up however I am still grateful. I am even grateful for the depression I am dealing with. I am grateful for it as it has helped shaped me as a person and made me stronger.

I realized this gratitude after journaling in my gratitude journal. I may not like to admit I am strong person but I am grateful that I am in space that I am able to do so on occasion. Being grateful in the face of difficult times is a huge success for me and my recovery.

Being grateful for my what I have is a good thing and Junior is telling me dinner is reading. We are having Lasagna. Junior makes some great Lasagna. Have a great evening everyone. Peace Out, World!!!

Fighting Off Depression

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I am feeling slightly better now that my apartment is clean. Having a clean apartment is helping with the depression but it’s still hanging over my head. As much as depression sucks shit, knowing what helps, helps subside the depression.

As challenging as my depression has been lately, making active decisions to stay in recovery is difficult yet well worth. Being in recovery is not easy but it is so much better than being miserable and not being in recovery.

Now that I am done cleaning, I am going to read. I am going to read Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb. I am enjoying the book immensely. If you are into fantasy or science fiction fan then I highly recommend the book.

After reading I might work on a workbook. Not sure which workbook I will work on but I will work on one as I feel the need to focus on my recovery. It is a way for me to fight off the depression. Hell, reading is to.

Thank you for reading. Peace Out, World!!!

Sunday Morning Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am debating what I should have for breakfast. I’m thinking something simple like cereal. I think since its a dreary day I’m going to have some hot cereal and some hot tea while reading the news paper.

I am not liking the fact that by depression is acting up a little bit this weekend. I think part of it has to do with the weather. It’s been a dreary spring here in Seattle. On a positive note on the dreary weather its what makes Seattle and the rest of Washington so green and beautiful.

As my depression acts up I have to be more diligent in my recovery do what I need to do to push through it. It is not as easy as it appears when I write about it. It’s harder than hell to push through it. I push through it because it’s what I have to do to remain in recovery.

For me my recovery means the world to me. It’s what keeps me going and making the right decisions. Decisions that aren’t always easy to make. But everyone, whether they have a mental health diagnosis or not makes difficult decisions everyday.

Thank you for reading. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Blog
  • Clean Apartment
  • Laundry

Monday

  • Blog
  • Art Group
  • Workbooks

Tuesday

  • Blog
  • Therapy
  • Workbooks

Wednesday

  • Blog
  • Clean Apartment
  • Workbooks

Thursday

  • Blog
  • Art
  • Workbooks

Friday

  • Blog
  • Art
  • Workbooks
  • Day Treatment

Saturday

  • Lazy day