Just a Typical Monday at Work & Art Therapy

Good Evening, World!!! It’s a typical Monday at work for me. The best part of the work week for me is Mondays because I get to do an Art Group with and intern who is getting a degree in art therapy. Granted the Art Group is at the end of the day but it makes Mondays more bearable. I love my job and am grateful that I can co-facilitate the art group with a great art therapist intern. My clients are awesome artist and do their best work listening to music so we have some “music therapy” along with doing art.

I had supervision with my supervisor today. For some reason it appeared awkward to me which is unusual for our supervision. I love my job with a passion and am grateful that I am not micromanaged by my supervisor. She is pretty laid back is a good egg.

Billie was a great coworker today and stayed by my side during most of my shift. His unconditional love and support when I need it is never ending and am grateful he able to pick up on my emotions. I love my cat Billie Dean so much. Plus, he is a great coworker.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it wasn’t for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

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Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Blog
  • Workbook
  • Art
  • Laundry
  • Lunch w/friends

Monday

  • Blog
  • Workbook
  • Art group

Tuesday

  • Blog
  • Workbook
  • Therapy appointment
  • Appointment with employment specialist
  • Art

Wednesday

  • Blog
  • Workbook
  • Open Communication group
  • Household chores

Thursday

  • Blog
  • Workbook
  • Appointment w/denture dude
  • DBT group
  • Art

Friday

  • Blog
  • Workbooks
  • Lunch w/friends
  • Art

Saturday

  • Blog
  • Workbooks
  • Movies w/friends
  • Dinner w/more friends

A Full Monday, I Had

Hello, World!!! It is twelve midnight which means it is officially Tuesday in my corner of the world. I am wanting to share with you how my Monday went as it ended better than how it started which I am grateful for.

My Monday did not start off exactly how I had wanted. The building fire alarm went off at five o’clock in the morning startling everyone awake. So, I put Lil Gertie in her carrier and went down to the lobby. As I got to the lobby the fire department was arriving so I of course let the fire fighters in. The fire fighters did a sweep of the building to see where there could be a potential fire at and then attempted to reset the fire alarm. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to reset the fire alarm which meant they had to do another sweep of the building. Long story short they couldn’t reset the fire alarm to be able to turn it off. They couldn’t let anyone back to their apartments till someone from the apartment building management and/or maintenance showed up. Sadly, when the fire department called them at six nobody showed up until the building office opened up at eight o’clock in the morning. It really sucked for everybody especially all the cats in carriers because they were in them for three hours.

When we were finally able to get back to our apartments at eight o’clock in the morning, I let Lil Gertie out of her carrier and gave her wet food. She usually gets a can in the evening but she deserved to have an extra can today. After giving Lil Gertie some wet food I got ready for the day and then left to go to my appointment with my therapist.

Since I ended up arriving early to my appointment, I hang out in the day treatment area for about an hour. During my appointment with my therapist we discussed my birthday and turning forty. That led to my therapist asking some questions about my childhood. Questions that I am grateful he asked as he received some insight about how my childhood was. After I was sharing about some parts of my childhood he responded by “you sure did experience a great deal of trauma as a child.” In response to his comment I said, “Oh that was the easy shit I went through unless you count going to Disneyland.” He chuckled at my response as he knew I grew up near Disneyland. In face I found it cool that he chuckled as my response was suppose to be a little funny despite having a serious side to it. I am happy that my therapist got some insight of how my childhood was even though it wasn’t the most traumatic part of my childhood. Yes, it was traumatic but the the most severe trauma I was in.

After my appointment with my therapist, I attended art group. We did a self care tree. We drew and wrote in leaves what we did for self care which was a great reminder for everyone to do good self care and that it looks differently to people. I love art group so much. Art has a way of helping me express things I am unable to express.

After therapy and art group I got home and spent a couple of hours chilling with Lil Gertie, my cat. After a couple of hours I went downstairs to the community room to hang out with neighbors who I have become friends with. We had a potluck dinner. All the food was delicious. After dinner we then play a couple of games. We played Jenga, Phase 10, and Uno. We all had a great time spending about five hours together.

Now, I am back in my apartment writing this post and chilling out watching The Tonight Show. My cat, Lil Gertie is actually sleeping in her cat bed which means she wants me to go to bed. Hell, I am tired so I guess that is what I am going to do next.

I do not have much more to say. Thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things. Have a goodnight everyone. Don’t let the bedbugs bite. Peace Out, World!!!

In Desperate Need of a Shower

Good Morning, World!!! I am in desperate need of a shower as I haven’t showered since last Wednesday. I have a couple of ideas of why I haven’t showered and one of them is that my depression is starting to creep back in. The other idea is more or less me being in “fuck it mode” due to something I rather not discuss at the moment. I know taking shower will be extremely helpful in regards to feeling somewhat better.

Not only have I not been showering, I have been in isolation mode. I have been managing to not isolate by hanging out with neighbors as well as going for walks. I do need to start reaching out to friends who don’t live in my apartment building because if I don’t my depression will get worse and I will end up isolating from everyone including my neighbors.

The one thing I was going to do ended up being cancelled because the person is on vacation and failed to inform us last week. I was suppose to attended art group today and it sadly was cancelled the last minute due to a communication failure of the group leader. I was really looking forward to attending art group as I know it would have helped me not isolate as well as to motivate me to take a shower.

On a good note, I have taken my morning walks which I think is my saving grace at the moment. I think my morning walks are great form of self care for me and a good way to start my day. I even do an evening walk to clear my head from whatever type of day I may have had. Taking the two walks a day have been quite beneficial for me and my mental health.

Doing good self care, no matter how small, is something that I benefit from. Sometimes it is difficult for me to do self care due to depression. In fact doing good self care is something I make an effort to do as I want to be an example of what recovery looks like.

I don’t have much more to write about in this post except that I will end up taking a shower at some point today. I also want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things. Have a good Monday everyone. Peace Out, World!!!

It Is Yet Another Monday

Good Morning, World!!! It is another Monday which is the start of another work week. The last full work week before Christmas. This is the time of year where many people are under stress due to the holidays. It is also the time of year where many others who have mental health challenges it because that much more stressful and anxiety provoking especially when family is involved. It is my hope for the next eight days that everyone can be able to do some good self care as the Christmas holiday is coming quickly upon us.

The one thing I was hoping to do today was attend art group but unfortunately I have a dental appointment today and it was the only one available before the New Year so I took it. It is for the the dentist to take moldings of my teeth and after that I make an appointment to get my teeth pulled as they all need to be taken out. I however will wait till the new year to get my teeth pulled. I am not looking forward to it but if it will help me eat better to get better nutrition and feel better about myself then I will do it. I just really wanted to go to art group today as art group won’t happen on the 24th or  31st due to the fact that the group facilitators will be out of town.

After my dental appointment this afternoon, I am going shopping for Christmas gifts. I highly dislike shopping especially this time of year because everyone is so rude or at least the other shoppers appear to be rude. Another reason why I highly dislike shopping for gifts is because it always appears that the gifts I give are always returned or re-gifted. Which is why I tend to give cash or gift cards then that way the person receiving the gift can get what they want or need. Plus, then my family can’t argue that I spent more on one person than the other cause they can check the cash or the gift card to see how much it is.

But before I go to the dentist or shopping, I will be going to go get my meds. Meds that I really don’t like taking but do. I take them because I know they ultimately help me with my recovery. They are the primary reason for my recovery but are part of what helps with my recovery. Taking meds sucks but if they are helpful to my recovery then I will take them.

Before I get my meds I need to do some very basic self care stuff. I need to eat breakfast. I also need to take a shower as I haven’t taken a shower in about four days which means my depression symptoms are starting to increase. So doing basic self care items like eating, showering and evening making my bed are quite helpful for me in battling the symptoms of my mental health challenges.

Thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated. I hope everyone has a great Monday and most importantly a great work week. Again, thank you for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

A Monday With Struggles & Other Randomness

Good Evening, World!!! Today has been a Monday full of struggles. Struggles that are of concern to me as well as my therapist. I went into my mental health agency to attend a group and was able to briefly check in with my therapist. My therapist has some concerns about the increase of depression symptoms and self harm urges. We only talked for about an half an hour as we have an hour appointment tomorrow.

As concerned as my therapist is with increased symptoms he was “happy” that I decided to show up for a group today. Not just any group but Art Group. My therapist thinks doing art is therapeutic for me and I agree with him. It puts me in a better head space even just all so slightly at times. I am extremely grateful that I attended art group today.

I have been doing some good self care since I got home from my brief check in with my therapist and art group. I came home and immediately put my pajamas on and made hot chocolate.  As I sat down with my hot chocolate my cat, Lil Gertie, jumped into my lap. Drinking hot chocolate and petting my cat are two very good self care activities for me especially at the same time.

Now I think it is time to go. I need to get me something to eat. It is time for dinner. I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is very much appreciated from my end of things. I want to thank you for continuing to read my blog and enjoying what I have to say. I do not have much more to say in this post. So, thank you again from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Monday Morning Randomness

Good Morning, World!!! I unfortunately didn’t get sleep last night despite taking my sleeping meds. I hope that at some point today that I will be able to take a nap.

Due to not getting sleep, I hope I can make through my therapy session without becoming a cranky bucket. I will be discussing with my therapist about the lack of sleep I have been getting. I know he will inform me to discuss it with my psychiatric nurse practitioner tomorrow however my therapist and I can come up with non medication ways to get to sleep. I see my therapist at eleven thirty this morning and hope that I don’t fall asleep on the bus when I go to my appointment.

The one thing I am looking forward to bu not sure I will attend is Art group. Yes, it starts a half an hour after I see my therapist however since I didn’t get any sleep last night I don’t know if attending would be a good idea as I might need to come back home to take a nap.

I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated on my end of things. Peace Out, World!!!

Monday Morning Ramblings

Good Morning, World!!! It is nearly six thirty in the morning in my neck of the woods and Lil Gertie woke me up by licking one of my feet. She obviously had a sixth sense of knowing that I was having a nightmare. She has woken me up whenever I have a PTSD nightmare and I didn’t even train her to do so.

Dealing with nightmares is a part of PTSD that I didn’t have to deal with however it is something I have to deal with. I have learned various was on how to deal with the after affects of a nightmare. Now that I have an emotional support animal in Lil Gertie I can depend on her for help. Just one more thing I can do is depend on my cat, Lil Gertie.

I realize it seems like I talk a great deal about Lil Gertie, lately. It is just that she has helped me so much in the last nearly a month of having her. She has been a great support for me especially during PTSD moments as well as after them.

I am planning on attending art group later on today. I love art group for many reasons. Reasons that I have informed my therapist about. In return he encourages me to attend. I am hoping we do some collaging in art group today.

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

 

Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • Spend time with grandpa
  • Grocery shopping
  • Be lazy

Monday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • Art Group
  • Vocational appointmen
  • Workbooks

Tuesday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • Hearing voices group
  • Pick up meds
  • Workbooks

Wednesday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • Workbooks
  • Be lazy

Thursday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • Therapy
  • Workbooks

Friday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • DBT group
  • Workbooks

Saturday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • Hang out with friend
  • Volunteer

 

Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • Workbooks
  • Relax

Monday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • Art group
  • Vocational appointment
  • Workbooks

Tuesday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • Hearing Voice’s group
  • Workbooks
  • Clean Apartment

Wednesday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • Workbooks
  • Be lazy

Thursday

  • Blog
  • Therapy
  • Read
  • Workbooks

Friday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • DBT group
  • Workbooks

Saturday

  • Blog
  • Read
  • Volunteer