Tag Archives: DBT

Everyday Inspiration, Day 2; Write a List

Posted on by Gertie

What I’ve Learned

  • I’ve learned to play the flute.
  • I’ve learned the basics of playing the harmonica.
  • I’ve learned that the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skill help me when life is unmanageable or just a little stressful.
  • I’ve learned to laugh at myself and that humor goes a long way.
  • I’ve (re)learned several times over that cats are always forgiving and full of unconditional love.
  • I’ve learned from my cat how to be a better human and how to have more patience with humans.
  • I’ve learned that my artwork doesn’t have to be perfect for others to enjoy it.
  • I’ve learned from my cat how to love myself.
Advertisement

Struggling & Making an Effort to Feel Better Emotionally

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I’ve been struggling with PTSD and Depression the last couple of weeks. Partly because I lost my new job and mainly due to some traumatic events in my life that don’t count losing a job. I’ve been applying for new jobs because I need the money to pay the bills even though I know of resources I can go to to help.

I’ve been applying to jobs in fast food even thought I don’t want to work fast food or retail but I need the money to pay the bills. I would rather work as a peer specialist or in the human service feild but right now a job is job and I can’t be too picky right so I can pay bills.

Things that I plan on doing are DBT skills and new hobbies like Latch hooking or attempting to teach myself. I also plan on doing some art by coloring and reading some books. And of course reading some books. I also have a twenty minute check in via phone with my therapist later today. Last but not least doing art work with coloring and spending time with my cat Billie.

I don’t have much more to say. I do want to thank you for reading my blog and hope I’m not boring anyone of you. If it wasn’t for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be writing my blog. So thank you for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Check In

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Caturday, World!!! It is Saturday aka Caturday which is when I usually do my weekly check ins. I personally feel like I haven’t bed doing the weekly check ins on the regular basis and I have plenty of legit excuses I can use but not going to use them as I know what I can do to overcome the struggles of doing the weekly check ins.

It has been a challenging few weeks or a I should say a challenging month and a half at work. I love my job with a passion and really hope the county can find a way to to keep us open. There is a very small glimmer of hope it can stay open but the reality is, it most likely will close.

Something that helped me this week was taking yesterday (Friday) off from work and go to my grandpa’s after work on Thursday to spend a couple of days with him and my two uncles. Of course my cat Billie Dean came with me. He enjoyed the extra attention but everyone knows that I am his human.

As far as my own recovery and knowing, I will be laid off but no official lay off date as of yet, I’ve been using my DBT skills. Specifically, the Radical Acceptance skill. Not an easy skill to do but it is helping me a great deal.

On the plus note, it is finally baseball season. I am hoping to make it to a came this season. Preferably one where the Angels are in Seattle. I love my home town team of the Angels. I really hope they do well this season.

I don’t have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. If it wasn’t for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be writing my post. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World

Taking the First Two Hours Off of Work

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, once again, World!!! This should be a relatively short post. I am taking my first two hours of my work shift off due to the reasons why I need some extra sleep. I am a little pissed that I have to do this but I need the sleep yet I need to do much needed notes but at least I have time to do notes this afternoon. I just want to make sure I see my clients. They are the important part of my job. The supervisors all contacted be back “thanking” me for being so “on top of things.” I’m only doing my job. I just want to make sure I am present with my clients and not a cranky bucket.

I wish my neighbors would realize that their actions affect everyone in the apartment building. Some of us do have jobs and most of have us have a mental health issue and or addiction issue. It is something I am going to have to radically accept from DBT. Thankfully my cat has been helpful with emotional ups and downs or the morning.

I don’t have much more to say except thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated. I hope you have a great Wednesday ahead of you. Peace Out World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 2: Write a List

Posted on by Gertie

Things I’ve Learned

  • I learned coping skills to deal with the symptoms of my mental health diagnoses
  • I learned Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skill which helped save my life
  • I learned the meaning of recovery and how to be in recovery with the help of others
  • I learned how to be resilient
  • I learned how to hope for better things in my life
  • I learned how to play the flute
  • I am learning to play the harmonica
  • I am learning about philosophy by listening to a podcast about philosophy

Everyday Inspiration; Day 2: Write a List

Posted on by Gertie

Things I’ve Learned

  • I’ve learned the beauty of recovery
  • I’ve learned the value of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills
  • I’ve learned it’s nots the other person responsibility on how I react to their behavior
  • I’ve learned the value of having a cat being around the home
  • I’ve learned the value of friends
  • I’ve learned to enjoy each moment I have with family
  • I’ve learned that it is okay to see a therapist
  • I’ve learned that it is okay to ask for help when I need especially if it is regarding my mental health and my recovery

Everyday Inspiration; Day 2: Write A List

Posted on by Gertie

Things I’ve Learned In Recovery

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills
  • Setting boundaries
  • The love my family has for me
  • Friends and family I can depend on
  • To not take life too seriously
  • Some days are going to be tougher than other days and that is okay
  • Mistakes are teachable moments as well as lessons learned
  • It’s okay if the only I thing do is get out of bed; some days are going to be like that
  • Helping others helps me; but make sure I put myself first or I might not be able to help others in a health way
  • Working helps me with my recovery and gives me a sense of purpose
  • Volunteering not only helps with my depression and other diagnosis it helps the community at large
  • Building a community the accepts me as me
  • Being in more that one community is a good thing
  • Having an emotional support animal (ESA) to take care  to help with depression (currently my cat, Billie Dean)
  • Doing self care is not selfish

Phuck It!!! I Can’t Sleep

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, I still haven’t slept and am getting extremely frustrated about. Especially since I have things that need to get done and be attended to. Not being able to sleep is quite annoying as well as frustrating and wish my meds would work. I guess this is the time to use the DBT Skill; Radical Acceptance. Radical Acceptance isn’t one of the easiest DBT skills for me to use especially in regards to not sleeping but it is one of the most useful skills for me to use.

Besides using radical acceptance, I have been doing some art. I have been coloring, collaging and painting. I have also been doing a combination of mediums (genre’s) which has been quite fun and interesting. In fact I am happy to see some great finished pieces that I hope to give to people at some point. I enjoy making things and giving the finish product to people for the hell of it.

Billie Dean, my cat, has been keeping me company as I do art work. I am grateful to have Billie in my life and happy that he came into my life when he did. I really miss my last cat, Lil Gertie and think she was the one that led Billie and myself to each other. I know it seems weird but I think it’s the case. I sure love Billie and that he is a such a lap cat.

I don’t have much more to say. I do however want to thank every single one of you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope each one of you enjoys the Wednesday ahead of you and that you are able to find joy in this day. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

SUNDAY

  • Take nap when I get home from work. (Yes, I am still at work)
  • Do some art
  • Have dinner with friends
  • Work on workbooks

MONDAY

  • Go to DSHS to sort out the food stamp situation. (That’s if it doesn’t snow)
  • Do some art
  • Lunch with a friend who lives in my building
  • Get meds
  • Work on workbooks

TUESDAY

  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City. (Looking forward to having some kitty time.)
  • Attend work meeting in the evening. (Hoping for snow so I can use it as an excuse to not attend.)
  • Work on workbooks

WEDNESDAY

  • Sleep in
  • Lunch with my grandpa. (I love spending time with my grandpa.)
  • Do some artwork.
  • Work on workbooks
  • Clean apartment

Thursday

  • See therapist
  • Attend DBT Group. (Hopefully it doesn’t get cancelled for any reason.)
  • Work on workbooks
  • Do some art work.

FRIDAY

  • Do some art work
  • Work on Workbooks
  • Clean apartment
  • Visit with my grandpa

SATURDAY

  • Sleep all day
  • Work all night

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! This is my weekly check in and I really didn’t do as much as I had planned on doing. The main thing I did was hang out with friends. Mostly hanging out with friends throughout the week is what helped me the most. It appeared that hanging out with friends including eating food and lots of it. So, I had great company and awesome food.

Another thing that I did this week was volunteer at PAWS Cat City. It was mostly learning the day to day operations. Some of which I already knew as I experienced it as an adopter of a cat at PAWS Cat City. I also got a lot of kitty time. Specifically with one cat in particular and I am hope she got adopted. I am really happy that I am volunteering there as it is going to be a great healing process for me in regards to Lil Gertie and I feel like this is a way I am honoring her memory.

I didn’t attend any of my groups this week. I didn’t attend the D&D group due to a migraine and really want to attend it. Now as far as my DBT group it was cancelled “due to snow” at 8:30ish in the morning when I know for a fact there was no snow in the city of Seattle and informed the clinician of it. He then stated “oh it is cancelled due to the potential of snow.” When I asked why he didn’t wait till later in the morning to make sure if the weather would actually have it snow the clinician didn’t have an answer so I said bye and hung up. It didn’t snow in Seattle on Thursday and was quite upset I was lied to.

Now I am on way to work. Thankfully, no snow yet. I hope we don’t get snow as I am not a big fan of the white stuff. I do not like the cold that comes with it as well. Snow is a big deal here in Seattle and pretty much closes down the city. Anyone who has lived in Seattle during snow already knows this. I think I should finish getting ready for work. I hope work goes well tonight.

I do not have much more to say. I want to thank you for reading my blog as it is greatly appreciated from end of things. Have a great weekend everyone. Peace Out, World!!!!