Tag Archives: Mental Health

Home Sick from Work but Staying Busy w/Billie’s Help

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! Right now, I normally would be at work. Sadly, I am at home sick. I am not sure why I am not feeling very well and I think part of it has to do with a slight case of depression. Depression that is most likely due to the amount of people I have known that have passed away in a short period of time.

Since I am home sick, I am keeping myself busy. I am staying busy by doing various types of art work. The first type of art work that I am doing is coloring. I am coloring the posters that I showed you via pictures in my last two blog posts. The other type of art work I am doing is something called diamond art. I’m not sure how to explain it but it looks like a lot of fun that will take a lot of time as well as a lot of patients. I am looking forward to this new art adventure with diamond art as well as my continued love of the art of coloring. I also hope to be able to take photos of the diamond art to post them here on my blog as well as my continued progress of coloring the posters to show you how well they progressing.

Besides doing two types of art, I have been reading. Specifically, I have been reading the second edition of “Tarot for Beginners.” As of right now it is an easy read. A book that a fifth grader can comprehend which is a good thing for me because it makes it easier for me to comprehend. The best part is I haven’t picked up to read in roughly a month and am able to read it without having to reread what I have already read. I am hoping that reading this book will help me continue with my journey of mental health recovery as well as another coping skill. I hope that after reading this book that I can share what I have learned with you my reader as well as some of the spreads I do on myself as well as other people’s spread if they give permission of course.

Now it is time to get going so I can cuddle with my cat, Billie and read. Before I end this post I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. If it weren’t for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be writing my blog. Again, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Another piece of a poster being colored

Posted on by Gertie

This piece has taken about three months to work on and is easier than some other posters. I am going to be giving this poster to my mom as she likes this type of stuff. I love my mom so much. I tend to do my best art work during sleepless nights.

A Middle of the Night New Challenge to Coloring This

Posted on by Gertie
A giant color picture I just started due to not being able to sleep. Not much is colored but I did color some. It is going to take awhile and hope to update you all as it progresses.

Good Morning, World!!! Or maybe I could say, Happy Middle of the Night to those of us who are currently able to sleep. Many times coloring helps me with both my anxiety and my insomnia. I am not sure if I am going to work on more tonight or not as I am hoping my anxiety meds and sleeping meds will kick in and help tonight. I just hope I get enough sleep to get into work tomorrow. I really love my job and don’t want to miss too much of being out. But I least coloring helps me grounding and a form or coping skills from. I hope everyone has a great time doing will help to keep your self from burnout.

Thank you for following my blog and hope that I can continue with his a comple of coloring picture come along.

A Challenging few Weeks w/New & Refreshed Lessons Learned Along the Way

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Caturday Saturday. It has been quite a couple of weeks of being challenging for me for various reasons and many of them I have had to deal with some eighth deaths in a matter of a two week period. Some of the folks I have never met but really admired in the animal welfare community especially locally here in the Seattle area who touched the life of many humans and cats. Sadly this person took her own life and wish I would have been given to meet her in person. She will be greatly missed especially in the animal welfare community.

On the continuation of discussing death. I can’t really discuss much about it due to HiPAA law but many of the client I work with overdose on drugs and alcohol. Sadly some pass away to drug and/or alcohol overdoses and It is challenging to deal with. Thankfully I have the support of my colleagues with this especially when people have been trying to get off drugs so they don’t have to have a stigma with an addiction.

Dealing with so many deaths is the last couple of weeks I have been reaching out to my support system such as my friends, family and my colleagues as well as my therapist. I am just beyond grateful that I have supportive people in my life to be there for me. Not many people have a good support system and I have a great support system.

Now on to what I do to help with my self care. One way I do self care is due at least two mindful meditations daily; once in the morning and another one before bed time. I am also trying to put in third mindful mediation in the middle of a work day to help me refocus during work. Another way I have been doing self care is spending time with my cat as well as walking two times a day; once in the morning and once the evening. Of course another self care act is going to volunteer at PAWS Cat City a least once a week. Of course working at my job helps as well. I have been reading a lot of books that I find helpful to help with my recovery journey. I also have been doing some art work and hope to show sometime soon.

As this post comes to an end just know there is always hope along the way. I want to thank you for reading my blog. If it was not for you reading and/or following my blog, I most likely would be continuing to writing my blog. Again thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out World!!!!

Gaining Knowledge, Wisdom & Understanding

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Friday, World!!! I am continuously attempting to gain more knowledge, wisdom and understanding so I can better improve myself as well as help myself to stay on my path recovery. In fact my path of recovery has been going well which is probably one of the reasons why I am focusing my attention on learning more about Tarot Cards and Buddhism. I am on this path of learning about Tarot Cards and Buddhism so, I can grow as a person as well as be of help to others.

You may be wondering how I am doing this and I am more than happy to share it with you. I have purchased books and workbooks on both Buddhism and Tarot Cards to read and do the workbooks. I am reading a book on Tarot Cards and then plan on doing a workbook after I am done reading the books. I also bought a book and workbook on Buddhism. I am also reading the book on Buddhism and plan on doing the workbook after I am done reading the book.

As of right now I am finding both books quite interesting and hope to gain more knowledge on both subjects. The books are written in layman terms which is quite helpful for me. I am hoping this will be helpful for my own recovery as well as being able to help others with their recovery.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not 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!!!

Long Time, No Blog

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! Long time, no blog. It has been a while since I blogged and a great deal has happened. Lets start with the beginning of this month. I had my birthday and overall it was a good one. It is hard to believe that I am forty-four years old. I never imagined that I would still be alive in my mid-forties because I thought I would die by suicide. I am beyond grateful to have found recovery and continue to be in active long term recovery.

Speaking of recovery, lets talk about one thing that has helped me throughout my recovery and life; music. I received an Amy Grant concert ticket for Christmas. The concert happened on March 14th and I absolutely had the time of my life. The concert was sold out and was located at the Admiral Theater in Bremerton, Washington. I took the day of and the day after the concert off. I even stayed in a hotel the night of the Amy Grant concert. On that note, after the concert I waited by Amy Grant’s buses to get an autograph and/or picture but sadly I didn’t. I didn’t because I was too shocked by the fact Amy Grant talked with me for about ten minutes and asked to give me a belated birthday hug and of course I said hi. Not sure how the subject of birthdays came up but it did. I am just shocked as hell that I received a hug from Amy Grant. As much as I am beyond stoked about attending the Amy Grant concert and getting a hug from her, I am thrilled that my work let me take two days off for it.

Now that I am on the subject of work, I am still loving and enjoying work. The team I am on is awesome and my colleagues rock. Of course I have some tough days but I am grateful to have a job that I love as well as enjoy. I just don’t like being away from home so long because I miss my cat when I am at work and my cat misses me.

Since we are now on the subject of my cat, Billie lets talk about him. Billie is doing well. He is still a cuddle bug and loves to tell me how is day was when I come home from anywhere especially work. I love my cat so much.

I do not have much more to say. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not continue to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Start learning to latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Learn to do latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Learn to do latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Learn to do latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Learn to do latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Learn to do a latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Spend time with my grandpa
  • Learn to do a latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It is officially that time of week where I do my weekly check in. This past week has been a pretty good week. My current work schedule changed and I now work Sunday through Thursday. I have mixed feelings about it but once I get used to it, I know it will work to not just my benefit but the benefit of the clients I serve. I really like my job. I am, however, wondering if I am doing a good job as well as if I am a good fit for the team I am on. I know I am being self conscious about how I do at work. My supervisor says it’s “imposter syndrome.”

I may not be sure if what my boss says about the imposter syndrome thing, I know that I am doing well overall in regards to my mental health challenges. I, saw my therapist on Tuesday. It went well. She also emailed my psychiatric nurse practitioner stating how well I am doing mental health wise.

Speaking of my psychiatric nurse practitioner, I saw her yesterday. She too thinks I am doing well. So well that if I continue doing as well as I am doing, she is going to reduce my antidepressant to a lower dose. A lower dose that will make it, the lowest that it could go that will work effectively. I am excited about this.

One of the things that has been helping with my mental health challenges is volunteering at PAWS Cat City. Due to my work schedule changing, the day, I volunteer changed as well. I now volunteer on Friday mornings. I miss volunteering on Sunday mornings but I will get use to Friday mornings.

In between, working, volunteering and attending appointments, I have been reading. I have been reading a book on tarot cards. I am wanting to learn how to read tarot cards so it can help me with my recovery. I also hope that one day I can help others with their recovery with learning how to read tarot cards. I am slowly learning about tarot cards and am finding it fascinating.

I do not have much more to say about my week. Peace Out, World!!!

Fascinating Reading & Time to Go to Bed

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is now officially Friday morning and it is just after two in the morning Seattle time. Since I am not sure if I informed you all, my schedule changed. I, now work Sunday through Thursday which is why I have had the luxury of staying up this late reading. Reading a book that is fascinating. Fascinating because it is on a subject that I think could help with my recovery as well am maybe helping others if I feel comfortable enough to do it if others would be willing and wanting me to help them is this particular way.

The subject that I am reading about is to help better understand how to do it and incorporate it into my life and hoping other people’s lives are learning to read tarot cards. I feel like what I have been learning thus far can help me in my own daily life to help what direction I would need to go for day to day life but my life being recovery with mental health challenges. I know it may not be a traditional way of going about one’s recovery but recovery is nonlinear. I haven’t slept at all so far tonight just because I have been fascinated by the book I have for beginners of those who want to learn about reading tarot cards. Since I’ve been mainly reading all night, I am realizing I am getting tired and ready to go to bed.

I may be ready for bed and plan to go to bed after I am done writing this particular blog post, I am beyond grateful to have my cat Billie on my lap the majority of the time as I read. His body heat helped keep me warmer even though my heat is on due that the weather in Seattle is absolutely freezing outside. According to a weather app on my phone it is currently twenty three degrees Fahrenheit (-5 Celsius) in my neighborhood of Seattle. With it being so cold I am beyond grateful for my cat, Billie’s body heat to help keep me warm when I turn off the heat as my cat, Billie sleeps under the blankets with me when I go to bed and sleep.

Well, I guess I am not going to end this particular blog post so I can go to bed and sleep since I am tired and full of new fascinating knowledge. Before ending 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 continue to read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Walk twenty to thirty minutes while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Work on a recovery based workbook
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Walk twenty to thirty minutes while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Work on a recovery based workbook
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Walk twenty to thirty minutes while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Therapy
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Walk twenty to thirty minutes while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Work on a recovery based workbook
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Walk twenty to thirty minutes while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Work on a recovery related workbook
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Walk twenty to thirty minutes while listening to a podcast
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Appointment with psychiatric nurse practitioner
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Saturday

  • Mindfulness mediation practice with the Calm App
  • Walk twenty to thirty minutes while listening to a podcast
  • Work on a recovery based workbook
  • Clean apartment
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie