Tag Archives: Mental Health

Everyday Inspiration; Day 1: I Write Because…

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! It is Christmas Eve in my corner of the world and am spending with my dad’s side of the family at the moment. I am doing some WordPress courses to help keep you the readers interested in continuing to follow and/or read my blog.

I started writing my blog for a couple of things. The first reason is to educate people who don’t struggle with a mental health challenge that those of us who do struggle with one that we can be productive members of society. It may not look the same to those who don’t struggle. So, I hope I am able to educate those without a mental health challenge that people like me can prove you that we are productive members of society and hope to lessen the stigma that goes with having a mental health challenge. I also write to give hope to those who struggle with mental health challenges that there is hope and recovery is possible.

Thank you for reading my blog and hope you all continue to ready my blog. I will blog again tomorrow so I will see you tomorrow. Peace out, world!!!

First Day of Vacation

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Holidays, World!!! Today is my first day of vacation. I have today and the next ten days off from work. I love my job with a passion. I just need a break especially since I have a challenging time during the holiday season.

Today, is just a day to relax and enjoy being home with my cat, Billie Dean. I have packed to go to my mom’s tomorrow (Christmas Eve) evening after celebrating Christmas with my dad’s side of the family. Only thing left to pack up is Billie’s stuff as he will be staying at my grandpa’s when I am visiting my mom in Olympia. I will wait till tomorrow to do it as it is mainly his food and dishes as he already has the other stuff at my grandpa’s. I plan on watching movies and television the rest of the day.

I don’t 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 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. Happy Holidays and Peace Out, World!!!

A Day Off for Self Care

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I took today off as a mental health day. I just needed to do it for the sake of both my mental health and physical health. I spent a great deal of the day of self care. It was the perfect day to do inside self care stuff as the weather in Seattle has be unpredictable today;

So, I spent part of the listening to music and the other part of the day listening to a podcast about philosophy. The specific music I was listening to was Christmas music and the philosophy podcast that I was listening to was “Philosophize This.”

As I listened to Christmas music or “Philosophize This” I did a multitude of things. The obvious thing I did was give my cat, Billie Dean, plenty of attention. Of course Billie loves all the attention I give him. Other things that I did was art work. Specifically, I colored. I colored various types of mandala’s. Another thing I did was put some jigsaw puzzles together. The puzzle isn’t complete put it is starting to look like what it’s suppose to look like. So that is what I did for my self care mental health day off.

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 do read my blog. If it was not for you the reader reading my blog, I wouldn’t be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great Monday evening. Happy Holidays, and Peace Out, World!!!

Taking A Mental Health Day Off on Monday

Posted on by Gertie

Good Sunday Evening, World!!! Or at least it is still Sunday evening in my corner of the world known as Seattle. I have decided that I will be taking tomorrow, Monday, off from work for a mental health day. My depression and PTSD are sadly acting up so I am taking tomorrow (Monday) off.

I am grateful that I work in the mental health field at a mental health agency that supports taking mental health days off. I feel bad because I’m taking it off in the middle of the holiday season when I know I will be on vacation in a few days. I feel bad because a handful of my clients are not doing so well mental health wise. I know they will be okay as I know they have the resources but I feel like I am letting my clients down as well as my colleagues down.

On that note, I need to take care of myself to be able to help both my clients and my colleagues. So, what I am planning on doing rest of this evening (Sunday) is to listen to a podcast about philosophy while my cat Billie Dean lays on my lap. The philosophy podcast my cat, Billie and myself will be listening to is “Philosophize This.” I really enjoy this podcast and it appears that Billie chills out listening to the podcast as the podcaster, Steven West has a calming voice.

As far as self care tomorrow, I am not sure what I am going to do for self care. I know I will be spending much needed time with my cat, Billie. Billie is helping me through the holiday season and I have had a great deal of trauma as child around Christmas time. So, Billie will be helping me tomorrow. I will be doing other self care stuff but not sure what at the moment.

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 do read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be writing my blog. Again, from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great rest of their Sunday evening. Happy Holidays and Peace Out, World!!!

Blogging Idea’s & Other Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Holidays, World!!! I have decided to start doing a couple of free courses WordPress puts on for free that I have done in the past. I have finished both of the courses a couple of times. On that note I have started the courses several times and never finished them. It is my hope that I will be able to not only start the courses but complete them once again. I hope to start them in the next couple of days.

Another idea I have for my blog is to restart my Weekly Plans on Sunday mornings. That’s where I tell you some of my plans for the week ahead. The other idea, I plan to do is do my Weekly Check-Ins on Saturday evenings.

I of course will be blogging about other stuff in the next few weeks as well as into the New Years. I will be talking about the holidays the next couple of weeks. Of course I will continue to talk about my cat Billie Dean and how adorable he is. I will also be blogging about work things as well as volunteer things. And let not forget about discussing about mental health and recovery related stuff.

The other ramblings I have to say is that my cat Billie Dean is be really cute and cuddly today. Billie is such a love but. On another note, Seattle was sunny out today. It was sunny but cold outside. As much as I am not a fan of cold at least it wasn’t freezing outside and it was sunny in Seattle this time of year.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. I really appreciate you the reader for reading my blog. If it was not 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. Happy Holidays and Peace Out, World!!!

Holiday Blues

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I am unable to sleep once again in my corner of the world known as Seattle. I am unable to sleep due to insomnia. I am wondering if the reason why I am having an insomnia time night is because all the holiday stuff I did yesterday (Saturday) regarding Christmas with shopping and wrapping everything. The also includes listening to Christmas music as I colored Christmas themed coloring pictures. I’m wondering all this because I have trauma and PTSD around the holidays.

I am feeling like I am having the holiday blues so I decided to do art by coloring but I decided to color non holiday coloring pages and listen to non Christmas music. It seems like with me doing this that my depression, PTSD and Holiday Blues symptoms are lessening which is a good thing. I think I am going to go to bed.

I hope you all have a good night. I want to thank you for reading my blog. I appreciate you the reader for reading my blog as if it was not for reading it, I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Happy Holidays and Peace Out World!!!

Just a Bunch of Ramblings the Holidays

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It is almost nine o’clock in the evening in my corner of the world known as Seattle. My cat Billie Dean is lay right next to me as I type this particular blog. Billie has be quite helpful to me the last few days. The last few days my depression and PTSD symptoms have slightly increased. It’s hard do know if it’s actual symptoms or the winter blues and/or holiday blues. Maybe it’s all of the about but I am just grateful that Billie is helping be feel better.

As the Christmas holiday gets closer, I become someone anxious about being around family. I love my family but some of them increase my anxiety. That is why I have plans in place to when family shit hits the fan, I have ways to do self care.

I don’t 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, I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you for reading my blog. Happy Holidays and Peace Out, World!!!

A Friday Morning Post

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! Well, at least it is still morning in my corner of the world here in Seattle. Normally, I would be working right now. I would be working from the office today but took the day off to do some trainings that are actually webinars that I could watch anytime but I wanted to have the day off today. Yes, I will be watching the training webinars later today when I know I struggle more with my depression and anxiety.

Anyway, I will be spending a few hours with my grandpa today for some family time with him. We are going to get me a new cell phone as mine is on the frits after having it for four years. My grandpa will be taking me to get some food as well. Food from my favorite restaurant of Red Robin. I love Red Robin. Besides a new phone and Red Robin, I will be doing some of my Christmas shopping. Not all of it but just some of it. I only celebrate Christmas because of my grandpa and somewhat for my mom as my mom just has me and my brother. Christmas gives me an excuse to spend time with family even if they are dysfunctional but I love them them. I personally celebrate another other holiday that I will discuss later.

On that note, Billie Dean, my cat is thrilled I am home at the moment. I think he is noticing that my anxiety and depression are acting up as he has been more lovey dovey or “clingy” lately especially after and issue I had with a work colleague. I love my job and enjoy working with my colleagues including the one I am having an issue with however I am grateful for Billie’s love and attention when things aren’t exactly going the way I want such as increased depression and anxiety symptoms.

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. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a good holiday season even if we are still stuck in a middle of a pandemic. Peace Out, World!!!

The Start of the 2021 Holiday Season

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Hanukkah, World!!! Yesterday evening (Sunday, November 28, 2021) was the start of Hanukkah. I am personally not Jewish and I enjoy the meaning of the holiday as it was a miracle. Don’t know what to say as a non Jewish person but I do know it was a miracle and wouldn’t be able to share the story of the miracle which deserves some who is more familiar to share the miracle. Happy Hanukkah to the readers who are Jewish.

Honestly, this past week has been both emotionally and physically draining for me. It was physically draining for me because deep cleaned the bathroom as I let it get really gross and disgusting. Cleaning helped me feel a since of accomplishment even though I missed my cat, Billie Dean wasn’t around to “help” me with cleaning which isn’t helpful so he went my grandpa’s as I cleaned the bathroom as well a couple of corners in my living room.

The physical stuff was due to cleaning. The emotional stuff was missing my grandma almost four years ago as well as loosing my last cat Lil Gertie two years ago which landed on Thursday, November 28, 2019 which happened to be Thanksgiving Day that year (2019). The other emotion stuff was attending a goodbye dinner for my cat’s Billie’s last vet, Dr. B. Sadly, she had to make a tough decision close forever.

Speaking of vets, Billie Dean saw his new vet today. He tolerated a couple of things and I think that is a good thing. This vet and I are going to do our best to keep Billie a healthy quality of life which is why this vet wants to see Billie twice a year. When I adopted Billie, I knew there were dental issues and upper respiratory infection (URI). So, I knew there were going to be issues. I’m happy that I made the decision to have Dr. B (Billie’s old vet) take some bloodwork done while Billie was under to get his teeth cleaned. I really miss Dr. B even though the new vet is great. Billie was not quite sure of the new vet but sure in the hell impressed with her.

In fact I partly took today off from work to take care of Billie. The other part was give me some me time. Me time was taking Billie to meet his new vet who is awesome. The other me time I have been doing is spending time with Billie while I do some art while listening to Christmas music. I think it’s okay to place Christmas music now that Thanksgiving is over.

I know there are many other holidays this time of year and hope to find the time to blog about them. I don’t want to exclude out when it comes to holidays being celebrated. I want to make sure I can learn about other religions so I can share about them when it is time to celebrate them. I will do my best to post other holidays celebrate this time of year.

I don’t have much more to say in this particular blog post. I just want to thank you for reading my blog as if you weren’t I would not be writing it. I really appreciate you the read my blog as if it wasn’t for you I would not be writing it. Again, thank you from the bottom of my hear for reading my blog. Happy Hanukkah and Peace Out, World!!!

A Not So Normal Wednesday but So Far So Good With Some Sad Moments

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I am off work and have been for just over three hours now. My employer decided to close the agency I work for early today. So, I work for four hours and get paid for eight hours. I’m complaining about working for four hours and getting paid for eight hours.

Anyway, right now I am home alone without my cat, Billie Dean. Billie is at my grandpa’s house so I can do some major deep cleaning to where I will be using chemicals not good for cat. Billie will be coming home on Saturday. So, I did some cleaning right after I was done with work. I did more cleaning and chores than I thought I would do after work.

After work and house cleaning I went for a walk. A walk that led me to my volunteer job to spend fifteen minutes with some cats since my cat, Billie is with my grandpa. It felt good to get some kitty time. After visiting some cats, I walked and picked up some incense which helps me with my self care. After picking up some incense, I walked to the bank and got some cash as well as some quarters for laundry. The walk helped a great deal.

I am now home listening to a podcast about philosophy with incense burning as part of my self care which is even helping me more. I am listening to the philosophy podcast “Philosophize This” as I learn a great deal from this podcast.

Doing my self care today is key for me as tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day which mark exactly two years since my last cat, Lil Brooke crossed over the rainbow bridge. I really miss Lil Brooke with all my heart. On that note if it wasn’t for loosing her, I wouldn’t have been come a volunteer at PAWS Cat City here in Seattle. I also wouldn’t have had the chance to adopt my current cat Billie Dean.

Speaking of my cat Billie, he is at my grandpa’s right now and tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day which means, I will be at my grandpa’s celebrating Thanksgiving with my grandpa, dad, my two uncles and of course my cat Billie. I am looking forward to seeing Billie tomorrow and then coming home and deep cleaning my apartment.

Despite the multiple emotions of today, it has over all been a good day with some sad moments. 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. So, thank you again from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Have you all have a great rest of your Wednesday. If you live in the United States I hope you have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow. Peace Out, World!!