Tag Archives: Mental Health

A Mini Get Away

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! Right now, I am currently in Bremerton, Washington. It being Labor Day weekend here in the United States, I decided to come to Bremerton yesterday and I will be going back home to Seattle tomorrow. I decided to take tomorrow off as it is nice to have an extra day off from time to time.

I came to Bremerton because it is a Ferry Boat ride away and feels like it’s far away. I love being able to come to Bremerton for a couple of nights as it is a form of self care for me. It has been a form of self care for me since I made the active decision to be in active mental health and self harm recovery. In fact it was my grandma’s idea and she would pay for a couple of nights in a hotel for me because she knew that being near water and a couple of days away would help me even when I am doing well.

Even though my grandma passed away three and a half years ago, I still come to Bremerton as a way to recharge. In fact, I am really missing my grandma right now. I miss being able to call her up and talk with her. She and my grandpa helped my dad raise me. My grandma was very supportive of me and I am grateful that I am still keeping up with this self care tradition. Most importantly I am grateful that I have a job to be able to pay for the mini get away myself without needing to ask for someone else to pay for it.

Speaking of paying for my trip, my grandpa is taking care of my cat, Billie Dean as I am out of town. Billie is at my grandpa’s getting even more spoiled than he normally is. My grandpa really enjoys taking care of Billie. Billie also loves being spoiled by my grandpa.

Well it is lunch time and I am hungry. So, I am going to end this particular blog post so I can go eat and walk around the Bremerton waterfront. 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 wasn’t for you the reader, I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Get meds
  • Clean apartment

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Coffee/Tea with friend
  • Work

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Therapy appointment with therapist
  • Med appointment with psychiatrist nurse practitioner
  • Work

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Work
  •  Dinner with grandpa

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Work
  • Dinner with a friend

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Work
  • Dinner by myself at Red Robin

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Clean apartment

A Sleepless in Seattle Type of Night

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am having a bad spell of insomnia. I think part of it is because I am in pain due to having kidney stones. Kidney stones is not something I would call as fun or enjoyable.

Since I am not able to sleep, I decided to do something that I find fun and enjoyable. That is listening to a podcast with my cat, Billie Dean, laying next to me in my bed. I am listening to a podcast about philosophy. Specifically, I am listening to Philosophize This. I really like this podcast and am almost caught up to the most recent one of it.

I do not have much more to say as I want to get back to listening to Philosophize This as I lay next to my cat, Billie as he purrs. I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you do read my blog. If it wasn’t for you my reader, I would not be writing my blog. Again, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great rest of your weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I am tired as hell, so I will keep this brief. This week has been a long week or at least that was the case regarding work. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, it was just a long week.

Despite a long week at work, I ended up in the emergency room yesterday (Friday) evening due to having pain in my right kidney. I thought I had another kidney infection but I do not. I have kidney stones and they hurt like fucking hell but at least it is not another kidney infection.

Even though I didn’t get to bed till midnight last night, I still went for a walk with a friend this morning. It was a good way to get some exercise and catch up with a friend. My friend and I hadn’t hung out since last year before the pandemic so it was to catch up with each other in person.

Not only did I hang out with my friend, I volunteered mid afternoon at PAWS Cat City today. It was nice to be able to volunteer and help cats get new furrever homes. I love volunteering.

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 read my blog. If it wasn’t for you my reader, I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration: Day 13: Play With Word Count

Posted on by Gertie

Realistically, I do not want to “play with word count.” Not sure why but I don’t maybe it reminds me of math class when I was in school. Math was NOT my strong suite. But I know that is not what this assignment is about. I just don’t feel inspired. I rather talk about social media. But that’s okay as I know I won’t be inspired to write about everything.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 12: Critique a Piece of Work

Posted on by Gertie

Today, we are suppose to critique a piece of work which can be artwork, music or writing. It is hard to critique other people work as most of the time other peoples work is better than mine. I critique my own artwork, music and writing all the time. Sadly, the critique becomes self judgement so I try not to critique my own work.

So instead of critiquing, I am going to go on rant. A rant about how people in recovery get stigmatized all the fucking time. People who are in recovery from addiction and/or mental health challenges get stigmatize so much that some people choose to not share their struggles and sadly pass away from their addiction or die by suicide. People can live in long term recovery from addiction as well as mental health challenges. I just wish we weren’t judges so harshly for something that is not are fault. So, before you judge someone due to an addiction and/or mental health challenge think of how you would feel if it was you being judged.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 9: Writing and Not Writing

Posted on by Gertie

When I got today’s inspiration the two things I initially thought on what I do when I am not writing is work and volunteering. I then realized that do write when I work. I have to write notes regarding clients. It is not my favorite part of the job yet I have been informed that I am really good at it.

As far as volunteering, I don’t write. When I volunteer I help take care of cats. Cats that are up for adoption and all of them really cute. I love volunteering my time helping cats get new homes. Volunteering gives me a sense of community as well as a sense of satisfaction.

Another thing I do when I am not writing is listen to music. I listen to music to help with my mental health as well as to have background noise as I live alone with my cat, Billie Dean. I sometimes dance to the music. When I dance to the music, my cat, Billie gives me this weird look that makes me laugh.

I also listen to podcast when I am not writing. I love listening to podcast. I listen to podcast that can educate me on a topic, I do not know much about. I also listen to some podcast for the entertainment. I love to learn as well as to be entertained.

I do many more things when I do not write but I do not want to bore you with everything. I am grateful that I have the ability to read and write.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 8: Reinvent the Letter Format

Posted on by Gertie

Dear Bullies and the Adults that protected the bullies,

I am writer this letter to those who bullied me in high school and the adults who protected them. Due to being bullied, I now have PTSD. Yes, I have PTSD from other trauma’s I had to endure throughout my childhood and adulthood. I just want you to know that you bullying me gave me PTSD and caused the depression I was dealing ended spiraling down hill to where I tried to take my own life.

Despite trying to take my own life, I have managed to because a successful adult. An adult that was able to become a strong person despite the hate I had to endure because of you and the adults that made excuses for you. I am a strong person despite you and the shit you did to me.

Sincerely,

Gertie

Everyday Inspiration; Day 7: Let Social Media Inspire You

Posted on by Gertie

I am not a big fan of social media even though I do have a Facebook account, a Twitter account and a LinkedIn account for my blog Gerties Journey. I also have a Facebook account for myself under my given name. Anyway, it is challenging to find some form of inspiration from any type of social media unless I feel up to having arguments with other people and having a butt load of unwanted emotions.

It has been my experience that people on Facebook and Twitter like to argue with each other. When it comes to LinkedIn at least people are civil with each other. Other social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, I have know clue. As far as blogging here on WordPress the arguing is pretty minimal if there is any at all.

I guess what I am saying is social media isn’t very inspiring to talk about or at least to get inspired by to be able to write about. It saddens me as I wish I could get some form of inspiration that didn’t bring up negative or undesired emotions.

Too Much to Digest from Conference that I Can’t Sleep

Posted on by Gertie

It is five thirty in the morning on a Saturday morning. This years conference was overall good with some glitches. The glitches ended up getting fixed. I really enjoyed the conference for the moment a part. I enjoyed the workshops I attended and learned what I needed to learn as well as learn on how I can become a better peer. I a guess I am just venting with how tough the conference was this year.. Thank you all for attending the Peer Pathways conference. as I have insomnia from it due to the amount I have a learned.