Tag Archives: Mental Health

Gloomy Weather + Art + A Cat + Therapy = A Day of Self Care

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I finally got some sleep. Not much sleep but some. I am grateful for the little sleep I did get. Sleep is key for me to help maintain the mental health symptoms of the diagnosis’s I have.

In all honesty my mood fits today’s weather here in Seattle. It is gray and gloomy which is how I feel at the moment. My gloomy mood most likely has something to do with the lack of sleep however it is something to be aware of as a just in case. A just in case depression symptoms start increasing. On that note, I am sort of glad the weather fits my gloomy mood because it means I can just lay back and do some art.

The type of art I plan on doing is coloring, collage and painting. In fact I am planning on finishing up one art piece that combines collage and painting. In fact I am extremely proud of this particular piece and hope to share it with you. I also plan on doing some coloring. Coloring soothes me as well as soothes the inner child in me.

Speaking of art, I will be watching the television show, The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross. It is another thing that soothes me and my inner child. The Joy of Painting helps me be at peace. There is something about Bob Ross and his painting that puts me in a state of calm.

Another thing I will be doing since I will be spending the day at home on this gloomy day is spending time with my cat, Billie Dean. I love Billie so much. I love the fact that he is a cuddle bug and very much a lap cat. I am happy to have him love on me today.

I am looking at the time and realize my therapy session  will be starting in the next twenty minutes. My therapist will be calling me at 12:30pm to have our session. Our session are currently on the  phone due to Covid-19. I would much rather have an in person therapy session but I totally understand why it is not at the moment.

I do not have much more to say. I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Have an awesome day. Peace Out, World!!!

 

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!!!

Sleepless in Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am having another sleepless in Seattle type of night. I guess my anxiety is still pretty high after what happened with my neighbors and them fighting. Not a big fan of being high anxiety or having my insomnia act up. I partially blame my neighbors as well as this stupid pandemic known as Covid-19. The isolation is getting to me just like the noisy neighbors are getting to me and there is really nothing anyone can do about it at this point in time.

Something that I have been missing a great deal during this pandemic is baseball. I greatly miss baseball. Watching baseball helps a great deal with my anxiety as well as my other mental health diagnosis’s. I love watching baseball and was hoping to see my favorite team play this season but I don’t think it is going to happen this season.

Another thing that helps with my anxiety it doing art. In fact I have been doing art for most of the night to help with my anxiety. The art I did was mainly painting and collaging. In fact I have combined the two mediums (genre’s) and it’s pretty cool looking. Doing art work helps relax me and hope that if I do more it will help me get a few hours of sleep.

My cat, Billie Dean, has been quite helpful with me dealing with the add anxiety I have been dealing with. I don’t know what I would do without my cat. I love Billie so much. He is such a lap cat who loves to talk. I respond back some of the time and wonder what I agreed to. I am grateful to have Billie in my life.

Anyway, I have a phone therapy session with my therapist later today. The thing on my agenda to discuss in therapy is my added anxiety with everything going on. Yes, my therapist is well aware of the anxiety of the noise but I am hoping we can come up with other ways for me to deal with in. I will most likely bring up the sleep issues I am having and how it appears to be getting worse at the moment. I am grateful that my therapy is still going on even if it is on the phone. I wish it was in person but it is on the phone due to the pandemic. Oh how I wish Covid-19 would go away. Sadly, Covid-19 is a reality for everyone around the world at the moment.

I do not have much more to say. I just hope everyone has a great Wednesday ahead of them. I want to say thank you to everyone of you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things. I don’t know how to thank you enough. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope each one of you have a wonderful day ahead of you and are able to enjoy it. Peace Out, World!!!

A Complaining Post Full of Anxiety

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! Right now I am full of anxiety and not very happy with my two of my neighbors. These two neighbors have been loud for hours on end, nearly everyday for the last two months. They are extremely loud with loud music on the community patio and have been doing this since the stay at home order. Most of the time they are drinking alcohol and I am sure that doesn’t help with them being quiet.

On that note, these two neighbors obviously had too much alcohol today and while on the patio got into a fight. I heard the yelling and looked out the window. When I looked out the window, I noticed them fighting so I call 911. The Seattle police came and broke it up. One of the neighbors got arrested while the other one went to the hospital to get checked out. Anyway, one of the Seattle cops asked me why I didn’t report the noise. I explained that when I did twice before I was informed by the non-emergency line that Seattle Police weren’t responding to noise complaint no matter what time it is due to the fact of Covid-19. The police officer said that is not true but thankfully a superior officer overheard and backed up what I said. I know without a shadow of doubt that my two neighbors wouldn’t have been so noisy for two months if it wasn’t because of this stupid pandemic.

Anyway, after all this my anxiety was extremely high, I decided to do some meditation and mindfulness practice which helped me a great deal. My cat, Billie also helped me more than he could ever know. If it wasn’t for the mindfulness and meditation practices as well as my cat, I don’t know how long my anxiety would have lasted. Hell, my anxiety is still high but not as high as it was.

I don’t have much more to say. Thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope everyone has a great night. Peace Out, World!!!

Anxiety + Insomnia = No Sleep For Me

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It is the middle of the night in my corner of the world and I am unable to sleep. Having anxiety doesn’t help the fact that I have insomnia and due to both sleep is a no go for me at the moment.

Long story short, my apartment building has a community patio and my apartment is right above it. I live on the second floor and of course the patio is on the first floor. Anyway, the same two neighbors have been constantly loud and noisy for hours on end nearly everyday of the week for two months now. I have complained about it to the apartment management and they can’t or won’t do anything about. I have called the Seattle Police non-emergency line on two occasions and due to the pandemic aren’t dealing with noise complaints at this time. So, it is starting to affect my anxiety big time. It bothers me that my neighbors don’t give a shit and that neither the apartment management nor Seattle police are doing anything about it. On a good note, I have emailed all my complaints so they are dated and time stamped and in three of the five complaints I mentioned it was effecting my physical and mental health as well as my disability. I informed them of this as a precaution to protect my ass. Thankfully, I am not the only neighbor bothered by the loud and noisy neighbors.

Another thing that probably isn’t helping with my insomnia is my part time job working at night. In fact it’s a twelve hour night shift. I like my job for the most part. I just don’t like it being twelve hours at night. I don’t do well with night shifts. Something I have done was apply for two jobs yesterday (Monday, May 18th, 2020) to work at local nonprofits. I also put in an application about a month ago at Costco. I am not holding my breath on any of the jobs especially at this point in time with Covid-19 going on.

One of the things that has been helping with the Covid-19 stay at home order is my cat, Billie Dean. Billie is such a lap cat who loves his belly rubbed. Billie also loves his two front paws massaged. I am beyond grateful for Billie and love him so much. I do miss my last cat Lil Gertie and think of her everyday. I talk to Billie about her. Billie love his cat tree and looking out the window. He appears to be entertained by the crows and squirrels which entertains me. If it wasn’t for Billie I am more than positive that my anxiety would be higher with my loud ass neighbors on the patio.

I don’t have much else to say so I am going to end this post. I want to thank you all for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my post. I hope everyone has a great rest of your night. Peace Out, World!!!

A Random Post About…..

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! Governor Inslee decided to extend the stay at home order till May 31st. I have mixed emotions regarding the extended stay at home order but ultimately I am grateful that Governor Inslee is looking out for the most vulnerable people here are our lovely state of Washington.  Washington has be home for me since the mid 90’s and that doesn’t count whenever I visited my mom and brother every summer and holiday whiled on vacation from school. Looks like I have digressed some. Washington in my home and am grateful that Governor Inslee extended the stay at home order.

I can bitch and complain about the stay at home order all I want but it won’t do anything because it’s keeping it helps people like my dad who doesn’t have a great immune system. It even helps my extremely healthy 89 year old grandpa with staying at home. I am not able to see my family and most of my friend in person due to the fact that I am an essential worker. As much as I miss visiting friends and family, I am grateful for my essential worker status as it means I have a job I can work at.

A job that feels like family and am making some pretty good friends who are taking on the parent role but I am okay with that. At least I am okay with it for the time being. We are in the middle of a pandemic and somethings are worth the fight or at least at the moment. It is nice to have a work family who understands whats going on.

Since were are on the topic of family and friends, I miss the ones I volunteer with at PAWS Cat City. I miss going in helping find cat their furrever home but sadly Cat City is temporarily closed till this all over. Yes, the cats at Cat City went to the PAWS in Lynnwood and are being adopted out there along with dogs. I really miss volunteering at Cat City consider the people I volunteer with like family to me just like my colleagues do when I am at my paid work.

Speaking of cats my cat Billie Dean also fondly called Billie the Kat, is wanting be have help with writing this blog. I have some pictures of painting of wood that is protecting window of closed businesses here in Seattle. I hope to post those soon. By soon I mean Sunday night or Monday morning.

I was planning on writing more about how people are dealing with all this in regards to their mental health and recovery but right now my cat wants attention so I will write about that on Saturday night at work if I have time to do so.  I love my cat so much.

Sorry, I ending this post sooner that I had planned but thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end things that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Stay home and save lives by doing so. Peace Out, World!!!!

Long Time No Blog

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! It has been a quite a while since I last blogged and it looks like I am falling behind on my New Years goal of blogging on average of three times a week. I figured that now that this Covid-19 shit is going to keep me home at least another month that now is a good time to start blogging on the regular basis.

First and fore most lets talk about work. I am grateful that my work is considered an “essential job” according to the Washington Governor and am happy about that. Sadly and gratefully I only work one night a week as a shelter counselor at a homeless shelter for young adults ages 18 to 25. I love my job but worried about my health. I am grateful that upper management is making we employees are being taken care of.

As far as my volunteer job at PAWS Cat City, that has been put on hold because PAWS wants to look out for their volunteers and has suspended all volunteer activities. PAWS even temporally closed Cat City for the time being and all there cat adoptions are being done at their Lynnwood location. So, I really miss volunteering with the cats and seeing them get adopted. All adoptions are being done by appointment only for the time being. On the plus note, PAWS came up with a way volunteers can be of help from home if they so desire to do so. That is to call donors to thank them and I of course am going to be doing it. Calling people isn’t exactly my cup of tea but if it helps an organization I love then I am all for helping this way. It’s only twice a month for three months and hopefully by the end of three months, volunteers can be helping with adoptions again.

Being home with really nowhere to go except work I have been spending a lot of time with my cat Billie Dean. I love him so much. I am so grateful for him. I have also go a little stir crazy and needing some in person connection and since there is a stay at home order here in Washington, I have been attending various types of meetings on Zoom and am beyond grateful for this. Yes, it isn’t exactly the best way to connect but is sure is better than being completely cut of from any form of connection since I live alone.

Thank you for listening (or reading). I do not have much more to say. I hope to be blogging more since Covid-19 is having everyone stay at home. I really appreciated the fact that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope everyone has a good rest of their day as well as their week. Peace Out, World!!!

A Cat That Has Me Reading

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It is a Sunday evening in my corner of the world and it has been a relaxing Sunday for me. I came home from work and spent time with my new cat, Billie Dean before taking a nap. When I got up from a nap I had a snack before settling into a good day of reading.

I have noticed that when I have Billie Dean on my lap which is most of the time, it is a bit more challenging to have my laptop on my lap. With Lil Brooke I was able have both her and the laptop on my lap but with Billie Dean, not so much. It has made me realize how much I was on my computer before Billie Dean. I really didn’t need to be on the internet but sadly felt the need to be on whenever I was home. In a way it was and still in a way an addiction for me. Billie Dean is helping me with that and without even trying. He is being a real loving cuddle bug. A huge lap cat.

Since Billie Dean is such a lap cat I have come to realize, I have a great deal of reading to catch up on. So, I have been reading much of the afternoon and evening. Enough so that I forgot to eat a meal so as I write this blog, I have dinner in the oven. When I am done writing this I will go back to reading. When dinner is done cooking I will eat and then go back to reading. I really enjoy reading. It helps me get out of my head. Most importantly it helps me not be on the internet so much.

I don’t have much more to say. I just want to thank 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 you all have a great week ahead. Try not to work too hard. Don’t forget to enjoy the little things life has to offer. Peace Out, World!!!

A Valentines Day of Grief

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Valentines Day, World!!! I have never been a big fan of Valentines Day because, why do you need a selected day to say “I love you.” Plus it adds added pressure to relationships to make sure the day is special which isn’t the best thing for relationships.

Despite the usual reason, I am not a big fan of Valentines Day is that my grandma died on Valentines Day of 2018. So, today marks the two year anniversary of my grandma’s death. She died due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease. My grandma fought hard for her life as well for those she loved especially her family. I miss my grandma so much but I know she is looking down on me as my guardian angel.

Billie Dean my new cat is helping me through today by just being himself. He is being the lovable, cuddly, talkative and playful self he is to be. I am so grateful that he chose me when he did. I love my Billie Dean.

I don’t have much more to say. I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great Friday and Valentines Day. Peace Out, World!!!

Meet Billie Dean

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I wanted to let you know that I adopted a new kitty this past Thursday (February, 6th). His name is Billie Dean. He is five years old and will be six years old at the end of March. His age is just a guesstimate and the vet has agree with what the animal shelter said in regards to his age. Billie Dean is a whopping 14 pounds. He is a big boy. I am going to include pictures and add caption’s to it. I hope for those sight impaired that WordPress allows the your software to read the captions.

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Billie Dean laying on my dirty floor chilling and adjusting to his new home.

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Billie Dean on his first night. He is on my chest sleeping. It looks like he is giving me a hug.

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Billie Dean waiting patiently on the examination table for the vet to check him out for a post adoption check up.

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Billie Dean still chilling on the exam table at the vet’s office for post adoption check up. He turn his head and is looking toward Dr. B the vet as she was coming in.

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Billie Dean on my chest facing me. He is giving me the stare down wondering why I stopped petting him.

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Billie Dean on my bed wanting his belly rubbed. He is the only cat I know that loves his belly rubbed and for a good 20 plus minutes.

I love my new kitty and hope you have enjoyed meeting him. I hope to share more pictures in future post. Billie Dean also is a very talkative cat who loves to lay in your lap. Yes, I greatly miss my last cat, Lil Gertie but I am sure she was of help with adopting Billie Dean.

Thank you so much 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. Have a wonderful Sunday evening. Peace Out, World!!!