One good thing

[Paul57]

uni, best of luck…

[uni]

Today's good thing is there's a new mental health related in-person support group trying to get going in my city. It's purely peer run. Given the lack of group supports from the health region, I'm hoping this will fill part of the gap. Time will tell.

[uni]

One good thing today is I was able to reach my psychiatrist's nurse by telephone and speak with her directly. I am now in line to get an appointment sooner than I would have otherwise.

My mood has been rather low lately, and I'm having trouble getting myself out of bed in the mornings. I'd like to adjust my medication but am reluctant to do so without the doctor's input, and am not slated to see him until May. At my last appointment, which was in the fall, I met his new nurse and she made a point of giving me the phone number that connects directly to their office. This way I don't have to go through the whole song and dance of dealing with the public intake phone line. So that is, for me, one less hassle, and definitely a good thing.

I suppose in all of this is the message that once in a while something goes your way when you least expect it, and for that I am grateful. I want to be clear that I'm not in crisis or even doing terribly badly, it's more a case of this icky low mood hanging on a bit too long for comfort. It will either lift soon without intervention, as often happens, or I'll get an appointment before long.

Meanwhile, I believe it never hurts to share this stuff on the forum. I know this isn't exactly an uplifting post given the "good thing" topic, but truly to me this whole direct line to the psychiatrist's nurse rather than dealing with a complicated intake system is something to celebrate

[uni]

Today's good thing is I made it onto this forum to post!

My days seem to alternate between quite busy and quite tired. I like being busy, but not tired. However, I've managed -- with help from others, and using some trusted skills and tricks, plus a few new ones -- to stay more or less sane, and for that I am really grateful.

There is a lot more I could say, but one of the things keeping me busy is that I'm writing a lot. By doing that elsewhere I'm less likely to do it here. In any case, I'm glad to see the forum still available. It has been one of the things that has helped keep me afloat many times in the past, and I don't forget that, or the people here

[AJ]

Thanks Uni! Sorry for my late reply. I haven't been on the forums for a long time. We could start our own lemonade stand. I am slowly finding my way thru the muck of things.

You've always had a great set of tools in your toolbox. I hope life's challenges have been less difficult for you since your last post.

[uni]

Hi AJ. It's always good to hear from you, whether delayed or not

I haven't been on the forum much lately. Too many irons in other fires, some of which have involved learning DBT skills, and some of which have involved practical things needing attention, and other things where life has been giving me a few lemons, plus the odd glass of lemonade.

I hope things are a bit more settled for you these days. I wish you all the best with whatever's happening in your world. Take care, you are precious.

[AJ]

Sorry for the delay Uni. Life's been rather unsettled lately.

Your description of the place you walk sounds so peaceful. The benefit you get from doing so is definitely a good thing!

[uni]

Great to hear from you AJ. It sounds like you and Bella have a good thing going with the nature reserve!

There's an urban walking trail just a block away from me. It runs along a drainage ditch I call "Cattail Creek" and I walk there often. Currently there's at least one pair of ducks making their home among the cattails. And a couple of actual cats are frequent visitors.

One good thing in the last 24 hours: I spent nearly an hour walking on the trail, making a bigger loop than usual. My body and mind thanked me.

[AJ]

Our house backs on to a nature reserve. Bella & I go exploring there almost every day. It is so peaceful and certainly helps to get grounded.

[RunningKnitter]

That's great uni.

[uni]

Great to hear from you RunningKnitter. I too hope you can get a bit more nature time in, to help counteract the other stresses.

The latest good thing for me was a phone call from a family member who rarely makes them, as she has serious health issues. It did my heart good to know she's feeling better these days.

[RunningKnitter]

Hi uni,

That sounds wonderful! I am so glad you had time to recharge in nature. I have had some of that recently as well, in the midst of a lot of other stresses, and it definitely helps. I hope to get more in soon!

[uni]

Such a good thing today! Got to drive out of town with a friend and spend the afternoon in a lovely big park, walking around in the sunshine (and the gusty wind, but who cares!), enjoy a drink on a patio surrounded by tall trees, a meandering river, and good old mother nature, then a liesurely drive home via the scenic route. My soul is nourished

[uni]

A good thing in the last 24 hours was a gathering involving not just my family of origin, but a number of extended family members I get along with well and am growing to know better since many of us have retired and have more opportunity to visit.

[uni]

I appreciate seeing your post AJ, thank you!

Chickadees, aren't they lovely! How nice to have them outside your window.

I will continue to post good things, if for no other reason than it does me good

Today's good thing is that my old laptop almost died but has come back to life! I do have a new one and mostly use the old one to stream videos onto my television. I've got it all set up for that so it's nice to be able to use it.