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Hi, How Are You? - Mental Health Support & Discussion Thread (July 2020)
Bringing this back for those who need it. Vent, share your experiences, ask for advice, talk about how you are doing. Lets make this a compassionate space for all who may need one.
I'm doing great! Losing weight during this pandemic, drinking less, reading more, improving my guitarin', my debt is nearly gone, my night-time panic attacks have mostly subsided... Besides the occasional rumination over horrible mistakes I've made in the past, I'm in pretty damn good spirits.
...well, besides the fact that I'm currently jobless. But, eh, I got a support system... so, worst case scenario I'll still be alive. 👍
I'm OK today, but I don't know how long I can go on like this.
I don't leave my house. My partner is stepping up, getting the kids where they need to go. I feel really bad about that.
I'm drinking more. I'm putting on weight. I'm rarely in bed before midnight; often out of it before 6am.
I've been on anti-depressants for more than a year; been in therapy for many years. So supported, and with the help of my loved ones, I felt hopeful, prior to quarantine.
Now I feel it's slipping away. I don't see a path to reintegrating. I have to take a test in person next week as part of the process to stay in this country; the logistics are a far greater source of anxiety than the material.
In context, pretty okay. The pandemic hasn't affected all that much in the mental health department. It did move around sources of stress, but not much else. The main issue is my lack of close relationships (friends?) excluding family, but that has been an issue for a couple years now so no real changes.
Try r/penpals, it's not exactly like a friend but it's nice.
Overall I'm doing okay, had a lot of trouble sleeping last night because of anxiety. I have a tendency to think a lot on "what could happen" and I end up ruminating on "possible things". It's stupid because nothing bad has actually happened and yet here I am getting all worked up about what I'm seeing in my head.
In regards to last night my SO is going to a bachelorette party and I've had a bad experience in the past regarding infidelity. I know that she loves me and isn't going to do anything to hurt me, but that doesn't stop me from thinking about what would happen if she did.
I talked about it with her this morning and she reassured me that that's not what's going to happen at the party. It always helps to talk with her and she's always able to help me see the truth of the matter and focus on that instead of the "what-if's".
Even if I do sometimes fall a little deeper into anxiety, I have never let it control my actions to this point, and make it a goal to never let it happen either. My SO has also had bad experiences involving past partners, and I never want to let my anxiety control me in my relationship. It's nice that I at least have that to look at and be proud of for now.
Kinda shitty, I've been a bit sick since 4-5 days, it's getting better but I'm not feeling great either. Moral is ok although I feel very far from going back to society now, I just reject the whole thing, I was warming up to the idea of going back to the office but getting sick cancelled any plans of doing so. On the good side of things I've got my first snail mail penpal from Sweden that seems awesome (I recommend penpaling, it's really cool).
Not that well. The lockdown did a number on my mental health - not really because of the lack of human contact, even if I am alone in a strange land, as much as the confinement aspect and because it thoroughly derailed my plans for the rest of the year - and it took me a month to realize that I could start going out, or even just ask for help.
I had my first encounter with a psychologist this Monday, and I'll meet with a support group this Saturday, and I hope this will be enough to tide me over for another month: I didn't really realize that the summer break was coming, and both the consultorio and the support group will probably be closed during August.
I have been trying to force myself to go out and visit Milano, but my psychologist suggested I get anti-anxiety meds while I do that, as to not condition myself to associate the feelings of stress with being outside my home. I already set an appointment with my GP about this.