Battling Debt and Mental Illness — and (hopefully) Winning!

Bobarella · 5 August 2015 at 8:49PM

Really glad you had a lovely day. We all need time out sometimes.

AspiringButAnxious · 8 August 2015 at 6:39PM

Thanks Bob

I feel like I haven't done anything for the past few days. I've been a little more depressed than I have of late, but it's still a lot better than I've become accustomed to. Just finding it difficult to keep motivated. I went shopping yesterday and spent £4 of my £5 budget, though £1 of that was a gratuitous packet of Jelly Tots because I was so thrilled to find vegan sweets!

Another £1 from grandparents added to savings pot, so that's growing slowly but surely. Struggling with surveys, SBs, etc. but still trying. Thinking about doing a car boot sale, if I can convince a parent to do it with me — got loads fo books and other odds and ends. Will scout out the loft and see what else is around...

crazy_cat_lady · 8 August 2015 at 8:03PM

Hi ABA

Just found your diary whilst starting my own - we sound similar in terms of coming out of lurking to make a difference to our situations. I've just completed a course of CBT after being diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and I am honestly like a different person. I still have my moments but the world is a lot less scary place than it used to be.

Well done so far, and I will be subscribing to keep up with how well you're getting on.

AspiringButAnxious · 8 August 2015 at 8:22PM

Thanks, CCL

I've had a couple of 6 week blocks of counselling sessions incorporating CBT and still use some of the techniques.

Forgot to mention: I spent nearly £5 on 4 ebooks today. My Amazon gift card balance covered it, but I'm supposed to be using it to buy presents... The books were all on special offer and I managed not to buy several others, so it's not exactly a catastrophe, but I've got to be careful not to do it again anytime soon.

Bobarella · 8 August 2015 at 8:30PM

ABA -would a spending diary help do you think?

AspiringButAnxious · 8 August 2015 at 8:41PM

Bob — yes! I was using an app to track my spending, before I got truly sorted, which was an eye-opener. I should start using it again. I could also write expenditure in the planner I use to track my goals (including financial), which I tried to do at the beginning of the year before getting waylaid...

Bobarella · 8 August 2015 at 9:33PM

Yes maybe that would work again for you. And if it doesn't it still provides a record of where you may be wavering. Spending is not just spending is it sometimes.

myteeduck · 8 August 2015 at 11:07PM

Hi ABA.

I subscribed to your diary earlier. I suffer with mild depression and severe anxiety - all spelling from a bad work situation in 2009 and manifesting later from a car crash in 2012, where I had visions in my head that the guy who crashed in to me was going to come to my house, threaten me and hurt my cat, all from a phone call from him telling me he was taking me to court.

I was given anti-depressants from my doctor for a year, and referred to CBT. What helped most was a worry tree that I was given there. It was sort of a question flow diagram, which was along the lines of what are you worrying about? Can you do something about it? If yes, do it, if no, why not?

If no I was told to allot a certain period everyday to worry about my problems and once the time period was over, I had to get it out of my head, until the next worry period. It helped a lot! Was this something you were given at CBT?

I still worry daily, like now I am at my mums, and im worrying about my house, and when I'm at home, I worry about my mums, or work, and when at work, I worry about home and my mums. Its a vicious circle and the only relief it when I am at one of them. For example, the worry about mums is gone because I am here, but instead i'm fretting about my house and I only left it safe 30 minutes ago!

Luckily it doesn't affect my job, mainly because they are so supportive but I am frightened to leave.

I think you and me are similar in various ways and I have my fingers crossed that you find some freelance work and gain some confidence to carry on improving.

xx

AspiringButAnxious · 10 August 2015 at 6:06PM

It's been another quiet couple of days, but I've started using the app to track spending again, backdating it to Friday. It will help me see what proportion of my disposable income I'm spending on what, which will be helpful. Thanks to Bob for suggesting I return to tracking my spending

Mytee — I'm familiar with the CBT techniques, but not put together as a tree. That sounds pretty cool and useful! I should be more proactive about using what helps me.

I've transferred £4 to my savings account, earmarked for the Very payment. That takes me up to 57%

Bobarella · 10 August 2015 at 9:13PM

AB - Glad to help. Well done on building up your debt repayment savings too. :T

Battling Debt and Mental Illness — and (hopefully) Winning!

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