Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

Watty1

Maybe set a target date? Or can you break it down into smaller steps?

ajmoney

Watty - I have a couple of possible target dates in my head but it is not that easy. I think I may have to seek some professional help as I am at a loss for how to proceed.

Had my bath last night, my stress levels (I think this is what they are but they may be panic or anxiety related) were incredibly high and it was the only thing to relax my shoulders and calm my breathing.

Started today with an hour of reading my book before Mr AJM woke up so five days into the new year and I have managed to keep to my promise so far. I intend to go for a short walk later although I may have company so it won't really count.

I have had an email from our energy company letting me know what tariff they can put us on when our current one ends next month so I need to have a look at it and see if it is the best offer.

Goldiegirl

Hi AJ, one of the things I hope to do this year is try and overcome my anxieties. For a time, last year, it was really bogging me down, and even small setbacks were setting me off down a panicky route. I got to the point where I felt I was wasting so much of my life being anxious, at a time when I should be carefree. it's not easy, but I feel I have been better over the last few months. A bit of 'me' time does
seem to help - for me it's walking, I find it relaxing and calming.

Hope you are able to move forward in a way that works for you

ajmoney

Goldiegirl - thanks for your reply.

I had a weird episode in July which prompted my doctor to do a lot of tests to check whether there was anything physically wrong with my body, all the tests came back showing I am very healthy and I am just waiting for a neurologist appointment at the hospital to rule anything else out which I need to chase up when I get back to work on Monday. I think it is time for me to go back and chat to him about stress/anxiety/panic which I had made a brief suggestion about then. I think I know some of the things I can do to reduce how I have been feeling but they will be complete changes to my life and the way I live it which I need to factor into every day living. I have some good friends at work who don't know me away from there who I am hoping to sound ideas off over the next couple of weeks.

I haven't been for a walk and now it is dark don't really want to go out. Instead I am going to look up relaxation techniques on the internet and see what I can take from them to help me.

Watty1

AJ I don't know if your area has anything like this, but our NHS area has a self referral scheme for people suffering from depression and anxiety. I used it last year and had some sessions of CBT that were free and it was actually very helpful.
(I also have a friend who works for MIND and they offer some good options too)

ajmoney

All my medical stuff is done through work so I have to go through the doctors for referrals for mental health stuff, I also have another 2 groups of people I can talk to without having to go through the doctors. I found a questionnaire online yesterday that came back saying I wan't depressed or anxious...

ajmoney

I didn't succeed in doing anything for myself yesterday as life took over visiting people. I kind of haven't today either but took the decision to drive back to work tonight rather than tomorrow, I have already unpacked and am organised and will have 4 hours in the morning to get things straight with my rehearsal space as no one is expecting to see me until the afternoon so it will be very relaxed and should leave me with plenty of me time

ajmoney

I didn't sleep so well last night, however coming back over last night was a very good decision as it was very icy this morning. I also managed to spend 2 and a half hours in my rehearsal room getting loads sorted before doing quite a lot this afternoon. I left the office before 4 and should have time to read a bit of my book before dinner and tonight's rehearsal so day 1 back at work has gone quite well.

ajmoney

A few days since I posted.

I have managed to make time for myself each day, Tuesday I went to the gym, Wednesday I left work early...because I could and yesterday I had a bath ane read my book when I got home. Today has been all about me, I went back to bed after Mr AJM went to work to read some of my book, been window shopping and currently having a cuppa in town.

I have a 5k run in Edinburgh tomorrow that I am quite underprepared for so going to go for a walk to loosen my legs this afternoon.

All bills have now gone from my account this month and I have a nice cushion left there, unsure whether to transfer some across to my ISA now or wait and do it all at the end of the month.

ajmoney

I nearly didn't go out for a walk but I am so glad I did. The weather was lovely, not too cold. I tried to go out as if seeing the views for the first time, took some photos, saw a few birds and then walked back chatting to a lovely lady.

I have an hour to myself and am going to read some more of my book before the weekend starts.