Crazy Cat Lady Chapter 5 - Trying to recover from the pandemic

Tescodealqueen

Glad you are ok and great that you are planning a break xx

maggiem

Great to see you back and glad to hear the exam work, whilst stressful, has been enjoyable. 

Hope you have a great break away with ds.

crazy_cat_lady

I don't think dd is enjoying her holiday very much now that she's spent time with her boyfriend and his family 24/7. We are a very introverted, small family and whilst we're close we wouldn't dream of going on holiday together. DD is one of a group of 13 people and it's out of her comfort zone and she reckons she's seeing a different side of him with his family (that she doesn't like). I'm staying in touch and although I'm desperate to rescue her and bring her home I have realised that the experience might not be as bad as she thinks it is and even if it is then these experiences will make her the fabulous human being that she is. I feel extra guilty that ds and I are off on our hols the day after she gets back though... but she made her choice to go away with the boyfriend and she needs to learn from that.
It's been a very quiet few days. I've been mostly just pottering about the house, putting off doing things that need doing and procrastinating because I just don't have much energy or inclination to do anything. I've been binge watching 24 (only about 20 years late) and crocheting and just doing the bare minimum. It was really too hot the past few days to do anything else. I've managed a couple of walks (and noticed how much better I sleep after I've been walking) and the basics (looking after the cats, food, washing etc) and not much else. Still waiting for the exam money to start rolling in, and it's really taking its time this year for some reason. I've been assured it will arrive tomorrow so we shall see. I have a big list of things that it needs to do so it's well planned for and already assigned - and I want to put some of it to one side to attempt to soak up the ongoing cost of living crisis. It's hard enough with three of us (and all of the cats) just living on my wage without the fact that my bills are going up and up every single week.
There's not much else to report. I still feel tired and run down, and my brain is busy. I finally made it to the top of the list for CBT and had my third session today. I have a lot of thinking to be getting on with - challenging myself and extending my comfort zone. It starts tomorrow - I've booked myself in for a neck and shoulder massage in the morning to see if I can get rid of some of this stress. That is very scary to me indeed. However, I am going to do it and I am going to remember that it is going to benefit me.

foxgloves

Hello CCL, Nice to hear from you. Glad you enjoyed your super-special enhanced exam role this year & hope the money from that soon rocks up. I knew you'd have some good uses planned for it already 
Interesting to hear about your CBT sessions. I considered CBT years ago when I was struck down with an awful couple of years of anxiety disorder. I didn't go through with it in the end, but I think the way I dealt with it was probably quite similar. Hope it will be helpful. My brain sometimes behaves a bit like yours....dwelling on various incidents, etc, but less so these days. It occurred to me recently that I should probably make a list of these then physically bury it in the garden to say 'In the past, let's draw a line'. 
Hope you have a great time in Scotland with your son. I bet there'll be some lovely walks. We're not going away until November but at least it feels like a free holiday.....it's not, of course, but it's the one which was cancelled in 2020 because of Lockdown, so it was paid for two years ago.
Anyway, enjoy your break,
F x

crazy_cat_lady

Very quick check in from me as I'm super busy again at work already. I kind of feel like I did at the end of last term and it's only 2 weeks in. Actually very grateful for the extra day off tomorrow. Don't want to go on too much about how down I am at the moment and stressed out because I'd prefer not to think about it if at all possible. CBT is ongoing but even my therapist admits that the world seems a very bleak place at the moment and just to try and accept it.
I seriously don't think that the 2020's are going to be much to remember. I don't think the 1920's were very good either. Between Covid, cost of living, this government and now the Queen dying it's all just getting a bit much - my beautiful holiday to Northern Scotland and Shetland seems like a lifetime ago now. But it was lovely, and so relaxing, and I love being in Scotland and I really want to go back there again sometime.
Hope all is well with you lot. I feel like I'm neglecting some of my best friends on here.

Sun_Addict

Just do what you can to get yourself through what is a difficult time for you. Your friends on here will understand. 

Honeysucklelou2

Good to hear from you...thinking of you.

dawnybabes

Life gets in the way, we’re here when you’re ready xx

f0xh0les

Keep your head above water, and deal with everything else when your feet find firmer ground.

We will still be here.

Buffythedebtslayer

I can relate to being as tired and feeling as rough as I did at the end of term. X 

Big hugs xxx and we will get through this with our credit rating and dignity in tact! 

Much Love, Buffy XXX