The Mental Debt Struggle...

Baileys_Babe

This is such a positive post.

"Let the train take the strain" I think that was from an ad campaign many years ago.

Enjoy your weekend visiting you friend.

Well done and good luck facilitating the support group, the other users will appreciate you for stepping up.

beanielou

I have regular shoulder injections and usually benefit. My next one is in a couple of weeks. Hope you benefit too.

AntoMac

I had a knee problem once Keedie, a ruptured Baker’s cyst - No, I’d never heard of it either! Anyway, the steroid injection I had was like a miracle fix. Here’s to you being the same subset as me! 

The fact that you are having these bipolar episodes, is what will make you the perfect support group lead. You have the lived experience, as well as a great deal of kindness and decency. Let us know how it went. 

Have a great break, and visit your dad’s headstone when you’re good and ready x

Cherryfudge

How did today's session go Keedie? I expect you might like a bit of time to process it, but as @AntoMac says, you really are the ideal person to lead the group.

beanielou

Hope all went smoothly for you yesterday. 

Keedie

Thank you all for your kind words and support, it really means a lot to me. I was so so nervous last night, but it went much better than I expected! There was 20 participants including me and so it was daunting at first, but then I relaxed and we had a good evening. I was really touched when everyone clapped at the end of the group as a thanks for my first session going well. That really got me in the feels 🤗💖.

I'm really hoping that the steroid injections work. I'm glad it was a miracle relief for you @AntoMac, and I am really hoping to be in that subset of people that it works for. When I had a lidocaine infusion (same numbing stuff they use at the dentist but on a micro intravenous dose), that up to 3 months pain relief but I got just under 3 weeks out of it. Do you have sore shoulder afterwards @beanielou?

My train is at 11:42 today, so I've had a light breakfast as I'm meeting my friend for lunch and I can't eat too much without feeling queasy, so I'm saving my appetite for when she picks me up from the train station. I contemplated tidying the kitchen before I go and doing the dishes. But then I remembered that my son is an adult and he's more than capable of keeping the place clean. So I went back to lie down in my bed after my shower and chill out watching YouTube until I need to head out. 

I've packed my course guides so that I can study on the train if I can manage to get a table seat. I'm a bit behind pacing wise than I would want to be, as I've really been procrastinating about it all. But I have two weeks off from work from 22 December 2025 and I return on Monday 5 January 2026, as the council mandates that all agency workers must take a 2 week (unpaid) break. I have accrued a bit of leave, that I can use to be paid. About 2 days, but I'll save that for next year, as having the 2 weeks off is really going to make a difference as I'm quite tired. And I figured saving up enough annual leave will mean that I can take another week off around February.

Cherryfudge

It sounds as though you are off to a flying start with the group, @Keedie! It also sounds like the sort of atmosphere that indicates it will continue to go well: they are supporting you.

I hope you have a lovely time away and can get some studying done. How are you finding it?

beanielou

Glad all went smoothly for you. 

No sore shoulder after my injection. 

Keedie

I've had a long and eventful week...

Norfolk was great! We watched my friend's kids compete in a running competition, had a nice meal with her whole family and went to a Christmas market. And I really needed that break from London. Still a bit freaked out by the lack of street lights and how dark and silent everything is, but it was great nonetheless.

Work has been super busy and I found out that there is a restructure coming up in a few months, so unsure if my contract extension will remain in place, but the likelihood of a further extension is less likely, so we'll see what happens. I might need to start looking for another job sooner than anticipated.

Shoulder wise, my shoulder, arm, neck and shoulder blade are still sore and I'm mainly typing left handed which is not as easy as I thought it would be. Hopefully it wears off soon enough and I get lots of benefit and pain relief from the steroids. 

Financially though, things are going well. I've made a good start on my sinking funds for 2026 and managed to hit the majority of my savings goals. So I'm happy with that. I've reduced a lot of them to more realistic and manageable amounts, and that is kinder to myself and given me a greater sense accomplishment. I'll update you all later today as I've not done a Sunday Summary in a very long time.

daisy_1571

you quickly get used to it being quieter.  Now, after just a couple of years here, the noise and smells of a city are a bit overwhelming.   And sooooo many people!! 😆 I'm a country mouse 🐁 now 🤪 😎 🙂 😅

Glad you had a lovely break 

Dxx