YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

Hi, I'm a 40 year old lady with depression/anxiety, the usual.

I used to listen to the podcast regularly as part of my office job routine. Then I had a nervous breakdown & quit my office job. I've been unemployed for over a year now, not that I am complaining. I have $ saved, so I've been taking my time in figuring out what to do next. Turns out, what I want to do is work with animals.

I am single, not ready to mingle, & childless, although I do serve three felines. I've known about this forum, but never came here until now. I was googling ways to motivate myself to clean my apartment & all the suggestions were for people who seem to not experience depression/anxiety. I want to be where the people are who might get me.

Thank you.

Welcome, hobojungle!
I'm glad you joined the forum.

rivergirl

Thank you, rivergirl.

Hi Hobojungle! I'm 50 years old and can relate to your need to organize your home. I have a suggestion. Have you found "Fly Lady"? Her motto is "you can do anything in 15 minutes", and she has a great website explaining how you can get organized, and clean your home! When I get down on myself, and I'm struggling, I always go to her website. She is very understanding, has great ideas that work, and is very inspirational! I hope you will check her out, and hopefully find some help there. Welcome to the forum!!!

Hi Peanut, Thank you for the suggestion. I have tried FlyLady. I even read the book. It didn't work for me. Just one of those things.

Hi!

Welcome!

I love the app Superbetter... It turns trying to help yourself into kind of a game you can set goals for self care -

So you could make one of your goals - clean the bathroom or whatever needs to get done...

If you are dealing with collection tendencies or possible OCD thoughts and tendencies then I would recommend counseling to help pair down your things -

Its strange but our houses sometimes mirror our heads - when we get stuck our houses get stuck - when we are happy our houses get cleaned and happy (or when we are forced to clean because we have company coming over)

and when our heads are full of trauma and it makes us push things away possessions can take the place of people and be hard to part with because they are a substitute -

and I went on a tangent

but my main point was that you can sort of reward yourself by doing a little bit at a time - hey I organized the bookshelf today yay me! I got some kudos and acheived a goal

thanks peunut, that help me too