The All New Megathread

[maviczap]

Now over it, but it was nasty.

No, I'd not been to China or met any ill Chinese people. Must have not been covered by this year's flu jab

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by garynortheast

Trudging on, trying to deal with the mess into which my life appears to have temporarily degenerated

Everyone says it gets better, but I've not seen much evidence in my situation.

But hopefully yours will. It's a ****ing nightmare

[garynortheast]

Some rays of light in the darkness at the moment.

My daughter with the depression/anxiety/mental health issues has been going to college but not classes. She's been using college as a social thing, but the academic side is what is causing her much of her mental anguish.

So to that end I arranged a meeting on Tuesday last with the curriculum manager and Sioned’s tutor and they agreed that she was mentally not in the right place to continue for now. They said she should take a break and when and if she wanted to come back and continue her studies, just let them know and she’d be very welcome and helped with her return.

Now bearing in mind that she’s missed huge amounts of work over the last few months and stands no chance of catching up this side of the A level exams..... my wife, who was also present at the meeting, then asked if there was any possibility that she could sit the A levels in April and May! Wtf! Was she not listening to the discussion? Sioned had already told the college folk what she wanted to do, that she wanted to work in some sort of horticultural environment for the next year to gain some experience and then apply for a horticultural apprenticeship with the Historic and Botanic Gardens Trainee Scheme. The college people thought this was an excellent idea and agreed with Sioned and me that it was the best way forward. The result was that my wife then spoke to me even less than she normally does because she failed to get her way, her desire for which paid scant regard to the consequences for my daughters mental well being.

Anyway, Sioned has finished with college for now and the difference in her was almost immediately noticeable, with both the fear of exams, and the weight of her mothers academic expectations removed. On the Wednesday morning she happily got involved in preparations for growing stuff in her own veg plot, followed by a trip to a couple of plant nurseries and garden centres to see about some work, both of which look like bearing fruit.

On Friday I took her for her counselling appointment, the first of a series of sessions of CBT. At the end her counsellor came out with her and was amazed at the difference in her.

The icing on the cake of all this is that after around a year of not playing any music, or even getting her instrument out of the case, twice in the last two days she has played tunes on her flute with Eleri and me, and the first time in particular was at her instigation. That tells me that she's definitely on the up and up. I was so happy that we all sat together again to make music.

Things are generally better too as I have now accepted that my wife and I are parting, and in fact I just want to get on with it and have it over and done with so that I can get on with my life (and my veg plot!).

[maviczap]

There's some positive vibes going on there Gary

[DarrenSV650S]

Good to hear Gary. Hope everything continues to improve

[garynortheast]

Thanks Mav, Thanks Darren.

This has all had something of a negative impact on my attempts to get out and run unfortunately. Time and motivation keep slipping from my grasp, despite the fact that I know how beneficial it is to my mental health. I am at least getting out and doing some fairly hard walks with Mabel which helps.

[Geodude]

Good to hear things are a bit better Gary

[Adam Ef]

Good progress Gary. Great to hear. Good Dad skills too. Now time to make a bit of space for yourself too : )

[Sir Trev]

Glad things seem to be turning a good corner for you guys Gary.

[garynortheast]

Evening all