Not in a good space

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

It's like a feeling just bubbling up to the surface. It's panicky and disgusting and I dont' know what to do with it. There's no thoughts associated with it. It's a feeling. A really gross one. I called the Suicide Call Back service. I didn't find them helpful. What do you do? What helps you?

[Hanna3]

Hi Katy,

What I meant (I put it badly last night) was that something that takes control of you, like anxiety or pain.. makes the person feel helpless sometimes to do anything to stop it.. hence the term victim, meaning this thing is controlling you to some extent... but this doctor says you can make steps to take over control which help empower you over the problem...

Sounds like having a cuppa with another student after was an example of you taking control, well done.

Sam is still sick so I can't stay on,, take care of yourself.

[Hanna3]

Hi Katy,

Just finished watching the tennis - I was hoping Dominic Thiem would win, hooray! I don't like Kyrigos... Did you watch it to the end? What a game it turned out to be! Terrific tennis!I

I did enjoy that! oxox

[ecomama]

Hey Katy (and waves to everyone)

I hope it's okay I popped in to say Congratulations on getting into your Honours Course. WOW what an achievement!

I'm really proud of you! I just HAD to say that.

I'm also glad the place you interviewed aligns with your Values, that's so important.

You'll be a wonderful Social Worker. 🥰

I saw that you're reading The Body Keeps Score?
Is it helpful?

I've seen it advertised but am curious about the content.

I bought "Anxiety" from ABC Bookshop and I'm sorry to say, I didn't like it at all.
I didn't find it offered ANY help to me whatsoever.
So gave it to my youngest d, she didn't like it either.
Then my eldest d - same.

But I'm so interested in all things neuro plasticity, I find this field incredibly exciting for all of us.

We've been dealing with so many stressful "pet" issues lately, they were rolling in all at once.
They're as much a part of our family as any of the people. It really hits us hard when these things happen to them.
I'm "baby sitting" eldest daughter's dog tomorrow. We still feel nervy about leaving her alone after such major surgery. Plus she needs the air con, darling girl.

I hope you're feeling okay today. You did SO WELL fronting up for 2 interviews in one day then heading for coffee with another student.

Bestest wishes
Love EMxxxx

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hanna, Paws

Thanks so much for your support, as ever. I got some great advice from the student I had coffee with too. "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time". Love it. I keep thinking about the whole year and everything I need to achieve within it. But if I just keep in mind one task at a time, it doesn't seem so huge.

Hanna, thanks for sharing your thoughts regarding the book you're reading. I'm familiar with the concept of learned helplessness, from my degree. Look forward to any more insights you want to share, as you go along. I've just finished "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown. It was ok, but I'm hoping I get more out of the next one I have here - "Rising Strong", on becoming more courageous.

Wasn't the tennis last night just great? I love a good game, more than I care for anyone in particular winning. The young Aussie lad De Minaur (spelling?) plays tonight, I think.

The weather here today is just amazing. I went to yoga and regretted it immediately when I found out we were "working on our core" yuk! lol. My little pot belly wasn't a fan at all! Straight to the beach afterwards, and gee I could go a nap now...

How's everyone's pups today? Is Sam going a bit better? How's Woofa going after his course of injections? How's the weather over your way? Hugs all round, Katy xo

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hi EM

Absolutely ok for anyone to pop by - welcome! And thanks so much for the support and encouragement 🙂

I think any advice from books, the forums, or elsewhere really need to "speak to us", so perhaps that wasn't quite the right book for you or your girls. I recently read Living with It by Bev Aisbett. It's short and illustrated, but I found value in the simplicity of it. Not sure how old your girls are but maybe one to keep in mind - library perhaps, so no loss if it's useless.

The Body Keeps the Score is interesting so far. It's quite detailed in its explanations, particularly in regard to the different functions carried out by regions of the brain. I'm not far enough into the book to see if there's some tangible offerings that will be of use, but there's promise of top-down or bottom-up approaches to regaining a sense of control, so I'll hold onto hope.

If you're interested in neuroplasticity (and I agree, it's exciting for us all!), my psychologist recommended Norman Doidge's The Brain that Changes Itself. I just can't remember what I thought of it. I do have it on my bookshelf.

I hope the pet sitting today has gone ok. Pets are absolutely family, so I'm sorry to hear you've been having issues with yours of late. Hope everything has settled down now in that department. I have a pup and a kitty on the lounge next to me, and it's really my happy place.

Best wishes, and thanks for popping by. You're a lovely, active, positive vibe on the forums and always nice to see your posts about xo

[Hanna3]

Hi Katy, (HI Em, Paws, everyone)

I see you read the Bev Aisbett book - I think she is great, her books helped me enormously years ago after a dreadful car accident and I became phobic about driving... she makes it all quite funny with the little dragon figure!

I'll be watching the tennis again tonight - I liked Thiem as I don't like Kyrios's behaviour.. so I was happy to see the quiet guy win. I asked my friend in Qld today if she had been watching the tennis and she replied "I don't watch ping pong!"- I guess she's not into tennis... from that response!

I used to work with an anaesthetist who was big on learned helplessness and that was a long time ago... it's certainly an easy trap to fall into especially with chronic pain patients.. been busy reading non fiction by Thomas Moore (Care of the Soul etc) so haven't got any further with the learned helplessness.

Sam is OK, he's very tired which is understandable and can only eat tiny portions at a time... he will take a week at least I think to recover.

I am off to watch the TV I'm afraid! I'm glad you're feeling encouraged about your course... it sounds quite exciting for you!

xoxoxo

[ecomama]

Hey Katy, thankyou for the warm welcome, it's much appreciated!

My eldest D is in her 30s (doing her Psych Honours this year) and my youngest D is a teen still at school. I have sons in between.

Yeah I agree totally. The text / author really has to "speak to us".
I find anything that Brene Brown says OR writes speaks volumes to me.
Her work is incredibly life changing.
SHE is AMAZING bringing this to us all.

I'll look up that Bev Aisbett book, thanks girls. I think my youngest D would enjoy that format.

My other extreme favourite lol is ANYTHING by Dr Joe Dispenza. His research on neuro plasticity is mind blowing. I bought his first book about a decade ago and his next few books are just as mind blowing lol.

I love his meditations. I'm certain they were a major catalyst for healing C-PTSD last year. Amongst other things lol.

This is a great year for you Katy. You know what to do. You've "done it all before".

Staying present in the moment whilst planning ahead and scheduling the time necessary for assignments is a thang lol but you will smash it this year! I KNOW IT!

Sometimes someone tells you something RIGHT at the exact time you need it.

A friend I had years ago told me to tell my eldest D something when she began Uni...(sic) "they call the schools of thought at Universities "Disciplines" for a reason. They take discipline to complete".

I had SO MANY friends at school who scored far higher than me in ALL subjects, I was very much a C average IF that.
Most left in Year 10 and some didn't make it through to Year 12, even though they started Senior High with me.

It wasn't intelligence, as much as discipline, that got me through my HSC.
It was also discipline that got me through my degrees.

PLUS delayed gratification!
While they were partying and earning money, I was studying (mostly lol) and broke.

Over the decades they've lamented to me time and again, not going on with further study.

Food for thought!
Love EM

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

**sigh**

Today is not a good day for scrolling social media. That felt yuk. So, today's self care is staying off until tomorrow.

I've not heard of Joe Dispenza. Given you speak highly of his work, I'll look into it, thanks 🙂

I feel pretty good about The Body Keeps the Score. It's making a lot of sense. I hit a huge low last night - hard and fast. But I think the book has helped me understand why. Still, the SH thoughts were pretty intense, so some strategies are needed. Anyway, we can but keep learning and hoping, right?

Apologies, bit of a short neg post today. Need to go do something nice to lift my mood. Hope you're all faring a little brighter. Katy

[Paw Prints]

Hello Katy,

Here is a supportive gentle hug lass

Paws

[ecomama]

Hey Katy, huge hugs.

Feeling pretty low myself today but I know it will pass.... waiting waiting.

Thanks for the rap on Body Keep Score. I think it really does but still not sure whether I like to read certain authors. So thankyou.

Dr Joe Dispenza is so brilliant. I love him to bits!
His works are extremely technical tbh but such nutritious food for thought, they can really "take you away" up into the quantum field and he shows us how.

I LOVE his free meditations.
They also take us up into the quantum field.

But the results of his work are undeniable. He's used Scientists and all sorts to measure healing, transformation etc, so it works.

We just need to employ it, yeah... but it's fun really.

Praying this low mood passes for you and me and anyone else "feeling it" atm.
My dad was an Astrologer and he would probably have told me WHY this wave is happening... some planet or other in retrograde lol... might look it up!

Sending lots of healing energy.
EMxxxx