When buttons get pushed

[Speak Your Truth]

Can anyone help ? My buttons have been pushed to the point of bringing on severe anxiety. Does anyone think this is curable ? I am desperate to feel relaxed and at peace again and to be able to enjoy my life. I don’t know how to cope

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Cala (& a wave to all),

I know you’ve been struggling with social isolation/in iso/self isolation or call it what you like. If it comforts you in the slightest...I find it hard too (really, really hard).

Granted, I also realise our circumstances are vastly different, but I get it...or I think so at least....

I don’t know what will help you, because I don’t know what will help me either (other than a vaccine because that would mean restrictions would be lifted...wouldn’t that be nice? Laughs)

I just wanted to say, I’m thinking of you, & you’re not alone in your sadness, loneliness & frustrations.

Pepper xoxo

[Speak Your Truth]

Thank you Pepper. I do welcome your reply and appreciate very much your support and understanding. It’s so good that people here can accept the feelings we have and are prepared to be supportive. I know a couple of people whose way of dealing with is to refuse to be anything but positive and won’t listen to the other perspective. That’s very hard.

thanks again 🤗😘

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Speak your Truth (& a wave to all),

I think you’re entitled to your feelings . I think especially as this is an unprecedented time, I believe that there’s no “correct” way to feel about it...

I feel sometimes the greatest act of compassion is simply holding space for people to feel however they need to feel, both the good & bad.

This has been shared elsewhere before, but I hope the following quote might give you some small comfort:

It makes so much sense that you’re struggling right now. There are so many unknowns. We’ve never experienced this before and it’s overwhelming and scary. And you’re allowed to feel like you’re falling apart....

You’re allowed to feel the fear and cry. You’re allowed to not be okay. Everything you feel is so valid. You don’t have to find the lesson in the pain. You don’t have to use this as an opportunity for growth or self-development or getting ahead.

You have permission to do less, to do the bare minimum to survive. To feel your feelings instead of trying to make it all better. This is real. It’s heartbreaking and hard. And you don’t owe anyone a performance of being okay.

You’re allowed to feel this. It isn’t weak. It’s human.

- Daniell Koepke

Pepper xoxo

[Hanna3]

Hi Cala,

I think the biggest problem for those alone during this is the isolation. Can you find something each day that makes you happy - I enjoy my walks with Sam along the river as he is so happy then it makes me happy, and the autumn colours are lovely now, and yesterday we stopped to look at a lovely big Shire horse with gorgeous shaggy feet. Little things like that.

I don't get much done during the day, and everyone is having trouble concentrating. It's fine to just potter around and not do much! It's very cold in the mornings here and cold again by 3pm. Try not to look too far ahead, just get through one day at a time. As someone said, we're all going through our own personal "Groundhog Day"- every day is like a repeat of the last! Take care xoxoxo

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Cala (& a wave to all),

I just wanted to visit to ask are you okay & how have you been feeling?

Pepper xoxo

[Speak Your Truth]

Hello Pepper, Hanna and anyone else reading this

thank you for asking how I am, I do appreciate your message 🤗

There was a bright, positive spot yesterday, but overall I’ve had a couple or three really difficult days. I have been feeling a lot of things - hurt, disappointment, confusion, sick, numb - all the things one can feel when people let you down in a big way. Two people from completely different areas in my life, for completely different reasons have done that and I feel so incredibly alone and finding it very difficult to come to terms with. If I had done what these people have I would be so ashamed of myself for treating a person that way. It shocks me that people can be like that. I don’t deserve to be treated like that, no one does.

I was very low this morning, but got busy doing a variety of things that took a fair bit of energy, a good distraction, so I felt better for having done them. The down side is I can’t be busy like that all the time and then I have too much time to think. Of course some distraction is better than none I know.

All this added to the virus. Tonight’s news that the iso will go on for another month, at least, is a weight hard to bear just now. So of course we all have to plug on taking it day by day so I do know I’m not alone.

I hope your days have been better Pepper. I’m too tired to cruise thru the posts tonight.

bye, Cala 🤗😘

[Hanna3]

Hi Cala,

I'm sorry you've had a bad couple of days and feel let down by a couple of friends. I think we all get some down days during these times... I hope you're bright spot was something really nice and that things have improved for you. The weather here has been gorgeous the last couple of days. It's nice to at least be able to sit out in the garden! I do miss having a library to go to, but we had a browse around a nursery today just for something to do!

Hope you've managed to find something nice today... take care xoxo

[Hanna3]

Hi Cala,

Just thought I'd pop by and say I hope you and Possum are going OK. We're in for some cold windy weather here, I imagine you'd get some of it down the south coast too. Keep warm and take care. Sending best wishes xx

[Ggrand]

Hello Cala..

I hope your okay Cala..

Just calling in to give you some hugs..🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗.

and let you know that your an amazing person..

Im sorry some people hurt you...People can be so uncaring at times..

Distraction is only temporary... even little bit’s of giving our mind a break from the nagging thoughts can help us to feel a little better...

Cala...sweetheart if you can..I know it’s hard for a lot of people..Please try as hard as you can not to listen much on the COVID-19...I haven’t watched nor listened to the news now for a few weeks...It was to heartbreaking listening to the amount of people getting sick....

Do you go outside daily, or walk your dog daily..it can help being out of the house....I usually sit outside...or do something in my yard...

I hope tonight lovely Cala, that you have a deep and peaceful sleep....with some beautiful dreams...and tomorrow when you wake it will be a better day then today...

My kind thoughts, love and many hugs...🦋💜🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗...Wish they were real ones beautiful Cala...

Grandy..

[Speak Your Truth]

Hello Grandy and thank you for your post. You wrote so beautifully Grandy that in my heart I reached out to give you a hug, your words were very touching. 🤗🤗🤗

I'm sorry I haven’t checked in to see how you and Hanna and others are going. I’ve been trying to keep myself busy doing things needed in my home, to distract my thoughts from the obvious, so end up just so tired. But I seem to be loosing the art of conversation - I don’t get to talk to anyone much and it’s hard to find things to talk about that are not Corona related, are not negative. So I’m really lost for words very often. I try not to watch much tv, especially news, but sometimes I just want to hear voices, so try to find programs that have happy, positive, heartwarming etc.subjects

I've been struggling the last few days quite a lot. I feel so crushed by corona, it’s such a weight to bear. I almost feel like I’ll be crushed small enough to fit into a matchbox before long. I have the weight to loose so it’s not really bad, but I am loosing weight through this. I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror today and thought “oh my god, I’m starting to look very drawn” (instead of roundy cheeks). I am eating, just not very much

There seems to be no end in sight of life returning to something resembling normal, and that’s really hard.

Grandy you have had a much, much, much harder life than I have had, and I do admire your strength in keeping going, and being so wonderfully supportive and caring to so many people. I think YOU are an amazing person. Thank you for being you. Bug hugs from me to you Grandy, Cala 🥰🤗🌺🦋🌷