Depression, Bullying, Harassment, Sexuality

[Billy7]

Hi Guys,

This is my first post & not really sure where to start? I guess I'm looking for some support & guidance. I suffer from depression with anxiety. I had a breakdown a year & a bit ago, it was a slow build up of pressures, loss of a few close family members, bullying & harassment (sexuality), stressful & long working hours, death threat from customer & what topped it off was being threatened with a tazer by another colleague.

Jumping forward I finally got a new job, started taking my antidepressants as soon as I had the first phone interview as I was not coping with the negative self talk. I managed to make it through the first day with much anxiety, (to be expected). Being a similar industry that I had worked in it turns out that my new colleague used to work with someone from my old work, added to that the boys club mentality it took me right back to my breakdown. Hence to say I did not return the next day.

I'm so tired of all the pain & suffering, just done. It shouldn't be this hard!

I have isolated & pushed people away, I don't know what else to say or what to expect?

XXX

[Billy7]

Hey Paul, right back at you.

Sorry to hear that, I hope things settle down a bit. I can relate to not loving change, I work best with structure, guidelines & set boundaries.

Good on you for getting out & sounds like you had a fair decent ride, hope you had some switch off time while riding. Like you I haven't been out for a while, just a couple of blockies to keep everything lubed & turning. Hopefully get out on the next nice day.

What sort of bike do you have? I'm a little embarrassed to say I've just got a little Kawasaki GPX250, would love to get something bigger but no new toys, the mortgage is not conducive to that at the moment.

Cheers.

[Paul]

Hey Billy,

I got to switch off a bit during the ride but also contemplated quite a bit with no answers. But - you get that. Nothing major.

GPX250 - they are an awesome bike! No need to be embarrassed, the best part is you have a bike! You can have just as much fun on a 250 than you can on a bigger bike. Sometimes I wish I had a 250 as well as my bike. Mine is a pain in the rear to ride through traffic - a Honda VFR800. A 250 would be light and nimble.

Anything happening on the work front for you?

Paul

[Billy7]

Hey Paul,

Cool cool, good to hear. Glad you had some down time, & I think with enough contemplation you will find the answers you need. Yeah I definitely get it.

Haha thanks, yeah she is a good old beast & you're right its still two wheels, plenty of fun. Light & nimble is great, just don't tend to take her out on super windy days. Can imagine would be a bit of a pain in traffic, so glad they finally changed the lane filtering rules.

I've just started looking again, had a set back a couple of weeks ago, I guess it confirmed for me that I need to move away from automotive & boys club mentality. I'm not proud, would do anything, just long for an employer & colleagues that are positive & supporting???

Hope to catch soon,

Cheers.

[Gruffudd]

Hi Billy,

Thought I'd just check in, nice to see you and Paul have the bikes in common. Good news you are thinking about work where there is support and less stress, I made a move like that a year ago now and am rather glad I did. One thing the new job has is driving all over the state (about 1000km a week) which I rather like, it is a beautiful world out there.

Rob.

[Billy7]

Hey Rob,

Glad you did, good to hear. Yeah have my fingers crossed I can find something suitable, without taking too long.

That's cool man, well done. I'm with you, love being out on the road & exploring all the wonderful that are out there to be found. What's one of your favourite places?

Stay safe, cheers.

[Gruffudd]

Roads, I have a few favourites,

The black spur between Yarra Junction and Yea - The tallness of the forest and the winding is nice.

The great alpine road from Bright over the mountains through Omeo and onto the coast.

Lake road and Jervis Creek road that take you along lake Hume with steep cliffs into the water and amazing views along the valley (It's like a dirt track version of the great ocean road without the tourists and inland).

Dare I say it, St Kilda Road from the city then the beech road from Brighton through to Mentone. I have a thing for cliffs and water.

Rob.

[Billy7]

Hey Rob,

Cool cool, beautiful, feeling you on your favourite roads. Lake & Jervis Road's sound awesome, love the fact it's off the beaten track with none of the tourists.

[Paul]

Hey Billy,

All of Tasmania are my favorite roads. There are some absolutely amazing roads and scenery all around Tassie.

In Victoria my favorite road is one that I can't even name. I've been on it once. It was sealed about a year and a half ago and it's 100km of 25-75kmh curves with no traffic. Awesome on any size bike!

a job driving a removals van or long haul would be fun. Listen to favorite music and get lost in the driving. So relaxing.

Paul