I’ve held off mentioning it so far in the hope someone else was going to mention it However it hasn’t happened so here I am. As most of you know I’m going through my own troubles at the moment and I’ve had trouble with my mental health in the past. suprisingly despite what’s going on with me I’m managing my mental health ok So it’s my duty to my brothers from other mothers to do a check in. how are you guys? I’m aware that there’s a lot of blokes on the forum dealing with stuff at the moment and I’d just like to put it out there that my inbox is always open if you want a chat or even if you just want somewhere to have an offload. I may not have the answers you need but I’ve an open and understanding non judgmental ear.
There’s more people than you think, with this issue. I, for one, had been suffering a bit, since March, due to my little accident, with my foot that I had, in March. The uncertainty of everything, due to not being able to work, and being self employed, was constantly on my mind, due to the possibility of loosing customers, and in turn, losing work. Makes a person doubt a lot of things. Does with me, anyway. No ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, so to speak. Seems to be better now though, and I can plan things easier. Cheers Paradox.
I'm surprisingly doing okay at the moment. I was looking for another job as my current one is really getting to me, but I've decided that grass won't always be greener and that I've got a secure job, it's term time so I get school holidays off and the actual job isn't depressing me it is people. I'm just learning to ignore those people - including my manager! It does help to talk, but it also helps that you look for ways to cope/manage the downtimes. List making helps me, a list for what needs doing, a list for when I feel down of pros and cons with situations or feelings. A list for today: got to go to another campus for a departmental meeting. Cons: I don't like some of the people I work with; I have to go to another campus; the meeting will be pretty worthless. Pros: the meeting will not last long; I don't need to say anything in the meeting; it will probably mean I can go home earlier; I get to cycle to the meeting SO I will be getting paid to go for a bike ride
I've been fairly up and down over the last few months, most likely from having too much on my plate and feeling like I have to get everything done as soon as possible. Speaking to Max on an almost daily basis about how we both are has really helped and I'm definitely getting better at prioritising things, with items further down the list not cluttering my mind too much. Having most of the garden room complete is a good load off my mind and it's only over the last few weeks that I've realised just how physically demanding it's been which goes part way to explain my lack of energy for anything else. We're off camping this weekend over in the Purbecks which is much needed, and have 2 weeks off at the end of August for a tour of Scotland and Norfolk which is something great to look forward to. The last few months have just felt like constant work, jumping from one thing to the next.
Up and down here, being honest - I have at times felt like screaming my head off. As some of you know on may 12th i fell and broke my right elbow in five places and have had to have it rebuilt (not using JK parts i hasten to add) so i have an implant, a pinned bone and another bone which is healing. Currently, i cannot drive and have been advised that when i am signed off, no camping so Keiths is out, Wales is out and Scotland is out. I might be good for techenders though. I have been advised i may not have full functionality in my right arm but we are a long way off knowing the extent of it. Flip side we said sod it and have a week in Kos instead. I think i may be better know im bitting and bobbing with work, occupy my mind and all that. On a plus note, I spoke with Simon from The Levellers the other day which cheered me up. If anyone feels down, drop me a note and we can be miserable b******s together
Wishing you a speedy as can be expected recovery mate and hopefully your holiday in kos lifts your spirits a bit.
Bugger, end of august is when we planned to go to Scotland..pity were not else our paths may have crossed
Thanks for bringing this up. I work in the construction sector and I keep banging on that risk assessments and PPE reduces some risks, but not the greatest risk of all to us males, which is ourselves. I'm now a mental health first aider, so do try and sort pout the help people need. I'm doing okay, but literally only if I keep taking the tablets, as I had got to the point where I couldn't see the joy or hope any more, each day was a struggle and each tomorrow was just going to be another struggle. At the bottom of it all the doctor seems to think I have undiagnosed ADD, but the referral wait is about 2 years. In the meantime antidepressants seem to be keeping me well! I think for me the biggest thing is that we all need to be open about this, its not a weakness. If you are brave enough to open up you tend to find that those around you are struggling or have struggled, even if they look okay from the outside.
I hope you don’t mind me reading and commenting on this, as I am indeed a lady. However, as I have worked mainly with me for most of my work career it’s interesting and pleasing to see how much more men are talking about their mental health and opening up about their feelings and struggles. Hopefully it will continue and will help men who felt alone or that they were the only people struggling , feeling overwhelmed etc.
I hope you don’t mind me reading and commenting on this, as I am indeed a lady. However, as I have worked mainly with me for most of my work career it’s interesting and pleasing to see how much more men are talking about their mental health and opening up about their feelings and struggles. Hopefully it will continue and will help men who felt alone or that they were the only people struggling , feeling overwhelmed etc.
We've had some bad news recently that we're in the process of processing. My go to has been to think of the distractions or how to do something charitable and not allow my mind to dwell too much... but it does. I spoke with a friend over the weekend who picked up on something i said previously when we were going through a bad news period. I said that, while the misses was ill no one had really checked in on me... in writing, that sounds selfish as i wasn't the one who was ill, however, the fact is that the effect is widespread and it does impact those around you. That friend checked in with me at the weekend and we went out for a pedal across the forest, which was very much needed. @paradox thanks for asking... i hope you're doing ok and find the right ways to get your mental health in a good place - indeed, all of you. We should remember that "how are you?" shouldn't be a rhetorical question.
Sorry to hear of your struggles but well done for being a mental health first aider I had no idea there was such a thing. Your correct it certainly is not a weakness and it takes courage to open up about it.
Tricky because the expected answer is "Good thanks" and 99.9% of the people who ask absolutely do not want the real answer. That goes for physical health too. Nobody much asks me this anymore because they know I'll answer literally and they were only being polite, they don't actually want to know!
Sounds like you have a good friend their and exercise and being out in nature certainly helps even if it’s just as a distraction for a while.
This unfortunately is very true when people ask how you are it’s just a polite pleasantry and there not really asking. Hopefully this can change over time.
There’s a magic in opening up as when you’re going through struggles you start to think your the only one going through it Once you realise others have stuff going on it seems to ease things off a bit.
