The mental health check-in thread

The whole Christmas season is very difficult for some people, notably for the bereaved in their first Christmas without a loved one, but also for those with depression. The compulsory jollity is wearing enough even for the rest of us!

Some English churches now provide a special service called Blue Christmas for people who have problems with the regular Christmas services. A Blue Christmas service is quiet and reflective and provides opportunities to remember those they have lost and express sorrow, anger or hope.

I've never drilled down into why I still really, really dislike Dec 31 through Jan 2, but if I could fast forward through those days each year I would. I feel better about the time in recent years and have mellowed about it compared to the distant past but would really rathe sleep or work or do almost anything active to skip that part of the calendar. It's more than just dealing with "amateur night" and its lead-in and aftermaths. Even the news articles tend to be annoying fluff or various pointless lists. Fortunately there are still a few days of Christmas left after that, though far from the main part of the celebration, and that is pleasant.

Originally Posted by Lysander666 On the one hand this thread has gone rather off-topic by talking about New Year's,

I'm just happy that people are talking.

but on the other maybe it is related since it shows that a lot of people do find this time of year stressful,

Yeah, that's how I saw it, too.

Hello, World.

Hello, Andy. Feeling better now?

With the Covid 19 restrictions, I'm expecting the numbers of people with mental health problems to rocket.
Fortunately I'm happy with my own company and don't have any mental problems. I live in a rural area without children, and a garden to enable me to get outside (and away from my husband, whom I no longer like), I don't have income problems and my home is secure. The quarantine rules are going to seriously strain many families' relationships especially where there is no option to get away from each other.
Apart from the obvious short-term difficulties, the long term future looks rather bleak and many people will develop mental ill-health which may never leave them.

Hi Celtic Yokel... good that you're in relatively good shape. I tend to agree, though I try not to make any long-term predictions. People will have a difficult time coping for sure, though historically I think people come together at times like this, though I know that's not always the case. I think of the scenes from the Titanic movie... some people show compassion, some selfishness, some despair. I guess that's the way it is all the time though, lol, but in that movie, or during disasters, that type of behavior becomes more "visible" so to speak.

Hi Hazel, thanks for asking. I'm a bit more anxious than normal, but have been coping ok so far. I'm not normally a drinker, sometimes going 2 months or more, sometimes 3 a week. I had one a week ago Sunday, and one two days ago on Saturday, so that's a good sign (one drink for me usually means 2 shots of vodka and a shot of Kahlua). Remembering to exercise a bit more, which gratefully is easier for me to do now (struggling with chronic pain for some years, gradually improving due to mindfulness body scan meditation). I've been on SSDI since 2003, so income is secure for now. I live with my sister, and she's still able to work, so that parts good. I'd like to feel more useful to the community at the point when extra help will be needed, but I worry about bringing bugs home. I've been volunteering at a community for the past few months, but I'm worried about bring a virus home now, and of course the government and medical community is requesting that people self-isolate to help prevent the spread. But after the 3rd, I can at least donate some money to some community orgs to help with what's needed, such as getting meals out to people. Lately I've just been sharing and "liking" info on LinkedIn that may be useful to others at this time.

I have no intention of writing any "Goodbye, World" programs at this time. I did see something.. either in the news or in my mind, that due to covid-19, the start of hurricane season will be moved from June 1st, 2020 to October 18th.

How are you? How's everyone else?

There's a separate covid 19 reports thread if you're interested.

So far no one has posted that they have it.

Originally Posted by hazel There's a separate covid 19 reports thread if you're interested. So far no one has posted that they have it.

Well that's good! ... I'm in Minnesota, not hit as early as other states like Washington or New York. Pretty low numbers so far, but climbing.

Thanks for your comments, Andy.
I was pleased to see from some of the posts that I've read in this thread, that some victims of mental ill-health feel able to be open about having mental problems. Does it help that LQ is a friendly environment and usually non-judgemental, but still basically a group of strangers?
Although mental ill-health is less of a taboo subject than it used to be, some people are quite fearful of the subject still, or maybe it's that they don't know how to interact with sufferers. No doubt the media don't help when they refer to the perpetrators of uncontrollable and extreme violence as having mental health issues, but don't then differentiate between those people and the ones that have difficulty coping with day-to-day life.

Originally Posted by Celtic Yokel Thanks for your comments, Andy. I was pleased to see from some of the posts that I've read in this thread, that some victims of mental ill-health feel able to be open about having mental problems. Does it help that LQ is a friendly environment and usually non-judgemental, but still basically a group of strangers? Although mental ill-health is less of a taboo subject than it used to be, some people are quite fearful of the subject still, or maybe it's that they don't know how to interact with sufferers. No doubt the media don't help when they refer to the perpetrators of uncontrollable and extreme violence as having mental health issues, but don't then differentiate between those people and the ones that have difficulty coping with day-to-day life.

Good questions. Besides this thread, there's this more extensive one at https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...on-4175514752/ that was started in 2014, split off from a thread started when Robin Williams died.

I've been on some form of medication for depression, bi-polar, schizo effective for at least 10 years now. It's not easy, even less so with the current situations. I manage a somewhat normal life. I'm married, have dogs, take care of my house and stuff (cleaning, cooking, laundry). The wife is a huge support and is very understanding. My parent's have also always been around so I'm very fortunate in that regard. I have a 100lb pitbull / lab that is so gentle and very sensitive to my moods and is very helpful. Not a certified service dog though.

I have tried several times to go back to work, never lasts long. Right now my wife has a good job with a local hospital, and I am a house husband. We are making it one day at a time.

Lately I'm very restless. I've never been able to manage myself when alone. I have always needed outside input from other people. I used to go out if only to be around other people. Now I spend a lot of time alone when the wife is at work, or parent's are out, like most of us I suppose. Sick of everything at my house, tired of world of warcraft, sick of forums. Just bleh. But such is life. Thankfully I'm far more stable than many of the people I used to see in the waiting room at my Doctor's office. I should be grateful and I try to be.

Good to know that you have a dog. They are very therapeutic. Though yours sounds too big to sit on your lap!

Yes to big. But he doesn't know it. That's probably the funniest part about this dog. He just thinks he's a chihuahua or something. He doesn't realize his own size. I'm fairly certain he still can't comprehend why he isn't allowed on our bed with us at night. Recently though we had a few puppies just show up here on our property, took them in. I think they make him realize how big he is. He is very cautious of them, afraid to hurt them I guess.

Originally Posted by jmgibson1981 ...Lately I'm very restless. I've never been able to manage myself when alone. I have always needed outside input from other people. I used to go out if only to be around other people. Now I spend a lot of time alone when the wife is at work, or parent's are out, like most of us I suppose. Sick of everything at my house, tired of world of warcraft, sick of forums. Just bleh. But such is life. Thankfully I'm far more stable than many of the people I used to see in the waiting room at my Doctor's office. I should be grateful and I try to be.

That sucks that you've flattened out like that, but good that you're being mindful about gratitude. Any changes since you posted?

If you're sick of warcraft, you're welcome to play MegaGlest with us anytime.