The Mental Health Clinic

[Violet Witch]

Well it's been a week since my mini breakdown that was brought on by anxiety over the continuous hot weather and feeling like I was in Groundhog Day and now I look back on it and think "Why did I get myself in such a state to begin with?" Maybe it's because I know the end is in sight and rain is finally on the cards to break up this boring cycle of summer weather that has plagued my mental health over the last five weeks or I've simply stopped fighting the fact there are some things I just can't control. This also includes how I feel about others and how they've treated me over the last few years etc.

Yes it's still hot as hell and it sucks to not get much sleep at night but it does feel like the end is in sight and I can finally feel like myself again and get back to doing things I love which helps my mental health rather than hinder it. Mental health in general is so complex and affects everyone differently, it's also both fascinating and terrifying at the same time.

To anyone out there who is going through a dark patch, look after yourself first and foremost. You're important and you matter.

 

[GreenOctagons]

Well it's been a week since my mini breakdown that was bought on by anxiety over the continuous hot weather and feeling like I was in Groundhog Day and now I look back on it and think "Why did I get myself in such a state to begin with?" Maybe it's because I know the end is in sight and rain is finally on the cards to break up this boring cycle of summer weather that has plagued my mental health over the last five weeks or I've simply stopped fighting the fact there are some things I just can't control. This also includes how I feel about others and how they've treated me over the last few years etc.

Yes it's still hot as hell and it sucks to not get much sleep at night but it does feel like the end is in sight and I can finally feel like myself again and get back to doing things I love which helps my mental health rather than hinder it. Mental health in general is so complex and affects everyone differently, it's also both fascinating and terrifying at the same time.

To anyone out there who is going through a dark patch, look after yourself first and foremost. You're important and you matter.

Gonna be cool with storms during the week

Glad to hear you’re doing better!

 

[Violet Witch]

Gonna be cool with storms during the week

Glad to hear you’re doing better!

Thank you, it feels good to see the light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel. I don’t say this often but I can’t wait for Monday and the potential for much needed rain and thunderstorms. ⛈

 

[Xara]

i’ve actually been on a semi-hiatus from tbt for almost 3 months now because of my mental health. i’ve still been lurking and doing some trades here and there, plus i’m doing my best to participate in the ongoing tbt fair, but i’m definitely not as active as i used to be. i’ve been trying to work on it since i really miss talking to my friends more and being more active, but it’s just hard bc i’m dealing with massive brain fog whenever i try to say or write anything rn for some reason, and i just don’t have the energy for much anymore.

i won’t go into full detail since i think i’ve trauma dumped enough on here haha, but i’ve really been struggling with feeling alone and isolated this past year. the past 9 months have been... absolute hell for my family, with my grandma passing away in sept, my childhood cat and best friend (zeva) passing away in nov, one of the kittens we adopted after zeva passed dying of FIP in feb, and then the second kitten also dying of FIP last month, 13 days before her 1st birthday. plus there’s been several other awful things that have happened between sept and now, so life has been... a lot lmao.

i’ve experienced so much loss and tragedy in the past 9 months alone, and it’s really been an isolating journey for me tbh. my parents were busy with their own stuff and grief, and my friends all had their own stuff going on as well, so i kinda feel like i went through everything alone? my friends were all kind enough to offer support and check in when they could, i just. idk, i just felt like i didn’t have anyone i could talk to about how bad things really were at home, or what i was feeling. and bad things just kept happening, and so i kept ranting about it, and i’m sure that probably annoyed people as well. i don’t have any friends or any family irl besides my parents, so online friends are the only people i really socialize with nowadays. and i love my online friends dearly... i just wish i was healed enough so that i felt ready to seek out people, because i don’t feel like i have any right to go into a relationship, platonic or romantic, with as much baggage as i have and as much healing as i have left to do. i haven’t even really begun healing yet.

but i’m doing a bit better nowadays. or at least i’m trying to. i’m definitely not in as dark a place as i was in november
or february, so i consider that progress. i miss my cats so, so much, and the life i had and the person i was before all this happened. i miss not knowing what grief feels like. but i can’t go back, so i’m trying to move forward. i recently completed an 8-week-long group therapy program, and i think that helped a bit. i’m also hoping to listen in on some mental health seminars in the future as well, and i’m slowly beginning to tackle things i’ve neglected or put on pause because of my mental health.

i’m also in a place where i feel ready to try and slowly return to tbt 100%. it’ll be a slow transition back though, as my family and i are actually adopting a new kitty on monday, and she’ll be my #1 priority once she’s home. her name’s bonk, short for bonkers. we named her that because when we first met her, she kept bonking her head into our hands and legs to be pet. she also goes bonkers sometimes haha. she’s a very sweet girl, and i can’t wait to bring her home. ^~^

Spoiler: bonky

this thread is such a lovely idea, thank you for making it @/GreenOctagons. i hope everyone’s hanging in there and doing okay.

 

[GreenOctagons]

i’ve actually been on a semi-hiatus from tbt for almost 3 months now because of my mental health. i’ve still been lurking and doing some trades here and there, plus i’m doing my best to participate in the ongoing tbt fair, but i’m definitely not as active as i used to be. i’ve been trying to work on it since i really miss talking to my friends more and being more active, but it’s just hard bc i’m dealing with massive brain fog whenever i try to say or write anything rn for some reason, and i just don’t have the energy for much anymore.

i won’t go into full detail since i think i’ve trauma dumped enough on here haha, but i’ve really been struggling with feeling alone and isolated this past year. the past 9 months have been... absolute hell for my family, with my grandma passing away in sept, my childhood cat and best friend (zeva) passing away in nov, one of the kittens we adopted after zeva passed dying of FIP in feb, and then the second kitten also dying of FIP last month, 13 days before her 1st birthday. plus there’s been several other awful things that have happened between sept and now, so life has been... a lot lmao.

i’ve experienced so much loss and tragedy in the past 9 months alone, and it’s really been an isolating journey for me tbh. my parents were busy with their own stuff and grief, and my friends all had their own stuff going on as well, so i kinda feel like i went through everything alone? my friends were all kind enough to offer support and check in when they could, i just. idk, i just felt like i didn’t have anyone i could talk to about how bad things really were at home, or what i was feeling. and bad things just kept happening, and so i kept ranting about it, and i’m sure that probably annoyed people as well. i don’t have any friends or any family irl besides my parents, so online friends are the only people i really socialize with nowadays. and i love my online friends dearly... i just wish i was healed enough so that i felt ready to seek out people, because i don’t feel like i have any right to go into a relationship, platonic or romantic, with as much baggage as i have and as much healing as i have left to do. i haven’t even really begun healing yet.

but i’m doing a bit better nowadays. or at least i’m trying to. i’m definitely not in as dark a place as i was in november
or february, so i consider that progress. i miss my cats so, so much, and the life i had and the person i was before all this happened. i miss not knowing what grief feels like. but i can’t go back, so i’m trying to move forward. i recently completed an 8-week-long group therapy program, and i think that helped a bit. i’m also hoping to listen in on some mental health seminars in the future as well, and i’m slowly beginning to tackle things i’ve neglected or put on pause because of my mental health.

i’m also in a place where i feel ready to try and slowly return to tbt 100%. it’ll be a slow transition back though, as my family and i are actually adopting a new kitty on monday, and she’ll be my #1 priority once she’s home. her name’s bonk, short for bonkers. we named her that because when we first met her, she kept bonking her head into our hands and legs to be pet. she also goes bonkers sometimes haha. she’s a very sweet girl, and i can’t wait to bring her home. ^~^

Spoiler: bonky

View attachment 452641

this thread is such a lovely idea, thank you for making it @/GreenOctagons. i hope everyone’s hanging in there and doing okay.

Glad to read you’re getting better! Keep going!

That cat and name is so cute

 

[GreenOctagons]

I’m not great mentally right now. Feeling constantly anxious and even becoming paranoid now, I feel like my closest mate is using me and doesn’t respect me at the same level I respect him. It’s making me feel like I’m a piece of s**t. I’m fed up of it.

 

[Midoriya]

I’m not great mentally right now. Feeling constantly anxious and even becoming paranoid now, I feel like my closest mate is using me and doesn’t respect me at the same level I respect him. It’s making me feel like I’m a piece of s**t. I’m fed up of it.

I'm sorry, buddy. That sounds really frustrating. I've been feeling kind of mopey or off today as well. You're always responding to people here and making them feel welcome and happier, so I only wish the same for you. I hope you feel better soon.

 

[GreenOctagons]

I'm sorry, buddy. That sounds really frustrating. I've been feeling kind of mopey or off today as well. You're always responding to people here and making them feel welcome and happier, so I only wish the same for you. I hope you feel better soon.

Cheers pal, appreciate it

 

[Violet Witch]

I’m not great mentally right now. Feeling constantly anxious and even becoming paranoid now, I feel like my closest mate is using me and doesn’t respect me at the same level I respect him. It’s making me feel like I’m a piece of s**t. I’m fed up of it.

Im so sorry you're going through a rough patch, it's never nice when you feel on edge especially with paranoia at play as well. Add on top the feeling that one of your friends isn't pulling their weight properly in your friendship and it's a recipe for feeling like utter crap. Hopefully your friend will pull their finger out their butt and start being more attentive to your friendship and you start to feel a bit more normal again soon.

 

[tiffanistarr]

y’all, i am stressed out. I work in banking and we recently had two employees leave my department due to the prices of gas and how far they drive for work. I get it it! You have to do what’s best for you and your bank account. However, there were only 3 of us, now I’m the only one. I have taken on the work of two people and it’s A LOT. I would say I already do quite a bit to begin with. I stay productive and busy at work. However, the last couple weeks have been a complete hell. Like, so many things they left undone. A lot of loose ends they left are driving me bonkers. We quickly had a hire which is great, but that’s not a quick process either. Those things take time and I understand, but I am tired. On top of work, I do a lot of committee work at work. I’m part of a news network at our company, I’m a chair person on a couple different diversity groups. I’m a mentor for a women’s focus group. I LOVE all of those things. They fill me with joy, but they require time and completed projects, so it’s a bit demanding right now. I am only one person. Ugh. Our new hire will be here in a couple weeks, so I just need to stay strong.

 

[GreenOctagons]

Im so sorry you're going through a rough patch, it's never nice when you feel on edge especially with paranoia at play as well. Add on top the feeling that one of your friends isn't pulling their weight properly in your friendship and it's a recipe for feeling like utter crap. Hopefully your friend will pull their finger out their butt and start being more attentive to your friendship and you start to feel a bit more normal again soon.

Thank you so much for the kind words

So many doubts wizzing round my head, I’m not sleeping properly and I’m feeling constant anger.

Post automatically merged: Aug 20, 2022

y’all, i am stressed out. I work in banking and we recently had two employees leave my department due to the prices of gas and how far they drive for work. I get it it! You have to do what’s best for you and your bank account. However, there were only 3 of us, now I’m the only one. I have taken on the work of two people and it’s A LOT. I would say I already do quite a bit to begin with. I stay productive and busy at work. However, the last couple weeks have been a complete hell. Like, so many things they left undone. A lot of loose ends they left are driving me bonkers. We quickly had a hire which is great, but that’s not a quick process either. Those things take time and I understand, but I am tired. On top of work, I do a lot of committee work at work. I’m part of a news network at our company, I’m a chair person on a couple different diversity groups. I’m a mentor for a women’s focus group. I LOVE all of those things. They fill me with joy, but they require time and completed projects, so it’s a bit demanding right now. I am only one person. Ugh. Our new hire will be here in a couple weeks, so I just need to stay strong.

Keep your head up and keep going

Just one of them things you’ve gotta ride out.

 

[Romaki]

I think it's important to talk about these things to remove the stigma!

I've been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and burnout, basically. Bullying is rough.

But I'm doing fine. I can manage depressive episodes. It's mostly the anxiety affecting me rn.

I hate worrying about everything. I'm anxious about finding a job, getting married, having a child, living without my parents, whether I want to live decades with my partner, getting good grades. All at once. I never feel at peace, unless I'm sleeping. At least this is how my illness is making me feel.

People don't really understand and tell me just to not worry, but I can't really turn it off. I mostly just distract myself with video games and the internet, and I mean that's pretty much working. I haven't had a panic attack in a long time, and the last one this year was purely physical.

All I can say is that I'm thankful for games like Animal Crossing.

 

[GreenOctagons]

I think it's important to talk about these things to remove the stigma!

I've been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and burnout, basically. Bullying is rough.

But I'm doing fine. I can manage depressive episodes. It's mostly the anxiety affecting me rn.

I hate worrying about everything. I'm anxious about finding a job, getting married, having a child, living without my parents, whether I want to live decades with my partner, getting good grades. All at once. I never feel at peace, unless I'm sleeping. At least this is how my illness is making me feel.

People don't really understand and tell me just to not worry, but I can't really turn it off. I mostly just distract myself with video games and the internet, and I mean that's pretty much working. I haven't had a panic attack in a long time, and the last one this year was purely physical.

All I can say is that I'm thankful for games like Animal Crossing.

I can relate to literally everything you said. Really angers when people tell you to just brush it off and get on with it, it's not that simple!

Hope you keep well

 

[Croconaw]

I’m not great mentally right now. Feeling constantly anxious and even becoming paranoid now, I feel like my closest mate is using me and doesn’t respect me at the same level I respect him. It’s making me feel like I’m a piece of s**t. I’m fed up of it.

I feel that. It hurts to feel like someone is using you. I went through most of my life second guessing the intentions of other people, but I realized it’s not worth it. It was only hurting me, and worrying about it isn’t going to change the type of person someone is. The other thing I realized though is that not everyone has bad intentions and closing yourself off to the possibility of future friends due to fear of being used only harms you.

I can tell you that at one point I questioned even the person I’m closest to right now, and I had no justification to do so other than my own paranoia. This happened a few months ago but sometimes I wonder why I had these thoughts to begin with and it hit me. I was letting what other people say get into my head. You just can’t form opinions based on words from other people, and you can’t live your life thinking everyone is the same. It’ll close you off from meeting some amazing people.

It’s been a bit, but I hope you’re feeling better now.

 

[GreenOctagons]

I feel that. It hurts to feel like someone is using you. I went through most of my life second guessing the intentions of other people, but I realized it’s not worth it. It was only hurting me, and worrying about it isn’t going to change the type of person someone is. The other thing I realized though is that not everyone has bad intentions and closing yourself off to the possibility of future friends due to fear of being used only harms you.

I can tell you that at one point I questioned even the person I’m closest to right now, and I had no justification to do so other than my own paranoia. This happened a few months ago but sometimes I wonder why I had these thoughts to begin with and it hit me. I was letting what other people say get into my head. You just can’t form opinions based on words from other people, and you can’t live your life thinking everyone is the same. It’ll close you off from meeting some amazing people.

It’s been a bit, but I hope you’re feeling better now.

Thank you for the advice. I find it very hard to let these thoughts go, I always have. I’m still quite angry.

 

[imorileo]

I’m currently having a very hard time communicating what I feel and I worry it annoys my bf lol. He’s always been very understanding and kind to me and has never pressured me to talk when I can’t talk; He knows of my mental health issues and has never judged me for it. I’m 100% sure I’m the one forcing myself to believe he hates me for it, when he’s only been good to me. I know lots of people with my condition experience these same issues. I end up isolating myself from the people I love because I make myself believe they dislike me and its getting kind of annoying that I want to bonk myself on the head!

 

[GreenOctagons]

I’m currently having a very hard time communicating what I feel and I worry it annoys my bf lol. He’s always been very understanding and kind to me and has never pressured me to talk when I can’t talk; He knows of my mental health issues and has never judged me for it. I’m 100% sure I’m the one forcing myself to believe he hates me for it, when he’s only been good to me. I know lots of people with my condition experience these same issues. I end up isolating myself from the people I love because I make myself believe they dislike me and its getting kind of annoying that I want to bonk myself on the head!

I can relate. I do the exact same, I make myself adamant that people dislike me then go along with it even if isn’t true. I haven’t been able to stop doing it.

 

[Croconaw]

I’m hanging out with a person for the first time this week. I haven’t really had any friendships or connections progress beyond the place in common. A bit strange given my age, right? I haven’t hung out with anyone ever.

Most friendships are situational and are formed because you have that one major thing in common — you go to the same school or work the same job. After one of you leaves, then what happens? It’s rare these friendships last beyond this one thing because you bonded over that one thing.

I’m really happy to finally be progressing some of my bonds with people. I don’t use social media so it’s a bit difficult to meet people, and even if you do, they ask for your social media. Then they’re freaked out by the fact that you don’t have any? I find social media to be extremely toxic depending on the platform. I can’t be bothered keeping up with any of them. Can anyone relate with the no social media? The closest I have is Snapchat, but I rarely post on it.

 

[-Mars-]

-snip-

I know I'm not close to your age but I can relate to having no social media
the only social media platform account I have is for Pinterest because it's useful for certain things

I have always had a hard time making friends because I'm extremely shy and I have extreme social anxiety and I get panic attacks meeting new people sometimes
I bond with people over an emotional connection not over things like mutual interests and hobbies
I want friends who want to spend quality time with me and not always want to talk all the time, I want friends that think and feel like me
just a human being who genuinely wants companionship and enjoys company with you someone who appreciates you for who you are
I only have 5 friends because of how hard it is to find people like this, all my friends like me for being me and we are happy we have each other to be with, the type of friends who will love spending time with you because the friendship you share not people who grow bored of you because you aren't popular enough or attractive enough or interesting enough or whatever

I question what is considered a "friend" nowadays because I have been ditched from friendships many times because I'm apparently not good enough to be someone's friend and I've felt the need to end many former friendships if I would call them that because I felt they were a very one sided relationship and I couldn't genuinely spend quality time with them because most people only wanted to talk about mutual likes or interests and not spend time building an emotional relationship

If this makes any sense at all, I'm writing this real quick before I go to sleep

 

[Violet Witch]

I don’t use social media so it’s a bit difficult to meet people, and even if you do, they ask for your social media. Then they’re freaked out by the fact that you don’t have any? I find social media to be extremely toxic depending on the platform. I can’t be bothered keeping up with any of them. Can anyone relate with the no social media? The closest I have is Snapchat, but I rarely post on it.

Whilst I do have social media, I'm only active on Tumblr and only use others (like Twitter or Instagram) to keep up on either certain news topics or local news in my area (Facebook). I applaud you for not having social media full stop as like you said it can be very toxic and can easily set your mental health on a downward spiral. Whoever you chat/bond with whether it's a family member, friend or an acquaintance should always respect your choices when it comes to how you utilise the internet in general.

Post automatically merged: Aug 28, 2022

I know I'm not close to your age but I can relate to having no social media
the only social media platform account I have is for Pinterest because it's useful for certain things

I have always had a hard time making friends because I'm extremely shy and I have extreme social anxiety and I get panic attacks meeting new people sometimes
I bond with people over an emotional connection not over things like mutual interests and hobbies
I want friends who want to spend quality time with me and not always want to talk all the time, I want friends that think and feel like me
just a human being who genuinely wants companionship and enjoys company with you someone who appreciates you for who you are
I only have 5 friends because of how hard it is to find people like this, all my friends like me for being me and we are happy we have each other to be with, the type of friends who will love spending time with you because the friendship you share not people who grow bored of you because you aren't popular enough or attractive enough or interesting enough or whatever

I question what is considered a "friend" nowadays because I have been ditched from friendships many times because I'm apparently not good enough to be someone's friend and I've felt the need to end many former friendships if I would call them that because I felt they were a very one sided relationship and I couldn't genuinely spend quality time with them because most people only wanted to talk about mutual likes or interests and not spend time building an emotional relationship

If this makes any sense at all, I'm writing this real quick before I go to sleep

I'm exactly the same as you when it comes to friendships, if there's an emotional connection early on then I know eventually I can trust them and over time bond over things like hobbies etc. However in recent years I've also been ditched by so many friends simply because I'm not in a relationship, getting married or having babies. It's a horrible feeling because it makes you feel like a freak for being different and what's worse is I've just found one of my friends new Instagram profile's which is public but I'm not privy to it, that's been reserved for her boyfriend only. So it's nice to know where her priorities lie despite the fact she's in a her thirties but still acts like a teenager from time to time and doesn't even realise it unless someone calls her out on it etc.

Even though I don't know you, I've seen you around on the forum regularly and you seem like a wonderful and kind person who deserves a friend who will be loyal to you, in fact a lot of us on this forum who struggle with friendships deserves so much better.

Anyway if you ever want to DM me feel free anytime, I'll always reply back.