Loungers who Toga! Toga! Toga!

Send them to Cork as well! Beautiful day here!

I'm sorry MCR, it sounds like you're going through a really tough time. I know what those are like, I'm still recovering from the trauma of being in hospital, my mental health was already on dodgy ground and after my time in there it's worse than it's been in a decade.

I'm trying really hard to keep myself steady. I've figured out along the way that you need to combine the basic things with some more complex things. You really need to sleep right and eat right. If you don't get enough sleep it will start to effect you, the same with eating healthily and regularly. If you can get some exercise, even 30 minutes of walking around not having to get anywhere will help. It's also really important to find something you can do and dedicate yourself to, without putting any strain on yourself. I spent the first month after being in hospital taking photographs and editing them all night. I spent the next month writing poetry, and this month it's all been about writing fiction. I found things where I could express how I was feeling really helpful. I couldn't share what I was going through with many people and artistic things helped me release my thoughts.

My short story sold its first copy today and the reader left me a review saying the characters were realistic, they acted how she would have acted in the situation, and she really enjoyed my writing. She left me five stars out of five and even though I felt delighted by that earlier today, by 11pm I was edgy, anxious and in a bad way, I even felt phsyically sick. I hadn't eaten all day and that really got to me. Promoting my books and that review got me through the day (an activity,) but not looking after myself messed up my night (not looking after the basics of my health.) I had dinner and feel much better now.

If I was you I'd try and do some study, even if it's only half an hour of lightly reading notes and your books. That will help with the exam anxiety. Then it's a matter of looking after yourself with sleep, exercise and nutrition, basic stuff but if you don't you'll really feel it. And finally you need to find something that can occupy you, try a new hobby where your active, mentally or physically. Allow it to take up your time and get as nerdy about it as you want. In tough times you need something that can take you somewhere else.

I'd also recommend finding someone you can talk to, a therapist if you can. I'm seeing my psychiatrist in a few weeks and I hope they'll be as big of a help as they were the last time.

I went to the doctor on Monday because I couldn't breathe. Flare up of asthma. Steroids and extra inhalers. Steroids have me wired and inhalers giving me palpitations. Walking anywhere is a nightmare - even upstairs I break out into a sweat, get dizzy and need to sit down. So I haven't gone to work. Despite not being fit for work, I still feel guilty for not going

On the funny side, saw a new physio from my surgeons team. She needs to rejig my shoulder muscles so gave me some stretches and exercises to do. Every time I do them I give myself an asthma attack from the exertion!

It's not unfitness or laziness either though. I'm genuinely struggling for air.

Asthma sucks.

Precious flower wrote: »

I feel that due to the fact that I've never been out going and been mostly an introvert, that I've let loads of life experiences past me by. I'm 22 and I feel like I haven't had the memorable experiences that other girls my age have had, it's weird.

I kind of felt a little like that a couple of years ago when nearly everyone I knew went on J1s/finished college and went travelling..i did neither, in college I didnt go out that much so didn't have many wild crazy stories like my other friends did..i didnt learn how to drive when I was 17 like everyone else did in school..
I'm only doing it now, I started travelling on my own to see things I wanted to see/do.. I joined a kayaking club even though I knew noone..

Dont worry about having the same experiences as everyone else seems to have had.
Read this on the tea room in Ennis today
life is like a cup of tea, its how you make it..or something like that anyway!

Okay lungs. Now would be an AWESOME time to start working again.

I really don't know what end of me is up. Talking to my GP earlier and she wants me to go for a chest X-ray tomorrow and she gave me a letter for a&e if I don't improve over the weekend.

I don't want to spend the banker in the mater, so please lungs - work!

Also, new meds can FRO with your insomnia inducement.

sunshine and showers wrote: »

Mam and Dad watching The LL Show. Making me cringe so hard that I could cause myself harm. Then they flicked over to Mrs Brown's Boys. Kill me. Kill me now.

I apologise in advance in case any loungers watch it, but I judge anyone who watches Mrs browns boys.

sullivlo wrote: »

I apologise in advance in case any loungers watch it, but I judge anyone who watches Mrs browns boys.

Mom made me go to the movie with her...I fell asleep

Belated congratulations, RK. Hope you and Mr RK are having a ball on honeymoon.

Sorry to hear things are so tough at the moment, MCR. Really hope that things improve for you soon. It's so hard losing a friend like that. Be good to yourself x

Well done on the books Lyaiera!

It's Sunday morning and my turn for a lie in yet I'm wide awake listening to the 18 month old and my OH making French toast in the kitchen. I have a feeling I won't be staying in bed long. Plus, baba no.2 has decided that kicking the ribs off me is a good thing to do last thing at night and first thing in the morning.

In the most amazing tea shop in Eugene, Oregon - 11 kinds of chai!! Flying on to Las Vegas this evening, 4 days chilling out at the Mandalay Bay await!

I've just woke up to some amazing reviews for my first short story!

What's quite encouraging, even if I disagree with some views is that there's a real diversity in how people see my characters. Some people see my protagonist as real and strong, others see her as in need of something, and others still want to slap her. That to me says I've managed to write a protagonist with depth, that people can take many things from.

I've been in Ireland for more than ten days. It was way too long a trip, and it hasn't been the most fun, and I just want to go home, and get back to London and back into a normal routine, but my flight is delayed and this is like... The last flipping straw. I'm really stupidly cranky about this.
I just want to get back to London. Come on flight, just... Let me on board. Bring me home.

I don't know who I am anymore! I had two beers last night and felt so sick I couldn't finish my dinner. And I was up at 7.30am this morning despite having nothing to do for the day. What's happening to me?

SarahBeep! wrote: »

Everything ok Joe?

Ended up being delayed by three hours. Was a bit rubbish, tbh.
Feeling better today though. Back to work (or pretending to work!) and happy to have a routine again!

While I was home in Ireland, my (ex-)boyfriend and I broke up - we'd been together five and a half years, so it's been a big adjustment. But I'm getting there. Being back in London helps!

^

Nope, not at all creepy. Not at all.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I wouldn't necessarily say it is creepy at all. It's really quite worrying how little people understand these things or even think about them, really. And everyone should to ensure that their privacy and digital footprints are safe and secure.

It's crazy how little people realise they give away. I'm not a computer genius or anything but I know how to google. The things you find from tiny snippets of information is ridiculous.