So some slightly less negative news today, OH and his Dad met the consultant again, and a biopsy has shown that it's not an untreatable type of cancer, so they can start treatment. It's still a 50:50 chance of surviving more than 12 months, but at least there is hope in that, it won't be a case of sitting and waiting to die... Don't want to get our hopes too high though.

Still feeling a bit lonely here though, I've been spending more time than I should chatting at work because I have people to talk to, but I haven't told more than a couple of people there about what's going on.

Hello all! I am sorry that I don't have time right now to respond to each of you but I have been thinking about you all!! I am doing okay, still not much progress on the eating and exercise front but I am a week away from being done with my semester and then I will only have one semester to go! I don't remember if I told you all but we adopted kittens from the humane society last week as an early Christmas present for my girls. They named the kittens Luke and Leia because they are brother and sister. Once I figure out how to post a picture on here I will put up a picture of them!

I hope everyone is having a peaceful week and has a wonderful weekend. I will be on to check in this weekend!!

Lisa, I know a lot of people who suffer joint pain can benefit from going swimming - I don't know if you can swim, or what your local pool is like, but it's always worth suggesting!

We got a christmas hamper from work, and I have been stuffing my face for the last 3 days from it... I'm not sure why I don't seem to have a stop switch anymore, I used to be very good at saying "you've had enough", but not so much these days... I do wonder if it's related to my anti-depressants (I'm on them as painkillers).

Hi , is it ok if I join? I have struggled with depression for most of my adult life.
I am very hopeful though. I really enjoy this thread. Wishing all of you a wonderful evening!

Bonnie

I have decided to not go to work today. I am beyond sore and down. I also have caught a cold.

Lisa, I hope you are feeling better! Feeling pretty good today. Made myself get out of the house that always makes me better. Wishing everyone a wonderful evening!

Suffering with depression and anxiety. I feel like I have it under control but I lack support and I do wonder how much it affects my weight ( hormones, argh).

Sorry you'renot feeling well Lisa, it's a bad time for colds! Hopefully the blood shows something.

We have adopted a second rabbit who moves in on Saturday. Looking forward to having a friend for our current rabbit, and something to look forward to for us too! It seems perverse to take on another dependent just now, but our bunny needs company if we can't be home as much, so it is a stress now to avoid a stress later.

first a Hi :wave: and :welcome: to bonnie and noshoes! it is always nice to have 'new' people here :) The support here is wonderful.

Lisa, I am so sorry you caught a cold..and the tendonitis and the painful joints!! :( :hug: I hope your doctor can diagnose and give you some relief. I hope you are semi-comfortable and warm tonight and enjoying your beautiful bright tree :tree:

Socialworkmama, congrats on the kitties, that is so great that you adopted them!! I bet they will play havoc with wrapped gifts under the tree and climb up the tree :D Hang in there with being almost done with this semester!

Coop, our very best hopes and wishes to the patient for a longer than expected, comfortable time here :hug: and congrats on the second bunny!

Bonnie, I agree, sometimes we have to MAKE ourselves get out of the house and it is helpful.

Hi Kathleen!

I went to a nice consignment shop last week to try to find some jeans :( I pored over every single pair in the size 12 range and found nothing. I hate jeans shopping!! so i have to continue to wear my current ones which do not fit right, I feel awful in them. I am trying hard though to look on the positive sides of things.

I did get a shorter haircut which is really a big change for me but I like it.

Lisa, I love having things lit up too!! I have like every lamp on in the house once I get home :D and I love my mini white lights that I have in a couple windows.

I procrastinated on ordering my Wellbutrin and the shipping confirmation today says it will arrive between 12/17 and Jan. 1 :eek: I hope I make it.

Our motorcycle organization is going to help a local veterans' halfway house as much as we can for Christmas. We're going to present them with a check for $500, as many useable household items we can bring, plus I'm going to make alot of cookies to give them. We're doing this on the 16th. It does make you feel good to do things for others.

well I thought I was going to do a batch of cookies tonight but I just want to get ready for bed and watch a movie in bed on my Kindlefire :) I hope everyone has a good evening :)

Hello! Lisa, I'm glad there is no inflammation showing in your blood tests but I bet that doesn't make your elbow feel better, right? Hope the band helps.

Yeah, Walmart, I just need to wait til I get a day off, the closest one is 40 minutes away. Hey I remember when you got your white jeans in summer, a couple years ago, and I wanted to find some too :D

Hi to everyone else!

Lisa, I am glad your tests came back ok. I hope you feel better!

Coop, congrats on your new bunny!

Holly, it is wonderful your motorcycle group is helping out veterans!

Noshoes, hoping you are feeling better!

Feeling hopeful. It is sunny today that always seems to make me feel better.

Wishing all a wonderful day!

Just wanted to check in with everyone!!! I did it, everything is turned in and I am done with my semester! I still have clients that I am wrapping up sessions with this week and next but as far as school work I am done with everything! I am hoping I can use this time off to refresh and reset my mind set and get back into healthy eating and exercise. Sometimes time off does that for me and other times too much idle time on my hands can feed my anxiety and depression. I think the key for me will be trying to stay busy and productive, easier said than done though for sure.

I hope that everyone has a good week this week!! We have all our Christmas decorations up and lights outside but don't have our tree yet, I think we will get it this weekend! It will be interesting to see how the kittens do with the tree.

Bonnie and noshoes, welcome to the group!!! This is such a wonderful and supportive group of ladies, I know you will love it here!

Lisa, hope you are feeling okay, I am sorry that you have been feeling down and in pain lately. Thinking about you!

Holly, I hear you about the jeans shopping, I hate it! I will be honest I have put it off. I have gained weight this fall and none of my jeans fit but I just keep wearing my other pants because I don’t want to have to go and get bigger sizes of jeans. I hope your Wellbutrin comes soon! What a cool thing that your organization is doing for veterans! I agree it does feel amazing to give back and do things for others. I think that is the true spirit of the holiday season!

Coop, aw congrats on your new bunny! I love rabbits!!

Vermontmom - nothing worse than jeans shopping. How come sizes are never the same between different places too?! You'll find something, I'm sure.

Lisa, I have a chronic pain condition (it doesn't severely restrict my life, but it does make certain things impossible) - it is always frustrating when tests show nothing, but you know there is something wrong. If things don't improve, keep pestering.

Socialworkmama - congrats for making it to the end of the term!

Hi, hope everyone is having a wonderful day.

Lisa, so glad you are feeling a bit better! To answer your question, I am a student I am getting my masters in social work so I am also interning as a counselor, which is why I have clients! Once I graduate in May I plan to be a counselor, I really love the one on one work with clients, it is very gratifying. :)

Lisa, I don't know how you keep the thread rolling along so well either!

The OH's dad started radiotherapy today, so we finally feel we are doing something. His prognosis has been increased to 2-3 years, but still quite hard to come to terms with. We just bought our first house, but it's 1 hours drive to my OH's dad's, and I think my OH wants to move closer. Not sure what to do yet, but I don't like not knowing and not being able to plan ahead.

hey ladies :)

Lisa I am so glad your paycheck showed up!! that is a relief. thank you for your input about Walmart jeans, I really need to get there to try to find a pair or two.

Coop, that prognosis is a little better isn't it, but still sad. Buying your first house is a huge accomplishment, congrats! but sorry for the uncertainty about being far away from the dad.

Hi Bonnie :)

Socialworkmama, congrats on your semester being done! :carrot:

I've been trying VERY hard to turn my constant negative thinking around. For example - complaining about my job with my constantly-talking, draining young co-worker? at least i HAVE a job to complain about. Missing my beloved Forester? at least I have a car that works. Frustrated about cleaning the always-dirty house? at least I HAVE a house and the mortgage will be paid off in 2 years. Feeling that my exercise is not doing anything to lose weight? At least I CAN move enough to work out. See, I'm trying :rofl:

Originally Posted by VermontMom:
I've been trying VERY hard to turn my constant negative thinking around. For example - complaining about my job with my constantly-talking, draining young co-worker? at least i HAVE a job to complain about. Missing my beloved Forester? at least I have a car that works. Frustrated about cleaning the always-dirty house? at least I HAVE a house and the mortgage will be paid off in 2 years. Feeling that my exercise is not doing anything to lose weight? At least I CAN move enough to work out. See, I'm trying :rofl:

I try to turn my head around too, but it's hard. I can still think about an argument I had with someone years ago, and think what I'd say now if I ever saw them again! Which is unlikely... Waste of energy isn't it?

Lisa - glad the support is helping.

New bunny is home now, leaving her to settle in.

Thanks for the comments and support. Apologies for not posting often or responding to all.
I'm feeling like a mess but I have no idea what to do next. I'm doing therapy but I feel like until my situation changes then I'm pushing against resistance.

noshoes, no apologies needed for not writing here, just come when you can :) and we are pulling for you!

Lisa, thank you always for your kindness!! :) It does help me self confidence.
I'm so glad the brace has helped with the elbow pain!! even though the brace is uncomfortable.

coop, oh gosh we need to let things go sometimes, right? it IS a waste of energy and negative for us. Is your bunny one of the large breed bunnies or going to be a little one?

HI to everyone else :)

I've started my huge Christmas cookie baking, each evening I do a batch and stick them in the freezer (have a large freezer out on the back porch) I *try* (not too hard) to resist eating them but of course I have at least 3 or 4 a night. But I enjoy creating them and giving them away.

got to get ready for work, have a good day friends!!

Vermontmom - nothing beats fresh cookies! I'd probably describe our new rabbit is pretty standard size, not a big breed, but not small either. She is lovely, settling in well, and our existing rabbit seems taken with her.

Hi there, I'm completely new (and a bit bewildered by how big this forum is!) but when I saw this thread I thought it might be the place where I might find some advice, from people who may have been in my position.

So. I'm on antidepressants to treat depression and anxiety, and my depression symptoms have been abating, but the anxiety ones aren't. My doctor and therapist have both suggested I exercise, which I'm very keen to do, because I can *just* remember a time when I was good at it, and loved feeling strong.

Unfortunately, my anxiety has been preventing me from actually committing, because I lost my gym card and the whole prospect of going to the gym, explaining to receptionists, who probably won't recognise me because it's been so long since I've been (+ weight difference), about my lack of a gym card, has been filling me with dread. Even though it's what I really want to do. (Oh, brain chemicals... and I've been shy my entire life to boot)

So yeah. If this isn't too presumptuous of me and if I'm not in the completely wrong place (I did look at the fitness threads, but really it's my anxiety which is the issue, rather than the exercise itself), does anyone have any guidance?

Aand nice to meet you all :)

- Wisteria

Hi Wisteria and :welcome: :) we are happy to have you here !

I am not that great at advice..I'm not sure of your level of anxiety about the process of going to the gym to explain to reinstate yourself, so it's easy for me to say 'you just need to do it'. If I was feeling scared of doing it, but still really really wanted it, I think I would take it in steps. First drive to the gym, and wait in the car a bit to collect your thoughts, then enter the building, still checking how you are feeling, then approach the receptionist..Hope this doesn't sound dumb :dizzy: but I think breaking it down in progressive steps would help me.

Hi to everyone else :) We still don't have ANY snow here!! :carrot: :carrot: :dancer::flow1::dance: Haha you can tell how I feel about it :devil: Snow just makes daily life so much more difficult, hazardous and messy so I am glad that it just isn't here yet.

And it isn't freezing cold yet either!! Mostly in the 30's and 40's which is incredible for us.

Well I gotta get ready for work but the good news is that it's my Friday cause I have Wed and Thursdays off.

Hello to everyone :D

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to check in.

I'm very sad right now, I've lost my morning job. I was let go. I've had that job for almost 4 years and it's hard to lose it. Like I said, I'm really sad, I feel like I've lost something really important to me even though getting up so early was getting harder and harder on me. Hopefully, in a few days I'll feel better. I hope so, I almost feel like I am trying to go through a depression.

Jennifer will be gone most of the week, she'll be back on Friday, I think.

Much love to you all.

Hi everyone,

Sorry for being lax in posting. Struggling with depression as of late, but hopeful. Wishing everyone peace.

Thank you for the welcome VermontMom! And the advice. I really like the steps idea actually, though it's taken me a couple of days to steel myself to it lol. I'm going to give it a go tomorrow, wish me luck!! And congrats on the mid-week Friday, I hope you're enjoying it :)

I'm really sorry to hear about your work Lisaluvshearts. My financial state can become a really big energy+mood-sapping drain on me, I've realised this year. Like one of the biggest. I hope you feel better in a few days.

And in general, just wishing everyone some serenity.

In my corner of the world it's currently the first month of summer and I'm on break from school, so my depression has been way easier to handle, though my sleeping's gone a bit off again. Hopefully I'll be up and gymming soon and that will help with the sleeping too.

Oh Lisa, I am sooo sorry to hear that!! :( I *hope* you are feeling a little better about it, though I'm sure it will take time!! 4 years is a long time and you won't get over it right away. hugs to you :hug:

wisteria, I'm so glad my advice wasn't completely pfft :D yes I wish you luck! and I have to say anytime I am exercising regularly, it does help me overall.

bonnie, you are usually sounding pretty upbeat, I'm so sorry you're struggling!!

HI to everyone else :)

today is the day a few of us from our organization visit a veterans home, to give them a check, and a ton of my cookies :cookie::cookie:

Hello all, hope everyone is doing well. I am still feeling in a rut but have been attempting to eat better and start exercising again. Last night was my husband's office Christmas party at a very fancy restaurant and I was proud of myself for going and for making an effort. My husband knows that between my social anxiety/depression and being very introverted, social gatherings where I don't know anyone are very stressful for me. He was proud of me for going. Usually I am very hard on myself and feel awkward and like I am either being too quiet or blabbing about nothing but last night I was consciously trying to just be natural and not hard on myself. It definitely felt like progress (at least for one night).

Hope everyone is doing well. This week is busy, getting last minute Christmas shopping done and getting organized for my daughter's 9th birthday party which we are having this weekend. We are all decorated for Christmas now but have had quite the fiasco with our tree, our new kittens tried to climb it and knocked it over. It is back up but is a bit tilted now! Lol. I will check in again soon!! Peace and love to everyone!

Hello Ladies,
I just want to lose this weight and be happy. Thanks to my medication I am happy now and not depression but pray that if I lose the weight I could get off all of this medicine that I am taking.