More Concrete Steps, More Therapy Homework

Blueberry · August 20, 2025, 02:30:02 PM

Thank you DesertFlower

Yes, I'm very stressed, so have come on here briefly. That helps me regulate a bit. Tho there are slightly more difficult self-regulation methods which would work better. I'm so tired... Have got lots done today, but there's more to do.

The retreat is likely to be very helpful, but also very intense. I do know both therapists, but the venue is new. I may discover I've been with 1 or 2 participants in previous retreats years ago or I may know none of them.

But the retreat will be good and I'll come home with clarity in certain areas of my life and with renewed direction and oomph to keep going.

sanmagic7 · August 21, 2025, 12:49:44 PM

Blueberry · August 26, 2025, 07:33:08 PM

Quote from: Blueberry on August 20, 2025, 02:30:02 PMBut the retreat will be good and I'll come home with clarity in certain areas of my life and with renewed direction and oomph to keep going.

This is exactly what happened

I'm getting on quite well with practical stuff, tho still needing breaks and rest.
I'll be taking a break from the forum and most other internet stuff in the next days.

sanmagic7 · August 27, 2025, 01:45:57 PM

will be thinking of you, blueberry. love and hugs

Blueberry · August 27, 2025, 11:30:32 PM

Just on briefly because it's good for me to note when things are going well too!

I'm simply able to get far more done at the moment (by my standards) and I'm also simply able to get up in the morning w/o needing to muster something or other up.

Tuesday I got a lot of laundry done and hung out to dry, knowing that from today onwards rain was coming. Tuesday I also went picking mirabelle plums in an elderly friend's garden. He has far more fruit now than he can manage to eat day-to-day and preserve for the winter. He actually likes people to come and pick his fruit. I invited another friend of mine to come and pick too. Her pension is small, so she was happy, and it's a nice way for me to socialise a little w/o things becoming intense.

Today I was cutting out the bad bits of the fruit and stewing them. Also made myself a vegetable soup with veg that needed to be used up. This is all stuff that has been close to impossible for weeks, maybe even months. Then I washed a pile of dishes, pots, tubs etc. It wasn't an effort to wash dishes today, though it has been since I moved over 2 years ago. Ditto putting a CD on and singing along with it while working in kitchen.

for a few hours in afternoon because I was actually tired, but got back up again in the early evening, refreshed and eager to get back to household jobs.

This morning I also did a bit of gardening, communal stuff, but not too hard or physically demanding.

NarcKiddo · August 28, 2025, 11:40:54 AM

How wonderful!

Good for you.

sanmagic7 · August 28, 2025, 01:49:20 PM

blueberry, it all sounds wonderful!

indeed!

honestly, i'm so happy for you right now. love and hugs

Hope67 · August 28, 2025, 03:24:55 PM

Really happy to hear all the things you mentioned, that is really great

Blueberry · August 30, 2025, 10:09:54 AM

Thank you all, NK, san and Hope

Unfortunately that didn't last too long. Slept most of yesterday. I was tired, having finally thoroughly tidied and cleaned my bedroom the day before

(except for the tops of 2 smaller bits of furniture and the window.) Still, it's a massive difference!

Today's difficult too. It's noon and I haven't made it permanently out of bed yet, just keep going back. Have back ache too, lying in bed is not helping!

sanmagic7 · August 30, 2025, 02:20:42 PM

i can relate, blueberry. i get bouts of energy, do whatever i can/want to do, then the energy runs out and it's time for a rest - however long that takes. but i can be proud of what i did accomplish in that time, and i hope you can do the same for you. well done! love and hugs