Struggling: TW suicide

[tyme]

Most definitely @creative_writer  in terms of sleep. Sleep makes a huge difference to quality of life. 

I used to stress so much about not sleeping and that's what stopped me from sleeping. I had to have a few years of medication to help me re-learn to sleep. The meds used to knock me out 20 mins after taking them. 

I don't take them anymore (unless I need to once every so often). I'm on maintenance meds which has less of an instant affect on sleep - but still does help. I'm too scared to get off them for now because I've been an insomniac and it was the most terrible thing for my MH, physical health, emotional health, relationships and quality of life....

I'm so glad it's under control now. Something I've never tried are the prescribed natural melatonin meds. 

Hopefully these 'sleep glasses' work for you...whatever they are. 

[creative_writer]

@tyme sleep is really important. Poor sleep is also linked with the migraines I get. I do take a melatonin antidepressant but feel like it’s not helping as much as it used to. The dosage could be increased but one must exercise caution with antidepressants if they’ve had periods of hypomania in the past. I want to see if the glasses help first, it’s drug free and some research suggesting it works by blocking blue light. Blue light suppresses melatonin, hence sleep is affected.

[tyme]

Ohhh! Bluelight glasses - yes, I know what they are @creative_writer . I thought sleep glasses was something else. For me, the idea of sleep glasses is like wearing glasses with pictures of eyes on the lenses so that you can close your eyes behind it LOL... during those lonnnnngggg meetings (esp during COVID lockdowns). Maybe like this but a bit more realistic:

Hahahaha. Anyway, sounds like you know what you are doing with your meds which is good.

I'm hopeful you've got good things to come @creative_writer - your attitude towards your MH is great to see and I reckon it will really support you in recovery 🙂

I'm here to stand beside you all the way 🙂

[creative_writer]

@tyme lol you are funny😂. I did get myself silk sleeping masks and scrunchies during covid and a bunch of other things. My skincare and hair care routines became more elaborate and I just can’t stop now. I think we have become so used to ordering online that’s it’s so easy to buy stuff, even if you don’t need it.

The image does remind me of the time my dad drew eyes on an airplane mask. It looks like something my dad would do.

Yeah, I got blue light glasses designed for night time use, so they block a lot more blue light than the ones people use during the day.

[tyme]

Lol... hence I didn't understand when you talked about sleeping glasses @creative_writer - I had my 'sleeping glasses' in my mind. No wonder the post didn't make sense to me! Too funny.

More and more parents are getting their kids' blue light glasses. Kids are spending so much time on screens, it's scary.

I was watching Bluey the other day (thanks to the encouragement of @ArraDreaming ) , and i realised many parents and kids don't know how to play like that anymore. Their 'play' consists of watching screens... and parents are often too tired to 'play' with their kids the way it is shown in Bluey - that was my key takeaway from that cartoon.

As a kid, I remember spending my days and time in the garden - catching bugs, watching ants, growing veges, building cubbies and forts, making daisy chains... 

Now... I see perfectly manicured artificial lawns in my area 😞

I'm been looking at the housing market for a few years now. I've been looking for a small house with a huge yard...have I found one as yet? Nope.... But what I have found are big houses with 2-4 more big houses in the backyard...

Maybe time for me to move to the country lol.

[creative_writer]

@tymewe are living in a world where people are doing things more virtually. I think we have become more socially isolated, sun deprived (because now we get a lot of light from screens while staying indoors), sedentary over such a short period of time. Children should be rolling around in the grass in the beautiful sunshine we get in Australia (when the temperature and sun is bearable of course), playing pretend and building random stuff out of cushions and other weird stuff.

Houses have become expensive lately too and big houses are the norm in my area. Our house is probably a bit smaller than average in our neighbourhood, and the neighbours cats enjoy our backyard which isn’t huge, but still okay sized. People adopted cats like crazy during covid and we’ve lost count how many we have seen. You could build your own house but it does takes forever to be made and obviously very expensive too. 

[tyme]

I did consider building my own place @creative_writer . I inquired and it was a lose-lose situation. The houses they build now are those huge boxy concrete blocks. Nothing like the vintage look I like... the council is very strict with the appearance of new homes in my area. The legislation doesn't support the look I want... that old vintage style...

I was eyeing a piece of land.. it ended up going for $1.6 mil...just the land...

[creative_writer]

@tyme that must have been frustrating. I mean if you are going to invest in a house you might as well buy one you like. The land prices are insane right now and have gone up significantly. Are you in metro too? I do hope you find something you like.

[creative_writer]

I feel like things have been getting a bit out of control, it's been building up. I feel so depressed and tired, yet have so much nervous energy that I find myself agitated and pacing around a lot. I feel sleepy but wired and my thoughts constantly race, I can't think straight, mind keeps floating everywhere. I can't seem to get anything done, and I don't know how I will get through this day.

[Peregrinefalcon]

Hey @creative_writer

It sounds like things are really tough today. 

I can very much relate to that feeling of having all this nervous energy and not quite knowing where to put it all. As basic as it sounds, getting out for a walk, doing some chores (vacuuming especially!) and writing are my go-to strategies to cope. I wonder if others in the thread can add their own, too?

Sitting with you here today 💛