How are you doing? Really. [10].

I’ve had social anxiety as long as I can remember, but a few months ago I was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. The diagnosis really opened my eyes because it finally explains my strange behaviors, I always thought it was simply a personality trait that didn’t need any psychiatric help.

Fortunately, I’ve been using the Meetup website this year to become more sociable, ease my mind and enjoy the things I’m interested in – hiking, checking out new restaraunts, art museums, movies, concerts, etc.

@rockfan I’ve been through the experience of receiving a diagnosis of a mental illness, too. It’s quite an odd thing. It’s a relief to know, but it’s a burden, too. Very weird.

I just found Meet Up recently. I’m in 3 groups and enjoying them.

@Hawaii_Jake looked up the website for the State Art Museum – sounds like a great time!

Mostly I’m doing fine. I’m enjoying my job – just got a good annual review and passed my very long probationary period. Lots of interesting projects on the horizon too.

My mum is getting a bit worse with her dementia and my sister needs more help. I’ve been visiting at the weekends but it’s a two and a half hour drive. So while it’s lovely to spend the time with mum while she’s still enjoying our company, it’s sad to think that these are the last times that she will enjoy with us. My daughters are coming with me so we are all feeling bittersweet about this time.

I’ve also been feeling sad about the death of @ibstubro too. Coming to Fluther reminds me of him.

I am looking forward to my summer holiday. My mum is coming too. She has been lots of times and loves our house in France so she will hopefully feel settled and relaxed. Plus she likes my cooking (there is one!) so will eat properly too. Our friend Richard is coming out in my car now too so I’ve got a fellow driver. I won’t have to drive the whole twelve hours by myself – such a relief!

I am doing GREAT!

Due to extreme anxiety I upped my SSRI dosage some 6 weeks ago. As of 8 days ago I had not really noticed any change yet, and I was feeling discouraged because it seemed like I’d waited long enough and no change was going to occur. Then last Friday I abruptly felt more capable at work, less nervous talking to people, etc. It hasn’t worn off yet, and I’m still a little worried it could just be some strange fluke rather than a permanent effect of the medication, but I feel so hopeful right now.

I went waaaaay out of my comfort zone yesterday and participated in a civil disobedience event, and had a great time.

I took today off of work in case of any snags with getting home from the event yesterday, and since no snags were snagged, I now just have a nice long weekend. I slept in this morning, I’m gonna do some aquarium maintenance right after I finish typing this out, and then I’m probably going to head over to my buddies’ house because they just got kittens and I’m dying to cuddle them.

Love to you jellies.

I’m starting to feel the uncertainty. I know what I want to do and what I’m good at, but I just can’t find anything that suits my expertise. The problem is not only circumstantial, but also deeply rooted in the past. I have always wanted to be an artist, doing something with drawing and story telling, but my dream has never been taken seriously, not even by me until recently. I received a lot of criticism for my dream, and at one point I thought the dream was really that ridiculous and I should give up altogether. Only during my college year did I finally concluded that making art is the only thing I can be proud of myself for. Normally I wouldn’t be too bothered by it, but I’m going to join the worker population in a short time, and the thought of what to do with my life has become the main concern.

The graduation ceremony is coming next week. I don’t know if I should laugh or cry. I no longer have to burden myself with school work and responsibility. On the other hand, I am going to leave the carefree days of silly delight with friends, the time when I didn’t have to worry too much about the future. I will have to say goodbye to them, some of which aren’t expected to return any time soon. I don’t know how I will take this. And it will be the beginning of a new chapter of my life, where whether the entire book will end in flowers or shit depends on.

I know what I want to do and I’m willing to fight for it. But it feels so difficult when it feels like the entire world is against me. To make the matter worse, most of the pressure comes from my parents. They will never tolerate me being an artist. I have had many drawings discovered and destroyed by them. I’m currently struggling to find time to practice drawing, because drawing at home is the worst choice I could ever made. I just wish they were more open-minded and supportive.

I’m taking a first step in applying for a master degree, but I know I’m just putting aside my worry for a while. It will come back sooner or later, and it will become a regret haunting the rest of my life if I don’t act fast.

Simply Elegant
Active with several volunteer organizations, play my ukuleles with a couple groups in town every week.

Most immediately, I feel like I’ve done nothing but sleep for a couple of days. I woke up the day after the fourth of July feeling super sick, but convinced myself I was just tired—oh and the achiness I felt was just soreness from exercise, and the soreness in my throat was just from inhaling city air the day before… Well, I didn’t last half the day before I was back in bed exhausted. The next morning I had a fever. Fever broke this morning and I feel human again, which is nice, though still a little tired.

Generally, ok. I have to go to a wedding and I’m actually not dreading it. Work is fine, my relationship is strong and I have actually been sleeping lately.

^Sleep is so important to me.

I seem to lack energy and am basically lethargic. I get plenty of sleep, sometimes just lying in bed but my drive is lacking. I have things that need doing and, for the most part, are doing them but slowly and without enthusiasm. Maybe minor depression, don’t know.

Also that damned heel spur is hobbling me and making life miserable but this is a recent development over the last couple of days.

Not great but a little better than this morning. Thanks for your reply in the thread I started.

^You’re welcome.

I’m kind of a mess. My full-time job is ending at the end of the year. I also have two part-time jobs, which are both great, but they do not add up to the full-time gig financially and there’s no health insurance. I got offered a new full-time job today, but the salary is almost half what I’m making now, so I’d have to keep the two part-time jobs indefinitely.

In twenty-plus years, I’ve always had two or three jobs at once (except for the two years I was in grad school and working FT).

I just want one place to go. One job to focus on. With reasonable hours and decent health insurance.

This shouldn’t be that hard.

okay, whining over. sorry.

Guess I can’t complain. Wouldn’t do any good anyway.

Pretty good, still a little unsettled in my new job but everyone told me it would be 4–6 years to get competent. Nearing two and starting to get there. Marriage is still ok, been less stressed out with the new work. It’s still stressfull but not as bad. Been fixing up the new house for the past year and I find that relaxing. Not much to complain about.