Mental Illness Fellowship Northern Territory 
Hi everyone, it's been an up and down day here for me but all has turned out well at this point. @eth, when you left your earlier message thinking I was online, I had just been having a quick read and 'support' of the posts here before having a shower and going out. I want to reply to posts here but need some time out after an intense social occasion (five of us with bipolar at a cafe!) Will be back later to respond. Wishing all an evening with something enjoyable in it. 
I just wanted to pop on & blow my own trumpet a little bit. I've had a good day, a productive one 🙂 I no longer have a little white fluffy dog, I now have a little bald dog; the shade's up out the back, the panels are clean & the gutters too 🙂 I went into town & gave the dogs an off-lead run, bought them some bones & me some mince which I'm turning into spag with meat balls right now 🙂 I've also made the bed & done the dishes, which I've been doing daily for quite some time now {& brushing my teeth each night, . . . sad that I find that exciting isn't it 😄 } Well, toot toot honk 😄
Love to all
Dear @CheerBear
your support worker sounds a little like my last Psychotherapist I saw 14 years, starting with 3 times per week for about 4 years........ Down to 2 times per week for years then once per week to once every 6 months to a week or two every couple of years. Jeepers. Can you believe she didn't get sick of me ? Nor I her ?
Or or get bored of each other ?
Anyway, your support worker sounds like good value. I hope that I'm not stepping out of line.
3.30am wake-break. Finally finding some time and energy to respond here again. Yesterday was a rollercoaster day for me emotionally and in my energy levels too. I didn't have it in me to do more than read and 'support' posts. I should really be going back to bed at this hour of the night. But it's so quiet now, with a gentle night breeze coming through the open door next to me. The trees out there are softly whooshing, and the first early morning bird has just started sounding in the distance. I feel rested and peaceful in a way I didn't at all yesterday. So here I am being a bit of a night owl, like the old days.
@outlander, what I've just written explains why I didn't respond to you in real time last night. I went to bed at 8.30pm. When you felt me here under the 'support' button later in the night, I was only online very briefly before heading back to bed. More hugs to you for the health difficulties you are experiencing at the moment. As you can see, there is a lot of care here on the forum for you.
@eth, sorry to read about your adult child's treatment of you on the phone. Hope your back is feeling better today and that the motivation flows more freely. I have been trying to make the most of the recent growth in my offline life lately, especially the opportunities to get myself out of the flat. I'm also finding that the higher dose of anti-depressants is revving me up too much sometimes, which means I really need chill time when I'm at home, including off the computer. Looking forward to another real time meetup with you when the synchronicity happens.
@Exoplanet, yay for the bathing day and a bald but much cooler dog. Congratulations on getting those necessary tasks done around your home (and on your roof). It takes my breath away sometimes reading about your capacity to do the things you do. Your self-sufficiency and competence at things many of us couldn't dream of doing. You are a very strong woman, a kind of amazon in my eyes, though I know of your vulnerabilities too. On a lighter note, I love spaghetti and meat balls! I am also finding my increased dental hygiene exciting, so we can be sad and funny together on that point.
@greenpea, cool to hear you bought some clothes. What are they like? Good that you can laugh sometimes about your son's behaviours. I would find it impossible to live with. The pea is a mighty mum.
@PeppiPatty, 14 years of seeing the same physiotherapist is a long time. She must have been good. These days I stick to the same therapist (of any kind), once I find ones that are really helpful. Those long therapeutic relationships can get better and better over time, with deepening trust and knowledge of each other. I don't get sick of that.
@Shaz51, hugs, my scotirish sister. You really need some time out from things with all that's going on in your life, even if that means disappointing your mum a little from time to time. You still rang and talked with her for half an hour. Banish the guilt. You are a very good daughter and do so much for your people.
@CheerBear, it's taken me an hour to re-read many posts and write this reply. Wondering if you are up early again today. If I miss you, sending good vibes for your Sunday.
Love to all.
@CheerBear, lovely to catch you again this morning. 
Was reading about your change of mood stabiliser. Hoping the new one works out very well for you. It would be great it if helped you sleep a bit longer at night too. It seems good that your doctor can admit to maybe making a mistake with the first one. There is one mood stabiliser I'd never want to take myself. It's the 'gold standard' for bipolar, and may be the most effective. But from what I've heard and read about it, I think the side effect profile would not be worth the benefits for me.
Yesterday's rollercoaster had very good things in it, but was not easy on my nervous system. One of the things that happened is that I was able to rekindle a friendship with someone I thought I'd lost from my life. My social anxiety was through the roof about seeing her again and I almost didn't go to the meeting of the five bipolars. Even when I was standing in the bathroom looking at the water coming out of the shower I still almost didn't make it. It was only when I took the step of stepping into the stream of water that I knew I was going to make it.
How is Sunday looking for you?
