Introduction

[HenryX]

Hello @Oaktree 

Nice to hear from you. Yes! the heat is a bit much, but I am coping better as a result of a few positive changes that have occurred during the last eight weeks in particular. I think that I have some notes over in the "Hangar" that will provide a bit more detail.

Initially, the move to deal with personal issues, as you may recall, was precipitated by my reaction to and awareness of my situation after the cyclone, in May last year. I think I mentioned that I sought the assistance of a counsellor with whom I have been able to work really well. She suggested that it may take quite some time to "turn the ship" {my words}. But, I believe that I am seeing positive changes in things like capacity to make decisions, positive mental projection, motivation etc. Sort of like trying to change the direction of a big heavy aeroplane. But, it is happening. I have also reduced medication, pain and anti-depressant. So, all up, some significant changes.

Thank you for your comment "I miss you!" I am aware that we often can respond to only so many inputs from different sources. Sometimes they overlap and compliment each other and sometimes not. I am always pleased to hear from you and am happy to connect and correspond at whatever level is comfortable for you.

With Best Wishes

@HenryX 

[Oaktree]

Dear @HenryX 

I wish I could report that my psychology sessions were going as well as your counseling sessions. There seems to be constant obstacles coming into play. The latest is that we cannot meet in person. From next week my psych appointments will be via Telehealth. I am a bit unsure around this as I am not very technologically savvy. Also my house is a mess and you will be able to see it in the background. The other problem is that there will be other family members at home so confidentiality will be an issue. My friend Vanessa has offered me the use of her home for my appointments but she lives a 40 minute drive away so it’s not ideal. 

I sent the psych an email saying that I wasn’t comfortable using Telehealth and she sent me back an email basically saying goodbye and good luck for the future. I then had to send her another email to tell her that I was confused and that I had hoped for a little more discussion. So the upshot of the communications is that we will try out the Telehealth appointments and see how we go. Apparently this is the way they are going to operate at the clinic for the foreseeable future.

I am feeling a bit depressed around all of this stuff. I guess I don’t deal with change very well.

Meggle

[HenryX]

Hello @Oaktree 

While I understand that the situation with the virus is causing difficulties for people, especially where one-to-one contact is the favoured position, I do understand, also, the various issues that people face with tele-health contacts being, especially, appropriate space within which to work and confidentiality. While confidentiality, for me is not an issue, since I live alone, If I were to have a tele-health appointment, I would definitely need to separate and screen an area from within which I could work on-screen. Improvement of my personal space is a part of my progress that I have not yet reached. The counsellor with whom I work is aware of my home situation, hoarding and general disorder, however, those are the reasons that I cannot invite people to my house. Hard to believe, for most of my life, that I have been, while not so much obsessed, a stickler for cleanliness and order. "Something must have got broke."

I wonder if there may be facilities at a library or community resource centre that would be suitable for your appointments? I do hope that you are able to work out a suitable arrangement.

Today, I was at a gathering where a member, who is a teacher, was saying that the Education Department has made substantial changes to ensure that schools remain open and that all support structures have been separated into groups to allow redundancy coverage in the event of one or other of the groups being restricted because of covid. So it seems that a lot of different organisations and businesses are endeavouring to maximise service and minimise disruption to provision of service.

I am gradually moving forward. Probably not as quickly as I would like but still progressing. I am finding that physical limitations, back and current temperatures, have been slowing progress. I do hope that when the weather cools down a little, I will be able to make more progress. We had some thunder and lightening and a couple of short but fairly heavy showers this afternoon that has cooled things down a little. 28℃ at 7:45pm here now. I generally feel comfortable at around 20℃ to 25℃. Nights are uncomfortable when it is hotter than that.

I was pleased to receive your message today. My computer has been out of action for the last few days. Sorted it out this afternoon.

For Now

With My Best Wishes

@HenryX 

[Oaktree]

Dear @HenryX 

So nice to hear from you again. I have been watching and waiting for your reply. Yes I guess I will just have to come to terms with changes in provision of treatment and try and roll with the punches. How are you doing generally? Have you been riding your bicycle? I am sorry to hear that your home environment is still not as you would like it. That is something that is going to take a lot of time to get on top of so don’t get too hard on yourself. I am also a perfectionist with a messy house. I find that I am all or nothing. If I can’t do a job perfectly then I don’t do it at all. Housework is not fun for me so I avoid it all together. My husband does a fair bit around the house actually. If I was to do Telehealth at home I would have to clean up a space to do it in. 

i have been playing around with the Duolingo app for the last 3 weeks. Back to working on Spanish. Also in other news I got accepted into UWA to study psychology starting the end of February so that is exciting. Anyway can’t think what else to mention. It’s hot here too.

Meggle

[HenryX]

Hi @Oaktree 

It seems, as we found previously, that we have a few things in common.

Exercise is not one of my positives, though I do like bicycle riding, and motorbike riding also. However, I have not yet got back into the bike riding. Have taken Kirra out for a walk a couple of times, but too few all the same.

"Catch 22" in a sense. Having reduced a couple of medications by significant amounts, it has helped me to reduce weight, but that has not shown up yet as an improvement in physical capacity, apart from a general improvement in being able to move around. I may be having some difficulty in adjusting to the reduction in pain medication that I have been taking for years. Not sure that I would call it withdrawal, though that is a possibility. The problem being that if I continued to take the medication, the likelihood of undertaking a proper amount of exercise would be very low. Consequently, I would be likely to simply keep going backwards.

Recently, I have been having trouble with eyesight, which hasn't helped in the positive vibes situation. I just hope that it is something temporary and not severe. Spending a lot of time at the computer. Partly because that is the one room in the house that is air-conditioned and therefore comfortable to be in.

I am actually looking forward to getting out and doing some gardening when the weather improves. Mainly vegetables and some flowers. I do believe that the type of movement involved will be beneficial for me and it will be good having that extra time with Kirra, for both of us.

Duolingo is an app with which I am familiar. I had begun to learn French using that and other resources. Dare I suggest we pace each other as an incentive to apply ourselves?

I am very pleased to hear of your acceptance into the psychology course at UWA. Congratulations!!

Best Wishes

@HenryX 

[Oaktree]

Hi @HenryX 

French is another language that I am interested in actually having studied it a little at school. In year six and again in year 8. I could add it as a second course to Duolingo and learn it alongside you. Unfortunately I can’t work out how to change my name on the Duolingo app as it’s my real name.

Meggle

[Oaktree]

@HenryX 

Ok I have managed to change my name to Meggle on Duolingo. Look for Megglethenoob.

Meggle

[HenryX]

Hi @Oaktree 

Thanks for your pseudonym details on Duolingo. I am about to go to bed and will connect tomorrow. Sounds good. Hope it helps us both with the French. Don't think that I am game to tackle Spanish as well. However, if French goes ok, might be worth considering.

Cheers for now

@HenryX 

[HenryX]

Hello @Oaktree 

I've been working at my French on Duolingo for about a week now. Just gradually finding my way around that program and site again. I have noted you as "following", so we may be able to compare our respective progress in that way. It will be interesting getting back into the French. I started in 2018 and, as with this forum, have just now returned.

How have your engagements with psych been going? I do hope that you have been able to adjust to the tele-health arrangements, if that has progressed.

If you have begun your course, I do hope that you find that it is interesting. Though I am aware that such material is not always interesting and is, probably, not necessarily intended to be. However, I do hope that you will, at least, find it challenging and stimulating in some ways.

With Best Wishes

@HenryX 

[Oaktree]

Hi @HenryX 

Did you search Megglethenoob on Duolingo? I am not yet following you. It would be easier for you to find me. Don’t worry moderators it is still anonymous.

Regards,

Meggle