Writing Therapy

A few people have spoken to me about writing as therapy, aware that I use my blog for exactly that purpose - to record my thoughts of the now and to record my memories of the past, as I see them and as I recall certain events. Writing benefits me enormously. My blog is my personal journal, my record of my life and as much as I can recall from it. My writing is precious to me and absolutely no one will take it from me.

To encapsulate this, I have stumbled across a wonderful document entitled 'Writing as Therapy' which I've published on my website. It can be viewed or downloaded at
http://www.pcknowledge.co.uk/Health_Resources%20&%20Media.htm
Scroll down to the Documents section and you'll find it there.

Starting to get CBT

I had my fifth CBT session on Tuesday and I was told I have just three more to go before my course of therapy comes to an end. I think I am finally beginning to understand what it's all about, but I do still doubt whether it is the answer to everything.  It doesn't tackle the route causes of my anxiety and depression. They are still there. It does make me analyse problems and when I do worry, CBT makes me try to understand why I worry and how this gets worse through not doing anything to combat it.
It's easier said than done. I still fear the post. It's irrational I know but the arrival of the post brings on palpitations and sweating. I will not open it. Certain emails also have this effect and I have to ask my wife to read them for me. Utterly ridiculous I know.
CBT isn't the answer to everything. I have learnt how to understand better why I worry and how my anxiety can spiral out of control causing a severe bout of depression if not tackled. I'm aware of this. But applying the CBT methodology to every worry and fear is not possible.
I think I'm to begin focusing on assertiveness in the next session. That will be interesting. My years in middle and senior management taught me all I needed to know. But my breakdown three years ago took a lot from me including any degree of assertiveness I once had. In my view, you can only be assertive if you feel strong, and that's something I haven't been for a very long time.

Stoptober

It is Stoptober and smokers are being urged to give-up for the month of October. Sadly no one I know is taking the challenge. Now if they attached an electronic cigarette to every one of the leaflets, I can guarantee the success rate would go though the roof. I know because I use one. I get my high dose of nicotine without any of the harmful extras. For me it really is better than the real thing...

Family

What would we do without family...?

Blue Skies Funding

I've been told to expect this week the forms needed to submit our support group funding request from the mental health prevention fund. I believe we are in with a good chance of securing money for art and craft materials and computers enabling us to extend the range of activities and skills we are able to provide our group members.
I'm not too sure of the bid process, but having done countless business plans and proposals in the past, I don't foresee any real problems.
There is certainly a keenness for computer skills training which I can provide, and art classes will hopefully lead to us collaborating with ArtLinc and possibly exhibiting our works in their galleries. We will be visiting the ArtLinc Group at their Lincoln base very soon.
So all looking good so far, and we continue to attract new group members though we could certainly do with  some more men(!)

A Sunday Party

Party time...

I don't normally do parties, but today I spent three hours in the company of my son's school pals as they all celebrated their friend's 6th Birthday.
The bouncy castle was great fun for the kids, but failing to bring it in doors when it rained meant it was full of water and had to be thoroughly dried before use.

I satisfied myself with some very nice coffee and a vape...

People believe what they want to believe. I know what I know. My writing is a reflection of the way I feel. Whether the words are a result of a mind controlled by anti anxiety & depression medication, that's for others to judge. We are all free to read what we want and believe what we want. We all live in our own little worlds - and some are best left apart.

There's No Need for It

I've always believed in common courtesy. It takes very little effort and makes for a pleasant friendly environment in which we all can live. When in a customer facing environment, courtesy is something that should be automatic. The job calls for it and regardless of whether someone is working in a shop, on a bus or in a health service, common courtesy should always be a prerequisite.
How saddened was I then to be met with one of the most surly and discourteous people I've met, this morning whilst collecting my wife's prescription at Sutton Bridge Medical Centre.
This practise already has a reputation for being unfriendly and generally unhelpful so I wasn't expecting much. Firstly I was left waiting at the collection window for what seemed as long as five minutes whilst the dispensary assistant stared aimlessly at a computer, in full view of me. A simple acknowledgement would have been enough to satisfy me, but this was obviously too much to expect. When she did finally drag herself to the window she made me feel as if I was a burden to her, as if I had dragged her from doing something more interesting.
I was presented with a slip which I had to complete with a tick to denote my wife's eligibility for free prescriptions then sign and date. I inadvertently ticked the exemption box and was immediately rebuked for having done so being told my wife doesn't have a serious enough illness. I responded by reminding the assistant that she does in fact suffer with asthma, serious enough in my view to justify exemption from the ridiculous charges levied upon patients in England. Instead, my wife has a card which entitles her to free prescriptions based on our income, which I showed to the assistant who then told me to cross out the tick I had made and put another in the correct box.
I did feel like saying something to her about her attitude and general lack of customer service skill, but I refrained from doing so. Instead, I told her to 'have a nice day' and left, muttering under my breath. How different my experience could have been if she had acknowledged me and at least smiled. I am left in no doubt that Sutton Bridge Medical Centre is lacking the very basic in customer service and common courtesy. They have clearly forgotten that it is they who are providing a service. People are there, for the most part, not through choice but because they are unwell. They are in need of care, respect and at the very least, should be made to feel welcome. There is no excuse for rudeness and discourtesy, and for this reason Sutton Bridge Medical Centre win my award for 'Most Unfriendly Health Practise of the Year' award.