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Oct. 14th, 2021 12:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nnySo it's been a while, huh? A lot has changed, I guess.
Lemme esplain. No, it is too much. Lemme sum up:
Living situation:
I am living with a housemate in a house she bought because the last house we lived in together a) belonged to her ex boyfriend (awkward) and b) had rats in. It is the best living situation I have had in many years, and I am living in fear of her meeting a Nice Man and turfing me out. XD We created a social bubble with two guys we know who both live on their own, and with them and their various friend circles I now have a RL go-to social circle, which is weird and amazing. I'm still in Nottingham (or at least a little outside it) which is coming up to 7 years in one place, now. That's the longest I've lived in one city since I first moved out 20 years ago...
Job situation:
I left teaching because frankly it was destroying my mental health. I miss it but I am better off without it, as with any abusive ex. I did a stint as a 'learner reviewer' for a pharmacy NVQ course, phoning students and helping them plan their time and such, and then I moved to a university as a service desk advisor for a learning technology team - basically trouble shooting problems for students and academics, creating account for people, doing a little training. Now I've moved to the other university in town, and I'm a full learning technologist now. I'm working four days a week and get paid as much as my previous role, and it is both more varied and interesting, and less stress. So all around a win!
Hair situation:
I have gone through teal, turquoise, purple, green and various shades of blue. At one point I had an accidental bi flag on my head which was amazing. I'll show you my current face when I have worked out where to put photos so I can link them here. XD
Writing situation:
Wrote loads the last two years, I've written NOTHING this year. I hate it. HATE IT.
Health situation:
I did a weight-loss program called Noom for a while and lost a stone and a half, but it's entirely possible I've put that all back on now. However, I decided to walk 500 miles this year and hit that target in July, so I'm now at 772 miles and aiming for 1,000 by the end of the year. I'm pretty much on track but I'm at a point in the year where I'll be doing a lot more cold and wet walks than I meant to. :D
Mental health situation:
Not great? But I'm working on it more actively now. My antidepressants have gone up because I've been struggling with the whole pandemic, lockdown, uncertainty issue. I'm in counselling at the moment but my free sessions are going to run out shortly, so I may be looking to get advice on finding another counsellor from my current guy. I've put together a tool kit of CBT worksheets so I'm developing strategies and such, but I'm better at applying them after and reflecting than I am at moderating my immediate reaction to things. Eh. Work in progress. :) I'm also mid-process in getting an ADHD diagnosis. I've been referred, filled in questionnaires and had an initial consultation; I've been informed that in the long term a diagnosis and medication is very likely, but the new adult ADHD service in Nottingham is in its infancy and overloaded so it won't be any time soon. In the mean time I've been watching a lot of HowToADHD on Youtube, an excellent channel.
Oh ALSO! I wear glasses now. I accidentally stabbed myself in the eye with a cardboard box.
Lemme esplain. No, it is too much. Lemme sum up:
Living situation:
I am living with a housemate in a house she bought because the last house we lived in together a) belonged to her ex boyfriend (awkward) and b) had rats in. It is the best living situation I have had in many years, and I am living in fear of her meeting a Nice Man and turfing me out. XD We created a social bubble with two guys we know who both live on their own, and with them and their various friend circles I now have a RL go-to social circle, which is weird and amazing. I'm still in Nottingham (or at least a little outside it) which is coming up to 7 years in one place, now. That's the longest I've lived in one city since I first moved out 20 years ago...
Job situation:
I left teaching because frankly it was destroying my mental health. I miss it but I am better off without it, as with any abusive ex. I did a stint as a 'learner reviewer' for a pharmacy NVQ course, phoning students and helping them plan their time and such, and then I moved to a university as a service desk advisor for a learning technology team - basically trouble shooting problems for students and academics, creating account for people, doing a little training. Now I've moved to the other university in town, and I'm a full learning technologist now. I'm working four days a week and get paid as much as my previous role, and it is both more varied and interesting, and less stress. So all around a win!
Hair situation:
I have gone through teal, turquoise, purple, green and various shades of blue. At one point I had an accidental bi flag on my head which was amazing. I'll show you my current face when I have worked out where to put photos so I can link them here. XD
Writing situation:
Wrote loads the last two years, I've written NOTHING this year. I hate it. HATE IT.
Health situation:
I did a weight-loss program called Noom for a while and lost a stone and a half, but it's entirely possible I've put that all back on now. However, I decided to walk 500 miles this year and hit that target in July, so I'm now at 772 miles and aiming for 1,000 by the end of the year. I'm pretty much on track but I'm at a point in the year where I'll be doing a lot more cold and wet walks than I meant to. :D
Mental health situation:
Not great? But I'm working on it more actively now. My antidepressants have gone up because I've been struggling with the whole pandemic, lockdown, uncertainty issue. I'm in counselling at the moment but my free sessions are going to run out shortly, so I may be looking to get advice on finding another counsellor from my current guy. I've put together a tool kit of CBT worksheets so I'm developing strategies and such, but I'm better at applying them after and reflecting than I am at moderating my immediate reaction to things. Eh. Work in progress. :) I'm also mid-process in getting an ADHD diagnosis. I've been referred, filled in questionnaires and had an initial consultation; I've been informed that in the long term a diagnosis and medication is very likely, but the new adult ADHD service in Nottingham is in its infancy and overloaded so it won't be any time soon. In the mean time I've been watching a lot of HowToADHD on Youtube, an excellent channel.
Oh ALSO! I wear glasses now. I accidentally stabbed myself in the eye with a cardboard box.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-14 04:57 pm (UTC)In case you didn't know, Dreamwidth has photo hosting now! The images will only show on DW (and other LJ clones) but they can be locked to access groups or made private.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-14 07:43 pm (UTC)Also yay for a new-ish living situation minus rats.
I wrote almost nothing during lockdown and I hated it! Now that I'm able to go to McD's (my 'writing place') I've been able to get quite a bit written, which makes me happy.
Congrats on the walking! I keep daily track but never thought to keep a running tally.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-14 08:26 pm (UTC)I am going to hope for WORDS FOR NNY now because - yeah, no, that sucks for you.
Fingers crossed for the ADHD diagnosis & meds to come through! Skuld did it in Cambridge, and it was a massive faff even though he came pre-diagnosed, but he did get everything he needed in the end.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-14 11:33 pm (UTC)I honestly can't tell which is worse! I'm glad you're out of there.
I now have a RL go-to social circle, which is weird and amazing.
Dude that sounds cool and really healthy! HOW DO YOU DO IT
Now I've moved to the other university in town, and I'm a full learning technologist now.
Oh that's wild, so is my friend Abbi! She works at UCL!
I'll show you my current face when I have worked out where to put photos so I can link them here.
Pillowfort?
I did a weight-loss program called Noom for a while and lost a stone and a half
Dang!
My antidepressants have gone up because I've been struggling with the whole pandemic, lockdown, uncertainty issue.
That seems... proportionate, tbh. It's a massive stressor.
I'm also mid-process in getting an ADHD diagnosis.
Good luck!
no subject
Date: 2021-10-15 01:21 pm (UTC)