Workin' 9 to 5....

Well not quite 9 to 5

More like 8 - 4

But you know what I mean

Our hours had been cut last week

Due to the centre being quiet mid week

But I managed to pick up some extra hours this week

As one of the girls is sick

Yesterday I was in by myself 

I was supposed to be working 8-12pm

But in actual fact 

I didn't get away until 3pm

There was just a lot to be done 

And I wanted to leave things in some sort of order 

Before I left 

I was chatting to Georgina in the office 

I said to her that I felt like I was forgetting to do something 

She told me not to second guess myself 

To be confident that I have done everything to a high standard 

But even so 

I was reluctant to leave without checking every thing 

And actually 

When I got home 

I started to worry that I hadn't turned the gas off 

And texted Georgina to check 

Of course I had 

But still 

Better safe than sorry 

I couldn't live with myself if I had inadvertently caused an accident at work 

But anyway 

All was well 

And I did my best to leave everything spic and span

I didn't even stop to eat 

So i know I worked hard 

Before I left 

Georgina asked me if I had seen one of the interviewers for my job on Monday 

His name is John

And he was one of the panel that interviewed me back in February

Apparently he called in to the centre this week

But I don't remember seeing him

Anyway 

He obviously saw me

As he said to Georgina that I was a different woman 

They was nice to hear 

She also said that back at my interview 

I looked quite unwell

I remember it so clearly 

I was going to wear a great jacket to the interview 

But my mam said I looked too thin I it 

So I had to find something else 

All along 

Georgina has said that the centre will be good for me 

And I will be good for the centre 

It's so true 

I am loving work 

And it has done me the world of good 

I couldn't ask for more 

As I said 

I was in on Monday morning for one of the girls 

I was chatting to the chef 

He is a young man 

The same age as me 

H was telling me that he had hurt his back playing golf 

And also that his chest was sore 

I was telling him that he should go to the doctor 

But like a typical man 

He wouldn't 

In fact at 9am 

I ran over to my own doctor 

To collect my script 

The chef asked me if I mind going to the doctor 

I said I didn't 

And in fact I had to go every week

He asked why 

And I knew I had talked myself in to corner 

For some reason 

I'm not quite sure why 

But I ended up telling him that I had a drug problem years ago

And that I was on a methadone programme

He reacted quite well

And seemed very curious 

Asked me questions 

I get on with this guy pretty well

So I didn't feel uncomfortable telling him 

He said he wouldn't tell anyone 

And I believe him

Although afterwards

I worried that I had been a bit too honest 

But look 

I'm open about my past 

I have nothing to hide 

And it's not like i am going around broadcasting it 

I told one person 

Anyway 

It's done now 

You can't unring a bell

I don't worry that he judged me 

He is not like that 

And anyway 

If he talks 

I'll know he broke my trust 

And I won't risk telling anyone else 

I'm back in work this evening 

Just four hours 

Which always flies by 

Then I'm back in tomorrow morning for hours 

Then an eight hour shift on Sunday

So I'll have a very healthy pay cheque next week 

Which is always nice

Also 

Thank you all for your feedback on my last post

I know I haven't been great at replying to comments

So apologies for that

But no 

I'm not going anywhere 

This blog 

And my friends here mean too much to me 

Even if our community is shrinking 

There are still plenty of us to keep it going 

Even if no one reads 

My blog is still a personal record for myself 

A diary of sorts 

And of course 

I always write in the hope that my blog can help someone else in a similar situation 

Because as you know 

My life has been quite eventful 

And I am coming out the other side of my illness and issues 

There is one thing that always sticks in my mind 

Something my psychiatrist wrote in a letter once 

That I have a 'chronic eating disorder'

And 'severe and enduring mental illness'

I can remember reading that and thinking 

That's not me 

That must be about someone else 

The words chronic 

And severe and enduring just sounded so hopeless 

These are words that have never left me 

And being my stubborn self 

Wanted to prove that doctor wrong 

Now I am 

I've managed to claw back in a few months, everything that I lost in the previous 15 years 

As I often say 

As quickly as things can go wrong 

They can also turn around just as quick 

It is just so so important to keep hoping and believing that things can get better 

To keep fighting for a better life 

For you and your family 

Because for every person that has a mental health issue or addiction

There is a whole group of family and friends that are suffering too

Often in silence 

So 

If you think you can't go own 

If recovery seems like something out of reach 

Please know that it is possible 

I promise you that 

You have just got to keep holding on 

It will pay off 

And you will get better 

Look at me 

I thought I would never get well

And now I am the best I've been in a long time 

It is possible 

Recovery can happen 

It's there 

You just have to reach out and grab it

To blog or not to blog....

....That is the question

I'm sure you have noticed that I'm not blogging as much now as I used to

For a couple of reasons

I don't have as much free time 

Now that I am working 

And also 

I just don't have the material 

Back in 2012

I started writing this blog when I was I the thick of my disorder

The following years documented my struggles 

As I tried to recover

Now 

Over four years later 

I can finally say with confidence, that I am in recovery 

I am living post ED

Of course that is wonderful 

But it leaves my blog in a kind of limbo 

I rarely write about ED or addiction related topics anymore 

Yet I am still part of this community 

I guess I am just not sure if my blog is relevant any more 

After a few weeks of off the chart statistics 

My numbers have dropped again 

That doesn't bother me 

But I do wonder if my blog is needed or wanted anymore

So I am throwing the question over to you 

Do you still read my blog?

If yes why?

If no why?

Do you think there is still a place for my blog here on blogger?

What is a blogger to do.....?

Injury

I was off work for a few days last week

As the centre was quiet and I wasn't needed

However

Georgina rang me on Wednesday 

And asked if I could do the house keeping shift the following day

I jumped at the chance 

As I need the hours 

And would be glad of the money 

So I arrived in to work for 10am

Prepared for a full day of hard work 

I got straight in it 

Stripping beds 

Changing sheets 

Replenishing towels 

I was on my own 

But Georgina was up and down to me 

I was following her out of one of the rooms 

And I was kind of trailing my fingers on the door 

When the door closed

And it closed on my thumb 

These are not any ordinary doors 

They are big heavy fire doors 

That close themselves 

So the door closed on my left thumb

I felt the pain

My thumb being utterly squashed 

Georgina was ahead of me 

But I couldn't get the words out 

To tell her I was stuck

But fair play to her 

When she saw the look on my face 

She realised what had happened 

She had to come around me 

To open the door and release my thumb 

It was only seconds 

But it felt like an eternity 

I looked at my thumb

It was all squashed and twisted looking 

Georgina immediately told me to hold it under cold water 

While she ran and got ice 

I couldn't really think straight 

I think I was in a bit of shock 

Another worker and the chef came up to me 

Which was nice of them 

I headed down to the dining room

To drink a cup of sugary tea

And to sit and hold the ice to my poor thumb

After sitting for a while 

I went over to the other centre 

Where a very kind woman called Denise coveted my thumb in arnica 

To help prevent bruising 

But still

My thumb was turning black as we watched it

To be safe 

Denise rang the doctor 

And they told her to send me over 

I went and collected my bag 

And we drive over 

Even though it was only down the road 

In the mean time 

I rang my mam 

Who happened to be shopping in town 

So she made her way over to me 

I wasn't waiting long in the doctors 

It wasn't my usual doctor 

But it was Nice Woman Doctor 

So that was good 

She examined my thumb

Asked me to give a thumbs up

Which I couldn't really do 

I also couldn't really bend it

She said there was 40% chance that the bone was broken 

And said if it got any worse 

To go into casualty 

So she gave me a letter to give radiology 

And told me to go home 

And keep an eye on it 

So having barely worked a couple of hours 

I was heading home for the rest of the day 

I felt really pissed off

As I felt I was letting people down 

But hey 

What could I do?

I would have been no addition to them in work 

And I could have further injured myself 

So I took it easy for the set of the day 

My thumb was sore 

But it was pain I could bear

So I was pretty sure that it wasn't broken

And I was back in work yesterday 

And today 

The season is kind of winding down now. 

And we are not as busy 

I love being in work on a Friday 

As I get to meet everyone checking in

And it's easier to remember faces and names 

At least I find easier 

There are a lovely bunch staying with us this week 

Some real characters 

And this is what I love about my job 

I get to meet a whole range of different people 

From tiny tots to the elderly

Disabled people 

Mentally unwell people 

From all over 

And from all walks of life

It really opens my mind 

And reminds me that there is a whole wide world out there 

And most of all 

It takes me away from myself 

From ruminating 

Procrastinating 

From obsessing about one thing or another 

I am so busy at work 

That I don't get a chance to worry over my own stuff 

Which is great 

I really love my job though

I love everything about it 

My co workers 

My manager 

The guests 

Everyone is so lovely 

It's like this job was made for me 

It's busy 

But not stressful 

It's demanding emotionally 

But I can handle that 

And am able to leave work at work when I leave 

Most of the time anyway 

I am just so grateful that Georgina gave me a chance 

Because that's exactly what I needed 

Someone to see past the illness 

The addiction 

The struggles I have 

And give me a chance to grow and blossom and flourish 

Georgina is an incredible lady 

So passionAte about her work 

And that runs off on me 

I am definitely learning a lot from her 

In lots of areas 

How to deal with people

Sticky situations 

How to multitask 

How to work smarter instead of harder 

And my work is not just a job 

We provide holidays for people who might not ordinarily get one 

We help financially 

And we are there to chat and to listen 

It runs like a hotel 

But it's not really a hotel 

It's a house 

And everyone is welcome 

I really feel privileged that I get to help a family or a group enjoy their holiday 

I love chatting to the guests 

And probably do it a bit too much 

But look 

If it helps them

I am more than happy to sit and listen 

Some people just want someone to talk to 

And often times it's easier to speak to someone whose not directly involved in the situation 

So yes

I  am happy out at the moment 

Before I know it 

The summer will be over 

And do will my job 

I will really miss it though 

Even though Georgina said if anything came up

She would keep me in mind 

So hopefully something will

I need to tell you 

I feel in a really good place at the moment 

Life couldn't be better 

Of course I get days when I don't want to get out of bed 

When everything I try on makes me look huge 

When I just want to sit and cry my eyes out

But everyone gets these days 

I am not special 

I am human 

And as humans we have bad days 

And that's perfectly ok

It's normal 

Show me a person who never has a bad day 

And I will eat my own foot 

My happiness at the moment is not connected to my weight 

Or the fact I am self medicating 

It's an inner happiness 

That comes from feeling good about myself 

From work hard 

Both at my job 

And at my recovery 

I know I'm lucky 

I have a strong family around me

Some amazing friends and co workers 

I couldn't ask for more

I remember from AA

There are 12 promises 

And one of them is that you will find a life beyond your wildest dreams

It's not about money 

Or material gains 

It's about living a real and authentic life 

From opening my heart and my mind 

From feeding myself good food 

From not weighing myself 

From being the best person I can be 

So today 

I urge you 

For one day 

Let go of your vice 

See what life is like without it 

I promise you 

The feeling of contentment I have 

Is better than any drug

Any number on a scale 

It's a feeling that I am ok

More than ok 

That I'm going to make it 

Despite everything I have been through 

I still want to live my life 

I still want to carry on

You can't ask for more than that...

Toughing it out...

The last few days have been tough

After hearing about the suicide of my friend 

I almost fell apart

I was at work when I found out 

So I couldn't very well crumble then

But on Sunday night

I had a dream about my friend 

He was exactly the way I remember him

Young 

Carefree

Cheeky 

I woke up in the morning in tears

Cue a whole day of feeling so sad and emotional

I had my doctor at 9am

And the minute I sat down in his office 

The tears continued to flow

My doctor was so kind to me 

He let me cry 

Gave me as much time as I needed to collect myself 

The thing about suicide 

Is that it leaves so many unanswered questions 

And what ifs?

What if I had been a better friend?

What if we had never broke up?

What if I had made more of an effort?

But as my doctor said 

A person could seem fine one minute 

Then go home and overdose 

Or hang themselves 

You just never know what is going through a persons head 

On Sunday I went to mass at the holy well with my parents 

I prayed for my friend 

And lit a candle for him

Saying goodbye in my own way 

I just hope he is at peace now 

Finally 

I've had no work since Saturday 

As it's been very quiet

But I'm back in tomorrow 

And will be working all weekend 

To be honest 

I've missed work 

I miss the structure 

The routine 

The escape 

The people 

I'm glad to get back to it 

And of course the paycheque at the end of the week is always welcome 

I saw my psychiatrist yesterday 

Or at least one of his team 

She was lovely 

A Polish lady 

So friendly and enthusiastic 

She told me that she had been reading my file 

And that I am doing really well

She seemed genuinely pleased for me 

I spoke a bit about my friend 

As he has been on my mind so very much 

She was so kind too 

I must say 

I feel

So grateful for the people I have in my life 

A lot of the time 

I feel like I am being carried along by them 

My feet not touching the ground at all 

I am surrounded by amazing people 

My family 

My friends 

May horse riding 

At work 

And especially the friends I've made recently 

Now I can say that I truly know the meaning of friendship 

I've let go of people who were dragging me down 

Using me

I now know that I am worth so much more 

I deserve to be treated well

Just like anyone else 

I won't set myself on fire 

To keep someone else warm

And God knows I've done enough of that over the years 

Today 

I am just back from horse riding 

It was fantastic as always 

I got a lift out with Fintan 

And it was just the two of us today 

I like when it's just the two of us 

As we are in a similar place riding wise 

And today Eilish really pushed us 

And got very technical

I loved it though 

I love the challenge 

I'm so eager to learn and improve 

And just be the best that I can 

We did a good bit of cantering 

Which is such a rush!

I swear 

I am so envious of Eilish and her family 

The have this brilliant facility in their back garden 

They can ride when ever they want 

I would give anything to have that available to me 

An hour a week just isn't enough anymore 

So I asked Eilish if come autumn I could go out for half a day a week

And maybe get two lessons instead of one 

Fintan would also love to do this 

Eilish said to leave it with her 

So hopefully that will happen for us 

It would just make more sense all round 

I travel an hour to get to riding 

So to spend more time there would really benefit me

I finish work in September 

So it would be great to have that To look forward to

In other news

My Dad is deteriorating quite a bit 

And we are all very concerned about him

We worry that he is not managing at home alone 

Basic every day things like dressing, cooking and shopping my are becoming increasingly difficult fir him

The nurse specialist is visiting him today 

And in fairness 

The support he is getting is fantastic 

He is being well looked after 

It's very hard as we need endless patience to deal with him

I guess it's an adjustment for us all

And it will take time 

But yes 

Even though I am feeling a bit raw and emotional 

I am ok 

Or at least I will be

I like to think of my friend as I knew him 

And I do have a lot of fond memories 

That's what I'm going to hold on to

It seems everyone has a past 

Something they are dealing with 

No one is immune 

No one gets off Scott free

We all have across to bear 

ED wise 

I am doing ok 

I have no clue what I weigh 

It doesn't really matter I guess 

As long as my clothes fit 

And I feel healthy and well

That's all that really matters 

Yes I still purge from time to time 

But recovery is about progression not perfection

I'm doing the best I can

I'm eating 

I'm not restricting in any way 

I'm not compensating with exercise or laxatives 

Yes 

I still struggle with body image 

And struggle not see myself body in a negative light 

I have to accept I'm not 19 anymore 

I am a 34 year old woman 

I have boobs and hips 

I'm curvy 

I have a shape 

Some days I love it 

Other days I hate it 

But I'm healthy and happy 

No matter what I weigh 

I would take this over anorexia or bulimia any day of the week

So 

That's it from me for today 

I'm off for a cuppa 

And to spend some time with my dogs 

See you on the next post....

RIP

I write this post a very sad and confused Ruby

It's been a crazy week

I saw on Facebook last week

That I guy I was friends when I was growing up was missing 

And had been for a few days

I wasn't worried at first 

And there was no panic to begin

With 

Just concern that he was ok

In fact 

This guy had been more than my friend 

He had been my first ever boyfriend when I was just 14

We went out for about ten months 

Which is a lifetime when you are that age 

I went to the girls school

He went to the local tech 

We met every day after school

Smoking cigarettes and stealing kisses around the back of the church 

We wrote each other letters 

And because we both loved The Doors 

We addressed each other as Pamela and Jim

How cringey 

But also how cute

Then 

After a few years 

We hooked up again 

After we lived in the same neighbourhood

But 

It didn't last 

As I was going off the rails with drugs 

I kept an eye on FB during the week

But there was no sign of him

Then 

On Friday 

I saw messages of condolence on social media 

But I still didn't know what had happened

I went in to work yesterday morning as usual

Still none the wiser

I got a text from a girl I went to school with 

I figured it was about this guy 

So I took a few minutes to ring her

She confirmed it 

He was dead 

I asked her what had happened 

She explained that he had been working in the UK

And had been home for a short while 

Apparently 

He had been suffering with mental health issues

And was experiencing depression and paranoia 

My friend thought that this may have been due to drug abuser over the years 

He hung himself 

He was 36 years old 

Even though he was suffering 

He sought no help

And wasn't under the care of a doctor 

Or any other professional

This news breaks my heart 

Another young man lost to suicide

It's confusing 

It's disturbing 

And deeply upsetting 

My heart goes out to his loved ones 

He will be missed

I just hope he has found some peace

God knows he deserved it

I was in work when I heard this news

And I confided in my work mate 

It was good to talk about him

And remember him

I rang my Mam to tell her 

She would have taught this guy in school

It hit her hard too

And she was in tears as I explained about his death

Thankfully

I was on a short shift 

And was only working until 12pm

But to be honest with you 

I kind of wish that I had been working longer 

At least then I wouldn't have been thinking about him so much

I have so many lovely memories about this guy 

And I guess he was my first love 

Now 

I guess there are so many what ifs?

If only he had talks to someone 

If only he had asked for help 

If only I had kept in touch with him

I can't imagine what was going through his head

That he felt his only option was to disappear from everyone 

Tie a knot in a rope 

And end his short life 

It's just so very sad

I despair 

I really do

It seems that suicide is becoming an epidemic in this country 

Heck I've been there myself 

In a situation where I thought my family would be better off without me 

That things would never improve 

And that death was the only release from the pain I was in

Thankfully

I have moved past a place where life scared me more than death

I feel more able to cope with life 

And whatever it throws at me

This is what we need 

The tools to deal with life 

Because heaven knows life is not a straight path 

There are so many bumps and obstacles along the way

But we do our best 

And that's all we can do

This morning 

The parental unit and I went to mass at the holy well

It's a mass for the sick 

So Dad wanted to go to get blessed 

I also got blessed 

And I lit a candle for my friend 

Hoping that he has now found peace

They say that suicide is a selfish act 

I don't buy that 

The person who is suffering often feels like they are a burden to their loved ones 

And that they are better off without them

They believe that they are relieving their family of stress and worry 

But of course that is not the case 

Suicide leaves a trail of grief and destruction

Confusion and deep loss 

Death is just so final 

And especially when it is a young person

Who had everything to live for 

I feel quite empty 

Like life is sometimes pointless 

We live 

We die 

And we get a very short space of time between the two

For a long time 

I placed no value on my own life 

I didn't care whether I lived or died 

It just wasn't important to me at all

But now 

Now I want to live 

I want to be alive 

And part of this world 

I just wish that my friend had reached out and asked for help 

It's too late now

RIP Michael

You are loved and missed...

This is.....

This is me 

A 34 year old woman

I am Irish 

I am a daughter

A sister 

An auntie

A doggy mama

A friend 

An employee

A horse rider 

This is me 

I struggle with mental health issues 

Including addiction

Depression

Anxiety 

And eating disorders

I now consider myself to be in recovery 

I am in recovery 

It's a journey 

Not a destination

This is me 

I am a good person 

Yes 

I have done bad things in my life 

But inherently 

I am a good person 

And I do my best every day 

To not hurt myself or anyone else 

This is me 

I may be 34 

But inside 

I still feel 16 years old 

I still have a lot to learn about life 

It's all a learning experience 

This is me 

After years of illness 

I am now working 

And have been working for the past two months 

I can feel my confidence growing every day 

I feel valued and appreciated 

Work has been a life saver

This is me 

I have a little crush on someone 

It makes for some very interesting day dreaming ahem..

I don't know if I am imagining it

But I think he might like me too

At least I hope he does 

This is me 

I've made my fair share of mistakes through out my life 

But I am trying to fit all the pieces of my life back together 

I'm not perfect 

But I'm trying to be the best person I can be 

This is me 

I'm not beautiful 

I'll never be a stunner 

But I work with what I've got 

And make the best of it 

This is me 

I'm overly sensitive 

I bruise easily 

I think too much 

And am pretty quiet 

But get to know me 

And you will see I am truly a nerd with a very sarcastic sense of humour 

This is me 

I don't expect everyone to like me 

Or agree with me 

And that's ok 

We won't fall out over it 

We will agree to disagree 

This is me 

Ruby 

A woman 

A person 

A human being 

A collection of cells 

Why am I important?

I'm not really 

But I do matter 

And I deserve a good life 

This is me 

And I'm doing my best...

Thursday

Yesterday was a long day

I went horse riding in the morning 

Which as always was brilliant

We are now concentrating on our technique 

Our position 

Our leg position

It was all a bit confusing if I am honest 

But I am just trying to concentrate on one thing at a time 

And hopefully it will all come together in the end 

Star was in great form yesterday 

And was truly a joy to ride 

Even if he does spend quite a lot of time trying to bite me 

He lives up to his name every week

He is a star

We also did some cantering 

Which is exhilarating 

Every time I do it 

I get butterflies in my tummy 

But then it is just pure enjoyment and fun 

It's a buzz 

The kind I used to get off narcotics 

It's amazing to have found a natural high 

So bloody amazing 

After riding 

We had a quick cuppa 

Before heading off

As i had to work at 4pm

I get a lift to riding with Fintan every week 

He picks me up in town at 10am 

And we head out 

We always stop in the village 

To buy carrots for the horses

And a bit of chocolate for a bit of energy 

Myself and Fintan have become great friends 

And we have discovered that we have an awful in common 

Not just the horse riding 

Fintan is what they call a para rider 

As he has a condition that effects his muscles 

I really enjoy his company every week

And we always have a good laugh 

Sometimes we have serious conversations too

But whatever the topic 

We always enjoy it 

We keep in contact during the week too

In fact I am just off the phone from him

He is about 15 years older than me

So I get to see the benefit of his experience 

Which is great 

Especially where the riding is concerned 

It also has shown me what true friendship looks like 

And Fintan is fast becoming a very good friend 

In fact I have made a few new friends recently 

At work too

And slowly but surely 

I am letting go of people who have thrown me the scraps of friendship 

And expected me to be grateful for the fumes of friendship

I made the mistake of depending on one person 

And when that person inevitably lets me down 

I have nothing 

There is one particular girl 

Who blows hot and cold 

And often lets me down 

Now I can see that I don't have to put up with that shit 

I deserve better 

I am a good friend 

Loyal 

If you are my friend 

Then I look out for you 

I have your back 

I'll be there to laugh with you through the good times 

And let you cry on my shoulder through the tough times 

But treat me badly 

And I don't stick around 

You won't see me for dust

Anyway 

After riding 

I went to my favourite shop 

To stock up on dog food 

Before heading home 

I was home just after 2pm 

And had to work at 4pm

I forced myself to eat something 

As if my brain is not fed properly 

It just won't function

And I generally feel all over the place 

So I had some tea and toast 

Another little issue im having is my Meds 

If I am working 

I usually don't then until I get home

But yesterday for example 

On the way home from riding 

I was yawning non stop 

And my eyes were streaming 

The first symptoms of opiate withdrawal 

So I took my methadone when I got home 

And waited to take my Meds until I got home from work 

But it flags a problem 

In that I do need to sort out the way I take them 

So I guess I will talk to my doctor next week 

So yea 

Life is good 

And my faith in the human race was restored yesterday 

When I was in the super market 

And when my items were scanned. I realised that I didn't have my wallet with me 

In a fluster 

I apologised to the check out guy 

And said that I would have to leave it 

I was walking away 

When someone called me back 

The man behind me in the queue paid for my shopping!

How nice was that?

I thanked him

And was really blown away

It was only a few euros 

But the gesture was huge 

So today 

I did my good deed 

And picked up an old man who was walking in to the village in the pouring rain 

And it felt good to pay it forward 

Apart from that 

All is well 

I'm working

I'm also working on my recovery 

I'm getting out there 

Socialising 

Mixing with people 

I'm getting out of the house 

And out of my own sick head 

I'm doing my best to be a good person 

And every day I ask for help to not hurt myself or anyone else

God knows things were sour for long enough

But that just makes the good times that bit sweeter 

So 

That's me over and out for today 

I will love you and leave you 

And see you on the next post 

I must post some photos too

As I haven't done that in a while

See you soon....