Still here!
I can't believe how long it is since I last blogged. So much has been going on, I hardly know where to start.. so for now I'll just do a quick update.
My mum is doing well following her treatment for breast cancer. She celebrated her 70th birthday earlier this year, and my daughter and I were able to visit for the weekend to attend her party.
Mum, my sister and her family also visited us for a week in the summer - well, they stayed nearby and we saw them every day. It was really lovely to spend so much time with my family, when often I can't see them from one year to the next.
In other 'news'... my computer packed up last year, and for about 9 months I didn't have one at home at all. I would pop into a local library to check email etc... and rediscovered my love of libraries. So I suppose the old adage is true - every cloud has a silver lining! We are back online at home now, with the assistance of a couple of friends. However, I still visit the library from time to time.
Healthwise, it's been a funny year. I have suffered from numerous health problems for many years, from bad back and joint pain, to depression and phobias... the list is far longer but you get the idea! Anyway, I volunteered to take part in the Condition Management Programme or CMP, to help me cope better, learn strategies to manage my health problems, and learn to think about my illnesses in a different way. I have been amazed at how helpful the programme has been for me. I attended modules on everything from back pain to coping with anxiety, from working with a disability to managing stress. All of which were interesting and useful. I also met some very nice people at these modules, and in chatting over coffee also learned the odd helpful tip from them! In addition to the modules there were one-to-one meetings with a named CMP practitioner. Mine was Laura, who has a background in physiotherapy - appropriate given my back problems! That said, each practioner brings their own skills to the programme and over the course of the programme I've met most of them and benefitted from them all.
I was so impressed with the CMP, I recently attended the "Managing Health Works" CMP Information / Study day. This was extremely interesting, and I'd love to be able to get involved working with them one day. In the meantime I'm joining the user group.
One other thing my CMP practitioner did was refer me to the local IAPT team, to get help with the depression and anxiety which was ruining my life. As a result I undertook a course of CBT which was probably the best thing I ever did for my health. I am really interested in this type of therapy, and in the whole concept of mindfulness which is an important related aspect.
Somewhere in the middle of all that, I also managed to contract 'swine flu', which laid me low for a fortnight and took another few weeks after that to fully recover. By which point I'd missed all the revision time for my Open University course... I attempted the exam anyway, so now it's a question of waiting to see if I've managed to scrape through!
So, what else? Well, my son is in his final year at Uni. We hardly ever see him, but I gather he's getting on well with everything! Thank goodness for facebook, at least I can get occasional updates that way. My daughter is in year 9, and considering her GCSE options. She's still into drama in a big way, and recently played Alice in her drama group's version of Alice in Wonderland.
I'm looking for a new job at the moment. Something in a library or mental health care would be great, let's build on my recent experience! I'm working towards the ECDL and also continuing my studies with the OU, although I'm moving from IT subjects more towards the psychology/mental health areas. You may notice a theme developing! I really have been inspired by my CMP and CBT work this year, including working with some incredible people. We shall see where it leads.
My mum is doing well following her treatment for breast cancer. She celebrated her 70th birthday earlier this year, and my daughter and I were able to visit for the weekend to attend her party.
Mum, my sister and her family also visited us for a week in the summer - well, they stayed nearby and we saw them every day. It was really lovely to spend so much time with my family, when often I can't see them from one year to the next.
In other 'news'... my computer packed up last year, and for about 9 months I didn't have one at home at all. I would pop into a local library to check email etc... and rediscovered my love of libraries. So I suppose the old adage is true - every cloud has a silver lining! We are back online at home now, with the assistance of a couple of friends. However, I still visit the library from time to time.
Healthwise, it's been a funny year. I have suffered from numerous health problems for many years, from bad back and joint pain, to depression and phobias... the list is far longer but you get the idea! Anyway, I volunteered to take part in the Condition Management Programme or CMP, to help me cope better, learn strategies to manage my health problems, and learn to think about my illnesses in a different way. I have been amazed at how helpful the programme has been for me. I attended modules on everything from back pain to coping with anxiety, from working with a disability to managing stress. All of which were interesting and useful. I also met some very nice people at these modules, and in chatting over coffee also learned the odd helpful tip from them! In addition to the modules there were one-to-one meetings with a named CMP practitioner. Mine was Laura, who has a background in physiotherapy - appropriate given my back problems! That said, each practioner brings their own skills to the programme and over the course of the programme I've met most of them and benefitted from them all.
I was so impressed with the CMP, I recently attended the "Managing Health Works" CMP Information / Study day. This was extremely interesting, and I'd love to be able to get involved working with them one day. In the meantime I'm joining the user group.
One other thing my CMP practitioner did was refer me to the local IAPT team, to get help with the depression and anxiety which was ruining my life. As a result I undertook a course of CBT which was probably the best thing I ever did for my health. I am really interested in this type of therapy, and in the whole concept of mindfulness which is an important related aspect.
Somewhere in the middle of all that, I also managed to contract 'swine flu', which laid me low for a fortnight and took another few weeks after that to fully recover. By which point I'd missed all the revision time for my Open University course... I attempted the exam anyway, so now it's a question of waiting to see if I've managed to scrape through!
So, what else? Well, my son is in his final year at Uni. We hardly ever see him, but I gather he's getting on well with everything! Thank goodness for facebook, at least I can get occasional updates that way. My daughter is in year 9, and considering her GCSE options. She's still into drama in a big way, and recently played Alice in her drama group's version of Alice in Wonderland.
I'm looking for a new job at the moment. Something in a library or mental health care would be great, let's build on my recent experience! I'm working towards the ECDL and also continuing my studies with the OU, although I'm moving from IT subjects more towards the psychology/mental health areas. You may notice a theme developing! I really have been inspired by my CMP and CBT work this year, including working with some incredible people. We shall see where it leads.
Labels: CBT, CMP, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Condition Management Programme, IAPT, mindfulness, Open University
posted by Sue S @ 1:40 AM
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