I've found it's generally a sound decision to assess people by their interactions with animals, particularly dogs - and by the animals response to them.
Mrs B's oldest and best friend's firstborn attempted suicide during the last week. He's split up with his ex live-in lady, after 5 years, as she cheated on him (repeatedly) and told him at his grandma's funeral. His mum is in bits. Her ex, the young man's father and a former good mate of mine, posted about his imminent suicide on social media. She was shat on repeatedly by him and he bugged their former home together and fitted a tracking device to her car. Like his dad, the young man's a heavy drinker and has a history of mental health problems. I've spoken with him on numerous occasions, but like me, back in the day, he's not ready to listen. Just thought this was worth a bump. If life is getting too much to bear, reach out to someone...
Great advice! But there are so many stories like this...the human race really is a largely morally bereft and/or maniacally self-destructive collective, isn't it
Another bump. It's that time of year again. The nights are drawing in and the clocks will soon be going back. For many of us, we are entering the long dark tea time of the soul. Not for nothing was it recently World Suicide Prevention Day. I've had contact with 2 mates in the last week, both suffering some significant mental health issues. One, a mate from school, who is usually very phlegmatic and cheery. The other, I met at Rebellion a month and a half ago. One is lonely and suffering agoraphobia and depression, the other is watching his wife struggle for her life with cancer and struggling to cope with his emotions. To all afflicted by this illness...reach out to someone. What's troubling you will be lessened by talking about it and then taking active steps to manage it and maybe, getting rid of it. If you're suffering, there's no stigma. You are ill. You can get better, with help. There is always someone who will be only too happy to lend an ear and a helping hand. If you're in good mental health, check on your loved ones. They may be struggling and not know how to break the terrible silence...and it's that silence that makes the illness potentially fatal. Love and good mental health to all.
Like to share this. Brian mentioned Suicide Prevention Day - a very important occasion. Here in Australia we also have that but we another one - it's called R U Ok day. That's the time when we walk up to or text or call and ask someone R U ok? We tend to take for granted the people around us as they see you and believe we are fine, but we all have our demons and we face them everyday. Nothing can uplift you more when someone asks you, because at that moment you may need to talk to someone and release whatever might be burdening you. So fellow Spurs fans R U ok? I hope you are
That's a great idea, one I will adopt this week! Just back from a week in the sun so I'm fine thank you, and even better after yesterday....
It's not as easy as some poeople may think to reach out for help. I have been battling to support my wife for over 15 years now. First she had a heart attack but with a stent recovered fairly well. Then she got renal cancer which came close to killling her but thanks to the wonderful Royal Marsden Hospital she survived. However the medication she had to take to keep it from coimng back was brutal. We got by though for nearly ten years until one evening se seemed to just disappear - no signs but became completely unresponsive - and had suffered a massive stroke. That has left her with aphasia so she finds it almost impossible to speak - she and I have learned how to communicate to a degree with some words, writing and pictures but it is very frustrating for us both. She is also unable to walk as her right side is almost completely unresponsive. She developed diabetes from excessive weight gain from her medication in the year after she got out of hospital. For nearly six years now I have been by her side and had to do everything for her. In that time her cancer has metastasized to her abdomen and lungs. She has had six monthly CT scans but after the last one the Royal Free who are now her oncology team said there is little point in her continuing to have them as there is no treatment she can endure. It seems she will wait until the symptoms develop and I guess it will then be respite care. We have a physiotherapist who comes from time to time when she needs help but aside from that there is nobody. Except from the six monthly hospital scan visits neither of us have been more than a mile from home for six years. When I have to go to the chemist or similar I am acutely conscious that she is home alone and extremely vulnerable. I get there and back in 30 minutes tops. She is housebound but we have a nice garden which is where we have our best time. Where we live neighbours will nod hello but do not want to socialise or be invoved so we essentially know nobody. On three or four occasions my wife has fallen down while I am transferring her from chair to toilet/ bed or whatever and I have managed to get neighbours in to help me lift her back into a chair (they then disappear speedlly) and so far her injuries from falls have not been too bad and physio has helped. I fear every tme I have to transfer her that she will break something and be hospitalised. Our children have their own families and live a long way away; at best they make sympatheitc noises but offer no real help. What though could they or anyone esle do. There is nothing anyone can do. Yes perhaps a little sympathy - but who really wants that? I would try to move closer to one of the children or even into some kind of care facility but Mrs S does not want that. She loves this house and garden and wants to die here not in some strange new place. If I did not wake up one morning I would escape from all this but I could not even contemplate that as a solution knowing what I left behind. Well sorry about this post. I will wait a few miniutes to see if I reall y need to post it. I have never dumped like this anywhere before and am not happy about doing so here but just feel so totally helpless.
Spurs61 I feel it is an honour that you have chosen this forum to tell your story. As you know only too well there is nothing I can say that really helps you and your wife but we are all here as Spurs fans and I think you have recognised that the people on here are by and large a good bunch. I think you know that it is worth speaking to people with empathy and that is something you can do here because you will find it. Do not apologise for being human, please post as much as you can/need I am sure the response on here will be positive.
Not just Australia! I saw a post on social media about a Brentford season ticket holder getting a call out of the blue and how it made a difference. https://share.google/Qi7wZk5S9Xkna7xr1
I genuinly do not know what I can add to @Spurf comments. My minor physical ailments pale into total insignficance to what your poor wife is going through, and I know you are not lookng for sympathies but I will offer them anyway. There are lovely people on here and sometimes talking to a complete stranger can provide comfort...
I have not shared this before but my wife was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in April, very little symptoms apart from a feeling of not digesting food and a very fit , active and healthy 66yr old , it is now stage 4 and she is undergoing palliative chemo treatment which is brutal to say the least , I shared this after Spurs61 post , we have been married 47 yrs and the doctors told us it is very unlikely we will make it to 48 Love your family and friends as we do not know what is round the corner
