Mental Health and the car enthusiast - help & support

[akku]

Struggling to deal with project motivation at the moment, stupid simple set backs I know I would hardly have noticed years back just send me back into the house to sit and feel defeated rather than get on with it.  Really frustrating.  Been blaming the wet weather for lack of progress with certain things and its not that at all, 2 good days so far this bank holiday weekend and I don't know if I had more than 4 or 5 productive hours across it all.  And even then how productive those were. 

If anyone finds a source of Mojo, I'll buy a bottle.  I'll buy a case.

[brachunky]

That elusive mojo.......we often need a "trigger" to get it going again. I have noticed living rurally has really affected my car mojo and think it's the lack of a type of subliminal motivation such as having no local car meets to attend and get togethers with pals. If I watch a few car resto/modding programmes on the box, a bit of mojo can actually kick back in but being around folk who get your hobby really helps.

[MonzaPhil]

Not currently spectacular.

It'll pass I'm sure.

The Weekender needs to hurry the F up and get here.

[crockpot]

Aug 27, 2023 20:39:25 GMT akku said:

Struggling to deal with project motivation at the moment, stupid simple set backs I know I would hardly have noticed years back just send me back into the house to sit and feel defeated rather than get on with it.  Really frustrating.  Been blaming the wet weather for lack of progress with certain things and its not that at all, 2 good days so far this bank holiday weekend and I don't know if I had more than 4 or 5 productive hours across it all.  And even then how productive those were. 

If anyone finds a source of Mojo, I'll buy a bottle.  I'll buy a case.

Confidence is something that you have less of as you get older, which I suppose could be part of the "mojo" thing. It leads to procrastination.
As I rush towards 70 I know that I tend to shy away from jobs I would have tackled in an instant when younger. Fortunately I don't find this with engineering/car projects.

[zeberdee]

Definitely lacking the mojo .

Seems to have been like it all year , can’t really say why , but guessing the majority being poor weather hasn’t helped .

Really not looking forward too winter when I know i go down hill . Would normally be a little more upbeat at this time of year .

[88zxturbo]

I seem to be in the same boat as a lot of people just now, no motivation for nothing the last couple months and has brought my anxiety back in bucketloads for no apparent reason after about a year of good progress and hardly any anxiety. I think the time of year/weather along with not getting all the said jobs done during the summer has a big part to play in alot of peoples moods just now. Can’t help life getting in the way though I planned on finishing the underside of my Nissan this summer but lost the best 6 weeks of the summer because I was up at my sisters sorting out her garden which was great seeing family, change of scenery etc however when I got home the weather had turned and I have done nothing so that’s the car pushed back another year. Was a good compromise though worth it to see everyone

[brachunky]

Don't hate me for trying but if you can, please consider a small donation to our new venture! The lease is being signed today and hopefully start doing some prep work over the weekend

Appeal thread: forum.retro-rides.org/thread/225597/distraction-mental-health-charity-appeal?page=1&scrollTo=2794933

Have a good one

[braaap]

I hate You not, I support You!

[brachunky]

Aug 30, 2023 9:35:02 GMT braaap said:

I hate You not, I support You!

Much appreciated sunshine!!

[halkyon]

zeberdee said:Definitely lacking the mojo . Seems to have been like it all year , can’t really say why , but guessing the majority being poor weather hasn’t helped . Really not looking forward too winter when I know i go down hill . Would normally be a little more upbeat at this time of year .

The winter downturn isn't inevitable. I've done f-all on my cars this summer and am thinking I might be more on it in the autumn-winter.

[braaap]

As much attention as this thread has got in the past it's weird how little support brachunky's project received so far.

Only 200P by five donators!

[zeberdee]

I’d love to be in a position to add to the funds , it’s a very worthwhile thing he’s doing .

But unfortunately I’m almost at the the point of only just making ends meet for myself .

The cost increase’s over the past year (mortgage,food etc) have taken any spare cash i had , adding to the already very real struggles I’m facing .

[thechadzone]

Such a great thread here, I'm heartened to see it. Mental health is a big part of my life in part because I work full-time in a 35 bed secure psychiatric hospital in the US. Most of my patients are required to be here (at work now) for a minimum of 5 days because two doctors agreed that it would be best. Many wouldn't think that it's a fantastic job, but it really is. The level of humanity in places like this can only be experienced rather than explained. I call it "the world's biggest glass house" because there's no one here throwing stones. No judgement, no stigma and no minimizing. 

Last week a patient asked me if I'd print up a picture of a '77 Pontiac Firebird for her to color because she had one when she was young. She saw me coloring a picture of an Abarth SImca, and it reminded her of her former car. I've done this with many patients over the years, and the ensuing conversations are always rapport building. I'm known for coloring old Euro cars, coloring/drawing are two of the few things people can do here because of the level of safety required. Over the years, many patients have told me that watching me color cars is calming for them and some have returned years later and told me that they still have a car picture that I'd colored and given to them. I usually color while I talk with people and when I finish the car I'm coloring I summarize the conversation we had on the back and give it to them. 

At work we begin with the understanding that we didn't ask to be mentally ill, and that we're not just willfully misbehaving. The patients come to understand that so long as they know they're working as hard as they can on their mental health, that the rest is forgivable. The understanding that we are all here figuring out the answers to the problems we didn't ask to have is written into our culture, as is the understanding that we have a responsibility to do our best to manage what we can. 

My own depression is crippling at times, and I'm medicated for it. I'm truly amazed that I've made it to middle-age, and middle-class. That I graduated from university and that I've kept the same job for many years is still amazing to me and I'm grateful every day for the support I have, both at home and at work. I thank my patients regularly for their part in keeping me well. 

we are everywhere!

[braaap]

thechadzone, I would liked to press that like-button a second time, but was limited to once only.

I've been to a daily mental health clinic recently to have a new adhd medication adjusted under control.

There I met some nice people, one psychiatry nurse among them who also has some mental health problem and was there as a patient.

I can only guess how hard the job must be without having own mental health problems, even more with them. But also quite "nice" an experience to be amongst like-minded people at times.

"Take care"!

[brachunky]

Sept 5, 2023 3:08:42 GMT thechadzone said:

Such a great thread here, I'm heartened to see it. Mental health is a big part of my life in part because I work full-time in a 35 bed secure psychiatric hospital in the US. Most of my patients are required to be here (at work now) for a minimum of 5 days because two doctors agreed that it would be best. Many wouldn't think that it's a fantastic job, but it really is. The level of humanity in places like this can only be experienced rather than explained. I call it "the world's biggest glass house" because there's no one here throwing stones. No judgement, no stigma and no minimizing. 

Last week a patient asked me if I'd print up a picture of a '77 Pontiac Firebird for her to color because she had one when she was young. She saw me coloring a picture of an Abarth SImca, and it reminded her of her former car. I've done this with many patients over the years, and the ensuing conversations are always rapport building. I'm known for coloring old Euro cars, coloring/drawing are two of the few things people can do here because of the level of safety required. Over the years, many patients have told me that watching me color cars is calming for them and some have returned years later and told me that they still have a car picture that I'd colored and given to them. I usually color while I talk with people and when I finish the car I'm coloring I summarize the conversation we had on the back and give it to them. 

At work we begin with the understanding that we didn't ask to be mentally ill, and that we're not just willfully misbehaving. The patients come to understand that so long as they know they're working as hard as they can on their mental health, that the rest is forgivable. The understanding that we are all here figuring out the answers to the problems we didn't ask to have is written into our culture, as is the understanding that we have a responsibility to do our best to manage what we can. 

My own depression is crippling at times, and I'm medicated for it. I'm truly amazed that I've made it to middle-age, and middle-class. That I graduated from university and that I've kept the same job for many years is still amazing to me and I'm grateful every day for the support I have, both at home and at work. I thank my patients regularly for their part in keeping me well. 

we are everywhere!

What a wonderful experience to share, thank you. You are clearly very committed to making a positive difference and it's fantastic that you are able to use your craft and love of cars to convey this. Well done indeed.

[MonzaPhil]

All of you out there, bloody talk to someone, anyone, if you are floundering.

If there isn't someone to talk to directly get on to a service, MyBlackDog, the NHS, your GP anything.

Lecture over, do as I say, not as I do, normal terms and conditions apply.

[brachunky]

Sept 20, 2023 18:19:24 GMT MonzaPhil said:

All of you out there, bloody talk to someone, anyone, if you are floundering.

If there isn't someone to talk to directly get on to a service, MyBlackDog, the NHS, your GP anything.

Lecture over, do as I say, not as I do, normal terms and conditions apply.

No affiliation but the work Andys Man Club are doing all over the country is really worthy of a look. In addition to the above, take a look:

andysmanclub.co.uk/

[MonzaPhil]

Maybe a bunch of links in the original post so its easy to find.

Thank you.

[brachunky]

Sept 21, 2023 10:06:42 GMT MonzaPhil said:

Maybe a bunch of links in the original post so its easy to find.

Thank you.

Good call! I will do that

[at200]

I'd like to recommend 2 books on anxiety and depression. Self Help for Your Nerves by Dr Claire Weekes is a bit dated to read but very comforting and has really helpful tips on anxiety and panic attacks. Stop Thinking Start Living by Richard Carlson is an easy to read cognitive therapy book that helps you to look at things more logically. Both can be bought cheaply second hand through Amazon or Abe Books. If you are ok with listening to stuff like meditation, Jon Kabbat Zinn has some useful relaxation exercises that can be calming and helpful.

It's really hard when logic goes out the window and you get swallowed up in a wave of anxiety and negativity, so best wishes to anyone dealing with it at the moment. Try to remember you won't always feel like this.