West Ham Online

"Been through bad time lately with suffering with this. Dark thoughts as well. I know some posters on here suffer with this. Anyone come through the other side of this shit?

"A number of posters have been yellow carded and told to stay off this thread unless they have anything constructive to add.This is a thread that has been very useful to so many, for any other posters with scores to settle, argue on another thread. This thread is sacrosant.Thank you"

"Can only echo what Ted said 67. I have just found out that I can release some funds from an old pension when I hit the big 55 in June. Will certainly make things a little more comfortable for a while and that in itself has released a lot of worry. Funny how a few more pennies help eh! What's helped me in the last couple of months is I've started watching old feel good movies. Won't help everyone but it gets me away from reality for a couple of hours. Society is a funny one. Whilst I don't volunteer anymore I do deliver to people and it's always the old ladies who are lovely and the people who seem to treat you best and give a little tip are always the ones who can't really afford it themselves. I visit a disabled guy who hands me three quid, I try and turn it down but he insists. Mr and Mrs Cavendish - Barkley or whatever in their 6 bedroom mansion you are lucky to get a thank you!"

Well done 67 your doing a grand job volunteering and hopefully as I found you'll get that good feeling of having helped people !!! Wish you well mate and hopefully onwards and upwards.

"CBT has helped me realise when I am going wrong and how to fix it. I was put in emergency housing and there was only a microwave and my thinking was I dont have to get up for anything so was I downing 2 in 1 coffee for fun that was mid October 21 until a few weeks ago when my depression went down and then we started working on getting some structure in my life buts its easier said than done only this week have I got going to bed at 10ish and getting up a 7am and going to the gym 1pm one rather than 1am. I am one cup of tea in the morning the rest decaf Only in the last 2 weeks have I realise how much lack of sleep and caffeine sends me into tailspin of anxiety , obsessing over nothing and getting low mood ultra negative thoughts and back in to the depression I started working t as a volunteer in the Shelter (Charity for the homeless ) shop last Friday and Yesterday my shifts are 1pm to 5pm my shifts are 1pm to 5pm Tuesday and Friday, Its a laugh some of the shit people bring in"

"Caffeine free coke or Pepsi is nice actually. I've had to cut down as my bladder is the size of a babies, or that's what it seems, and I drink a lot of coffee and coke zero. Quit the booze three years ago. So when it's available I get the caffeine free coke and have recently tried Kenco caffeine free coffee which is ok to be fair. Mike is right with the anxiety causing sleep issues. I couldn't sleep naturally for two years. Just as I was dropping off I would have a loud bang or electrical spasm in my head which would jerk me awake. It was diagnosed as exploding head syndrome, although interestingly I saw an article the other day explaining exactly what I had. Was ion sleeping tablets for two years. Three days on one day off on which I couldn't sleep. Was exhausted and then one night without a pill I just dropped off. The syndrome got less and less and strangely I have been ok since , came off the tabs slowly and haven't had one in several years. Went as quick as it came. Weird! Tom if you want to vent just whomail me if you like."

"I am on caffeine free tea and instant coffee, although I still have a decent machine made coffee but not in the evening. There is caffeine free coke, but can't comment as don't drink fizzy drinks."

"I know I keep banging on about this but 67 has highlighted a major source of anxiety - simply a lack of sleep; you can't sleep because you're anxious and you're anxious because you can't sleep. There's a good chance that you're in a sort of ""midnight oil"" routine - a hangover from when you were younger - mine probably started by waiting up for ""pirate TV"" to start after the little white dot on the telly had done it's stuff; never happened, but staying up late seemed a very ""adult"" thing to do, so I kept at it. Then I discovered pubs, clubs & discos and a 40 year long routine was set. You need to retrain your body to prepare for a (good) night's sleep. No food or drink (except oh-so-boring water) in the 4 hours preceding the time you want to hit the sack, lower the lighting level where you are in that period if you can (to mimic sunset) and absolutely no electronics in the bedroom - and, yes, that includes your mobile phone. An alarm clock, if you must have one beside your bed, should have a red - not blue or green - display. If you have a ""night light"" option on your phone/TV/computer, activate that, too whilst using it in those pre-beddy-by-boes hours. No instant results, though - took me about 4 weeks...and then another 2 to realise I really was sleeping better."

"Like Mike (And Brooking bless him for it) Tom, WHO Mail."

"toms, whomail"

"Tom I am getting better but a lack of sleep and caffeine put me back to where I was. Cut caffeine down if you drink coke , tea or coffee"

Feeling consumed by anxiety at the moment. Hoping it'll pass but at the moment it's making every day feel a daunting prospect just to make it through.

"catching up with all the action and news here- what a great way to stay in touch and update. Ted F is a one man ""Channel 4 EMERGENCY!"" special - great to hear things are getting better for you best wishes to all"

"Spot on Chim , keep the faith Ted you’ve done so well mate can’t be easy x"

Nicely put Chim.

Well said Chim and very well put.

Lovely post chim !

well said Chim peace bro

well said Chim peace bro

"I've not been on here for a while and it is extremely heartening to see this thread shining like a beacon above the petty hatred that seems to drive WHO, in the main. Remember when you loved looking at this site because it was as funny as fuck? It seems a long time ago doesn't it? I think most of us have been moved mentally in one way or another due to Covid, lockdown, the cynical pickpocketing of our wealth by a corrupt government and all the 'normal' pain and hardship that flesh is heir to. I just wanted to say hello and wish you all peace. After all we've been pals of a sort for fifteen years or more. The best of luck to you all x"

Cheers 67 the prognosis of Ascities is not good but take each day as it comes now. That's great what you're doing getting fit and helping people as a volunteer forget the cnut that's up his own arse helping the homeless is far more important than that shit. Good luck with the Oxfam shop.

one iron 9:30 Wed Jan 25 Ask him to join us on WHO CBT this morning . We are working on my sleep and daily structure . I have an off peak gym membership for a gym a 2 minute walk away so I will do a 5am and 3 times a week and go from there. I worked as a volunteer in the kitchen giving free food to the homeless on Sunday I really enjoyed it but the volunteer manager was proper up his own arse and just working with the homeless for his own hero status he had no compassion for them whatsoever . I am waiting for a reference to come through to do some voluntary work in the OXFAM shop in Canterbury Ted you did the hard part by going on the wagon many drink themselves to death

Thanks lads as said before this thread is priceless !!!!

ted fenton 11:44 Wed Jan 25 I can recall days that the Black Lion where we used to put 3 litres into it! Those days are of course gone and you find other ways to enjoy and appreciate life so keep going forwards and get physically well to match your positive outlook.

Good news Ted.

That sounds positive Ted. Good to hear. Keep following the medics advice.

Just spent another 2 days in Colchester General to have fluid (Ascites) drained from my stomach they actually took just under 3 litres of fluid from me...I can now breath normally again !!! Thank you NHS