Okay, I'm listening to a new Pandora station that I just created, and it started with a Being Human ad, which, okay, fine, but now the whole background is Being Human wallpaper. I mean, it's in another window, so whatever, but weird.

Okay, I'm listening to a new Pandora station that I just created, and it started with a Being Human ad, which, okay, fine, but now the whole background is Being Human wallpaper. I mean, it's in another window, so whatever, but weird.

I find it really creepy when that kind of thing happens. I end up complaining to Daniel, but he rarely seems worried about it.

I broke up with KBD over email, and regret it not one whit. I generally prefer f2f, though.

For that person, in that circumstance, it was what you had to do. I remember it not being an easy decision for you, it was not a matter of not caring enough to face KBD.

WindSparrow, it really is wonderful to hear that you're doing better. Please let us know how we can support you.

Thanks. The love and support I get here already make things better. I'm going to say something by way of being honest rather than trying to pretend that everything is now rainbows and puppies for me. I had a bad time last night driving home from work. It was a 20 minute drive (most of the places I work, it's only 5-10 minutes, and there is traffic to pay attention to), lots of time to think, road noise too much from driving 55mph to hear the radio. Plus I had a lot of anxiety about this morning's follow-up appointment with my primary care nurse practitioner. I had a hard time stopping the ugly, angry thoughts. It was the worst since before I went into the hospital. I have plenty of cognitive behavioral skills, but the only weapon in my arsenal that is effective against this shit is thought stopping. And last night, those thoughts just kept coming back, like a T-1000 reforming after a shotgun blast. I ended up blasting the radio to an uncomfortably loud volume, and biting my lips. So, yeah, I'm taking suggestions, so I can be mentally prepared for next time I'm stuck like that.

WindSparrow, does "observe and describe" work for you? I find it very helpful.

WS, would an audiobook be more helpful in distracting you on longer trips than the radio?

WS, maybe make an audiotape of positive thoughts to play when the mental tape starts playing bad things?

leftover pizza for breakfast

Steph, I get totally freaked out too when one of my pets swallows something they shouldn't. (What's with the plastic, anyway, animals, how does that seem like food to you?) My ex had a Samoyed who would chomp anything foodlike we put in front of him, too, and Lord help you if you tried to take it away from him. Mike would stuff pills in the end of a stick of beef jerky and let Samson play mighty hunter with it. Maybe you could put the lump of peanut butter on the end of a stick of jerky; she could bite and swallow that.

I don't have many suggestions, unfortunately, Andi - I'm a ruminator, too, and I haven't really found alternatives yet. The only thing that works for me is finding distractions. The audiobook suggestion's a good one. I listen to podcasts on my iPod a lot, especially just before going to sleep. Here's hoping you have a better day today.

That's one reason I hate driving and running. I've heard people say that they love being alone with their thoughts. My thoughts and I do not need to be alone together for long periods, because my thoughts run to recriminations and regrets. Audiobooks from the library are all that keep me sane on long drives. NPR is good, as long as it's talking. Music without words is the same as silence to my brain.

First, WS, don't pretend there isn't a problem when there is. And don't apologize for having a problem. There's no shame there.

I've found mental exercises helpful sometimes to be a great distraction before bad thoughts start. For example (and you may prefer other directions), try to create as long a chain as possible of musicians who've worked together. For example, Whitney Houston dueted with Aretha Franklin ("It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be"). Aretha dueted with Elton John ("Through the Storm"). And Elton can send you in several directions. (Music Trivia: Name two ways to get from Elton to Stevie Wonder.)

Mike would stuff pills in the end of a stick of beef jerky and let Samson play mighty hunter with it. Maybe you could put the lump of peanut butter on the end of a stick of jerky; she could bite and swallow that.

Yeah, AFTER she ate the knife, I told The Boy about it, and he said, "I've started putting the pill in peanut butter on the end of a Milk Bone, so she can eat it all...did I not tell you?"

::facepalm::

She seems okay today, but she's so loopy all the time that it's hard to tell if she's acting weird(er).

I've heard people say that they love being alone with their thoughts.

I do...except when they're really bad ones. And I have never learned a good coping mechanism for that, so I look forward to reading other people's suggestions.