Best wishes, Steph. It sounds like such an overwhelming and difficult situation. Don't forget to take at least a little time for self-care.

Congrats on your daughter’s wedding, Gud! Best wishes to her and her husband

I just need to get with it and hide any down or negative feelings

Uh, that doesn’t sound like a good idea

I just need to get with it and hide any down or negative feelings

Uh, that doesn’t sound like a good idea

Yeah, how about divorcing your psycho and abusive wife now that your kids are moving out?

Sending much resolution ~ma to house of Teppy's dad.

Gud, loved ones aren't supposed to get angry with you when you aren't feeling well. Period. You aren't stupid. People who get angry at you for being overwhelmed are heartless.

Gud, you are human and it is expected that you would both have and express feelings. If your wife wants a robot she should get on that.

I hope things are OK with the Steph family.

I’ve been kind of struggling lately. I think that during the lockdown this past year, I withdrew too much, and now it’s been too difficult for me to get back out in the world. It’s like my normal state of social anxiety has been amplified, and I’m afraid to get out of my apartment and do stuff.

I’ve also been frustrated with my photography lately; it feels like I’ve been stuck in a rut. I’ve plateaued, and also I don’t know write and talk about my photography in a meaningful way, which helps to feed my impostor syndrome.

But hey, here’s a photography class that’s right in my strike zone. Open to photographers of all experience levels. But it’s $840. But it could be exactly what I need to take my photography to the next level. But it could be useless to me, and just tell me stuff I already instinctively know. But spending all that money could be just the motivation I need to force myself to get out of the fucking and be social. But much like therapy, I’m only going to get any benefit out of it if I’m willing to put in the effort, which I’m not really good at doing with my therapy. But also, I’m just scared of human interaction.

I need to sleep on this.

I’m just scared of human interaction.

Yeah.

In three weeks, I start working in the office again, with other people around me. Don't wanna.

Hope all went well Teppy!!

I was on a boat all day and although it was cloudy and I wore sunscreen I think I got sunburnt on my face! (I was wearing long sleeves, so nowhere else hopefully)

Man, I hear you on all that, Scola. That class sounds really cool, though. And even if all you learn is things you already know that would validate those things and maybe boost your confidence? Unlikely to be a complete waste of time, I think, although it is a lot of time and money to invest. Sleeping on the decision seems reasonable.

Sending soothing vibes towards Ohio until we hear how all that went…

It turned out well — Dad agreed to give us the guns and wasn’t unduly angry. What we found out during the visit is that his hallucinations have been back for a while, and they’re really vivid and have continuity from day to day (he hallucinates that people are in his apartment).

Whenever we’ve talked to him on the phone, he’s more lucid than he’s been in years, AND he didn’t tell us the hallucinations were back, so we thought he was doing well. But also (and I realize how weird this sounds) he seems very mentally sound…except for the hallucinations. So we’re baffled.

We’ll be following up this week to make sure he makes an appointment with the geriatrician so this can get sorted out.

But the most important thing was to get Dad’s guns, which we did. They’re in my brother’s in-law’s gun safe now.

My bro is at my mom’s house, and I am exhausted and everything is sore, from my toes to my head. I’m not setting the alarm for tomorrow (though I will be working when I get up).