Send 'smooth-sailing' sentiments to Spirit_Healer!

[tyme]

No way @Spirit_Healer ! Has it been 6 months already!?? 

That's amazing! Thank you for coming to share this special news with us. It means a lot to us. We've seen your ups and downs, and it's just so great to see you on your feet.

Proud of you.

[Dreamy]

@Spirit_Healer wow that's amazing, well done sweet. So proud of how far you have come ❤️. 

[tyme]

Have a great week ahead @Spirit_Healer ! Thinking of you and all those kiddos you inspire each day

[rav3n]

wow, you've hit the 6 months mark!! @Spirit_Healer SO HAPPY FOR YOU 💙

feeling very fortunate to have followed you on this journey so far.

[tyme]

How are you travelling @Spirit_Healer ?

Have you been doing much dancing?

[Spirit_Healer]

Hello @tyme ,

I have caught two colds over the past two months, so I have been feeling a little miserable and haven't had the usual voice strength for my work. I had been looking forward to dancing last night but didn't recover in time.

The kids have been difficult and defiant. At least it's not long until exams and the start of the 2026 academic year.

(I wrote a longer message that got deleted, too annoyed to rewrite it all now.)

[Spirit_Healer]

The day program I was going to attend was cancelled because too many participants withdrew. I could reenrol for 2026 but it's too hard to ask my workplace for my work hours to be rearranged again.

I had a scare on Friday night. I became angry at something inconsequential, went from 0 to 100 instantly. I excused myself and left the restaurant for a few minutes' walk. I am usually quite reasonable so this reaction was unlike me. I think this is part of PMDD, which I seem to be suffering for about ten days every month. I'm getting both physical and mood symptoms.

@tyme @rav3n @Dreamy @NightFury how are you?

[NightFury]

It sounds like you handled it well @Spirit_Healer in giving yourself some time and space to regulate. 

[rav3n]

oh sorry to hear the day program got cancelled! how long does the day programs usually go for? @Spirit_Healer 

10 days a month of both physical and mood symptoms sounds tough. are you getting an PMDD-specific support? also good on you for recognising your emotions and taking that break to cool down!! 

[Spirit_Healer]

Hey @rav3n !

It varies between programs, this one was a full day every week for ten weeks. I had arranged to have the day off for the rest of the year, and added an hour to the remaining four weekdays to keep my time fraction the same.

My clinical psychologist was the first to suggest that I have PMDD, early this year. I mentioned it to my old psychiatrist, and he said that a particular type of Oral Contraceptive Pill could help. But I'm reluctant because last time I took a hormonal pill (for endometriosis) I became depressed and needed to stop. I have also mentioned PMDD to my current psychiatrist, she is yet to do anything about it. It's been a real struggle, with the tension and irritability.

@tyme