You provided a clear, if grim, report on the NHS. I am so sorry that you and many others are suffering due to the greed of a few.
I think I am at the point where I need to ask for some support. I haven't posted much in the last year and a half--- it has been a tumultuous time for me personally and I don't know quite how to explain it all. But so as not to bore you good people with details, here are some bullet points on the events that have happened to me since mid-2022:
1) Received an unexpected inheritance (nothing to celebrate b/c it was from my brother who died suddenly and too young. But it did open up doors. )
2) While out of town, met up with an old boyfriend from 1982-1983. We had always had tremendous chemistry and it was still there. My 26-year marriage had been deteriorating for years despite my efforts to get H to wake the F up.
3) Ended up moving out of my beloved Victorian era house (which I had spent over 30 years restoring.)
4) Bought a nearby small house. Former ex-BF moved across the country to live with me in it.
Intermission: Yes, I know this all sounds insane. But there were so many coincidences and weird things-- it just sort of happened like it was meant to and was almost unavoidable.
5) August 2023- retired from my job of 35 years. (I was burnt out. This is a good thing.)
6) Oct 2023--My 96 year old mother fell and ended up in a rehab center for two months so I spend a lot of time and energy with that.
7) Mom moved into an assisted living apartment which was 1/3 the size of her former apartment in a senior living complex. (the largest assisted living apt they had!) This required much downsizing of stuff. Some of this was 19th century family stuff. Not only was it logistically difficult, it has been emotionally fraught and the job still isn't done.
8) Former ex-BF is having emotional problems (depression, anxiety, panic attacks), plus he wiped out on his bike and wrecked his knee and apparently is allergic to all the lovely year-round pollen we have here. We are still good together but his emotional chaos is contagious. I can wall it off to some extent but that doesn't feel right. I am an INFP; we are wired to help people.
I miss my old house. We are very attached to one another. I miss seeing my 23 year old son as much as I would like (he won't meet former ex-BF and I get that, but it is still a problem bc we can't get people together.) BF's emotional chaos bleeds over onto me and I feel it as if it were mine. To be fair, he has been very supportive of me and my issues as well. Husband still lives in the house (which is still half mine) and we are cordial. I don't want to go back to him. I want to scream much of the time.
I am pretty good at thinking things through and solving problems, but my strength to do so is wearing very thin. Plus I cannot possibly control everything. I need a boost. So does the BF (David).
So if anyone can help me with this mess, I would be most grateful.
Sorry to be so verbose.
@ana You have a lot going on, and you are very brave.
I can sympathize to a certain extent since I too have not posted much lately, and I can understand what it's like to be in the eye of a storm and not see a way to improve things. I'm not sure if what I'm about to suggest will be helpful to you, but when I feel like I don't know what to do to make my circumstances better, I do two things.
The first is walking, preferably in nature, but any walking will do. Try a half hour a day. Sometimes moving forward physically makes one feel better, even as you don't quite know how to move forward in other ways.
The second thing I do is a techique popularized by The Sedona Method. It's been around for about 40 years but I discovered it about 10 years ago. It's a technique that shows you how to "release" things that are bothering you. Amazon sells books about Sedona and none are expensive. You can also Google or Wikipedia it. You ask yourself a set of questions and after repeating the set several times, the anguish surrounding the particular thing you're tackling diminishes. Sometimes you forget it altogether, even if for a short period of time. I often use it to help me fall asleep when my mind won't stop racing. It's hard do describe but if you end up doing it let me know. I know it has helped me.
You'll be in my thoughts during this trying time for you, and I know our beautiful community wishes you well.
I don't know if my thoughts are exactly racing.
I am simply frustrated that I know I used to be sharp and now the brain fog combined with fatigue and other things make it frustrating and it becomes incredibly annoying when people act as if I am stupid, when it's simply my body trying to heal from a virus and other things and the damage it caused.
At this point I need a jackpot win to pay some bills and reinstate a better balance of power. I don't think it will be fully balanced until my body mends a bit, and money does not buy happiness, but it does buy a vacation and good health insurance and comfort. Clearly it can also buy Supreme Court Justices, so there's that.
My husband lost his job today, we are 65 years old, and it will be tough for him to get another supervisor's job. Please pray for us. He pretty much was aged out. I love this forum and I thank you.
I hope he finds a new job. It's so hard when you hit 50 even. I don't go to church, but if you do, go there and ask for help.
@averylegacy Sigh. I am truly sorry your husband finds himself in this situation. A few years ago my husband left a job as a controller at 65, and DID find another position as a controller. Don't give up hope.
@averylegacy If he believes it was because of age, consider contacting the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Unless he had a position with mandatory retirement, firing someone at age 65 isn't a good look for any employer.
The process takes time but it might lead to a settlement. Also, the EEOC doesn't charge to file a complaint.
Or just contact them and get information. It can't hurt.
https://www.eeoc.gov/filing-charge-discrimination