Hi Cep. Sorry you're struggling! And that I haven't been around PC as much as I used to. I'm still checking in regularly!

I sympathise with your post.

It isn't that we can't do the things that test us. It's that it is just very tough on us, all the time.

I recently remembered a book that had a big effect on me about fifteen years ago. One of the few self-help books that really works. (It's available as an e-book now for a few pounds).

It's called 'Hope and Self-Help for Your Nerves', by Dr Claire Weekes.

You can also find clips of her on Youtube.

She was one of the originators of the CBT idea.

She was a sufferer herself.

I'm about halfway through the book, and I'm really impressed! She has very interesting things to say about the 'exposure' model. In essence, she seems to think it can do more harm than good, as it adds to the stress.

If we're forcing ourselves to do things, and feel physically wretched afterwards, that is going to make us want to avoid the situation even more.

She has an ingenious (and gentle) alternative. It might be worth taking a look.

Big hugs.