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OT - Mental Health Monday

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Monday. Are you already counting the days/hours 'til Friday and the start of the weekend?

I've been doing this waaaaay too much lately and it all boils down to one thing: King Pita being a PITA. We've been going through a major overhaul at work and, as the months go on, King Pita has become more and more of a PITA. The few with whom I trust to discuss all believe that KP is desperate to prove his worth by sticking his finger in every pie and his nose in everyone's work. Unfortunately, I hold out little hope that this overhaul will end with KP going elsewhere. He was such a PITA last week, sticking his nose into everything, causing extra work, irritating me like pure wool fabric on raw and rashy skin, that I lost my shizzit on Friday. I simply could NOT tolerate him in the last-minute 2pm meeting he scheduled - that we all know would exceed the scheduled 30 minute time - and played the Migraine Card. TBH, it wasn't too far from the truth as my head was pounding and my left eye was starting to twitch. And that 30 minute meeting? I was informed by Old Navy that it was 77 agonizing minutes long. Gads. 

Saturday morning, I was sitting outside with my slab of coffee (so strong it could wake the neighbors) and beating myself up over using "I have a migraine" to escape King Pita. For months, I've been trying to change my mindset over KP. Many, MANY months. Too damn many. I had never before failed to rearrange my thinking over other pitas. Why was I having such difficulty with KP? I felt like Queen Failure. 

And then I realized that maybe I had not failed. Come on. King Pita IS bloody annoying. Even DH, who has never met KP (but has heard him on Zoom and listened to the crap he pulls), can't stand him. The bottom line is that KP, no matter how "nice" he tries to be, is a King-sized.Pain.In.The.Arse. Let's face it: KP ain't going anywhere so... I had not technically failed. Instead of changing my mindset about KP, I need to change my approach and what I do to handle his epic obnoxiousness.

  1. KP is, in fact, a PITA. Period.Dot. Recognize the fact.
  2. With the exception of KP, I love my job. Sure, I could look for another, but I don't want to!
  3. Find a way to stop letting KP get under my skin that doesn't involve alcohol or meds.

After speaking with a friend who works with loud and annoying people on a daily basis, I found a cool (and free) app for my phone called Sleep Sounds. It can be used for sleep or mediation, or soothe the savage beast inside Aniki. Sleep Sounds has a nice variety of Sounds with a ton of things you can add on to them. For the last hour, I've been listening to Cafe which, for some reason, is reminiscent of background music in Charlie Brown. 

The Sounds:

  • Ocean
  • Forest
  • Rain
  • Night
  • Lake
  • Creek
  • Grassland
  • Cave
  • Farm
  • Fire
  • Waterfall
  • Uderwater
  • Desert
  • Train Journey
  • Air Travel
  • Cafe
  • Harmony
  • Hope For Bettter
  • Look Within

 

Add-ons: you can add MULTIPLE and adjust the volume of each add-on (some are Pro, which means purchase $):

  • Rain & Thunders
    • Light Rain
    • Heavy Rain
    • Thunder
    • Rain on Umbrella
    • Rain on Window
    • Snow
    • Rain on Roof
    • Rain on Tent
    • Rain on Puddle
  • Nature
    • Ocean
    • Lake
    • Creek
    • Forest
    • Wind Leaves
    • Wind
    • Waterfall
    • Drip
    • Underwater
    • Farm
    • Grassland
    • Fire
  • Animal
    • Bird
    • Bird2
    • Seagull
    • Frog
    • Frog2
    • Cricket
    • Cicada
    • Wolf (I had one howling undewater - lol)
    • Loon
    • Cat Purring ($)
    • Whale ($)
    • Owl ($)
  • Transport
    • Train
    • Car
    • Airplane
  • CIty & Instrument
    • Cafe
    • Crowd
    • Heartbeat
    • Construction Site
    • Lullaby
    • Dryer
    • Hair Dryer
    • Vaccum Cleaner
    • Fan
    • Clock ($)
    • Keyboard ($)
    • Wiper ($)
    • Cars Passing ($)
    • Wind CHime ($)
    • Meditation Bell ($)
    • Violin ($)
    • Harp ($)
    • Guzheng ($)
  • White Noise
    • White Noise
    • Brown Noise
    • Pink Noise
  • Meditation
    • Guitar
    • Piano
    • Flute

 

Fingers crossed this will help level me out. I've already had to deal with KP 3 times today and am, surprisingly, feeling pretty damn mellow! 

 

If you are thinking about hurting yourself, call a family member or friend or 911. Please call someone.  <3

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE

800-273-8255

Comments

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Sadly, no. KP is a higher level employee. And, as I posted on the PA/SV blog... Without going into too much detail, KP could play a couple of Discrimination cards if he was canned. Complaining about him would be detrimental to MY job. There is a teeny possbility he could be transferred elsewhere. There is also a possbility he could be promoted at some time. I'm hoping he will retire soon!

ESMOD's picture

ahhhhgggg.... it sucks that you have someone that you have to work with closely that is such a well.. PITA.  I would also look into noise canceling headphones.. maybe with bluetooth that could also hook up to your phone so you could listen to music etc.. or at the very least enjoy some silence without the booming voice.

We have a loud PITA in my office.. fortunately, I rarely have to deal with him.  

But... I do tend to grey rock and shoot daggers of death at people who participate in the meeting unnecessarily long and prolong our agony.. haha.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

ESMOD, the new app I downloaded can be used to "cancel" people's voices - it's a matter of finding which Sound works with a particular voice (or noise). What's nice is that I can have this playing at a low volume while I'm on a Zoom. When we have to go back into the office, I'll try keeping my phone in my pocket (or bra!) or have in a single earphone so I can continue listening to soothing sounds. 

Our Zoom meetings are No Camera - good thing because I'm sure I'd get caught making faces! *biggrin*

Cover1W's picture

I am not looking forward to the weekend b/c YSD will be here AGAIN.  This past weekend I worked pretty much all day Saturday, which I was expecting because it's my busy season, but was looking forward to some couch time and bad shows next weekend. then Sunday I was away running errands all day. Next weekend the housecleaner is coming and I'll hopefully meet up with friends but will still be home a lot more.  But you know what?  I'm gonig to open a bottle of bubbly next Satruday early eve and watch my bad shows anyway.  AND I decdided to get a new couch/sectional. I love my old 1960s couch, it was my parents when they married.  It's already been re-covered one time and needs it again. The cost of doing that is MORE than double just getting a new one. Since DH is so hard on furniture, I'm going to new. Which I'm going to look for in about 5 mintues.

I love those sleep sounds!  My old apartment was sooooooo quiet I couldn't sleep and I used those sounds every night. Sometimes still do if DH is up late or away.  I made several favorite mixes.

Breathe deep because nothing lasts forever.  XO

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Cover, what kind of bubbly?! 

I somtimes find it sad that new is cheaper than refurbishing old. We have a lovely concrete bench that's been gently "crumbling" for a few years. Until this year when the pieces really started breaking off. DH looked into the materials necessary to fix/reinforce and it costs damn near $200! A new bench costs $100. Last weekend, I took a little road trip and found a fancier style (listed as "Roman") of bench for $125. Fat Aniki was very flattered when the young man flirting with her gave a 10% discount, then asked for her phone number... *blush*

I am STILL listening to this Cafe Sound (and thinking of Charlie Brown). Just got off of a Zoom with KP and am calm. Funny thing: I thought I would dislike Cafe because it has a background of people talking (indistinguishable). That combined with the Charlie Brown piano music has me really chilled out! I just added on Ocean at a low volume: my head mentally lolled back and I have a stupid grin on my face. *biggrin*

DPW's picture

I'm surprised your company allows him to go on and on, regardless of anyone else's calendar. When I was in the corporate world, we had rules to meetings. Hard stops was one, for example. Using a parking lot for non agenda items that can be covered if there is free time at the end or moves to the next meeting was another. Sorry it goes on and on.

Me.... I'm done, baked, numb.... My work is so bad right now. I love my job, but don't love the current climate nor my staff right now. They are disappointing me big time. It's like everyone has gone crazy all at once. I really considered quitting my job last week (and like I said, I love my job) because it's just too much. I quit the corporate world in the big city for not-for-profit, small city and the stress is now worse.... I just feel like I never get a f'n break. Sorry, I'm whiny today....

Aniki-Moderator's picture

DPW, KP can practically/virtually "hold us prisoner" due to his job level. Most of us take pride in our jobs and bust our butts before/after KP meetings. The thing is, we produce despite KP. No one will recognize that we would be more productive without him.

Don't you dare apologize for whining on here, hon! We need to vent or we'll blow up.. Any of my blogs; any time. *give_rose*

cmd88's picture

Will try this out for sure. I have been going to therapy and that's been helping quite a bit but I also feel like I need to go more than once every couple of weeks. Especially lately with my Skid situation. Having a hard time just not blowing up, and then I think of a bunch of things that have bothered me that day and I just cannot sleep. So! I will try it out starting tonight. Thank you <3