|
Date Joined: July 8, 2011
Last Online: January 16, 2024 Birthday: April 13 Country: United States goodreads |
October 27, 2023
Back again! I'm mostly here to support my friend in her Lewiston RAK request (see the forums), but also looking for "something" I'd enjoy doing - my postcards? ATCs? what new things are being swapped?
My interest level in anything is in the negative, and I am terrified of the coming months of holidays, husband taking business trips, family visits, and more. It takes me quite awhile to recover from something as my mother-in-law visiting for the weekend, and fears of the future stresses make me shut down. Maybe something fun for the sake of fun is just what I need - probably in small doses to start, so I hope you will not fault me as I take it slow.
I think I also have some updating of this profile to do, but all in good time.
A clarification regarding holidays: itās okay to send holiday items if it is specifically a holiday swap. Otherwise, please no holiday items, seasonal ones are greatly preferred!
June 2, 2023
I am still alive! I am checking in hopes that someday or even someday soon, I will want to swap again - and wanted to explain my continued absence so I don't get flagged.
I have been unable to function or find interest in anything - including reading, swapping, art, friends, leaving the house and more. I have Complex PTSD from the continued emotional and psychological abuse and neglect I endured throughout my childhood.
As described below, I was finally diagnosed correctly in 2018, and I began to understand I do not have clinical depression and anxiety; I am depressed, anxious, etc, because these are symptoms of C-PTSD. Unfortunately, healing myself is just that, only something I can do, which I am having extremely difficulty in doing.
But, I actually signed on today to look at what some of the swaps are "about" - their subjects, themes, etc. Since I have problems with interests - I thought I might find ideas or inspiration from the swap prompts. My doctor wants me to use art therapy as much as possible and I have written a few poems. And my brain is telling me it wants to "art."
So we will see what happens next.
December 21, 2018
NOTE: I am taking a break from intense swapping starting in January of 2019. I am really feeling ābehindā in life, and need to refocus my priorities and spend more time on myself. I will join a few swaps here and there, but I'm not sure how active I will be in the future. I love Swap-Bot, but I need to keep my stress levels low so that I can take care of the most important thing in my life: myself!
October 29, 2018
My name is Erin. I am in my mid-thirties. I was previously very active on Swap-Bot, from 2011-2014, swapping ATCs, postcards, art and stationery supplies, fabric, and more. I hosted several PC and ATC swaps. When my husband, my two cats, and I moved to Florida in late 2013 (where we grew up) from Virginia/Washington DC, the depression and other mental illnesses Iād managed most of my life flared out of control.
Though I tried to occupy myself with buying a house and making it a home, I completely lost all creativity, as well as interest in anything (including swapping). My illness only worsened and grew more complicated through the years, and despite trying many doctors, therapies, and medications, nothing even took the edge off.
In May 2018, I finally found a duo of doctors that have the skills to help me progress towards happiness, peace, and renewed creativity! The talk-therapy sessions are longer than usual, extremely intense, and completely exhausting. But I am already seeing results: I am slowly trying to begin swapping again - both for the human connection as well as the art (my doctors are absolutely thrilled). I have not actually created anything yet, and that is frustrating, but the ideas keep coming, so I will keep trying.
Until this ordeal, I had been ācreatingā my entire life. Iāve written poetry, created 2-D art in a variety of mediums (including Zentangle), taken thousands of photographs (before phones had cameras), and experimented with a variety of 3-D crafts in paper and other mediums. My favorite was/is mixed media and collage, including ATCs, inchies, twinchies, paint chip bookmarks, albums/books, home decor, and more. In 2012-13, I started sewing and quilting all by hand, finishing many fabric projects, small bags, wall hangings and a completely handmade baby quilt. I love to do things with my hands without thinking - even during my illness, I made over a thousand origami paper cranes, hundreds of lucky stars, and even the favor envelopes for my brotherās wedding.
Right now, I am open to returning to any of those arts, and trying some new ones! My doctors have suggested that I focus less on verbal art and art that makes a statement, and more on non-verbal art done for fun. Finger painting and Play Doh or clay anything were suggested. Have any other ideas? Send it to me!
I also used to furiously swap postcards for my collection, numbering in the thousands (half blank/half written?). I was/am working on a collection of USA postcards with different state symbols, like the state bird, flag, map, flower, and picture of the state capital building. I hope soon to inventory my collection so I can post specific requests to continue this goal. I also want to create a similar world collection.
Current preferences: touristy (especially any that would fit into my state or world collections), as well as: any style art, from museums youāve visited, sports/stadiums, funny and/or cute, nature/flowers, animals, vintage linen postcards, and any of my other favorites listed.
Please send PCs naked (written on/stamped), with the date, your location, swap name, and at least your username. I really prefer 4ā x 6ā size postcards. Please DO NOT send any of my dislikes or ad/free cards. Unless itās really unique or would fit in my state postcard collection, please no Florida PCs - I have at least a thousand already!
Comments
I emailed you today just to check in, and I received your snail mail moments later! Thank you so much for thinking of me, and I greatly appreciate the delay! You are right - the world has moved on, and those in the trenches - it's just beginning. <3 All my love!!! Happy Thanksgiving - I am SO thankful and grateful for you! <3
Happy birthday, my dear lovey!!! I know I have been absent - I am working on that, and you will hear form me soon - I promise! BUT I could never forget your bday so I wanted to send you my love and good vibes!!
Thinking of you - I love you! <3 <3 <3
Happy birthday!!!!!!!!! Thinking of you xoxoxoxox
Thinking of you! I tried to email, but I did something to frig up my contacts, and I don't have your addy. Please shoot me an email, even if it's blank, so I can get your email addy back :) xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxo
Happy birthday, my dear, dear friend!!!!! A better email will be to you soon! I was without internet from Friday until just yesterday so my birthday message to you was far too brief, but I had to get caught up since I had an unintentional day off Friday. Nevertheless, I am thinking about you and sending you good bday vibes!!!!! Hugs hugs hugs hugs and love!
I'm bored AF today, but I think it's just my "let's get this shi(f)t over and vaca started" mentality . . .
Radin is going to be famous!!!! Here, Right Now. :) :) :) :)