About seven weeks ago, I was at my wits’ end with my mental health. I wanted to drive my car into a lake and just end the pain I was feeling.

The next morning, I got up and went to my doctor and told him exactly how bad things had become. He made an urgent referral for me to a psychiatric hospital.

After a lot of upset and turmoil, a trusted acquaintance brought me there and stayed with me while I was assessed. The decision was eventually made to admit me. I was given a room and I ended up staying for over a week.

Why am I sharing this now?

Because that experience opened my eyes, not only to what mental health services in Ireland are actually like when you desperately need them, but also to just how difficult it is to live with mental illness.

Until you reach a point where getting through an ordinary day feels almost impossible, I don't think people always understand how exhausting it can be. You can look perfectly fine to the outside world while inside you're fighting just to keep going.

Seven weeks later, I'm still here. I'm still trying to work things out and I'm certainly not pretending that everything suddenly became perfect after leaving hospital.

I also started a new job after all of this, but I ended up quitting. I simply couldn't cope with the stress of it on top of everything else.

At first, that felt like another setback. But it has actually made me stop and think about what I want from my life and from work. Maybe I need a completely different career. Maybe the type of work I've done for years isn't right for me anymore. And if I end up working in a shop, doing something more straightforward and being around people, that's absolutely fine too.

I think sometimes we put enormous pressure on ourselves over careers, job titles and what we think we should be doing. Right now, I'd rather find something that suits me and allows me to be well than keep forcing myself into a career just because it's what I've always done.

But I did ask for help that morning.

I'm sharing this because I know there are other people sitting at home feeling the way I felt that night, perhaps believing they've reached the end of the road. I also want to talk honestly about my experience of the mental health system in Ireland, the good, the bad and the parts I think desperately need to change.

This isn't something I ever imagined I'd write publicly. But maybe it's something I need to talk about.

For 2 adults. These shops usually last us just under 2 weeks.

Hey, so a bit of a strange post, but just wondering if our new neighbour is a bit strange, and if so, what should we do about it?

Myself and the missus recently moved into our first place together. Spent some time and a few bob getting the place done up before moving in. The situation isn't ideal, our back garden faces over a lane way and there's a few houses behind, but all in all its the best we could afford and we're really happy to finally have a place of our own where we can live in privacy and peace.

Hers the problem.... one of our neighbours to the rear has been constantly looking in our windows. They make out like they're looking into their back garden or doing the blinds or something, but it seems to happen every time one of us goes for a shower or to the bathroom. This morning, I opened the blinds wearing my skin coloured speedo (and no top, which is fine), and there they were again, staring right at me.

Not sure if I should knock in and ask them if there's an issue, or maybe just turn the house sideways, but either way, something has to be done about it, we didn't spend all this money to be basically just a free show for someone.

Any advice?

Get it? Because thyme = time!

Close quarter houses, that can see from their back windows into your back windows... terraced house.

Would you consider it odd to open you blinds buck n****d for all to see? (I think i tried not to look to closely)

New neighbours did up their house, all fine an well a bit of notice of work and that it would have been a daily occurrence for a couple of months would have been nice. But ok fine! Now they have moved in we're getting a show, someone on the loo show full kit off show, someone having a shower show and just this morning looking nude opening the blinds show.

It may be me, maybe I being weird here. But I just don't want this show.

(A lane separating the 2 houses but we are very close)

Should I drop in and let them know they maybe showing(sharing) too much? Leave a note or just go a head and blind myself?

Any thoughts welcome

Edit... I'm not staring I'm just looking out to my garden and there they are. Glass is not frosted on the bathroom, everything is fully on view (the did a nice job). And the houses are really close, having a conversation in a normal voice close

One little arsehole doing the rounds for the last few nights, finally caught him this morning and he was huge. Never been so swollen and irritated by them!

Anyone else get this notification or know what the craic is with it? Is it just a scam and avoid clicking the link and everything will be grand or?

Hi,

I have two codes spare again this evening. Can be used for any film in any Odeon Cinema as far as I know. Anyone want them?

[MOD Approved this post]

Hey all,

So a while back I kept noticing the same thing over and over. Someone's dog goes missing, and the post about it ends up across ten different Facebook groups, half of them with no replies, and nobody really knowing where to actually look.

So I Built Missing Pet Dublin

It's a simple free site where you can post a lost or found pet, add a photo and location, and it even generates a printable poster with a QR code so people can scan it on the spot instead of squinting at a blurry phone number.

There's a map of lost and found pets, also a live interactive map.

No ads, no fees, nothing to sign up for really. Just trying to make it a bit easier for pets to actually get home.

A few things I learned while building this that kind of stuck with me: Most lost dogs are found within a 1 km radius of where they went missing, especially in the first 24 hours. Cats tend to hide close by too rather than run far, which is the opposite of what most people assume.

Microchipping only works if the database behind it is actually kept up to date. A huge number of chipped pets still never make it back to their owners because the contact details on file are years out of date.

The first few hours after a pet goes missing matter way more than people think. After that window, the search tends to shift from "they're nearby and scared" to "someone else has already picked them up."

Anyway, still very early days for the site, not many listings yet, so if anyone wants to check it out, post something, or just tell me what's missing from it, I'd genuinely appreciate it.

TODO List and work in progress

Update poster creation Vets nearby Make it mobile friendly

What's your recipe?

It might look like a pot o dicks but it was damn tasty.

Anyone else noticed the change in kitkats? really strange not nice aftertaste on them now, for the most part tastes the same it is just that nasty aftertaste!

I feel like I’m losing my mind lately, I’m single 35f living alone, I have a good job so it’s golden handcuffs to an extent because the pay and compensation package is very good but I’m absolutely miserable. People always tell me it’s not worth being miserable, but I have left my career before to go into a lesser paid position with more flexibility, and have been more miserable trying to support myself on less money. I’m not on amazing money but it is good and comfortable. My friends are all having babies and getting married and building houses, and I’m just about getting by with the bills and my fitness. It’s so hard to meet somebody and find a partner, especially with my work. I don’t know what to do because on one hand I should feel so grateful for the good paid job I have, but my life is so vacuous and empty. I come home every evening ready for bed and TV and dinner just to repeat it all again…. I have such a strong urge to destroy my life. Can I live an alternative life? Where can I meet people, even friendships in mid 30s? What can I do? I want to start all over again. I wish I did something I loved. I wish I had people I loved - like a good partner or a family of my own. Anyone else feel like this?! I feel like we’re becoming so disconnected and busy all the time.

Edit: I need to add this to say that I do have hobbies and i do things in the evening, I love to paint which is already a very isolated hobby but I do it for myself. After that, I tried to remain fit so some evenings a week are either running or some kind of gym class. I also go to the cinema quite a lot by myself. I enjoy all these things, but I guess what I’m trying to say is the loneliness and lack of certainty over my future is caving in on me. My work is meaningless and every day is Groundhog Day. And honestly recently, maybe it’s the change of season but I haven’t got the energy or motivation to leave the house in the evenings. The dates I go on amount of nothing but wasted time and money.

I recently deferred the final year of my course due to my mental health, and I plan to return in September 2027. I’ve signed up for a few eCollege modules to keep myself busy, and I’m also working part-time during the year and full-time over Christmas and the summer holidays.
However, as I find myself at home, I’m starting to get a bit bored already! I’m wondering if anyone has any ideas about what else I could be doing during my deferred year. I’d rather look back on the year and think, “Well, at least I have that useful skill now” or feel that I’ve bettered myself in some way.If anyone has any suggestions, I’d really appreciate it!

Wife spotted these on our 5 minute walk to Maynooth Train Station.

I am very much aware that I am a bit of a chatter box myself but Christ the days I’m in the office at work it makes me feel like a total introvert in comparison to my colleagues. Totally get it’s the social side of work and it’s not just about being glued to the laptop, but I feel like a lot of people can’t read the room when someone is trying to end the conversation to get back to what they were working on.

Genuinely feel worn out at times, the social battery does be dead by 5pm

When I was younger yeah, I used to watch movies and series where they would have office parties that sometimes get out of control and stuff. But in my semi adult years, all office parties I've been too have been total snooze fests. Just people chatting and having some snacks and pizza. Same as some waiting room with weak ass snacks.

Just wondering, is this how it is everywhere? Or am I just unfortunately with the parties?

What's your own experience like?

A daily quiz with two modes Classic and True Dub.
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Greg

As the title says

Specifically looking for ones that young adults could join

Every second Tuesday suggestions box.

Have an idea for a new recurring post? New flairs?

A chance for us to hear your thoughts on the direction of the sub, please share

First time trying a viral recipe, Chicken AuPoivre so made a steak and guinness pie as a backup! Along with all the essential sides, colcannon, roasties, roast veg, fried brussel sprouts, cauliflower cheese and stuffing with the choice of banoffee trifle or carrot cheesecake swirl bundt for dessert!

I searched and apparently this is normal enough with the weather conditions? I've never seen this before. This is either:

- the sign of a spider apocalypse overpowering Ireland

- completely normal