Mental Health and the car enthusiast - help & support

I can 2nd the ‘Stop thinking start living’ book .

I found it very helpful & written in a way that I think everyone could understand .

👍

This……..

Thank you for the encouragement! It's a slow burn but we are making progress and already helping folk where we can  I think a little update on the Auto Distraction thread is needed!

It's a funny ol thing mental health. The amount of things which can trigger a bad bout of it seem to be so much more than the good times which can bring us out of it (if that makes any sense). For me being able to focus on building Auto Distraction even over the miserable Scottish winter months, has helped tremendously this year. Despite the challenges, being around like minded guys has been a proper blessing who are more than happy to have random car related stories and experiences to share.
In what seems to be a total contradiction, I for one have also been of late, really knocked back by current affairs and how family have almost been put into boxes as to which "side" they align themselves with and the popular notion that if I dare disagree or challenge you, I'm wrong and they are right. I bring this up as it really has been very depressing trying to deal with challenges like this.(think UK & USA politics & the middle eastern situation)

I guess we all have a bucket full of issues which may trigger a downward slide depending on where we are in life. It's up to all of us to have an open ear towards others and do the best we can to also help ourselves.

Yup, cars have that effect  Please let us know how you get on with the book & if you can, post a link to the download for others to have a look!

Cars have kept me sane since 1968 starting out with a £ 30 Austin A30.Tinkering and changing things, fabricating parts that don't exist till you make them is the total distraction needed to keep on the straight and level. Works for me and losing my first wife to the Big C threw a big spanner in the works of my life. Did i turn to drink or drugs / no i turned to the spanners and built a one off Vitara hot rod to get the heart ache out of my system well it never went away as i knew it couldnt but laying on the concrete outside fixing, making and modyfying got me through a dark period in my life. Wish it could be that simple for everyone but it is not and reading experiences through this excellent thread makes you realise never take anything for granted.

It's an anxious thing itself, selling stuff online with all the daft questions, what's yer best price mate, and all the nonsense that goes with it. My thoughts, for what it's worth are:
Choose the best selling route for the cars & parts. By that I mean Auto trader seems the best in terms of the more serious buyer and Facebook market place for selling it reasonably fast.
Marketplace can unfortunately also be the most likely platform to have to deal with idiots, dreamers and those who have watched too many Wheeler Dealer episodes. Having said this, it can be the place for shifting the cheaper cars along at minimum expense.
Ebay is ebay, worth it for a better reach but be wary of the fees.
Have patience!
Research your asking price to ensure it represents an attractive price by searching for what similar cars/items have sold for and watch out for the dodgy folk, rich & poor. A great fully descriptive advert with as much detail as you wish to share can inspire confidence amongst buyers too.

It can be daunting especially if selling online ain't your thing so understand your apprehension.
Good luck

Been down here in south wales 3 years now and still not made any friends. Virtual ones don't count if you've never met or spoken to them outside of Facebook apparently. I'm quite fine with that though as i'm not a people person at all.

Its been 2 years since i last got to a VW show and a good few months since i went to any car type show even though theres been a few local ones. I plan on going to things but on the day i can't muster the energy to actually go.

Depression is still kicking my ass, motivation to do anything is at an all time low and i've got no car projects to work on to keep me sane. A few bits still need sorting on my daily which I've got the parts for but haven't had the enthusiasm to get out and lie under it on a gravel drive to do.

Zebedee, yeah the Welsh don't seem big on retro/classic cars. I'm a thing of wonder, both in the pub and in the road I live in!

I'm in Banwen, Neath & Port Talbot, which may be a bit far for a "I'll just pop round for a chin wag"! But if you're passing one day, more than welcome to visit.

I own a unreliable Land Rover so could do with cheering up.