[bfzeck]

Originally Posted by Hockey

Welcome to NT!

There are lots of folks here who understand exactly what you're talking about. In addition to offering sympathetic ears, many of them are very knowledgeable and will be able to give you practical advice about managing your conditions and dealing effectively with the clinicians who are supposed to be treating you. People here know it's a hard battle: they will cry with you, they will laugh with you - but they won't let you give up.

That said, I don't think it's necessarily bad to take very short, mini breaks. Like you, everyday of my calendar is filled with various therapy and doctor appointments. Inevitably, I do, on occasion, yearn for uninterrupted days to myself to do normal things like go on a family picnic or invite friends over for morning coffee or just not be poked and prodded by strangers in white coats.

When I feel overwhelmed by those feelings, I cancel my appointments for a few days and just enjoy the freedom. My clinicians don't mind as I continue my therapy regime at home, respect my limitations and take my meds. In fact, I'm two years out from my accident and my PT doesn't think I'd have stuck with treatment so long if I didn't give myself these little mental health breaks. As I said, they only last a few days and I always go back refreshed and ready to resume the fight.

Enjoy exploring the forum and if you need help navigating, just ask. (Although you might want to ask somebody more tech savy then me. Don't get me wrong, I'd be more than happy to give it my best shot - but heaven knows where we'd end up!)

Cheers

I really didn't know how to go about returning to the board to see if I have any replies. But in my email this morning I found an email with replies. Is that how it is done?

I really appreciate your words of support and know that it is ok to take a mini vacation but feel guilty and feel that I am relenting in my battle, even though I know that it is not so. I hate to use the word, depressed, as in a few days, I always hope to be me again. I retreat when there are just too many comittments and tasks to tackle.
My brain sometimes turns to mush and I can't handle it on top of dealing with the pain and unpredictable symptoms. I am lookinf forward to getting to know people here and finding out ways to help.