How do you keep your spirits up?
 

I'm having a bad day. I've had a headache nonstop since early yesterday and it's just dragging me down. Added in that I keep thinking about my work situation and lack of a paycheck I'm just down in the dumps today. For those of you who have been dealing with this for a while how do you keep from wallowing in depression?

I tell myself that I am striving for recovery and that I know I will do my best to get better. Today is the first day I truly started believing this and it is helping me. Just trying to stay positive, talking with friends and family, getting used to things again, helps me and I hope it will help you too. :hug:

:hug: back!

It is not easy
 

It easy to feel discouraged. I look at pcs as a journey, there are up days and there are down days but I do get better over time and this too will come to pass.

I also understand about the paycheque. I have been without a paycheque for over 2 years and it still amazes me I am still surviving. It is not your fault you can not work and worrying about it is making things worse.

The best thing you can do is to not worry, because stress makes things worse. I find meditation and relaxation tapes helps.

I also may take a little more medication, sleeping off a bad day is not so bad and you may wake up feeling better.

Try and think of something that my cheer you up, I like listening to the radio and the news, I feel like I am not missing out on so much if I know what is going on in the world.

Share your feelings with others who are supportive will help and I always seem to go this forum when I am feeling low. There is usually something inspirational here or just the feeling that you are not alone and you are not we are all right here with you through this journey.

Good Luck :hug:

Right now a nap sounds great. I shall do that. :hug: back!

Hi,

I have had days where I thought there was no way I could take one more breath. How I got through these times is changing as I adapt and understand what's happening, and as my symptoms wax and wane.

Panic, fear are terrible feeling especially when thinking is hard.

My strategies and tools:

-feed the soul. Do what feels good without irritating symptoms

-Xanax as needed I take just enough to calm me not enough to make me flakey

-ice packs for bad headache days and even just frustrating days. It calms me. I use frozen peas in gallon zip lock bags

-I discovered I like the weight of something on my head or body when I have headache/migraines or when I am stressed. My large down pillow on my head feels comforting. Cover all but my nose. Cotton quilts against my skin help too. Maybe it refocuses my sensory issues and calms me

-going from being 100% active and productive to next to nothing was extremely hard for me after my 100 day sleep. Thought I was going to lose my mind. My neuropsych (an amazing Dr.) encouraged me to get a hobby that would not bring out my symptoms. I used to make jewelry and started that again. I feel it has been amazing therapy for me to practice things that were very hard in the beginning and even now. I can walk away if my senses or mind is overstimulated. I have a sense of accomplishment and have a completed project I give away to others. Very therapeutic.

-sometimes I give in and cry. Let it out. Get mad. Say it's not fair. After a while those emotions have been cleaned out

-somedays I pack it in and take a sleeping pill.

-I reach out to others that know my anguish. The people here. Just to have someone understand when you think you are losing your mind can bring you back from that edge. I can't ever repay exact individuals here. All I can do is help others now and in the future

-I sent out an email to my large family and explained what life was like for me. Many just did not get it. I've received thank you comments for the email. People started to adapt around me. It's made life easier when people visit or I am with them.

-my husband is my rock. I am very fortunate and grateful for him. He struggles at times too but he goes to a counselor to work out what all this has done to him

-my pets. Two dogs and a cat. Pet therapy should not be overlooked. They bring out beautiful emotion in me

-reading is harddddd! I love looking at pictures or even funnies. I save them on my ipad and text them to fam and friends. LAughing helps tons.

-my choice to work at inner peacefulness, calmness, and non-judgmental outlook. Prior to the accident I had such an easy time keeping others calm and helping clarify communication. Confrontations were easy to de-escalate and get to the root of an issue. It's been a focus of mine for 15-16 years. My foundation is strong but I have been challenged with this accident and injuries. I have a hard time standing up for myself now. The image projected is not one of confidence anymore so I am a work in progress.

-good food. I love to eat but not overeat. Can't stand that feeling. I eat what I want and balance with fresh veggies and good protein. I'm not a candy, sweets person but I love the mister misty from Dairy Queen. I would love it without flavor too.

-music used to be on all the time in my life. I even used it in my classroom to elicit different emotions from my students. It's a life force for me that I miss very much. I am working on nature sounds that aren't too busy and will try acoustic guitar soon. I hope to get back to something

-reading used to be a nice calming activity too. I can't do that now

-crocheting beads on socks

-I used to woodwork very peaceful for mind

-now I stretch, not really yoga but will try eventually

-watching wildlife. I feed the squirrels. They love it. I watch them play, and the birds and geese

So now I am not even sure of the original question so I should stop now.

Peace and wellness,

Jace

Ah Socks, if it's any consolation, you're not alone, I'm having a bad day, too.
I exploded at my poor, dear child and just want to curl up in a dark corner and never come out.

It's hard, but at least we can come here and say that to people who understand.

Tonight, I'm going to soak in a warm tub. Tomorrow, I'm going to try - again - to get my stubborn GP to refer me to an anger management specialist.

Rest

There's a technique from CBT I found helpful, it isn't a cure but I wish I had learned it 10 years ago:

When you're depressed, and you're thinking "life sucks," you reframe it by saying: "my depression says my life sucks." You come up with an image of the thing, ideally a small black and white one, and attach the statement to that. The book I read suggests using a damp blanket over your face to represent depression.

What you do is externalize your state to something outside of yourself that is trying to convince you of things. You characterize it a bit. What it does is keep yourself from identifying with it, and helps you be able to be objective about addressing it.

Its sort of a habit, not something you can do once a day for 15 mins and cure yourself with.

Another example: if you're angry and you are thinking "I'm going to KILL that cat!" you might instead imagine a cursed, flaming sword with the voice of the blood god Khaine (I play D&D haha) and think "My anger/rage is saying I should kill my cat," and you'll sort of see that it isn't you that thinks X, it's an idea put forward by something you're externalizing from yourself. It loses a lot of power over you.