Bumps in the road to recovery *Hunterwayit*

Take each thing on one at a time and don't let them all conqueor (SP?) you at once.  Take everythingslow and one day at a time, I know it is easy to say, but it isn't too hard to do either.

I don't knowwhat the cause of you feeling so down is, but if it is PTSD i have a great PTSD work book i can photocopy and send to you.  Don't worry, I'm not weird, offering ot mail you books and such, I mailed a photocopy of a book to someone else on the board several months ago, and I truly don't mind, even if it's not ptsd you have, this book has some great tips and such for getting yourself mentally and emotionally back on track and ways to live step by step, please let me know if it might be of some help to you.  I really don't mind!

and when I was going through a very very rough patch about a year ago, a client that knew of my situation came into my office one day when i had already left for the day and wrote on a sticky on my wall beside my computer monitor "This too shall pass"  and it is so true!

Hang in there!!

That is very nice of you to offer but first of all what is PTSD? hehe

So now my workout time is my designated 'worry time'. I am allowed to worry myself away while I'm there. Anything I worry about during the week, I try to push aside and save it for my 'worry time'.

When I am feeling down, perspective helps me considerably. I work with people who had head injuries, strokes and spinal cord injuries and I have quite a few friends with spinal cord injuries who are quadriplegics.  Just spending time with them and thinking about all the go through and also working as a therapist with some of them, REALLY helps me to put things in perspective and helps me to get out of a downtime. DH does this to an extent too.  When he is really down, he watches saving private ryan and it puts life back into perspective again.

Usually that works for me.. but not always. As of recent maybe the last 6 weeks, there has been a ton going on in my life and a lot of it really crappy. I have found that good friends go a long way to helping you get out of it and to support you and care for you. They can lend you an ear and bring a smile to your face and make you laugh again.  I try to surround myself with good people, and let the bad ones go. I also try to talk about it.  I will talk about almost anything, and with people I feel comfortable with will share a lot about myself, but if something is truly bothering me and building up.. I don't let it out.  this is one of my biggest issues I try to change about myself... is sharing the "tough stuff" 

Also, take time daily to do something “for you” can be anything.. go for a walk, watch a movie, have an icecream cone… whatever brings you happiness just be good to yourself.

Hunterwayit

That is very nice of you to offer but first of all what is PTSD? hehe

Post-traumatic stress disorder. =]

For me.... when I'm feeling really overhelmed - I take a nice, long walk with my dog. Works great, everytime.

If I'm working, and need to take a break - I take my lunch down by the Marina, and just sit and relax. I don't think about anything, justallow myself to calm.

jjsmom06

I have found that good friends go a long way to helping you get out of it and to support you and care for you. They can lend you an ear and bring a smile to your face and make you laugh again.  I try to surround myself with good people, and let the bad ones go. I also try to talk about it.

Yep, me too

I think you have to find whatever gives you comfort or relief and then make that part of your daily life. When I'm stressed, sitting and thinking is dangerous for me. I need to burn it off, so working out is my release. Sometimes if I'm feeling funky, I will try to think of what I would be doing if I wasn't feeling funky and go do that. Sort of "fake it till you make it" thinking, but it usually works. Sometimes escaping isn't the answer though and it's important to face and address what's causing the stress. It's hard sometimes to get quiet and think about where you want to be or what you want to change, but I do think that it's truly necessary sometimes.

My dad used to say "In order to change things, you have to change things..."

Which means you got rid of the old BF for the better, you've moved, etc etc....
It takes time for things to fall into place...
Concentrate on the positive outcomes your changes are going to make and you will get there...

Otherwise, talk to good friends, enjoy each day for what it has brought you and always always look for the positives in any situation...

When this doesn't work, me and the girls go our for margaritas.....

Horse riding lessons. I know it sounds crazy, but to me it's really like meditation. I get in such a "zone" that I am 100% in the immediate moment, thinking only about me and the horse and what we should be doing together. Everything else gets pushed away, and by the time the ride is over, whatever it was that was bothering me doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore.

You got a new horse recently, right? Ride, ride, ride, ride. It's great therapy. :) 

In my experience I have found that very simple, easy things help the most.

Make a list of what makes you happy with the little things included.  Make a list of what makes you sad, angry or not-in-control and consider how to avoid those situations or how to react with more positive outcomes.

When I find myself feeling very sad I go to a mirror and smile.  Truely smile with eyes crinkled up and everything.  The act of really smiling can actually make you feel better then you turn that into some motivation to do something from your "makes me happy list".

And like the song says from the "Mary Tyler Moore Show,"  "...You're gonna make it after all ..."

ll you need is the big floppy hat. I think we can trade trees for skyscrapers.

Hunterwayit

how would you guys deal with these down times?

I usually fire up a doob.  ;)

haha probe I like your style! 

Cita - Yeah that is the one thing that I have been doing it's great, exercise and pony therapy and sometimes when waiting for him to finish eating I go for a bush walk with the dog. One thing I have been doing heaps of is exercise and also s*xercise which is great for the body and soul hehe.