[czarina1984]

So I've haven't worked in a year because of all of this mess and I just feel like I have no real purpose anymore. And with my doctor making med changes every two weeks I have no consistency and I'm still rapid cycling. I am 28 and live in elderly/disabled housing and I think I am the youngest one here. I have nowhere I have to be and no ability to make a commitment when I'm a different person each day. I feel useless like there is no end to this. People have told me to volunteer which I try to do but I end up getting asked whats wrong or if I'm ok and it makes it really hard to go back to that more than once.
How have you dealt with the change of pace or not working because I have a hard time with seeing no future apart from this nothingness...

[Victoria'smom]

We completely simplified, I don't know what that means for you.

For us it meant:

Get rid of everything we were left with:
enough outfit's for a large load of laundry each,
bed (with one pair of sheets, a pillow and blanket),
kitchen stuff enough for a sink load (A pot, bread pan, skillet, and a
child's dish set for each, spachala, big spoon and knife set)
Bathroom stuff (4 towels,4 wash cloths, toothbrush, floss, toothpaste,
soap, toilet paper, wipes and a very small amount
of cleaning supplies) Enough for a load of towels and
sheets
2 -3 drawer sets: One for art stuff and one for kids toys
Washer & dryer
A car- If our area if you don't have one you're house bound
__________________________________________________________________________

getting rid of stress:

We accepted government assistance

bought food from the angel food boxes after they shut down and there was no alternative food we shopped 1x a month. except fora few odd and ends (I don't go then)
cooked and froze a week (or more) of food at a time.
_______________________________________
Explored and engaged past hobbies including finding solutions to former bad hobbies:
Parties replaced by comedy clubs, local band shows things like that.
Fighting replaced by mixed martial arts
Over planning replaced by PC, form making, home schooling, ect.
Issues with authorities turned into being a hell of a self advocate

hobbies that focus on basic needs or goal based: like learning how to cook better, gardening (even if it's just an herb garden)

using former skills in co-ops, community centers
________________________

treating ourselves better:
Bubble baths
getting medical help for everything we neglected because we were to busy or sick

a pet has been a wonderful addition to our family and can fill our day with her needs

[gayleggg]

And don't give up. Just because you haven't found a med combination that works doesn't mean you want. After a year of changing meds, I think I beginning to come out of my depression. I finally have hope. Keep the faith.

[A Red Panda]

I find picking a goal and working towards it helpful. It doesn't matter how big the goal is, or even how arbitrary... just a goal. And work towards it steadfastly, even when you want to quit and don't even see the point in having it as a goal.

So you live in an elderly/disabled home? Why not pick a goal to spend a bit of time, each day, (say, 20 mins? 10 mins?) with one of the elderly residents who don't seem to ever have visitors.

Or commit 20 minutes a day to physical exercise.

Each time one of those goals becomes a routine habit... then add in a new one. Pick things that can be done where you live.

Eventually, you'll find that you've got your day fairly full of things that you're doing to maintain those goals.

It might be frustrating, and you might have days that you don't do whatever goal you pick... but don't quit altogether. Go back to it the next day.

I volunteered on site with the art class and the crafts class when I lived in a home. It helped me feel more my age and gave me a purpose. I can relate. One good thing about the future is that it isn't set yet and tomorrow or a week from now it may look very different. I dealt with that feeling of despair by plodding along, celebrating my very small victories. I also gave myself time and permission to grieve the job and life I had lost. It is a huge loss and I am so sorry. This is what I did. I hope you find something that works for you.

In the end the art class volunteering turned into a paid teaching position and I never saw it coming. My future change shape before my eyes.