Tasks that seem simple but aren't

For me it's going to the drugstore and the grocery store. Both enrage me. sometimes I have to leave without the stuff. I can't believe how difficult these can be. It seems simple. Go to store, pick up items pay and leave. I have an actual strategy on how I am going to successfully make it through the trip. I was wondering if anyone wanted to share tasks You struggle with that you feel shouldn't be that difficult.

Breathing. All day every day I catch myself holding my breath. I think it's anxiety related.

Showering. Even when I'm stable it seems like such a pain in the ***. I just don't want to do it. I do, of course, but definitely only every other day. I don't sweat much so I don't feel I need to every day, plus I have dry skin and showering too much aggregates it. Plus I just hate showering lol. But I love the feeling I have once I'm out and all dried off and dressed in clean clothes.

That is definitely important !

I make showering a game. I try to shower in three minutes sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don't!

Dear Bipolarchic, I have to LAUGH OUT LOUD IN UNDERSTANDING!!!!! My overwhelming bugaboo is not errands, though. It's housework, and just going about anything around my apartment; also keeping various "papers" in order and not losing them. Ha when I lose them, I 'LOST IT!"

Another thing that is a major bugaboo -- but I think this isn't due to bipolar, since a huge number of people deal with t his -- including my friend the banker's husband (who "flies into a rage," and my therapist!). It's trying to get things done on the internet, when something electronic is having problems. Like my phone, my alternate speakers, etc etc. These things have been going on for weeks. I have been MAJORLY IRRITABLE and sometimes ENRAGED by these things. They absolutely ruin my day, every time, and sometimes many days in a row since the representatives either (1) don't know what they are talking about; (2) give the wrong information; (3 ) talk in a screechy, extremely fast stream of words and don't stop for me to clarify what they are trying to say. Anyway, I'm always so glad when one of them is intelligent and gives me the info/instructions I need AND -- actually answers my question and gives the simple solution which is all I want. Most of them give a long lecture, and never get to the point. Do you think they are reading from a book and have done a word search for something in my question? That just occurred to me as a possibility. Anybody got ideas how we can cope with our enraging situations?

Anything that is paperwork related.
I just can't ever get myself to do it.

OMG I was thinking the same and I have plenty right now- important stuff! I asked my case manager to help me. That takes a huge load off my mind!

I've been having a really hard time making phone calls. I should of called my T last week. I also have to call my grandma and my attorney. Like weeks ago! I just get so anxious talking on the phone. When I talk I usually pace the room cuz it makes me so nervous.

Trying to decipher the true meaning of what women say.
Also, putting a fresh blanket cover on my blanket is always a chore that I struggle with and dread.

Well if you ever crack the code to understanding what women say, maybe one will help you with thr blanket cover. 😋😉😉

I don't know if you have heard this saying. I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure what you heard is not what I meant.

I have problems just going out in public and talking on the phone. I also have anxiety when I cook a meal, even when it's simply tossing stuff together. Controlling my anxiety is a daily chore for me.

And taking a shower...the house is always cold because my husband overheats easily from his MS. I hate freezing my butt off.

I'm a terrible procrastinator....if I can put something off I will....anything and everything. Our apartment is a mess....I'm working on the kitchen today...last week it was the bathroom, I'm trying to do one thing at a time and get this place looking ok. It overwhelmed me and I can't take it anymore. So housework is a big one for me

Going to the grocery store. It's not an anxiety thing. I just hate going. I put it off until I have nothing to eat.

How in the world do you take a 3 minute shower? I thought my brother's 15 minutes was good.
Yeah, leaving the house is just plain not simple for me.

Doing laundry and cleaning dishes. Oh, and vacuuming too.

Phone calls. Months can pass. Even if they're really important. Yeah, major anxiety.

Paperwork. Panic attacks even over the simplest of it.

Cooking. I used to really cook. All from scratch. Now it is just overwhelming.

Eye contact. I don't know if that counts as a task, but it is pretty much impossible.

Keep track. Pretty much of anything. Even it was JUST in my hand. In public I need to keep things ALWAYS in hand. If I set it down without retaining contact, chances of leaving it are ridiculously high. Not being able to keep track also applies to trying to compare, or looking at more than one thing at a time, especially if it involves numbers. (Was that number the amount of money? The number of hours? The date??!! What was the number again? Wait -- what am I trying to figure out??!) Keeping track of time, it probably goes without saying, is a lost cause.

There are many more, but those are the major ones that come to mind.

Small talk. (I just can't. Okay, it's summer, so it is hot. Your dog sucks. Nobody cares for what your brat said, it's not funny. Being five does not make him funny. Yeah, the bus schedules aren't super convenient. But it's 9th best place to live in Europe, according to this one survey. Stop acting we are downtown Alleppo and STOP WHINING NOW).

Paying bills on time. (because opening up my internet account and putting in the needed numbers is SOOOOO much hard work.)

Putting on make up without making myself look like a drag queen. (okay, I am an artist. Once I get a hold of brush, I just cannot stop. Plus, people don't dare to be mean to somebody with that face on. most of the time).

Going to work five days a week.

I struggle with everything, I have a total lack of incentive, I blame it on my meds since before I did everything well before it had to be done. I used to be a perfectionist, now I just care about anything.

I'm extremely aware of my breathing, gulping, yawning, holding my breath, it gets exhausting, sighing, so many ways of interrupted breaths. It's a sure physical sign that I'm anxious.

For me it's making phone calls. I have serious anxiety about talking to people on the phone. I don't know why. I don't have trouble talking to people in person!

Same thing for me. Everybody just thinks I don't want to talk to them.

taking my meds

"Normal" people don't understand this, but I'm the same way. I've had to get better at it since my husband (who'd sit on the phone with the cable company for hours if needed) hasn't been around to deal with phone calls. I HATE talking to people I don't know on the phone, hell, I don't even like to talk to the ones I do know. I'd much rather talk in person or text.

Other bugaboos are showering and fixing myself food. I hate cooking. My hubby used to fix me meals all the time, and I got spoiled. So now I don't eat until I absolutely have to, and even then I just grab something quick and easy. Could be why I've lost 31 pounds since he passed.