[Tucson]

I am in a very stressful situation where the stress is exquisite. I do not see this changing for the forseeable future. My hands are shaking, I am always exhausted, and the depression is quite substabtial at times. I do not know what to do. I think it is in part that I care too much and I worry an awlful lot. I am on an invreased dosage of Venlafaxine and now 900 mg of Lithium.

Do you have any ideas on how to cope?

Many thanks!

Tucson

[ComfortablyNumb5]

My stress has been causing extreme irritability and anger which makes me flip out on people for the smallest thing. I talked to my T about it the other day and she wants me to do breathing exercises and guided meditation again. Thing is sometimes I'm so far down the rabbit hole that I can't get into it at all. Other than that maybe a med change would help. Good luck and when you find a remedy that works please let me know lol.

[LifeInProgress]

twice weekly tai chi practice is helping me. Focus and attention on the form combined with physical activity. Moving meditation.

Hope you find relief.

[Moose72]

I used to feel this way a lot. What helped me was to divorce myself from the situation (living with my mom). I hope you feel better soon.

Listening to calming music, using lavender essential oil, guided meditations and if all else fails taking extra zyprexa.

I hope maybe some of that works or you find something that does.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Just want to add that tonight I downloaded tons of free apps that have everything from breathing techniques to guided sleep meditation. I'm looking forward to getting back into this again. So if it sounds like something you'd like to try and have a smart phone, search the App Store for "guided meditation".

[Wander]

Take regular times out to just breathe, slowly from the diaphragm, five slow intakes and five slow breathes out. Regular meditation of some sort will help too. Even 15 minutes a day. Find a method that works for you. The key is to slow your heart rate, blood pressure and slow release of adrenaline. Also try to eat well, exercise where possible and get enough sleep if possible. All this will strengthen your bodies ability to handle stress.

I'm sorry you are under so much pressure and are feeling depressed. It must be so hard. Do you have a T to talk things through?

[Ocean Swimmer]

Great ideas.
I make it a point to watch the sunset.
Play with my pets.

Originally Posted by Tucson

... I think it is in part that I care too much and I worry an awlful lot...

I very much relate to this. And it definitely pressurizes things.

While there are parts you don't have control over, there are things that you do (of course). And very likely among those are some that could be dialed back or even blown off. The things we put on ourselves.

It's very much like holidays. Some things that seem necessary or obligatorily a "given", really aren't upon closer examination. See if you can figure out what some of those are, and adjust accordingly. Don't confine your consideration to things "in the situation", but to everyday life as well.

Coping skills are very useful of course, but simplfying can be a big help too.

Good luck, Tucson!

[JustJace2u]

I do Pilates once a week which helps at least a little. My goal is to work on getting some more coping skills in the new year.

I'm so sorry you are going through a stressful situation and cannot fix it or see a resolution in the foreseeable future. (((Hugs)))). That sounds like a very unpleasant situation to be in and my heart goes out to you.

My mother is a chronic worrier and so am I. Our medical Primary care physician says some people are just like this and prescribes Ativan which I do not find helpful and he encourages it to be used sparingly which does nothing for my tendency towards chronic near constant worrying. My PDOC says it's a mental health disorder and needs to be addressed through daily use of AP's and the like. He prescribed Klonopin to be used in extreme cases.

The only things that help me when very anxious is writing or talking about my feelings with someone I trust....warm baths when available can be soothing. Breathing exercises work sometime but like RX said, if I'm too far gone it's time for a Klonopin. I plan to REALLY learn how to meditate. The author Sam Harris who is a neuroscientist wrote a book about it and I plan to start reading it since I've read some of his other books and respect his expertise. It's not as easy as telling someone to just not worry but I did find that when I deeply understood at a cellular level that worry helps nothing and tends to make things worse overall it helped me to keep things in perspective *sometimes*

(((Hugs)))

[xRavenx]

I try to do breathing exercises/guided meditation before bed and after I take my nighttime pills, including a benzo for anxiety. It will only help to a point with extreme stress, but it's one way of taking care of yourself. Bubble baths or an extra shower can be soothing, a favorite scented candle or lotion, pamper yourself.

Also, one thing I got into recently that helps with stress is yoga. It really helps with controlling breathing, and it is one of the only things I found that releases tension. If you aren't into yoga, then maybe some light stretches, or on youtube you can find progressive muscle relaxation, which combines meditation and releases tension. Every now and then, I'll splurge and get a massage. For me, it helps tremendously (especially with the physical symptoms caused by anxiety), but of course it's better to do other things to cope since it's expensive and can only be an occasional thing at best.

[luvyrself]

Originally Posted by Tucson

I am in a very stressful situation where the stress is exquisite. I do not see this changing for the forseeable future. My hands are shaking, I am always exhausted, and the depression is quite substabtial at times. I do not know what to do. I think it is in part that I care too much and I worry an awlful lot. I am on an invreased dosage of Venlafaxine and now 900 mg of Lithium.

Do you have any ideas on how to cope?

Many thanks!

Tucson

----response. I find exercise to be best for this, and i dont mean a casual walk. I do water aerobics at LA Fitness here in Phoenix. Distract yiurself. Dont engage w toxic people. Talk to someone you trust. Pamper yourself w inexpensive things you enjoy. Create projects. Come see me. Im in Phoenix!

[Tucson]

Originally Posted by luvyrself

----response. I find exercise to be best for this, and i dont mean a casual walk. I do water aerobics at LA Fitness here in Phoenix. Distract yiurself. Dont engage w toxic people. Talk to someone you trust. Pamper yourself w inexpensive things you enjoy. Create projects. Come see me. Im in Phoenix!

Visiting you sounds great. I am the full time caregiver for my mother who has severe dementia: hallucinations, delusions, and bouts of anger and violence. I cannot find respite care. Seeing my mother this way takes allot out of me as does my 24 hour seven day a week care. She was hitting me today.

I am thinking of having my daughter spell me for a day. I need to regenerate my energy and psychological wellbeing. I can separate myself from her by spending time out back on the patio. I can stop skipping her optional AP. I can start exersizing in some way. I am thinking of placement for my mother, but no facility wants her due to sundowning and violence. I currently have hospice helping me out through visitations to the home for specific services like bathing my mother.

I need to consider my mental health. I am about ready to lose it. My neighbor watches my mother for short errands like shopping. I pay her for this. She is turning out to be unreliable. This also stresses me out. Without mental stability, where will I be? Where would my mother be without me being able to cope? My emotions are on a roller oaster ride. I wish I can get off of this ride. I believe I have been functioning most of this year at a much higher level than that I should be able to expect from myself.

Tucson

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Yes I remember you take care of your mom. I thought you had some help for a minute? A professional co maybe? What you need is a vacation. Even if it's a hour long vacation to have a massage. In other words, you need to take care of your emotional well being and do you for once. Whether it's 20 min 3 x's a day or a fews days on a beach.

[Tucson]

I no longer have any help. Either they stopped sending someone due to the violence or there is no caregiver service near me. My daughter needs to spell me for a day. That would be very nice. It is going to take allot of motivation to exersize on a regular basis. I am going to have to look into meditatiin, but the distractions will make this difficult. Breathing exersizes are worth a try.

Tucson