Learning to Cope

I have had a rough few days, mostly from starting Latuda and bad dreams, but I am learning to cope. Meditation is becoming my go to drug of choice. lol. I feel as though I am having a dark night of the soul so to speak. But I am learning that not isolating and being around people I love is helping me. I am also learning to just accept the things I cannot change, (not from the AA slogan.) I am just learning that right now, I need to care for myself and let others around me cheer me up. It was a rough thanksgiving, but I am finally learning that sometimes you have to accept things how they are. Right now, it is hard for me to function, so I am asking for help, and also receiving love. I can't really give out love right now, so I am learning to receive. It's hard to give someone something you don't have. I am also trying to do things I enjoy, even when it feels like I'd rather sleep. Cold showers have helped me cope. (And coffee) Sometimes in the darkest times, we need God, others, and ourselves to pull us out. The Latuda is starting to help, I can feel it. But in the meantime I am forcing myself to stay up, even when I want to sleep. I am coping with pain and PTSD by grounding myself with positive energy, light, and meditation. I keep having this thought in my head, "Everything is going to be okay." I'm walking through this journey one step at a time. I also quit smoking tomorrow, so it will be rough and tough. But I will make it. I just need to keep coping and grounding myself. Anyone else have any more coping/grounding strategies you have learned over the years?

Thanks for sharing this. I've been struggling with this whole 'coping' thing. One of my biggest problems is I spend so much time and energy taking care of others that I tend to forget about myself. I've tried meditation but I haven't felt that I've been successful at it. I'm glad to hear that it helps you though

The Skeezyks spends a lot of time replying to posts here on PC. Most of the time, when I'm here, I'm listening to chant videos on YouTube. Sometimes I listen to them when I'm not on PC as well. I find them very soothing. In terms of meditation, I personally prefer the walking variety. Be kind to yourself, earthangel1... & try not to climb too many mountains all at once... slow-&-steady wins the race, as the saying goes...

Thank you so much! You give good advice. I am trying to help myself out. Sometimes it's hard.