[mrsbuttercup]

I know that depression usually gets the best of me, it takes tons of energy just to do the simplest tasks. So i am trying to remember that everyday the things I do, even daily things, are a challenge for me. Today I had a thought. I, at least here and maybe in my journal, am going to be proud of those little things I have accomplished today. I'm sure alot of you know what I'm talking about. Those days when I don't get out of bed until 1:00pm and the most I do that day is pour me a glass of soda. I am going to try to, even if it is in my head, give myself a pat on the back for those little things I am proud that I did today, Those things are one step forward to living a 'normal' (whatever that is) life.

For today, I am proud because I got out of bed at 9:00, took my kids to the library as well as returned some movies I rented for my daughter back (ON TIME, yay!), rented some natural beauty books for myself, went back home and made fried bologna sandwiches for my daughter, husband and brother, went swimming, did a load of laundry and started reading my new book. I am giving myself a pat on the back for doing all these things today, for not letting my depression get in the way of functioning for the day.

What are those little things your proud of???

[Gently1]

I can relate. It was such a difficult adjustment to accept that this illness blocks who you are, willpower is not an option and only by taking it one day at a time it is possible to heal.

I am now treating my depression like a chronic pain, this means I am pacing myself accordingly. Discovered my base line of activity was 4 hours, so I cut my activities in half, and have been adding 15 mins on the day each week. Even when I do not feel energised I attempt to meet my goal. Now is 2.5 hours. The theory is my adjusting slowly I will be exceeding my 4 hour in no time, and in this way controling the depression not having it control me. Flare - ups with chronic pain are not damaging but signal to the body to be more sensitive, so avoiding flare-ups helps the mind/body heal or cope to maximise the quality of life.

When I am feeling the return of energy, I continue to limit my outside activites, so that I do not trigger a flare-up, that sends me back in bed and in the pain of depression symptons.
I am now on day 7 of feeling like the medication is finally working,(after more than a year) and I do not want to set myself back by doing 7 months work in 7 days. Before I found pacing I did bring myself close to breakdown by overworking the "good" days.

I am also fluttering at www.flylady.net . On the days when it is too much to think, I just go to my morning list as start doing, without having to think, it works most days to jump starts the activties.

Glad you celebrated having a great day! Wish you many more.

[Yoda]

I have the same problem doing simple tasks. Some days I can do nothing. I try to accomplish at least three things each day. Today I went to the post office, took a shower and took my cat to the vet.

[feeling hopeless]

RE: the positive side How well I know what you are talking about. I also have a really hardtime getting out of bed in the morning, And sometime I just stay in bed all day. I have such a difficult time functioning. I just don't get much accomplished. I try to do a few things every day, but there is so much that needs to be done, that I can never get it all done. I think I'll try your method, giving myself a pat on the back for what I do accomplish and stop feeling so guilty all the time

[Rhiannonsmoon]

I'm proud that I made dinner now 4 nights in a row...haven't done the dishes though maybe DJ will do them because I have an absolute phobia of putting my hands in to stagnant or unclean water in the sink (DJ has a habit of letting them pile up till theres no plates left and I hate that! I love a clean sink, stove and fridge or I can't cook, it's an obsession I've had for about 16 months now and only about half a dozen times in that time, I just can't bring myself to do it even to get the cloth out; I'll open a new one rather than put my hands in dirty water.

[Elana05]

Hi all,

Yes, I can relate too. Thanks for your post mrsbuttercup.
Some days I have to push myself to do some dishes, scoop the litter box, try to tidy a few things around the house and drive to therapy and home. Even when I push myself to get some things done it sometimes doesn't feel like I haven't tried hard enough. And oh how I dislike that feeling. I am doing the best I can. I am very hard on myself.