[MimiBhaduri0]

Originally Posted by Breaking Dawn

Very difficult.

(((Breaking Dawn)))
Life is very rough for me too, hanging in there still

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Breaking Dawn

God bless you, Buffy. You are a treasure. I wish others where you are weren't making it so hard for you. Thank goodness for your kitties, & our forums here. :grouphug: :hug:

I wish that myself. My kitties are my therapy.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Rosi700

I had a wonderful relaxed yesterday. Sometimes it is good to just let all plans go and try to enjoy the moment.

Today I have overslept and am OK with that. Have a feeling that this will be a good day as well! :)

I wish that I knew how to relax.

[Rose76]

This time is bad. I fell deep down. If I don't stop this, I won't have much of a Christmas. I don't want to do that to myself.

I keep saying I'll do better tomorrow. Then I don't.

[Rosi700]

Originally Posted by Buffy01

I wish that I knew how to relax.

Buffy, please go into youtube and google 'relaxation exercices'. It is impossible to be tense at the same time as you are relaxed (and the other way around).

Please choose to use the relaxation exercise you choose sevral times a day. That will give your body some "free moments" from tension.

[Rosi700]

Originally Posted by Rose76

This time is bad. I fell deep down. If I don't stop this, I won't have much of a Christmas. I don't want to do that to myself.

I keep saying I'll do better tomorrow. Then I don't.

Rose76, please stop to say that it can wait until tomorrow.


Instsead, try to convince yourself that you are able to preparing for Christmas for five minutes. (Use timer if necesary).

Another way is to decide to do three small things.

Please start. I am feeling the depression creeping in as well and have to find a way to deal with that (See my next post).

[Rosi700]

I feel that I am slipping into depression this morning. There have been warning signs that I have overlooked for the last days. (Going to bed late, don't get out of bed when the alarm rings, some sort of drowsy moving around, skipping meals, slow to start to do what I have decided and not to forget: seem to feel content with my slowness ).

I will hang up a warning. Stop and take care! After that I will do some "morning-things" before I go out to get my hair cut and to buy some groceries. I will even buy "ready to heat" dinners for today and tomorrow. In the evening, this day, I will make a to do list for three days and remind myself that I have to stick to my list.


To do lists with a lot of space to rest are the real things for me, in addition to fixed go to bed times and get out of bed times, fixed times for meals and when to prepare them.

[Breaking Dawn]

Things seem better at the moment.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Rosi700

Buffy, please go into youtube and google 'relaxation exercices'. It is impossible to be tense at the same time as you are relaxed (and the other way around).

Please choose to use the relaxation exercise you choose sevral times a day. That will give your body some "free moments" from tension. :throb:

Thank you for this information.

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by Rosi700

I feel that I am slipping into depression this morning. There have been warning signs that I have overlooked for the last days. (Going to bed late, don't get out of bed when the alarm rings, some sort of drowsy moving around, skipping meals, slow to start to do what I have decided and not to forget: seem to feel content with my slowness ).

I will hang up a warning. Stop and take care! After that I will do some "morning-things" before I go out to get my hair cut and to buy some groceries. I will even buy "ready to heat" dinners for today and tomorrow. In the evening, this day, I will make a to do list for three days and remind myself that I have to stick to my list.


To do lists with a lot of space to rest are the real things for me, in addition to fixed go to bed times and get out of bed times, fixed times for meals and when to prepare them.

Making a plan and sticking to it is the way to go. Even if the plan is not real ambitious. Just to fulfill some little plan is self-empowering. I need to do this.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Breaking Dawn;7282033:

Things seem better at the moment.

That is awesome. :grouphug: :hug:

[Rosi700]

Originally Posted by Rose76

Making a plan and sticking to it is the way to go. Even if the plan is not real ambitious. Just to fulfill some little plan is self-empowering. I need to do this.

Hope you don't mind that I post a link about planning. It has helped me. It is about to not fill the plan with so much that it is difficult to overcome. (If you don't like the link, just pretend that you have never seen it).

The Importance of Keeping a Routine During Stressful Times (verywellmind.com)

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by Rosi700

Hope you don't mind that I post a link about planning. It has helped me. It is about to not fill the plan with so much that it is difficult to overcome. (If you don't like the link, just pretend that you have never seen it).

The Importance of Keeping a Routine During Stressful Times (verywellmind.com)

Thank you for the link. I've read it and will re-read it. I don't think it's possible to manage depression without some planning and committing to a daily routine. I was starting to have more of a routine. Then I went completely off the rails, not even getting dressed yesterday. Not making a decent dinner for myself. I think you have to keep getting up. The timer method has helped me in the past. I just have to try. Thanks. I hope you are pushing through your depressive episode also.

[will19]

Not much today. I worked out a little this morning and plan to go on a one hour bike ride in a few minutes or so from now. I had something different for lunch. It was OK but I wouldn't have it again. It was ideal while on a budget.

I have two medical check-ups early tomorrow morning. Both check ups will be at the same place and same time. These two items have been a problem area for me. Lately, those check ups have been pretty good. I hope so this time. Having this coming up has put a damper on my spirits today.

[Rosi700]

Originally Posted by Rose76

I don't think it's possible to manage depression without some planning and committing to a daily routine. I was starting to have more of a routine. Then I went completely off the rails, not even getting dressed yesterday.

I agree! Depression can come sneaking upon us, because we little by little give space to "going without the routine". Just a relaxed day without a routine and so it starts slowly on a downward hill.

I read a really good book years ago written by a cognitive therapist. He tells us to work with our depression and keep a routine even after we feel recovered.

The clue is that when we stop to identify as having an underlying disorder, we also stop to take that disorder seriously because we want to feel cured.

He is very optimistic about having a good life with these underlying "depressive tendencies" as long as we keep a routine and use tools to identify when it seems like we are slipping into a depression again.

I can be a bit too much up as well. I will have to look out for both emotional states and try to be aware of triggers and how to use my personal tools to prevent poorer functioning.

To me the most crucial parts is when I have to deviate from my normal routines. I have found it helpful to make an extra plan for such occasions. I plan what cloths to wear and so on, when to leave home and I plan how to cope when home again as well - How to calm down after having had a good evening out with others and then how to get back into normal daily routine again.

This morning I feel optimistic about being able to walk the healthy way again! I jumped out of bed when the alarm went off and feel very eager to do the necessary work with myself.

[Yzen]

Difficult time having any energy right now. I put what I can into my job during the day, but want to escape, rest, sleep, and avoid everything. I've got to work on building energy again.

[Rosi700]

Originally Posted by Yzen

Difficult time having any energy right now. I put what I can into my job during the day, but want to escape, rest, sleep, and avoid everything. I've got to work on building energy again.

How do you "build energy"?

I take vitamins and try to do physical exercises. For me it helps to write down how often I do physical exercises and other healthy things like food-intake and sleep. I use two apps for that, Daylio and HabitBull.

When I can track important events during the days, I feel more relaxed with how much energy I can expect. My experience is that it takes me from 6 - 8 weeks to build enough energy if there has been weeks without gymnastics and so on. Lesser if the down part has not been so long, but we are all different of course.

[Breaking Dawn]

I have the low energy problem, too. For me, I think it's mostly from not getting enough sleep, which might also be why I feel depressed so much of the time. Well, circumstances, too. I try to say good things to myself, but that's effective for me only sometimes.

[Yzen]

Originally Posted by Rosi700

How do you "build energy"?

I take vitamins and try to do physical exercises. For me it helps to write down how often I do physical exercises and other healthy things like food-intake and sleep. I use two apps for that, Daylio and HabitBull.

When I can track important events during the days, I feel more relaxed with how much energy I can expect. My experience is that it takes me from 6 - 8 weeks to build enough energy if there has been weeks without gymnastics and so on. Lesser if the down part has not been so long, but we are all different of course.

I think I can build up energy by helping my body feel better. I haven't been using what energy I have to exercise, make good food choices, meditate, and other self-care activities. I'm in a cycle of coping and making it through the day. That's not energizing.

[Rosi700]

Originally Posted by Breaking Dawn

I have the low energy problem, too. For me, I think it's mostly from not getting enough sleep, which might also be why I feel depressed so much of the time. Well, circumstances, too. I try to say good things to myself, but that's effective for me only sometimes.

You are so clever, saying good things to yourself!