general coping skills

I'm putting this here instead of in a disorder-specific forum because I'd like to hear from others who don't share my particular issue.

I'm having a horrible time emotionally right now and it feels physically bad. If there were a way to quantify "feeling crazy" I would, but all I can think is, "this isn't normal. Normal people don't feel like this." It feels so distressing that I start fantasizing about ways to fix it that would get me locked up for sure if I expressed them to a shrink (or even just a normal, regular person).

I've been going to bed when I get home (4 pm!) lately just because I figure if I'm unconscious, I can't feel it for awhile. (The really bad thing about that is -- I often manage to sleep straight through to 6:30 the next morning!) I don't always manage to fall asleep, though.

So, if you ever get this bad, how do you cope? How do you turn your brain off? My coping skills are about gone. (If you have any tips for surviving med changes until you find something that works, pass those on too!) I'm still managing to show up for work, but then I just sit there and stare into space for 8 hours and think about how horrible I feel and how much I wish it would just go away already.

I see pdoc Tuesday, but am hoping somebody with some real-world knowledge of this stuff will have some ideas. I feel like I just want to jump out of my skin and it stinks.



Candy

If this is due to a med change, then the best I can offer you is to remind yourself that this isn't you, it's the medicine. Write it on a notepad... put it on stickies. I often have weird reactions to meds, and that sounds like I feel at the time. Try not to focus on how you are feeling, but allow yourself to feel weird and try to get something done that you need to.

I agree with Sky. If its meds that are causing this, it is not you. Something that helps me when I'm in the pits of despair is to try to get into gratitude. I make a list of things I'm grateful for. When I'm seeing what I have, instead of what I don't have, it becomes easier to cope. Its about focusing on the positive.

Did you read Juliana's post about the Cracked Pot? I loved that, because its analogy for all of us to find the good in what we consider to be our "faults". By you reaching out and asking for help, you're allowing others to help you, which helps us because we get to help. Does that make any sense? LOL.

It sounds like depression big time. I know when I'm depressed, I just want to sleep and not feel anything at all. I try to pamper myself on these days. I'll take a bath, or do my toes. Or call a girlfriend and go get a mocha.

I always try to think "this too shall pass, I won't feel like this forever".

Hang in there Candybear, and thanks for posting. =)

(((((((( Candy )))))))

You've got to give yourself time to get adjusted to the new meds. It's not you, it's the meds. See if you can get just one thing done at work. Focus what little energy you have getting something done there each day, and if you need to sleep the rest of the time, sleep. It's ok.

Please be good to yourself.

Hugs,

Jan

Candybear, I don't feel depressed but am having a real tough time with thoughts too right now. Its always different for me. Sometimes coming on here helps pass the time but lately I can't come here for some reason don't know, I have been watching old movies. That helps and I also got the Scrabble game and try to improve my brain. I really enjoy that. Haven't felt phoning anyone but if I do I am always surprised that I feel better.
Hang in there.

((((((((((((((((Candy)))))))))))))))))))

I'm sorry things are so rough for you right now And you know that if you ever need to talk to anyone i'm only a PM away. As for coping strategies .. well i mean they are going to be different for everyone depending on your interests. Do you have any hobbies that you like to do, or that you use to like? I like painting and playing piano so i often do those sorts of things when i need to take a break from myself. Or even if you just have a preference of music, if you can put that on and just focus on that more so then how you are feeling (I know it is difficult) and that can help to ease your mind a little bit. As for the going to bed early thing ... well maybe there are other things that you could do instead of sleeping. There are lots of stuff out there than can take you to "another place" that still involves you being awake! Do you like watching tv at all? Maybe there is a series out there that you can get into .. that can help pass some time and yet you don't have to concentrate too hard on it. I unfortunately don't really have any suggestions on meds as i don't have a lot of experience with them ... but just hang in there until you can talk to your doctors, and hopefully they will be able to help you more in that area.
You are such a good and strong person, you can do this.
Take good care,
Jacq

I use novels, lots and lots of "easy"/romance or teen or fantasy novels. I get lost in them for awhile.

((((((((((((( Candy ))))))))))))))))

Sounds like the meds aren't working for you the way they should right now. I hope they get it all straightened out and you start feeling better. Maybe you should even ask for an emergency appointment to get them adjusted now, or go to a clinic if your pdoc can't see you early. In the mean time, hang in there. You can always write to me if you want, but if you have low energy it might be easier to just post to all of us at once. Sometimes I'm there too. I'm debating about trying to go to work today or not. Have you ever been glad about starting to develop some physical illness because you didn't want to go to work anyway? I think I don't feel so good.

TC,
Rap

I have been sick as a dog this whole week. Missed two full days of work and am taking a half day off today. Meds got adjusted Tuesday, to my dismay, I think. But I feel so bad physically at this point that I can't focus on how I feel emotionally, so I couldn't tell you if they're working or not!

I get levels checked Wed. and see pdoc again week after next, but so far she seems to be the type to want to throw meds at everything instead of brainstorm solutions to problems that don't involve them. Don't get me wrong, I know they're a necessity for me, but I don't think they're the total answer, either. I've been medicated into oblivion before and that's no way to live either.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions of stuff to do to get my mind off it. If I could just get my mind off what I can and can't keep down at this point, I would give some of them a try.

Candy