I am living with some sort of chronic depression. As far as I have observed there is a link between regular meals, enough sleep and other factors. One of the most «depression feeding» factors is to allow myself to get sidetracked by intrusive thoughts.

I will try to make a habit of eating regularly, sleep regularly and try to make it a habit to ignore intrusive thoughts.

I'll start tomorrow (hopefully).

Are there others who feel the same way? If so, let us try to encourage each other on the road(s).

[Skeezyks]

Hello Singer47: The Skeezyks offers his best wishes for great success with you efforts. Please keep us apprized of your progress!

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Hello Singer47: The Skeezyks offers his best wishes for great success with you efforts. Please keep us apprized of your progress!

Thank you, Skeezyks! It is so good that someone was interested!

So far I will say that I have done, not excellent, but well enough. I have managed to eat every fourth hour (think it was healthy food).

I have been very tired and have had to sleep much, 9 or 10 hours last night.

The one problem I felt was most difficult to begin to make a habit of was ignoring intrusive thoughts. They kept repeating themselves, but I managed to not give into them.

My problem is that I get an idea and follow it often when I cannot. Let's say that I have decided to go for a walk, but right before I'm about to leave, I get the idea that perhaps I need to find out about this or that (may be about, as an example, a car I am going to buy in two years if I can afford it, or about a trip I want to take later). That can take me to the Internet and after using a lot of time on finding what I looked for, I feel tired and have to drop what I really wanted to do, in this case: the walk. After that I become sad, more depressed and full of self blame.

I hope that ignoring thoughts that drag me away from what I want to do and have to do in the here and now, will make weaker the urge to follow them, disappear and hopefully the intrusive thoughts will disappear as well.

Originally Posted by Singer47

The one problem I felt was most difficult to begin to make a habit of was ignoring intrusive thoughts. They kept repeating themselves, but I managed to not give into them.

My problem is that I get an idea and follow it often when I cannot.

Well, usually I'm able to use my personal tools to not let myself be side-traced by intrusive thoughts. For the time being I have been caught in a cold for several weeks after I had some weeks with a deepened depression because of a traumatic event before that. All in all this means that I have had to struggle more than usual for about three months.

Hope I have managed to make myself understandable.

I wold appreciate very much some kind words from people passing by here while I'm struggling to get back to normal, back to a level of functioning where I'm able to use my tools against intrusive thoughts as usual.

[Hopeofreedom]

I believe in you! Also I think your very strong for fighting your demons! 💜😄.. go Gurl!

I get distracted alot too, mine is from anxiety and avoidant behavior... Sigh 😣.

But your post has encouraged me! Thanks💖

[htoun]

I think everyone get distracted to some point or another. I lose time regularly.

Have you had any blood work done? I know I don't eat well when my vitamins and minerals are low. If you are already sick or depressed then not eating adds to the low vitamins and minerals making you feel worse. It's really a vicious circle. It's truly amazing how much better you feel when you aren't failing your blood test. Any way give it some thought

[hvert]

Originally Posted by Singer47

I hope that ignoring thoughts that drag me away from what I want to do and have to do in the here and now, will make weaker the urge to follow them, disappear and hopefully the intrusive thoughts will disappear as well.

That's a good idea, thank you. I struggle with the same scenario, I want to go outside to enjoy the beautiful day and do some yard work, but I thought I would check to see when my library books were due first... and here I am, thirty minutes later.

I hope you were able to eat some healthy food, take a walk, and get some good sleep today.

Thank you all for your answers. It is good to know that I'm not alone with this problem. I'm still struggling with regard to picking the right tools (known to me) to overcome this.

[htoun]

Hey Singer47 two questions

1 how are you?
2 Singer as in sewing machine?