[athena.agathon]

This is kind of a big problem for me, and I think a lot of people. I just wanted to start a conversation about this. Why is this such a problem for survivors? What are your particular struggles? What works for you?

I preface this with saying I'm not depressed at the moment, either, this is just a basic life skill I missed and have to consciously think about. Just brushing my teeth can be a struggle...not because I forget but because I think of it and then decide it's too much bother. Lately I've been frustrated because my skin is breaking out and after a week it finally occurred to me that I could go to the dermatologist rather than just being depressed because my face will not cooperate!

Then there's the subtle stuff, like how hard it is for me to leave the house and engage in pleasurable activities (work I get, community service I get, but just hanging out with my friends seems like a confusing use of time, even though I always end up enjoying it).

[Purple Heart]

Hi

For me I do a lot of journalling and meditation as a way to centre myself. Exerccise is also good such as walking or bicycle riding. I also talk to good friends that are non-shaming. I've been on the road to recovery for a quite a few years now so have some tools to cope when problems come up. Lastly listening to your inner self or inner child has helped me a lot and also allowing him to express his feelings.

[ScaryFrita]

I never thought I'd say this, but cleaning and acupuncture! LOL I find the cleaner my house is, the happier I am in it and the easier I can relax (although I never find time to relax anyways). WIth this is cage cleaning -- it's a non-stop job, and so is the poop. FOr some reason, though, it calms me. Give me time to think without going to deep, because once I start thinking too deeply I start thinking in circles and that's when I have difficulty sleeping.

The acupuncture helps balance almost everything -- my mood, my emotions, my physical pain, plus it gives me about an hour of absolute relaxation, which I'm finding is helping tremendously since I don't give that time to myself at home. There's just too much to do for me to be able to sit still for that long.

I think many people are so busy taking care of other people, problems and other aspects of life that they don't think they are a priority. I had that problem for a long time. Now I make sure I take time out for a foot soak, a bubble bath, acupuncture... I've never had problems with keeping clean, but put everything else on the backburner.

Which reminds me. I really need to find a doc to order an MRI for my knee...... and so the circle continues!!!

[shezbut]

What are my particular struggles??

Finding the will to live and accept myself. I can live for others, to please or help others, but if they're taken out of the picture I have no will to continue with life.

What works for me??

What gets me through the dark times is focusing on nature as much as possible. The beauty of the natural world brings me a sense of peacefulness.

[Crew]

Listening to calming music, buy a cheap guitar and strum on that. I did and it works wonders.

get a hand drum and drum out your anger.

Throw clay at walls or a board

plus the many other things people have told you already.

Peace and
Crew