LymeNet Flash: Oops....did not think before speaking again

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » General Support » Oops....did not think before speaking again

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Topic: Oops....did not think before speaking again

Happy Camper
Member
Member # 8995

posted

I find that I have lost my ability to express myself in a soft manner since coming down with lyme disease.

For example: the other day a lady who was leading a class talked about the benefits of juicing carrots.

She was inexperienced. She did not know that she needed Organic Carrots from CA for the best taste.

And that keeping the carrots in the frigerator before juicing gave them a cool, sweet taste.

The carrot juice she made was really bad.

I took one taste expecting it to taste like the carrot juice I have had in the past.

IT was not good. I did this pooey thing and told her I wouldn't drink carrot juice again if my first taste would have been that day.

Wrong. This is not like me. That was pretty harsh and uncalled for.

I am an educator not a critic.

I am assuming this is a lyme thing since it started with the illness.

I have got to find a way to think before I speak.

And then to put things in a better way so I do not put the person on the defensive.

How have others that are more mature in this process dealt with this?

It is the same thing with what I call perspectives.

I usually will see a negative perspective in something.

This I am doing OK with. I give it time and reread the message to see if I get the same feeling about it.

Most of the time, I get a completely different take on it than I did the first time.

I also have learned to watch my words and be less judgemental because I can not trust my perspective.

I probably need to give an example, but it is time for me to veg out right now. I'm drained.

Posts: 89 | From AZ | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged |

seibertneurolyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 6416

posted

Oh boy. The negativity is a major problem for hubby -- I am generally an optimist and he is more pessimistic -- way worse than normal since Lyme. We argue about this all the time. And some days he really pushes all the wrong buttons and even though I am not sick I fly off the handle as well.

I honestly think the negativity thing is at least partly a result of low serotonin levels for hubby. Exercise sometimes helps with this as well -- endorphins I guess.

When I remember I try to just tell hubby his impulsive irritability is acting up and let it go at that. Hard to do sometimes though. That is a psych term I found in some Lyme journal article I think -- definitely one of hubby's symptoms.

Bea Seibert

Bea Seibert

Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged |

chroniccosmic
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 7789

posted

Happy Camper,

I struggle with this too. I was once a very mellow, easygoing, person who had many positive things to say.

Once lyme hit and the bottom dropped out of my life, I certainly lost perspective.

Many of my tactics are the basics that most of us employ. My anger and negativity can rise in seconds. I don't talk until I have my perspective. This usually involves me walking away, excusing myself for some reason. I actually make a get away plan before going to an event with the car keys in my pocket.

Since my health issues started, I spend more time alone. And I limit myself to quiet settings, outside, with 1 or 2 friends at someone's house. I don't get nearly as agitated.

If you ever watch Saturday Night Live, they have a character called Debbie Downer and my husband and I laugh about how I resemble her when I'm in that negative state.

Its frustrating but I feel it resolving with treatment. Learning how to manage my moods is my best strategy.

Hang in there.

Posts: 460 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2005 | IP: Logged |

Happy Camper
Member
Member # 8995

posted

HA! Perhaps I should have put Debbie Downer in the subject line. I will watch for her next time I watch Saturday Night Live.

I am back to keeping it simple. But, I most certainly will try to watch myself next time I am trying to be normal again.

It does seem to be more of a problem when there is a lot going on....several people, lights, movement, over doing it, more sounds, etc.

I wonder what the male title would be for a Debbie Downer?

I have a housekeeper that comes twice a month for two hours. I recently called the organization that provides her (free of charge to me) to ask for another person.

She was a Debbie Downer.

Back to possible names for the male side of things:

Donnie Downer?

Posts: 89 | From AZ | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged |

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