posted
On those days that you have horrible days.. i'm wondering how in the world to not turn into a pity party, crying all the time, wanting to call someone just to have someone to talk to??
The days that I'm feeling fine.. I'm great.. but why on those days when things are just horrible, and scary and the pain is more than you can take.. what do you do to help yourself not to go to a dark place of depression.
I've had an entire week of just horrible days and felt like I was going to lose my mind and just had to keep pushing thru.. i've cried every day this week and that's really not me.
Please tell me what you do when your friends have grown tired of listening to you and are sick of hearing your story...and you're sick of hearing your OWN story...??
Please tell me what you do on these days to help break out of this funk??? Jesus helps me thru, but I would love to know something creative to do to get out of the funk?!! Thoughts???
MannaMe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33330
posted
We have learned to know someone we can call when the going gets tough, and she will pray. She prays for people who come to her for prayer.
Since she's not in our state, we call. By the time the call is over, we are feeling much better!
It may help to write encouraging / healing Bible verses and other encouraging words on index cards. Keep them with you and read over them out loud everyday, several times a day.
Listen to praise and worship music.
Write a list of things to be thankful for.
Posts: 2264 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2011
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aklnwlf
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5960
posted
This is what I do.......
Take a shower, get somewhat gussied up and head to the mall or a strip mall and do some retail therapy.
Even if I buy something inexpensive that isn't a necessity, it takes my mind off of things.
Then I take me out to a great lunch or dinner then hit Redbox and get a FUNNY movie or two.
Then I veg out on the couch with snacks and my movies.
I vary this according to my finances.
Hang in there!
-------------------- Do not take this as medical advice. This comment is based on opinion and personal experience only.
Alaska Lone Wolf Posts: 6170 | From Columbus, GA | Registered: Jul 2004
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Pocono Lyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5939
posted
Hi Smileynot. Do I know those times all too well!!!
First thing, change your screen name to Smiley YES.
I know that won't work. That was lame. Sorry.
My help comes from helping others during those times. That's if I'm able.
I am homebound so getting out only happens for appts..
I have to take a low dose of Xanax at times which helps me to cope.
My biggest help comes from Jesus. When I'm feeling well enough, I love to share anything I come across on the God Thought thread. I go looking for things.
When I'm not feeling well enough to post, I am so thankful for others' posts. Payne puts up the most beautiful pictures, there's a group of great people, and there are prayer requests that often put things in perspective for me.
Prime example is a little boy's struggle with cancer. His name is Gage.
It's so easy for us to dwell on ourselves. How can we NOT!? These blasted infections control us.
Some may have the argument that we have Lyme ---Lyme doesn't have us. It doesn't have my soul but it certainly takes control of the rest of me.
When Gage's struggle is there to read it takes focus off of me and my heart goes out to him.
God Thought. Try it - You'll like it. AND It works! I promise. All are invited.
-------------------- 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
9 But he said to me, �My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.� Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ�s power may rest on me. Posts: 1445 | From Poconos, PA | Registered: Jul 2004
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Rivendell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19922
posted
Well, when I feel bad, I have never had much luck in doing other things to feel better.
Sometimes I draw with colored pencil which can help, but sometimes I'm too sick and can't concentrate and so mess up the drawing, which makes me feel worse.
And getting together with others or going to the mall is out because I would be too sick to do those things, and money is low.
When I feel bad, inflammation is usually worse and causing the funk.
Inflammation affects how I feel and my mood, and I can get very depressed from this.
So, I increase green tea. Yep, about ten cups per day (decaf). Usually by the end of the day, I am starting to feel a little better. And the "funk" is going away.
I may have to keep this dosage going for a few more days, but each day it gets better.
I usually drink green tea regularly anyway, at a lower dosage. And also take knotweed, and fish oil for inflammation.
Eleuthero and rhodiola are really good for balancing my mood AND my immune system.
If it is herxing that is causing the problem, I stop the medicine/herb, wait a few days, and try again with a lower dosage.
My help comes from helping others during those times. That's if I'm able.
I am homebound so getting out only happens for appts..
I have to take a low dose of Xanax at times which helps me to cope.
My biggest help comes from Jesus. When I'm feeling well enough, I love to share anything I come across on the God Thought thread. I go looking for things.
When I'm not feeling well enough to post, I am so thankful for others' posts. Payne puts up the most beautiful pictures, there's a group of great people, and there are prayer requests that often put things in perspective for me.
Prime example is a little boy's struggle with cancer. His name is Gage.
It's so easy for us to dwell on ourselves. How can we NOT!? These blasted infections control us.
Some may have the argument that we have Lyme ---Lyme doesn't have us. It doesn't have my soul but it certainly takes control of the rest of me.
When Gage's struggle is there to read it takes focus off of me and my heart goes out to him.
God Thought. Try it - You'll like it. AND It works! I promise. All are invited.
- Amen! You can always call someone to cheer THEM up! Even if you don't feel like you can do it, you CAN!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I had 25 years undiagnosed Lyme. I'd say first off, I would always try to reduce my mysterious pain level in any way I could, even if it meant hanging my head over the bed to get the neck pain down. Whatever works to reduce discomfort, do it first.
Now that we know what's going on, that reduction work includes finding treatments that work for us and working with a good doctor.
Then, being in touch with people who do understand. We need that.
Personally, I think you have a right to cry if you're not feeling good. This is so stressful to go through!
Anything you can do to cheer yourself up, I'd say do it. That means anything you can handle, enjoy, that's part of who you are, even if you do it in modified form.
Example for me - I used to travel, so I started putting up calendar seasonal scenic pictures to "see" the world. I change them seasonly. I call it my room seasons. It really boosts my mood, instantly, to look into a beautiful picture and experience myself in that scene.
I would consider looking into the pictures as a form of intervention. So, any way you can do that is good - putting your focus on something or someone else. We all know what works for us the best.
Lastly, I kinda agree with Pocono about getting yourself a more positive screen name, as the one you have reinforces that you're not smiling. Even smiling can lift mood, and laughing does that even more.
Obviously you're not happy about what's going on, but maybe you could do some reflecting about what screen name would indicate the direction you want to go, rather than the one you're not happy with. Your option, obviously - these are just my thoughts.
Posts: 13117 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
When I have my bed days, things that help me is:
Sleep. Amazing how much an extra 6 hours can do to stop the neurotoxins from driving me crazy.
I take some ENO. Sounds crazy but it helps reduce the toxin load.
I look at travel magazines to remind myself I DO have SOMETHING to live for. To keep fighting for.
Find something you've always wanted to do or see, and keep a picture of it near you.
When you're feeling despair, pull that picture out and look at it.
Phoning people doesn't help me. No one in my life understands how much pain I am in. They can't get their minds around it. Phoning other people makes me feel more isolated.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
I didn't mean phoning someone to talk about Lyme or yourself. Talk about what is going on in THEIR lives. Call someone who just lost a loved one. Call someone who is ill.
Send cards to those who need cheering up. Come to Lymenet and cheer someone up!
But... to each his own.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
I jus go to bed...
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Pocono Lyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5939
posted
Greta I also find that phone conversations don't help. Most times it makes things worse.
For example: The only friend that stuck by me from the beginning had surgery. I really did feel badly for her yet I found myself feeling angry.
When she complained about being stuck in the house for two weeks and unable to drive during that time and having to depend on others to bring her groceries ...
I've been in that situation since Jan 2004! That's when I have to dig deep and remember when I was healthy and how that would've impacted me.
Even another Lyme victim can't understand fully what each other is going through as our symptoms can vary so so much.
Smiley - Another thing that I've done is to play a computer game. For long periods of time I would play Hidden Objects games.
Before I knew it, hours had passed. If I remember correctly, they were free at WildTangent.com It was a good diversion. We're here for you.
-------------------- 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
9 But he said to me, �My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.� Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ�s power may rest on me. Posts: 1445 | From Poconos, PA | Registered: Jul 2004
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Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
I make taking care of myself a ritual. I Don't want to talk with anyone either. But I treat myself well... Epsom baths with candles and a tall glass of lemon water... If I cry it's therapeutic... Then I curl up with a movie or good book...
The best thing I learned from Lymenet was to keep a calendar journal... You can see patterns, and then you know you only have a few days left... And then you see the really bad days are fewer and more good days in-between. It doesn't have to be elaborate... Just take that first day of a planner that has all the months laid out together... Bad days get blacked out. So so days circled. Good days are left blank. For me anyway, I was able to see, my bad days were at the end of the month into the beginning of the next month... Knowing this allowed me to prepare, not be surprised and know it would end.
And know your not alone.
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
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Pocono Lyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5939
posted
Good strategy Kudzuslipper. I've never been able to find a pattern but many do.
I hope you are feeling better Smiley.
I wonder if these cycles could be hormonal. Just a thought.
-------------------- 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
9 But he said to me, �My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.� Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ�s power may rest on me. Posts: 1445 | From Poconos, PA | Registered: Jul 2004
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