Stress Center Peer Support

You think you are making such great progress and wonderful strides forward and then out of nowhere, you are hit from behind. I'm not sure exactly why today is so hard but am feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. Heavy feeling in my heart. A deep sense of loss.
The more that the day is unfolding, I realize that this loss or grief I feel is for ME.
Who am I? Was I always about pleasing everyone else? Taking care of them? Yes!!
I'm taking this revelation and trying to move forward. What is it that makes ME happy?
ME feel fulfilled? I don't have all of the answers yet but maybe I can learn to embrace this new person as she emerges. Just good enough for herself. Just because..
Marcie

The best thing about bad days is that they don't last forever - there's always tomorrow on the horizon.

And if we didn't have bad days, we'd never appreciate good days.

Bad days don't last forever - honest. It may sound contrite, but they always pass. The best thing ( I think ) 1 can do is to train themselves to UNDER-REACTto such days. In other words, not to "oh no - here it comes" getting yourself all worked up. It's like emotional training. When you train yourself w/ this "under-reacting" they don't effect you as much & it doesn't last.

During these "bad days", be compassionate w/ yourself = pamper yourself + be gentle w/ yourself + take care of yourself + love yourself + do things that nourish & feed your soul & spirit in the most beautiful way + surround yourself w/ POSITIVE/FUN/HAPPY people + laugh laugh laugh. Examples may include the following:
1) a funny movie - laughter is the best medicine
2) a lunch w/ a girlfriend/trusted friend
3) a hot bubble bath - w/ some nice music = you taking care of you & doing for you
4) a nice telephone call w/ family or friends. Anxiety disorder & depression, along w/ all their awful symptoms, leaves us feeling totally depleted of will/oomph/enthusiasm/ mentally emotionally, physically, & spiritually. They also make us, w/o even realizing we do it, ISOLATE OURSELVES fr the world(family & friends). Don't let it - get out there. Call that friend or family member + have supper w/ those you love + cook a meal & invite friends over for supper & a movie + go bowling + shopping at the mall = <span class="ev_code_RED">INTERACT</span> w/ those in your life.
5) a pedicure + un-scheduled visit w/ your hairdresser. So often we do for others that we forget about ourselves. We've don't this "doing for others" for so long, we don't even know WHAT/HOW to do for ourselves. We ask, "what/how/why". Use that beautiful heart you do have & turn it inward - TOWARDS YOURSELF - for YOURSELF.
6) Go buy yourself something, a blouse/pair of jean/a bottle of perfume/cute pair of shoes - <span class="ev_code_RED">Yes, even if you don't need these things.</span>This is about you doing for yourself - loving yourself - taking care of yourself - YOU ARE WORTH IT.
7) Go to a movie + bookstore - getting busy w/ things that interest you.

I could go on & on & on, lol lol The point I am attempting to convey here is this: try to under-react to those "bad days" they always pass - its training - cause when you do train yourself w/ under-reacting - you get stronger & they don't last. Kind of like "ok, no big deal. I'm feeling a little less energetic today OR I'm feeling a little sad today. I am gonna take it easy on myself. I luv me & I'm gonna pamper myself -". Anxiety disorder & depression will both disort/exagerate all things you/your life/what & how you're feeling - they ill magnify them all. DON'T BELIEVE THEIR LIES. INstead,get intuned w/ you - so you trust you more than the lies they tell you. Take care of you - give yourself a little bit extra during these "bad days" - give yourself permission to have an off day - "today, I'm gonna take care of me" - positive positive positive.

Your friend,

LENORE