My PTSD, depression and anxiety are running ramped.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

Trying to handle some big issues right now and my mental issues are not helping.
I need my brain to work, stop crying, and get my mojo going.
Got 1 month to make everything right. How can I with the triple threat running ramped?

[Laffy Kat]

1. I have no idea if it will work, but sending positive vibes your way.

Hugs, too.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

2. Thank you.

[elleng]

3. Sending vibes, thoughts, and

[Lady Freedom Returns]

4. Thank you.

[vlyons]

5. Try some meditation

Sit in a quiet place and just focus on your breathing. Don't follow your thoughts. Don't visit the past, and don't invite the future. As thoughts arise, let them go, like clouds passing over the moon. Come back to focusing on your breathing. Do this for 20 minutes every day.

[irisblue]

6. Vlyons has a good idea.

And journaling helps me

[Lady Freedom Returns]

16. Been writing resumes.

And trying to get to a doctor. I'm having to type left handed. I'm right handed.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

11. Can't afford it.

Past of my worries. I can't go back to the streets.

[SHRED]

7. Try CBD oil

It's wonderful for this.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

9. Can't afford it.

Money is my biggest problems right now.
Got hurt on the job, then something like 2 weeks later got real sick.
Got into a right to work catch 22.
Scrambling to pick myself up.

[FirstLight]

8. I;m s sorry you are feeling triggered today

I have had a raw from crying day too. Hoping to take some melatonin and sleep to hit the reset button too.

I start anew job after 6 mos of disability in 2 days. My house is still a shambles and I am a single mom of teens (which means they only help when I freak out, lol)
I am so worried I am gonna fail or not be able to get my body to show up and work after being bedridden for months...

But tomorrow, I will attempt to rise up and get shit done...one corner of the house at a time, one task at a time... ugh...


Best of luck to us both we are all in this shit together!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

10. Thank you.

Good luck.

[Maraya1969]

14. Here is a good saying: Be kind and gentle with yourself.

Also I'd like to plug the group Recovery International. That is where I learned that saying. It is a great cognitive, free, self help group.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

22. Me, it's CODAC.

Feel sorry for my doc though, he's had to take up some meteorology. He watches the weather to know if I'm going to have an upcoming issue. My case manager always calls during real bad weather to check on me.

[FirstLight]

25. best advice ever...?

F-in' BREATHE!!!!!

it's how I go back to sleep @ 4am when my mind is running away with things I should be doing
like counting sheep...I did it when I put my toddler to bed...and would wake up sitting on the floor with my face in the mattress, lol

so yeah, it works

[Lady Freedom Returns]

27. Thank you.

Hardest thing at times. Like when I go on a crying marathon.
But it is the best advice.

[FirstLight]

37. believe me...I was cry-hiccuping today too...

the breathing when trying to calm down is so hard...It's like being a kid again and having those meltdowns... but we do it through life too I guess. It's part of being sensitive, emotional, etc... so feel what you feel, breathe, ground, move forward...next moment, next day, etc.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

38. Thank you.

[No Vested Interest]

41. I did Recovery International 50 years ago, when I was young like you.

Very good philosophy and good support for any age.
I second the recommend.

[mopinko]

12. guard your sleep.

if you dont sleep well, try to be more pro-active about that.
black out your windows, meditate at bedtime, nap if you need to.
melatonin, mentioned above is also good, and not expensive.

and check in often.
you got this.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

17. Sleeping is not a big problem.

It's making myself get up is the big problem. That and walking and seeing.
I'm just one hot mess.

[mopinko]

20. sometimes sleeping a lot means you are not sleeping well.

if getting up is hard, it is a sign that your sleep is not restful.

i'm a mess when my sleep is.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

24. Another post got me thinking.

May 22 is around the corner. I'm scared I'm about to loose my apartment.
These two things may be messing with me.

[jmbar2]

28. Do you have a GoFund me?

I'm sure folks here would kick in to help you over the hump. Happens a lot on Daily Kos.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

30. Yup.

Someone asked me for the information in the lounge.

[Maraya1969]

13. Last November when I found out my mom was accepted on Hospice, which

means they believe that she had less then 6 months to live I went into a big depression.

I went to a psychiatric hospital that does ECT and let me tell you it was a miracle! I literally felt relief after the first treatment, (though I think most people need more than one to feel relief).

I know a lot of people freak out about ECT but I did it because over the years I've met several people who did it and they all said it was wonderful.

Sending you positive vibes right now though.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

19. Thank you.

Think with May 22 around the corner may be part of this. All this bad around the date doesn't help.

[TexasBushwhacker]

52. How many ECT treatments did you get?

I'm considering it. Did you have to take antidepressants afterwards for maintenance?

[Maraya1969]

53. I had 11. And I was supposed to get a few more but something got messed up with getting

a ride to the place as you either have to be inpatient or have someone drive you.

I stopped most of my medications after but I'v now gone back on them because it seems like I'm having a relapse. Considering that it has been months since the treatment I think it is still a good idea and I know I can go back and have some more treatments when I want. I am still in the same situation with my mom slowly dying though and that is a really great big stressor for me.

I wanted to stay off the antidepressants but oh well...............

I still recommend that treatment.

[TexasBushwhacker]

54. Thanks

I was my mother's caregiver during her losing battle with cancer, so I feel your pain. She died 15 years ago and I've never been the same. I've been on so many meds I've lost count. I'm hoping ECT will help IF they will give it to me.

[TexasBushwhacker]

55. Is the driving restriction just the day of the treatment

or can you not drive for the duration of treatments? I guess 11 treatments took you about 4 weeks?

[Maraya1969]

56. The driving restriction is just for the day of the ECT and that's because they have to

put you to sleep. It's the same gig where you can't eat after 12am or so and also if you take Klonopin or anything like it you have to stop the day before as they could hinder you having a seizure, which is what you want.

I started at the end of Nov. and it went longer than 4 weeks because I had to cancel some appointments for lack of transportation. But I had about 5 of them as an inpatient.

[TexasBushwhacker]

57. Got it. Good to know n/t

[alittlelark]

15. I can fully relate........ I have a cure !!

At least a dramatic improvement

YouTube has some amazing music with healing solfeggio frequencies - I will sometimes play them as I sleep, more often as background during the day. You would have to play around with them and find out what works for you,

Here are a few suggestions.....

There are thousands and thousands of options..... explore and find what works for you !!!!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

18. I'm game.

I just need my mind and body to work.

[Pachamama]

21. The second one really resonates for me.....

Not sure why, but I was listening to wach of the three and that one made me feel calm.....

Maybe everyone is different....but thanks for posting LittleLark....

[Lady Freedom Returns]

23. I'll try it tonight.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

48. Wow ...

Tried that 3rd one last night!

Wow! Was able to get up today and felt like I really did sleep. Thanks!

[TygrBright]

26. Unplug. Give yourself a three-day holiday from news and the toobz.

Spend as much of it as you can outdoors in the sunshine. Take walks with friends. Go to a dog park and throw tennis balls.

Give yourself room to remember what really matters.

This will help. I know. Been there, done that.

Holding you in the Light.

warmly,
Bright

[Lady Freedom Returns]

29. If l could I would.

Barely able to walk right now. It feels like I'm walking on stilts. Thank goodness all the teenagers want to walk Trooper for me.

[wryter2000]

31. Probably the hardest thing for you to do

But, if you can manage, try to get some gentle exercise. A short walk in nice weather.

Wishing you the best.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

33. Thank you.

If all works out tomorrow I'll. Have my state income tax, it's small but I'm just Happy to get food in here,and someone donated to my go fund me so I can get a ride to FastMeds.
So I'll be getting some of a workout.

[highplainsdem]

32. The tips on this page might help:

https://www.debbieaugenthaler.com/toolbox-2/

[Lady Freedom Returns]

34. The butterfly hug!

They taught me that in anger management.
Thanks!

[Cha]

58. Mahalo, highplainsdem!

[EveHammond13]

35. I try to pacify my anxious brain by

giving it the "pacifier" it wants - calming repetitive tasks that re-center. For me this is vacuuming, folding towels, organizing sock drawers and playing a lot of mah jong on my phone. Also maybe 3mg melatonin tablet from Trader Joe's.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

36. That's why I'm here on DU.

Going from GD to the Lounge. Hunting down LOL Cats, any cartoons, funny stories,, anything I can. Even been trying to take Troopers pic. He doesn't like cameras.

[EveHammond13]

47. +1

[grantcart]

39. Turn off the TV. Create your own space. Take long walks

[Lady Freedom Returns]

40. TV off but walking is not in the cards right now.

[grantcart]

46. this will sound a little odd but if you have netflix I recommend watching

Jerry Seinfeld's "If your not in the obit, eat breakfast".


He profiles a number of well known people who are working and productive in their 90s and 100s.


That alone is quite inspiring as you are watching people, one is Carl Reiner, who are decades past "retirement" but get immense satisfaction out of each day by creating a structure and "just showing up".

Seinfeld has one particular bit of advice that I found very cogent and useful.

He said that when he wakes up he feels an enormous weight on him as he considers all of the things he has to do that day, which he admits isn't really THAT pressing because he is wealthy and could nothing and be fine.

He finds however that simply by standing up his mood changes. He is now in motion and even if it is just going to brush his teeth he is now getting things done and the day becomes more and more manageable and enjoyable.

I find that the best therapy for me is to leave a long list of things to do the night before. Some important and some trivial. As soon as I wake up I get up and start doing things (even things like "eat breakfast" and crossing them off the list.

It seems trivial and contrived but very quickly I find that I am crossing things off the list and getting things done.

Making a mental list is not enough. For some reason the physical act of crossing an item off the list has a positive impact. Good luck.

[randr]

42. CBD

[Lady Freedom Returns]

43. Sadly I can't afford it.

[mopinko]

44. are things blooming by you?

long walks might be hard, but maybe a short walk to where there are flowers?

[Lady Freedom Returns]

50. No, more desert around my part of Tucson.

And I do love my desert.
When the sun sets, it's magic.

[mopinko]

51. well

get out there and catch a couple sunsets.

[cpamomfromtexas]

45. I suffer too. I can share what I do.

Found xanax wasn’t for me.

I use the herb ashwaganda and stress decompress which is a blend on amazon. I also use herbs for sleep.

I am trying to learn to use positive words thoughts and learning meditation. Joe dispenza on youtube has some good videos as does Bruce Lipton.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

49. Going to have to check those videos out.

Thanks.

[Cha]

59. I hope you're better now, LFR!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

60. Trying.

Till I can get answers about why I can't walk normal, what is wrong with my right hand and why my eyes aren't working right. I'm going to be a mess.
Can't work, can't just go somewhere when I want to... it's nerve racking.

[Cha]

61. Awww..