Getting de-funked
I try not to gripe very often so won't go on about my problems but I wondered what do people do when they just can't get out of a slump??
Is there something you use as a go-to?
Walk? Bath? Music? Cry? Dance?
How do you look after yourself??
Comments
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A walk, listening to a podcast or music. I find a podcast distracts my mind better. Sometimes just getting outside can take the edge off a slump.
Some simple stretching exercises.
I sometimes have to FORCE myself to do these things but I never regret it and it often spurs me on to further small actions that make a difference.
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Do you have any podcast recommendations @Venetia?? Yeah I definitely find I have to force myself sometimes, as you say I never regret it but it can be so hard to do when you're feeling particularly slumpy! ❤️❤️
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It can feel impossible when you're in a slump. No motivation, no energy, can't imagine how it will make you feel better….I know. At the very least though, you rarely feel worse. And at least you tried. You may decide that doesn't work for you but at least you had a go!
Not saying this lightly, as at times I had to literally fling myself off the sofa and just start moving.
I listen to a mixture of crime and funny podcasts. With some history thrown in. Crime won't be everyone's cup of tea, obviously. Crime Junkie/Crime Weekly/My Favourite Murder are three that come to mind. Also No Such Thing as a Fish, from the writers of QI - this is my favourite.
It depends what you're interested in? Do you listen to any at the moment?
Have you had anything that worked for you in the past when you're on a low?
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Walks and watching re-runs of Law & Order SVU seem to help me.
Recently, I've been finding that driving to my favourite place alone which is a lake on top of mountain and just doing some really deep breaths up there and seeing all the natural beauty up helps too.
Those are some great crime podcast recs @Venetia, I've been watching some crime youtube channels for a while but haven't explored the podcast world of it yet, do you have a top favourite?
What sort of things help you @Biblioklept?0 -
It's so bloody helpful to know I'm not the only one. My mind is paying in all these cheques my body can't cash ATM. It's so frustrating. Have barely been out of the house from December. It's been driving me mad. But yes all I can do is keep my mind busy and bit by bit add things to my day when I can till I'm back out of this. But knowing others with your own disabilities feel the same is so helpful. I know it seems obvious but reading it makes me feel less alone
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Im completly burnt out been in bed since saturday alot if tears anxiety im trying to understand i cant help this is months of fight and flight id say since 2023 ive lived everyday in fear so ive allowed myself to literally bed rot i informed my daughter how im feeling and that im taking some days out shes very good and understands that i retret and its not personal so when im in a slump i isolate even more if thats possible but i dont talk to family i cry sleep cry sleep and hope it passes quickly
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So sorry to hear you feel this way @Catherine21 you have been through an incredible amount recently. We're going to pop you over an email in a while, please look out for it
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I know it's not the best idea especially when my health isn't too great, but I just like to have several drinks while watching a TV show I feel nostalgic about.
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Hope your health improves ross
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Think My Favourite Murder is at the top of my list - the two hosts are very funny and always make me smile. I look forward to the new weekly episodes arriving. Your heading to somewhere in nature sounds great - that's often recommended for improving mental health. I don't drive, but even getting to the local park can help.
Sorry to hear you're feeling so low @Catherine21. Big hugs to you (if hugs are ok with you)
@ricky1040 - it does help, doesn't it? It's easy to feel isolated when you have an illness or disabililty - connecting with others can give you a bit of a boost. I add bits to my day too - even if if it's a tiny thing - just that sense of accomplishment. It's so frustrating to have bags of motivation and no energy
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I'm falling apart too and haven't seen anyone since last Saturday. We had our first ever red alert for floods on Dec 27. There were mass evacuations and two people died. I was just recovering when a week later on Sunday (Jan 4) we went under red alert again for floods and again there were mass evacuations. These floods were from the Francis Storm. The international political situation also has me in a tizzy.
So my response to falling apart - which is the question here - if there are real stressors, deal with them if possible and do my mental health strategies. If there are no real stressors apart from the norm, I focus just on mental health strategies. To deal with the real current problems, I'm hunkering down on emergency preparedness plans. For mental health strategies I do much like you guys do here - hibernate as much as possible, listen to music, create art, meditation, talk only to safe people, soft movies, nature, kitty snuggling. Home hygiene and personal hygiene are particularly difficult when I get like this because I'm so overwhelmed that I get disoriented. And I know the more I let hygiene go, the worse the tailspin. So I try to be forgiving, but also try not to let hygiene be forgotten - a balance, you know. Nutrition is the same - that it's difficult but I try my best so as not to drown in poor nutrition. Food is my drug of choice, and I typically binge eat when freaking out, which, of course, like other drugs, can make the crisis worse. So I try my best to eat well.
Thanks for honesty here. It really matters.
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Thanks Catherine, I hope things improve for you too. I'm currently waiting for an ADHD assessment, I'm very nervous as a diagnosis could really turn my life around for the better, whereas if I don't get diagnosed with it then that's it I'm just going to keep really struggling for the rest of my life.
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For everyone what works for them will be different @Biblioklept - I think one of the main themes here is 'distraction,' which is a very useful tool, & I agree with trying those small steps - you might not get there, but tomorrow is another day.
Exercise, even if considered simple, of course I'd always advocate, but it can be as simple as anything from getting up & walking more frequently in your home to going outside.
What has been found is that usually engaging with a several modalities the better helps, e,g. I use diaphragmatic breathing, which is my mainstay, & which you've mentioned on another thread;, exercise, just sometimes only a few simple stretches to walking my son's dog a little; distraction (in my own case reading, or immersing myself in a documentary, film, etc), & sometimes just trying to simply enjoy the 'Zen' of washing dishes - my hands become warm, which is lovely, & I've accomplished something when this is done.
I think the important thing is to try, & not to feel in any shape or form that you've failed if you don't achieve this in any given day. Small things matter; those small steps overall in trying.
With apologies that the following link appears to be 'only' about 'chronic pain,' tho as I believe the mind & body are inextricability linked, I think it may be relevant:
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Ofcourse Thankyou
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I totally understand i hope you get an assessment soon
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I love what you say about failure, it's so easy for anyone to fall into the trap of thinking they've failed. I think combined with the binary (sometimes called "all-or-nothing" or "black-and-white") thinking nature common with neurodiversity it must be even more pronounced
I sometimes wonder if some of the most brilliant people think like this and that's what makes them so good?
My uncle (the rocket scientist) doubted his abilities and needed to be prompted to give his opinion on anything… I suspect that doubt was part of why he spent his life striving to become more learned
No more or less brilliant – my mum is the kindest person and spends most of her waking hours caring for people – but she always doubts herself, thinking she's not doing enough for people… She even once asked us if we thought she'd been neglecting my granny. This was one of the only times I'd ever been blunt and said "that's one of the most stupid things I've ever heard a person say" (which coming from me actually shocked her into realise how much she was doing). Again though I wonder if that's exactly why she's the lovely way she is??
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Oh that's alot real life crisis i can imagine how impacting that is indeed cant handle a knock on my door how are things going now
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Hi @Catherine21 ❤️ Thank you for checking in. I finally landed on my feet today and socialised for the first time since last Saturday. That's a really long time for me - 8 days. I've made a lot of progress working through deep issues and in my emergency planning. There's light at the end of the tunnel again. And you? How are you holding up? What about others? It seems a lot of us here are being hit by inner storms.
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Yea I think we just gotta do the best we can everyday. Some days that's very little others it's more. And the odd day is fun. And I get a good day. Winters always harder for me as I'm partially sighted and the darkness is a curse. Can't wait for spring summer.
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