HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

When the Day Starts Off Bad

Support Forums
>
Depression
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/29/2011 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, Display here.

What do you do when the day starts off bad, i.e., you can't get out of bed, and you feel the day has gotten away from you? I had plans to go do some things today, but could not get up. Now it is 1pm and i feel it's too late to start.

I'm not good at having a "Plan B". I did some reading just now about depression, and am trying to come up with ways to "rescue" my day.

I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks. smilewinkgrin
Posted 10/29/2011 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Take a really nice shower or bath and have acup of coffee or tea, put on makeup and dress. It works for me 80% of the tuime.

Normally I make all appts errands for the am, only time I have energy and am not in pain. I was at Wally at 7:45 just to get it over with...oh and some fresh apple fritters-lol. Thhat's another idea is to promise yourself a treat, a coffee a book what ever...

I hope that helps
Have a great outing
Maggie
Posted 10/29/2011 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
thanks maggie.

i'm a guy, so i don't know if the makeup tip applies! smilewinkgrin

but i appreciate your feedback!
Posted 10/29/2011 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Your day isn't over. But I would recommend a walk or a run. It picks the energy up. But if your weather is like ours, it is hard. To be totally honest I still haven't gotten dressed. Did my housework in my pjs and had the passing thought of going back to bed today, but am fighting it. I don't do good with naps. Always feel worse afterwards.

Though the make up doesn't apply, the shower might help.

I hope that your day gets better. Try not to think about the beginning, and start fresh. Who knows you might think of something fun to do.

Best wishes to you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/29/2011 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
LOL display my apologies.

My HUSBAND also suffers bipolar and has bad days like us. His is shower and shave, even a little hair trim, and always can lure him out of the house with food-lol

Hope you make it out today.

Maggie
Posted 10/29/2011 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Maggie.

I did take a bath, shaved, and did my periodontal trays (don't ask). eyes

I also went for a short walk. Noticed other people returning home from their Saturday chores, which made me sad. I know at one time I was much more functional, and it makes me sad that I am not functioning well.

But I guess I just have to accept where I am, before I can make any changes.

I'm also starting to see the wisdom of being awake in the daytime. I have really gotten off schedule lately, sleeping in the daytime and then not being able to sleep at night. I have a chat room I visit late at night, which is fun, but the downside is then I don't cope well the next day.

Anyway, just some random thoughts. Thanks for listening.
Posted 10/29/2011 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,
I figured out recently that in our minds we are supposed to be up and out at a certain time and that we feel defeated if we are not. I didn't shower til 3 in the afternoon and I started to do a few things around the house. My husband is out and my son has a friend over so I decided hey good for me. I have jumped in when I can and I don't feel like I wasted the day at all. I think we feel like we have to be super productive to be among the living but in reality we don't.
The shower is a must because it does give you energy to do the next thing.Even if you are still in bed tell your legs to move and get to the shower. Take things in part acts.

There is a great book written by Dr.Lowe and it is put out by recovery Inc. written for people who struggle with anxiety and depression. They always say to tell yourself "Good for me" and pat yourself on the back with each thing that you do. Sounds corny but it really helps when you are stuck.

I hope that was helpful info.

cookie
Posted 10/29/2011 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks cookie, yes that is helpful.

Wow, the judgments I have on myself! I think that is part of what makes it so hard to get up in the morning. I shame myself for sleeping late, and that makes it really hard to want to get up and do anything.

And I think you are right about feeling we have to be super productive.

It IS progress for me to bathe and shave and get dressed. Good for me!
Posted 10/29/2011 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
I think we all tend to be too hard on ourselves. I find myself getting anxiety at a certain time of day if I haven't done anything. Though I often do things at night. But I have to remind myself the same thing. We don't have to be super productive everyday. So cut yourself some slack and be happy with what you have accomplished today. Good for you. And I must say good for me too!

Have a great evening.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/30/2011 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Americans especially...I think we don't feel like we have value unless we get alot done...there is great value in being still too, to sit on the porch and NOT do anything, watch the birds or neighbors or wind thru the trees...my husband is hyper, I lie on the couch reading a book and he says "Why don't we do something" and I saay "I AM doing something" ...

Kick back relax drink hot cocoa....I guarantee that those dirty dishes will still be there in the morning-lol.

Have a good one
Maggie
Posted 10/30/2011 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Well it is close to Halloween so the makeup idea might work anyway, especially if you go with a Gene Simmons or Paul Stanley (KISS) approach. If nothing else it might be good for a few laughs which never hurt. smilewinkgrin turn

Anyway we all have days when we would rather just bury ourselves under the blankets and stick a few pillows over our heads rather then get up and moving. IMHO when this happens on a day we know we need to get things done it is one of the few times we need to kick ourselves in the butt and get moving.

Force yourself to get up and as suggested take a nice shower and get dressed and then reward yourself in some way for getting moving. Maybe make a visit to a favorite coffee house and indulge a little (or keep some expensive really great coffee around the house for "special occasions). Really it does not matter what you reward yourself with or how, it is the fact that you reward yourself a bit that matters.

Myself, I hate getting up and moving any day. It is not due to being depressed but rather because of suffering from Chronic Pain and some of the meds I am on it makes it hard for me to sleep and once I do get to sleep I hate waking up and get moving. I end up rewarding myself every morning with having a hot pot of coffee ready to go and I keep my favorite chilled flavored creamers in the fridge and things look a bit brighter by the time I get that first cup down.
Posted 10/30/2011 11:08 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, coffee pot on auto so you wake up smelling coffee always make me feel better, Jim.

It's funny you mentioned expensive coffee...I just bought some yesterday because My husband and I steamed and waxed wood floors everywhere except bedrooms-talk about a kick in the butt session!!!

Enjoying my first cuppa now

Maggie
Posted 11/1/2011 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) JAMIE
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply