Mental Health Monday - What To Do When You Are Feeling Overwhelmed

Lately, I have been feeling overwhelmed all the time. I never used to notice before that often my anxiety and panic is really just me feeling overwhelmed and unprepared to deal with my emotions and what is going on around me. I decided to look on the internet to find some ways to deal with being overwhelmed and came across some great suggestions so I thought I'd share them with all of you.




1. TIRED
 - the more tired you are the worse it becomes - make sure you are getting enough rest and that you don't find yourself  over tired

2. LET GO
 - let go of everything you are thinking, back away and look at the big picture

3. MINIMIZE
 - look at what you can do to minimize what you have to do try to at least achieve the bare minimum if you do more than that it is a bonus

4. SELF CARE
 - make sure you are taking care of yourself and your personal needs

5. TRUST YOURSELF
 - only you know what you need and what you can do , trust in that

6. PRIORITIZE
 - be realistic and remember time

7. BE CREATIVE
 - problem solve creatively

8. FOCUS ON THE MOMENT
 - you can only do one thing at a time and you are only one person focus on each thing you are doing in that moment and then move onto the next

"Dream small dreams. If you make them too big, you get overwhelmed and you don't do anything. If you make small goals and accomplish them, it gives you the confidence to go on to higher goals."  John H. Johnson

http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/html/dealing_with_overwhelm.html

You can link up to the Monday Madness Blog Hop by visiting the Link-Up on the WordsInSync Blog.

Mental Health Monday

This past month I have really blown off therapy and DBT classses due to vacations and just being too tired. Now that fall is here and school is starting tomorrow I am hoping to set up a normal schedule. A normal daily routine that will have me attending therapy and classes routinely. I guess I am hiding from it a bit - it's getting personal now and is really making look deep inside as to why I do the things I do. Sometimes taking a real honest look inside like that really hurts. I've learned quite a lot from DBT already, I just need to keep remindindg myself that the more I go the more I will understand the principals behind it and learn the skills that I can then use when I need to regulate my emotions. My anxiety levels have been at an all-time high this past week and I am back to not sleeping. I am so frustrated. I recieved a response to my ODSP application  (Ontario Disability Support Program) and I was turned down. I have until October 2nd, 2011 to submit further documentation of my mental illness and appeal the decision.

You can join along with the Monday Maddness Blog Hop by visiting the WordsInSync blog.

Mental Health Monday On A Tuesday

This past month seems to have just flown by. I am still waiting for an appointment with mental health to have my medications changed and waiting is so frustrating. My dad has been home from the hospital for a month now and is getting worse each day. I have been so worried and so stressed my moods are changing like crazy. Happy one minute, intense sadness the next. Sometimes it is so hard to hide all this in front of the girls. Especially when I want to just hide alone somewhere. That's what I do when I get upset or stressed. I hide. I stop talking to people, I stop leaving the house, I even stop getting dressed. I just wish I could control the mood swings better. They change so quickly that they even take me by surprise.

Mental Health Monday

The past few weeks have been so overwhelming for me that I have noticed the depression and anxiety have worsened. I haven't been getting dressed, haven't been leaving the house, haven't even been blogging. This week I've finally decided enough is enough and I have taken many steps to getting things done ... regardless of how crappy I am feeling. I guess sometimes I just need to remind myself to take that extra step, to push myself a little harder. Sometimes I just get so caught up in how I am feeling that I let everything go and I back away from everything and everyone. Each day I need to make that added effort to not let the depression and anxiety win. I can beat this!

Mental Health Monday

I have been waiting almost three months for an appointment with the psychiatrist to have my medications looked at and changed. I got a phone call the other day cancelling my appointment with no idea of when it may possibly be rescheduled and am now back on a wait list to see her. It is so frustrating. The things that are causing my depression and anxiety to be worse are happening to me right now. If the meds need to be changed it needs to be now. Sometimes I get so frustrated with the mental health system. It can be so difficult to receive the help needed when it is needed. I am getting by and getting through my days but I know that with a med change I could be doing so much better. I could be coping effectively. So, so frustrated today.

Mental Health Monday

Lately it's as if I am running through every single emotion I can have all in one day. My moods

change at the drop of a hat. Happy one minute, sad the next. So panicky, so anxious, so afraid. I know that these emotions will even out they are just me reacting to what's going on in our lives. I just wish I felt like I had more control over my body, over my mind.

Monday Madness - Anxiety

Lately my anxiety levels have been at an all-time high. I just get this overwhelming feeling of panic and the need to escape wherever I am. I wish I could explain it better to those around me when it happens for so few people actually understand what is happening to me. Then I just feel guilty and the anxiety worsens. Here's some tips to use when you are feeling anxiety, some things I try and remember for myself.

1. get some exercise

2. talk to someone

3. start a gratitude journal to become aware of all the good around you

4. take action do something to confront a fear

5. journal or art journal

6. get quality sleep

7. stay away from alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and other substances

8. take time to relax focus on something peaceful

9. BREATHE

10. be mindful of your thoughts, your needs, your surroundings

2 Peas Tuesday Blogger Challenge - I NEED to write!

Join us if you blog Challenge~ Brainstorm 10 reasons why you feel the need to write now.

This is a really great prompt. I'm not sure I could come up with 10 reasons why I write. Sometimes I honestly don't know why I need to write I just feel this intense need to put words down on paper or on the computer. Sometimes it doesn't even matter what I'm writing - I just have to write. Sometimes if I don't get the chance to write I feel like I'm going to burst if I don't get my thoughts out in words. Growing up I always loved English class and writing but it was just classes I was taking. As I have grown up and especially since my panic disorder started writing is a release for me. I don't write for other people I write for myself - it is like a release, so comforting to me. When I am feeling depressed or panicky the act of writing makes me feel more in control. It makes the panic less intense. Like I said, writing is just something I have to do - I can't always explain it but I NEED to be able to write.

My thoughts for this morning...

You know it has taken me a really long time to be able to deal with the fact that I have mental health problems. I think really it's because I've always been afraid of what other people thought of me. I have spent so much of my life trying to live up to my idea of "perfect" and believe me mentally I am far from perfect. After my kids were born I started having panic attacks and depression. As I have aged, unfortunately the anxiety, panic, depression and worry have intensified. I used to be afraid of getting help but now I realize that just because I have mental disorders does not make me any less of a person. The fact that I am seeking out help and trying to change this part of my life makes me a stronger person. So today... hats off to mental health professionals. Without you I'd be an even crazier person than I already am.