Battle of the Brain

[happyannie]

I dont know about anyone else but Im always having a battle with myself. My good side of my brain helps me with positive thoughts and tries to inspire me and then my bad side of my brain tells me negative thoughts and feelings,when this happens it makes my life very difficult. For example if Im trying to leave the house to go to an appointmentmy good side will pump me up with positive talk and then in comes the bad side of my brain telling me that I cant do it. Im sure other people may experience these feelings, if anyones got any helpful ideas on coping methods it would be appreciated. I always say I feel like I'm in a constant battle with myself.

Thanx

Annie

[MarkJT]

Hey Annie, can i say that what you are experiencing, there are so many others who are experiencing the exact same.

I am in a constant battle with myself. Even though i am in an advanced stage of recovery from PTSD but live daily with depression and anxiety, i still have daily battles with my brain.

What works best for me is i tell myself when i am having a battle, "make the right decision". So for example, if i am hungry the easy option is to drop into McDonalds and load up on burgers and fries then wash it down with a coke. My knowledge is that this will do me no good so i say to myself, no wait for better food. Then the bad brain comes in and says, nah get it now. The good brain will then ask that question, make the right decision. That is a prompt for the health brain to overpower the bad brain and i wait for better food.

I realise that this is a very simple example but it is applicable to all decisions. I was told that wording by a very well experienced mental health sufferer who is now recovered when i was probing him about how to recover. I have lived by it since and the more you use it the better it works.

So the next time you are in this predicament, stop and ask yourself, what is the right decision here.

Hopefully it works for you. Let me know how you go.

Mark.

[happyannie]

Thanx Mark

Will definately try that method once again thanx for the support and advise

Beyond Blue is a great platform for information

Annie

[MarkJT]

Annie, you're welcome.

Absolutely agree that beyondblue is a great platform. An amazing place to be.

Good luck with getting that healthy brain all powerful over the bad brain!

Mark.

[happyannie]

Im in a huge struggle at the moment with myself. I feel worthless and hopelessand I cant seem to do anything lately. Im in a constant battle with myself with my bad side winning at the moment. I feel like Im spiralling out of control and I cant seem to make sense out of anything at the moment.

In therapy last week we did an exercise where we put an invisible Annie in the empty chair next to me and I had to get angry and tell horrible Annie everything I didnt like about her and I tell you I was really able to give it to her, and it felt great. But that feeling didnt last very long and eventually she crawled back in to mess with my mind.

I havent posted lately because Ive just been so depressed Im having trouble getting my words out.

Thanx BB for letting me vent

Annie

[MarkJT]

Annie, this is a marathon mate, not a sprint. You will not be recovered in a couple of sessions so please stick to the plan.

When angry Annie crawls back into the brain, it is not a full relapse - think of it each time you deal with your demons, they are one step closer to being vanquished.

Whilst feeling crap is absolutely no fun at all, you are still making progress so keep being treated.

Your self care at the moment is really important. Tell yourself that you are safe and you will be okay. Tell yourself that it is just your brain playing funny buggers with you. You are most definitely NOT worthless and are most definitely NOT hopeless. These are emotions we feel when depression takes hold but you will be strong enough to break them shackles and get those feelings back.

Really important at this stage to eat really well, drink well, cut caffeine and alcohol and get some exercise in. Your mind will probably tell you to the opposite to all of these but lets get Happy Annie up and about, destroy angry Annie and get this job done.

We got your back matey.

Mark.