Challenging unhelpful thoughts

Doolhof · ‎18-02-2017

Who comes up with these terms and phrases like "Unhelpful thoughts" and "sometimes foods" . Why can't we just say it as it is!

I feel so damned depressed and down right now I don't want to be here any more. My mood is telling me that I need a truck load of Some times food...all the chocolate, mud cake, Tim Tams, Mars Bars, Bounties and Hedgehog slices I can find. That is just for today.

I'm trying to fight this depression. I really am. It has such a hold on me right now it is like wrestling a tiger.

I've just had two weeks in a local hospital where unfortunately the only thing they had to offer for mental health issues was little pills and a glass of water to calm me down, a 5 minute chat with a nurse if she had time, advise to look in a magazine, think happy thoughts, go for a walk out on the locked verandah area, have a cup of tea and see if there is something nice to watch on t.v.

All very helpful ideas if you are mildly depressed, but when you are beyond the unhelpful thoughts and feelings, it was like trying to put a cork in a volcano.

Now I am home and trying not to go crazy. I have been using the phone help lines. One lady recognises me now as soon as she answers and hears my voice!

All I want to do all day is to cry, to scream, to sleep, to take more pills to make the pain and the hours in the day disappear.

This is a horrid way to try to live.

I'm trying to get some fresh air, do a bit of gardening, eat mostly healthy food, plan something pleasant to do each day and all those good things.

This darn depression, the sadness, the dark clouds of misery, the sense of no hope and no point keep hanging around. I wish they would take off and let me have some peace for a while.

I feel like I am running out of energy to keep fighting this. But fight I must. I can't give up. That feels like an option, but I know it is not the way to go.

Next Friday I am seeing a psychologist. An appointment I made way back in November. Hope she has some ideas on how to beat this.

"Unhelpful Thoughts" just doesn't express it enough.

I doubt the moderators would publish the words I would like to use right now to express my depression!

Guest_322 · ‎22-02-2017

Hi Mrs D.,

It's great to hear that you're trying so hard to stay afloat. Considering the weather, you were smart to avoid your shabby chic shack (bit of a tongue twister there).

Your creative projects sound great as an outlet, and I enjoyed your story about the happy pants and happy tops. You clearly needed a good laugh. I

Moon left a helpful post. No harm in giving pen and paper a whirl- hopefully it helps you gather your thoughts.

Take care, k?

Dottie x

Croix · ‎22-02-2017

Dear Mrs Dools~

As other have mentioned you reach for pencil and paper for other reasons I thought I'd mention this. I've no idea if this is a help to you, all I can say is that I've recently discovered it is for me.

When driven I find recounting to myself, using keyboard or paper, an incident I enjoyed from my youth has calmed me, given me some focus and distraction, with me ending up afterwards a little better than before.

That's why I tend to fill the 'Happy Memories' thread with my junk. I tidy some of it up and post it there. Gruffudd seems to have caught the same disease.

Have you ever heard of Vogon Poetry? I'd like to think it was better than that.

Croix

Doolhof · ‎23-02-2017

Happy Memories hey Croix! Certainly sounds like an excellent idea, just have to clean through the unpleasant memories in my brain and find some! Ha. Ha. I know they are there somewhere.

Might be something I will have a crack at later.

I haven't heard of Vogan Poetry either. I've heard of Vegans, guess they are not related! Maybe I will check out Vogan poetry on the internet.

Was helping out in the Op Shop today and was crying on the inside for about 4 hours. Don't know if it was best to stay and keep busy or if it would have been more peaceful and beneficial to return home. It is hard to know sometimes.

Okay Happy Thoughts and Vogan poetry. I will give them a try...later!

Cheers from Mrs. Dools

Croix · ‎23-02-2017

Dear Mrs Dools~

The Hitch Hikers' Guide to the Galaxy (A Douglas Adams work) lists Vogon poetry as the 3rd worst in the universe. There is whole page devoted to it (with examples) in Wikipedia.

Surgeon General's Health Warning:

The examples should be read with caution as the boredom they induce can be very harmful.

Croix

Moonstruck · ‎23-02-2017

I've never heard of Vogan Poetry either...but then I don't get out much!!

I know some bogans though.

aegidius · ‎23-02-2017

Love Douglas Adams' work. Vogon poetry is probably his comment on how ridiculous some modern poetry is, and how its practitioners take themselves way too seriously...more recommendations form the same author, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, if you want the Adams flavour while getting away from the space/sci-fi thing.

Re your shabby chic shack and its dirt floor, if you know any strong young blokes, see if you can bribe or otherwise get them to lay some concrete pavers down for you. It will give the floor some height to keep out water when it rains, and a smooth, relatively clean-ish surface for you to walk on. It sounds like a good sanctuary for you. Everyone needs one.

Doolhof · ‎24-02-2017

Hi Croix and Moonstruck,

I needed a laugh this morning, thanks. Bogans, I just love that word. I was trying to think of it yesterday and could not get it to enter my brain. All I could think of was Hipsters.

I read Hitchhiker's guide tot he galaxy but don't remember what it was about. I did look up some Vogan Poetry. I would like to know what people are on when they write that stuff, I think I need some of it!

Seem to be sinking a little bit these last couple of days so need to go and find my floaties and pool noodles.

Seeing a different psychologist this morning so will see how that goes. Might work on finding some of those happy memories as well.

Cheers from Mrs. Dools

Guest_1055 · ‎01-03-2017

Hi Mrs D,

Just wondering how you are getting along there, I haven't seen you around for a bit?

Not sure if you still feel like you are sinking, but here is some of my bubbles this time for you. They are good to float on out. And yes I remember you giving me some as well, not so long ago.

I do hope you are feeling better.

Shell xx

aegidius · ‎01-03-2017

Hope you are well Mrs. Dools and that your garden is also well. I'm not sure how much rain you are getting, but where I live it's pretty dry. The happy memories are worth recalling, they do help both in the garden and in life.

Doolhof · ‎07-03-2017

Hi Aegidius and Shell,

Life has been rather up and down. Just like everyone else's. Ha. Ha.

We've had some days where it has been far to hot to step outside let alone do anything in the garden or the Serenity Shack. I did read the newspaper out there one evening. It was still 30 degrees at 8.00 p.m. and I was fighting with the mozzies.

Our region is very dry at present. The grass is dying off. Funny how the weeds keep flourishing! Ha. Ha. They sure are very hardy.

I had the sprinkler on for a while yesterday afternoon. The birds loved it. It was lovely to hear and see them having a great time under the water.

I'm hoping to get out in the garden shortly, it is nice and cool still this morning at 7.00 a.m. My husband is off to work soon, then I will be out.

Thanks for the messages! I really appreciate them.

Seems this new medication is making me crook. Hard to know if it is best to persevere or give it up as a bad joke!

I read one of the side effects is to gain weight and enlarge your breast size. The increased breast size can apparently happen in men as well! Not sure that would be so appreciated! Ha. Ha.

Cheers from Dools