We are all human and need time out for self care

[MsPurple]

As a community champion I love coming on the forums and chatting to everyone on the forums. However recently the black dog decided to stick it's head back in and was a bit more persistent than most. I had to take some time away from the forums for self care. I used to not want to overshare on the forums, because I want to be a strong community champion. But I have learnt that most people value that we are going through the same things you are and just like you we are human and need time out for ourselves. Being strong doesn't mean the black dog doesn't come, it's by putting our hand up and saying, I need to take time out, increase self care and follow what my therapist says. I want to thank everyone for their support while I had some time away from the forums.

So my question to you is. What do you do when you take time out for self care?

I tend to watch movies, take a warm bath and meditate before bed to help me sleep.

Glad to be back and thanks in advance and I'm so glad to be part of a supportive community 🙂

MsP

[blondguy]

Hey MsPurple

You have created a great thread topic here....Nice1 🙂

Just to answer your questions...

• Self Care.....I try to have more 'me' time everyday doing as little a possible
• I keep following Dr Claire Weekes guidance to be 'gentle' to myself...She has passed away yet had the courage to write a few books about 'genuine and true acceptance' (of our symptoms)
• I actually cuddle the 'black dog'... once we made friends he doesn't bite me anymore..seriously
• When my concentration falters I know that I am passing my limitations

Hugs and have a great weekend MsPurple 🙂

Paul

[MsPurple]

Thanks Paul

I felt motivated to come on the forums a few days ago, however they were either down, or undergoing maintenance. It was a shame. But I felt motivated to come back on tonight for a little bit.

Unfortunately deep sleep seems to be a bit of an issue of late. I wake up a few times a night and just feel like my sleep wasn't the greatest. I have no problem napping, however just a long deep, restful sleep seems to be the problem. I might need to do more meditation before sleep. I do use techonology before bed, but I make sure the blue light is lowered. I usually do this because sometimes being restless in bed keeps me up longer than having youtube on, if this makes sense? I can get so worried I'm not asleep that it keeps me awake. Can be very frustrating. Does anyone else get this?

[White_Rose]

I think lack of sleep or broken sleep is up there with losing concentration and a dysfunctional memory. All due to stress of one kind or another. And they feed off each other. Insufficient sleep can really stuff up our concentration and memory goes because we are too tired to access the bit of the brain that does this.

Here it is, 3:00am, and I am sitting at my computer. It's chilly so I will get cold and return to bed. Then when I warm up I get back to sleep but it's a long way round for something that normally we do without thinking.

Paul, love your picture of cuddling the black dog. It's very true we need to make friends with it rather than saying "Shoo, go away". No matter how big and scary it is we need to accept it in our lives. In fact the bigger and more scary the dog looks the more we need to make friends. It seems counter intuitive I know but much easier it is to know exactly where the dog is and what it's doing.

Mary