September/October Mental Health Challenge

[indysteel]

After years of therapy, my first order of mental health business is to check in with myself. How AM I feeling? Honestly. What small thing can I do for myself almost immediately to ease whatever anxiety/sadness/frustration/negative thought pattern that I'm having? Is there anything more significant that I need to do? The fundamental belief that I can take care and nurture myself--that I DESERVE to do that--is at the heart of how I approach my daily life.

This week, I found myself hitting a wall as far as my various time commitments. One particular semi-professional commitment had been weighing on me for some time as something I just didn't want to do anymore. So, after a lot of thought, I finally contacted the people I needed to and told them I was bowing out. What a relif.

[Catrin]

Indysteel, congratulations for making that decision to drop something that just wasn't working any longer - that kind of decision can be so hard to make. I think the hardest thing to do to get back into regular exercise is to start making those schedule changes, bit by bit.

This past year I have been shocked at just how far regular and intense exercise has gone to manage my anxiety level and mood - it has been both freeing and sobering at the same time. Talk therapy was only useful to me to a certain point, the right kind of exercise has taken me much further. Of course, it could also be that the talk therapy got me to a place where I could really take advantage of the exercise.

This last week I've had to return to my old workaholic days out of necessity and it has not been a good place to be - am greatly looking forward to a charity ride tomorrow to blow the cobwebs out of body, soul and mind.

I am in! Always looking for more balanced/healthy ways of dealing with stress - had problems with post-traumatic stress a few times in my life so I try my best to keep my stress levels at least below a low roar...I am finding the bike is a cure for many things!

[redrhodie]

I'm in. I'm going to try to cut out my biggest depressant, chocolate. This is an ongoing problem, and I keep falling off the wagon. It took me years to figure out that if I don't eat chocolate specifically, and sugar in general, I'm much happier. Why I keep forgetting/ignoring this is beyond me. Maybe this thread will help me stay focused.

More sleep would be nice, too. I wish I could figure out how. I'm lucky to be in a position take naps, so I'm going to try to use them more to make up what I'm missing.

I know I'm facing some big stress in the near future since my dad is not well. No time like the present to get ready to go through the wringer.

Good luck everyone! We can do this.

[malkin]

That's weird about the chocolate.

I made a tentative shopping date with my daughter for next weekend. She needs a suit for med school interviews. It seems like something a normal person would do.

[malkin]

Hey--maybe the challenge works like going to Hogworts (10 points for Gryffendor) or playing Candyland.

Great bike ride: Move forward to the next happy square.

Spend 3 hours looking for old business card and boy and girl shaped hole punches: Lose a turn.

Clear off top of dresser to prove I've stopped looking for the above: + 5 points
Find old business cards on dresser: +5 irony points

[redrhodie]

That's weird about the chocolate.

Of course, I had to see if I'm alone in this, and of course, there's a study http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/con...hort/170/8/699 saying I'm not. While looking for this study (before I knew it existed), found lots of articles about the anti-depressant properties of chocolate, so there you go.

I haven't had any today, so +5 for me. Had a good bike ride +5, but got annoyed by a couple who passed me -5. Didn't sleep last night -5. Took a nap +5.

I could do this all day! I'm up 5, but I feel about even.

[malkin]

I think even is really good!

Recreating my business cards is a proactive step for me, not quite looking for a whole new job, just thinking about drumming up a few private clients on the side.

[jelee1311]

I think mental health challenge is an interesting idea, we gotta a lotta crazy round here so here goes. Be present and ride. I rode today even though it rained about an inch in 1 hour and I saw the leaves changing, the last of the master gardener who lives 3 houses up amazing flowers, the kids on the next block jumping in puddles. All I could think is being off my bike gave me such a jones for it and now I could do it ,these silly little things make me feel good and I missed them. Being on my bike gives me perspective

[DebSP]

Well I went to my Mtn. Biking clinic yesterday. It was great! Took my mind off work for a whole day +5. Relaxed and had fun +5. Didn't regret one minute of it and so the guilt just disappeared +5. It wore me out and I slept all night last night +5 again! It was all good.

[malkin]

+5 Went with Brewer to the State Fair. Had fun talking to the last hold out group of dairymen there about where to buy unhomogenized milk. Bought tiny waterproof container to carry relics of St. Tiger (the dead cat) with us on tandem rides.

+5 shopping out in the world at all my favorite discount places (Big Lots, TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning) and the grocerystore that is in the same neighborhood as the discounts.

Bad Allergies, Good Coping: +5
Do you think my steroid nose spray will be performance enhancing for cycling?

Dreading work week: -25 (performance evaluation this week)
Sick feeling from remembering bad dream about this: -5

[marni]

my father used to have a mental list of 7 items he tried to do every day. He said it helped keep him sane, balanced and human. the list is below:
1. do something mental
2. do something physical
3. do something spiritual
4. do something you have been putting off
5. do something you want to do.
6. do something for someone else
7. do something for yourself.

It seems to work for me.

marni

[emily_in_nc]

my father used to have a mental list of 7 items he tried to do every day. He said it helped keep him sane, balanced and human. the list is below:
1. do something mental
2. do something physical
3. do something spiritual
4. do something you have been putting off
5. do something you want to do.
6. do something for someone else
7. do something for yourself.

It seems to work for me.

marni

I really like this. Your father is/was very wise!

[Crankin]

Good list.
Give yourselves permission to do something for yourself; no guilt allowed! Banish it.
Ah, it's normal to be worried about a performance evaluation. Nobody "likes" to be evaluated. But, it helps to look at it as an opportunity to improve your skills and set new goals for the year. And use some good stress reduction techniques... deep breathing, take a walk, go for a ride!

[malkin]

My perf. eval isn't really like my performance will be evaluated. Neither of the 2 people doing it really understand what my skills are or even what the point of my job is. The place is a dead end for me, and in many ways, it isn't even much fun anymore.

For me this time around, I'm looking for information about whether I should resign immediately or wait until spring.

+5 Planning to ride tomorrow.

[redrhodie]

Feeling really good from this morning's ride (I'm rating it a +10 because it was perfect)....but, I just ate an eclair, so -5 for that. For lunch I had really healthy soup with kale and butternut squash and loads of other colorful veggies in it, so that's got to count for something, +5. Oh, and I had a GREAT night's sleep! A rarity for me. +5. I'm up!

Good luck, Malkin. I hope work becomes fun again.