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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by QuietHeart on January 19, 2004, at 23:29:55
I don't even know where to start except to say I don't know how I will make it thru the week. I am so overwhelmed yet a little part of me feels I am being dramatic. I don't know. I am so nervous about not getting things done and just lying in bed. I need to take action! How do others manage to get out of bed some days?
Posted by Dinah on January 19, 2004, at 23:40:36
In reply to Feeling like I can't go thru another week..., posted by QuietHeart on January 19, 2004, at 23:29:55
I'm feeling kind of like that myself right now. Work piling up. I know it's going to get worse. Plus home and family. And the enormity of it all is bearing down on me like that big boulder in Indiana Jones. (There's nothing wrong with a bit of drama, IMHO, if it describes how you're feeling.)
Would it help to talk about what's overwhelming? Sometimes the bigger problems can be broken down into smaller ones that are a bit more manageable.
Posted by Elle2021 on January 20, 2004, at 2:39:07
In reply to Feeling like I can't go thru another week..., posted by QuietHeart on January 19, 2004, at 23:29:55
> How do others manage to get out of bed some days?
Well, the cats usually get me up. They get squirrelly if they aren't fed on time...
Also, I know that people are depending on me to be certain places, but I know that sometimes when I'm depressed, I could care less. But, it helps me if I get up and take a shower and at least get dressed. Maybe try going for a walk or something like that or call someone you haven't talked to in a while.
Elle
Posted by Penny on January 20, 2004, at 10:01:16
In reply to Feeling like I can't go thru another week..., posted by QuietHeart on January 19, 2004, at 23:29:55
> How do others manage to get out of bed some days?
Get a dog. Seriously. On days that I would otherwise stay in bed all day, my dogs mean I HAVE to at least get up and go outside, if only briefly. I live in an apartment, so no doggy door or fenced-in yard. They have to be walked.Plus, they just make life seem so much sweeter. For me, anyway. Dogs are the best therapy. :-)
woof.
On another note - the feeling you are having of being overwhelmed is definitely contributing to your inability to get anything done. For me, when I start thinking about EVERYTHING I have to do, it makes it that much harder to do ANYTHING I have to do. Find one small thing you can do - take a shower. Fix yourself something to eat. Go to the mailbox. Something small. And praise yourself when you are able to get that little bit accomplished. Be kind to yourself and patient with yourself. I'm not saying you shouldn't push yourself a bit, but watch the negative self-talk that you are probably doing and try to be nice to yourself. You might feel like you can't go through another week, but you know, in your head, that you can and will. It won't be easy, but it can happen.
Hang in there, and keep posting.
BTW - Welcome!
P
Posted by fallsfall on January 20, 2004, at 13:09:03
In reply to Feeling like I can't go thru another week..., posted by QuietHeart on January 19, 2004, at 23:29:55
I agree with Penny. If I don't get out of bed my dog pees on the rug.
I often get overwhelmed, but I have learned to manage it most of the time. The key is to be able to separate the things that absolutely HAVE to get done from the things that SHOULD get done from the things that DON'T HAVE to get done.
These things HAVE to get done: Feed my dogs, get my daughter to school, food in the house, pay bills, fix your toilet if it is the only one you have and it doesn't work
These things SHOULD get done: Shower (after a week, this goes to the HAVE to get done list), laundry, vacuum, cook dinner, exercise, go to work, put gas in the car.
These things DON'T HAVE to get done: dusting, decorating for the holidays, buy a new TV, read all of your email and respond, answer your phone, always say yes when someone asks you to drive them someplace.
Try to look at the things that you have on your plate and put them in the 3 categories. Try to recognize that a lot of the things that you think you HAVE to do, really can wait, or not be done at all. This can help you priorize things. And then you only have to worry about the HAVEs. If you get some SHOULDs done, too, then that is a bonus. And if you get to the optional stuff you are home free.
It took me a long time to learn (a year?) that certain things didn't HAVE to happen. That the world still kept on just fine if I didn't do them.
Give yourself a break. Don't ask yourself to do the impossible.
Good luck
Posted by Karen_kay on January 20, 2004, at 14:42:37
In reply to Feeling like I can't go thru another week..., posted by QuietHeart on January 19, 2004, at 23:29:55
Honestly, I check my email and sail on by here while drinking coffee. These people, I'll tell you help keep me motivated. (THANK YOU!!!!) Just take it one step and one day at a time. I also have a dog that jumps into bed howling if I'm not up early. And classes that I have to attend or risk losing school entirely. That in itself is a pretty big motivator. Try the small things though, like a morning routine. I love coffee, so brewing fresh coffee helps get my duff out of bed. Or a morning show with a cute host helps out. I try to focus on the small things, if you hadn't noticed :) If I look at the big stuff, I'm bound to pull the covers over my eyes and never wake up....
Posted by terrics on January 21, 2004, at 16:39:46
In reply to Feeling like I can't go thru another week..., posted by QuietHeart on January 19, 2004, at 23:29:55
Hi quietheart, I doubt you are being dramatic and I empathize with the feeling of not being able to do anything. Try not to push yourself too hard. When you are up to it do an itty-bitty chore. I understand the feeling. Feel better. terrics
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