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Hey guys, had a few hard days over the last week or so, got an appointment coming up next month to get assessed or reassessed as the case may be so been doing some research on what's what, of course I'm no professional in these matters but from my own assessment it could be like schizoaffective with bipolar aspects or something, although this doesn't seem to be a very highly thought of diagnosis atm for some reason. The first person I really sat down and talked to about stuff suggested some kind of schizoaffective disorder for some reason though, hopefully not I guess but whatever, anybody got any coping strategies that might help get me through? Currently I find music quite helpful so maybe I could just stick with that, but if anyone else has similar situation I'd be grateful for any suggestions, thanks for reading this far, and just so you don't worry too much if that is your deal I've been living with this for a while and it hasn't killed me yet
im not sure we've met before on the forums, so welcome and hello!
I hate waiting for things... gives me way too much time to think, research, analyse and analyse again! gah! I think youre on the right track looking for coping strategies for the here and now.. the rest you can't control yet. When i was being assessed and dx i spent a lot of time looking to see what i had and so much of everything had something/some resemblance to myself... but i wasn't really able to see the whole picture like someone with objective professional knowledge can.
I love music... am currently addicted to that piano/sing app... but it does relax and ground me so that i can just focus on that! I've also been using more mindful meditation/grounding/breathing stuff. And trying to exercise... trying to use up the adrenaline etc that the anxiety/ptsd leaves me with...
theres a thread on here called the coping box where people have put all sorts of ideas for self care/stratetigies for coping... i can never remember where anything is (would love to be able to find my glasses as well!)
lj
In response to: Not feeling right
ShimmerSenior Contributor
Re: Not feeling right
Hi @Shazab,
I'm sorry to hear that you've been going through a rough time recently.
How are you feeling about the upcoming assessment and potential clarification of diagnosis? You might find the discussion here about diagnosis interesting/helpful.
Reaching out to hear about others' coping strategies is a great idea. Here is the link to the Coping Box thread @Former-Member mentioned. I don't know where your glassess are sorry @Former-Member
What kind of music do you like @Shazab? Are there other coping activities you enjoy too?
Take care,
Shimmer
In response to: Not feeling right
ShazabSenior Contributor
Re: Not feeling right
Hi Lisajane, you're absolutely right about not being able to see the whole picture, it's a complicated situation after all as you obviously understand ;-). Yeah exercise is definitely good, and thanks for reminding me of meditation, I think that could help, it's so easy to forget about these things in this crazy world. Hope you find your glasses soon, just don't lose your keys 😉
In response to: Not feeling right
ShazabSenior Contributor
Re: Not feeling right
Hi Shimmer, thanks for your reply. Just got timed out and seem to have lost my last reply, you know of anything I can do to hopefully prevent that from happening? Anyway suffice it to say I've been stressed about going back and seeing a new psychiatrist, I feel I've perhaps been too trusting in the past but I generally learn from my mistakes fortunately. Thanks for the links.
Perhaps I self-medicate with bad music but who could say ;-), I tend to lean towards symphonic and some other kinds of metal, but I think my favorite is one of the classic grunge bands, otherwise my taste is very wide, rap, old style and alternative rock, a little pop and classical, and I greatly enjoy some more spiritually themed stuff too.
Not sure if these would be considered coping strategies but they help, I generally have what I consider a decent moral code based on my religious beliefs and to some degree on the fantasy books I read, and feel virtue is it's own reward, although my religious participation has taken somewhat more of a back seat to other commitments over the last few years. I also play guitar although that also has suffered recently due to marrying into a rather large family, getting back into it though and fortunately don't seem to have forgotten any of my personal compositions
In response to: Re: Not feeling right
AppleblossomSenior Contributor
Re: Not feeling right
Hallo @Shazab Music is a great help for me. Love your down to earth attitude. Best of luck with your new pdoc ... it can be tiring seeing new people all the time. We gotta do wot we gotta do.
In response to: Not feeling right
ShazabSenior Contributor
Re: Not feeling right
Thanks for your kind words @Appleblossom I've seen like 5 people altogether so not too bad, fingers crossed
In response to: Re: Not feeling right
KurraSenior Contributor
Re: Not feeling right
Hi @Shazab Music is a very powerful therapy and is now used quite extensively in a number of different conditions. I'm not aware of it being used formally in mental health conditions but I'll certainly research this area and see what info comes up. 🎶
In response to: Not feeling right
ShazabSenior Contributor
Re: Not feeling right
Yep @Kurra, I'd have to say it's had a huge impact on my life, pretty much my only coping strategy before I got religion was to thrash it out on guitar, it's more recent that I've had both the means and the insight to recognize how much listening to music can help too
In response to: Not feeling right
Unknown userMember
Re: Not feeling right
Yes glasses found lol. I can't keep track of anything these days but oh well! Will survive! Well done for getting back on to your guitar! I used to play instruments but don't anymore. Although occasionally use piano in choir if no accompianist availablebut only to key out melodies or harmonies...not v good lol. I'm teaching my lol girl recorder lol not so sure it's a good idea but she loves it 🙂 How are you going ?
In response to: Not feeling right
ShazabSenior Contributor
Re: Not feeling right
Lol yeah it's frustrating to misplace important stuff. Yes recorder lol, it might be worth the aggravation, you never know. More hassles piling on for me but as long as I've got a plan or coping strategy I can deal with such things, it's the uncertainty that really gets to me lol
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