Oscillation between two mind sets

@creative_writer I hope you are doing alright. Definitely being out and about can be good, even having the most basic interactions with people would help me instead of being stuck with my own thoughts.

It sounds like you are pretty worried about things getting worse again and I can understand that. I hope it doesn't sound too brash or anything but for me part of being able to deal with things was slowly learning to accept that I only had limited control over the feelings I would have. Some days are bad and I do the best I can. The things I have learned have been useful and it is a marathon and not a sprint as they say. It took a long time to change.

I said I would share what worked for me and I have been scared to honestly. I don't want it to seem like I think you haven't tried all the basic things, and you are in a very different spot to where I am/was. Well here goes anyway. I pretty much set out to become the most boring person ever. No substances including alcohol and even caffeine. Trying to get good and regular sleep, exercising everyday and getting out of the house so a lot of short walks. Like I said just basics and I am not exactly consistent at doing them. But I got to a point where I have sort of automatic responses. If I recognise I am getting bad I will pick up these habits as best I can, as well as try and reach out to friends and things even just to say hello.

Well I'm not always capable of it but it has become an instinct to at least try. On the psychological side of things I had to learn to go easier on myself, to feel less guilt and forgive myself for things. A common trick but a useful one for me was to think about how I was judging other people and how I was judging myself and the gap between the two. Also a lot of reframing things, thinking "I made a mistake in that situation, but it is understandable, the anxiety was particularly bad" things like that. The more I write things out the more I think it is all useless advice. Sorry for writing a wall of text, I really hope things turn alright for you, I don't know what else to say...

Nighty night @creative_writer hope you get a good night's sleep 💜

Oh you are going off to bed, goodnight @creative_writer sorry for writing so much garbage please ignore me if it is not useful in any way.

I found it to be a helpful read @Acanthiza and feel that even if @creative_writer isn't able to use the things you've shared, your contributions are still really valuable. It always helps me to instill hope within myself when I read of others' progress, so I appreciate you sharing it 😊

Thank you @Acanthiza for sharing. I try to do the things you listed so I can do them by habit when I'm sick. My trouble is twofold. I don't get a long enough stretch of good time to make them into habits, and when I am in a bad place my voices tell me not to do them and I know that if I disregard them I will only get worse because of the internal turmoil. I keep trying and am slowly integrating the tools in my life.

What I particularly liked was your reframing of learning to go easy on yourself. Somehow tonight it just became clearer. Tx

@Doog I think I find it frustrating there is so much I learned but I don't think I can even communicate it properly, like it all happened in my head and some of it is not logical stuff at all but feelings and responses that are not at the level of conscious thought even?

I never had voices that must be really tough, to have the bad thoughts personified like that - well it is beyond my experience. Inner turmoil... I know that one though. Yes it is a slow process, and an ongoing one. I will probably be still learning new things and coping slightly better when I am well into old age. Alright I feel bad talking in someone elses thread but I hope you are going alright Doog and I am glad something I said in my scattershot approach was useful somehow.

Also as an aside @Jynx you are too kind

Aww right back at you @Acanthiza 😍😊

@creative_writer positive vibes received! Warm fuzzy feelings activated! Hope that uni is going well for you today, and the heat hasn't smacked you round too much 💜

Congestion like, traffic, or in your sinuses @creative_writer? 😅 I'm gonna guess traffic!

Glad to hear that it went well! Sounds like you're gonna be a busy lil bee. Are they subjects you enjoy? I recall you mentioned one was all about policy and stuff. I always found those so boring lol.

Me I'm doing okay! Just hiding out in the air con. My house inspection got postponed, thankfully only until tomorrow, or I would've been pretty pissed! Such a hassle to get everything shiny and spotless - hopefully I won't make too much mess between now and tomorrow.