Daily goals, motivation and check in

Perhaps let them see how emotional the issue makes you - it might work in your favour @Teej.

What you describe sounds like a sensible plan for getting back into things gradually. Wishing you all the best for tomorrow. And hoping you find some peace tonight.

Hello @Mazarita @Teej @eth And anyone else about..

I haven't written any goals on here..just not right mindset at moment..

I like to still read and feel part of your journeys..

I know how hard it is..

I mentioned this thread to my friend @eudemonism who has occasionally found overwhelming moments..

I was hoping that you might have suggestions on how to start having the motivation to even think about goals ..breaking it down into small achievements and feeling sense of satisfaction..starting to see results and remember them when the cycle starts again..

over here eude even if you only want to read.. Be an observer...can still be beneficial..

I am in deep trouble..I have one cat laying on the ground next to where I am laying..I forgot to feed them.. 90 minutes late!,,,!!

Hi @Teej, @eth, @Former-Member, @eudemonism and everyone here,

Welcome to this thread, eude. I've read your posts sometimes before on the forum. You have a distinctive presence here. I too get frustrated with a perceived decline sometimes. I try to remember this is partly due to age (I'm 55). I believe there is also a degenerative aspect to the illness I have (bipolar). And I get very tired, especially in the mornings, which I think is partly due to medications. I had to come to accept a horrible and incurable physical disease when I was younger and, mainly from that, I relate to some of the feelings you describe. I hope you can find some inspiration and companionship here in this discussion.

After I posted my last message, I ended up getting out on the beach for a 2.5km walk. I also went for a dip in the ocean, the first one for two years, though I live across the road from it. And I had a shower when I got home (only a few days since the last one, usually I struggle to get in there much longer than that). I think I am improved at the moment, at least partially because I have recently had an increase in the dose of my anti-depressants. From past experience, this flush of good feeling doesn't always last as long as I'd like, so I'm making the most of it while I can. Hopefully setting in motion some better habits for the future.

Hi @Mazarita Your walk and swim sound wonderful. I know what you mean about good feeling not lasting as long as you'd like. I have bipolar also and seem to spend most of the time flat or depressed. There's a blog I sometimes read called Zen Habits, and one of his themes is that making very small changes can make a big difference over time. I Hope you feel some progress on the better habits front. I never really feel like I crack lasting change; things ebb and flow but I keep trying!

@eudemonism, today I went to an art group at a local mental health centre. Been going for quite a long time now and it's something lowkey and good to get me out of the flat. People are nice to each other there, which I appreciate. How have you gone today? I find as I get on a bit in age, I do miss the zest I remember from youth. I used to take for granted the little things I now celebrate with bells on. Though if truth be told I've never been up to scratch with the 'normal' world and its crazy fast pace. How have you gone today with finding distraction and action?

@Teej, no cartwheels necessary. I understand we've all got stuff going on. I just like talking about what I am getting done here because I feel it is psychologically valuable to affirm our small successes, especially in writing. Helps build a platform for better feeling about ourselves overall, I think. Like @eudemonism, I am afraid of sharks and also, perhaps more dangerous, the rips. It is an open ocean beach. So I tend to go in only a very little way, kneel down and let the waves lap into me there. Pretty small stuff really, but big for me.

@frog, I've struggled mostly with the depression side of bipolar too. I agree that very small changes add up. They have added for me over the past four years since I moved to this new place. I now get out of the flat and into some kind of social company a number of times a week usually, and with a lot less anxiety and ease. Before I was very holed up in the last place I lived, for years. The ebbs and flows seem natural and I experience them too. There are some times I'm back almost completely to the bad old days it seems. Then another forward spurt of action and I'm up and walking again. I think you have the right idea to just keep trying. I'll be doing the same.