I signed up for old people swimming (a masters swim team). I thought this would be good for my mental health. But I had the first practice this morning and apparently gasping for breath while my arms are dying was not enough to shut my brain off. The pool is lovely and quiet and allows me to think about stressful things rather than clearing my mind.
So maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.
Oh, I'm sorry. I would have guessed swimming would have been an excellent coping tool!
I swam with a masters team for a while and was put in the slowest lane. My lane partner, who I could barely keep up with, was "taking it easy" after her Ironman.
In the unhealthy catagory: burying my head avoiding responsibilities
Healthyish: reading fluffy books - almost exclusively fantasy running and biking SusanBAnthony also swimming, but yeah, swimming my brain GOES places. If you can really dial in on your form and what your body is doing (which takes practice.) it can be very meditative though. Running I usually am running with company and we're jabbering about everything and anything. And biking I'm 100% focused on not getting run over by cars or crashing my bike or getting lost and also trying to be fast all at the same time which eats up every spare bit of brain power I have. Or I'm biking indoors on the trainer and spacing out watching Downton Abbey. Both work well.
But even my healthy things are actually just disassociate things. So. There's that.
Post by lilypad1126 on Sept 2, 2021 15:48:52 GMT -5
I'm spending money like crazy. Like somehow shopping/buying things is going to fix me.
I held out until June 2021 on getting any sort of food delivery, other than pizza. Since June, I keep ordering delivery on the theory that I'm TIRED and therefore I need good food. It's getting a little excessive.
Otherwise, exercising is my outlet. And b/c of that, I'm starting to get a little obsessive about it. Not in bad for my health way, but in a I need my daily walk/run/bike or I'm going to be cranky and god help my H if he tries to intrude on that time.
I also started Lexapro a week or two ago. I hope it kicks in soon and works for me.
I am avoiding social media. Haven't successfully quit the news, but *ought* to cut down.
What helps in the moment for me is escapism. I like video games for that. However, I do feel like it's affecting my attention span and I'm also having trouble focusing on work...
It's a constant struggle and I'm choosing a mix of healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms. It's tough. Sorry you're struggling, too, friend.
*I read the NYT newsletter every morning. Nothing else. No radio or TV news. I adult color. I play with my kids. I make donations to groups fighting the good fight. Literally anything but dwell if I can. Which feels sort of like fiddling while Rome burns but also sort of like maybe that's about all I can take now.
Post by RoxMonster on Sept 2, 2021 17:39:29 GMT -5
The answer for me is always getting out in nature. It truly heals my soul and is my happy place. Unfortunately it's been so damn hot here lately, but the heat is breaking and I plan to spend every weekend day hiking. During the week, we take our dog for a walk at the park, and on nice nights, sit out on our patio at twilight, which has also been nice.
Another thing is honestly starting to plan my next vacation. It won't be until next summer, but we're headed to my favorite place in the world, Colorado, and I am already looking up hikes I want to do, places to stay, etc., because planning travel makes me happy.
Before bed each night, I watch an ASMR video which helps reduce my anxiety.
I forgot to add, bourbon. Not drinking excessively, but I'm enjoying getting into bourbon, watching videos about it and reading about it as well as finding a small community in England to connect with about it.
There was once a restaurant on Westbourne Grove called Tiny Robot that had the best boozy vanilla bourbon milkshakes. It was the only time I ever saw bourbon in London. The restaurant is gone now though.
I signed up for old people swimming (a masters swim team). I thought this would be good for my mental health. But I had the first practice this morning and apparently gasping for breath while my arms are dying was not enough to shut my brain off. The pool is lovely and quiet and allows me to think about stressful things rather than clearing my mind.
So maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.
Oh, I'm sorry. I would have guessed swimming would have been an excellent coping tool!
I swam with a masters team for a while and was put in the slowest lane. My lane partner, who I could barely keep up with, was "taking it easy" after her Ironman.
I was the second slowest person. The slowest person broke her femur recently and was swimming for physical therapy, haha. So she'll probably pass me shortly.
I was wondering if there is such a thing as wireless headphones that I could listen to while I swim. Like if my phone was in a baggie on the side of the pool.
Post by litebright on Sept 2, 2021 22:06:56 GMT -5
Meds. Therapy. Exercise. For awhile I was taking horseback riding lessons, but I think that has run its course for now and I will probably wrap it up this month.
I read and re-read favorite fantasy novels. I have recently started journaling again.
On the unhealthy side, my typical habit of picking at my cuticles has spiraled into obsessively focusing on one finger. It has been an open wound on and off since January. That was one of the things that clued me in that it was time to get help. I'm feeling a lot better than January but I am still really struggling with figuring out why I am resorting to this and how to stop.
Post by sillygoosegirl on Sept 2, 2021 23:58:50 GMT -5
Does endless doomscrolling and taking of temperatures every time someone so much as stubs a toe count as coping? Because if so, I'm really on top of it.
Also reading a lot of fluff novels. And napping. And sometimes ice cream.
Lol, same. I’ve read 117 books so far this year. Most light, fluffy, and/or smutty. (and chocolate 😁)
Any books you can recommend for light and fluffy?
I have been sleeping a lot, buying expensive Harry Potter lego sets and trying to find an organization to volunteer for that understands my limitations due to MS.
I forgot to add, bourbon. Not drinking excessively, but I'm enjoying getting into bourbon, watching videos about it and reading about it as well as finding a small community in England to connect with about it.
My H has an EXTENSIVE collection and knows a lot about it if you ever want to chat!
Oh, I'm sorry. I would have guessed swimming would have been an excellent coping tool!
I swam with a masters team for a while and was put in the slowest lane. My lane partner, who I could barely keep up with, was "taking it easy" after her Ironman.
I was the second slowest person. The slowest person broke her femur recently and was swimming for physical therapy, haha. So she'll probably pass me shortly.
I was wondering if there is such a thing as wireless headphones that I could listen to while I swim. Like if my phone was in a baggie on the side of the pool.
Having a waitlist to treat kids with the monoclonal antibody because people are selfish fucking assholes who don't care about covid. Plus Texas fuckery giving me some PTSD from my pregnancy and a termination has not been good for my mental well being.
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I have been really off. Everything seems so heavy. With the end of summer, and the spike in Delta, I am not looking forward to the cold depressing isolating winter for the 3rd time.
I have tried to cut back on drinking because its not a good outlet. Not that I drink a ton, just don't really need a glass or two of wine multiple times a week.
I have tried to focus on family, running, music, staying off the internet ( here and news), reading, and watching happy shows.
I'm in an MSW program right now and honestly meeting with my cohort and discussing these topics has been extremely helpful. Obviously so much of what is going is relevant to our education, so that helps.
I was in school for my MPA during the 2016 election. I seriously do not think I would've coped as well without my classmates and professors.
Post by amberlyrose on Sept 3, 2021 11:07:03 GMT -5
Apparently I wasn't. Had a pretty epic breakdown on Tuesday, which resulted in me taking my chili mac lunch to the car, driving to the park, and eating it while crying.
Truthfully, the last two months were spending money and drinking more than usual, and the overspending part is what started my breakdown. We decided to have a mostly sober, no-spend September.
We put together a workout space in our climate controlled shed last weekend. This weekend, we are going to clear out old clothes and other crap in the basement to donate to local places helping refugees.
I took up tennis during the pandemic. It’s such a fun sport, there is a lot to learn, it’s all outside, very social and it takes up a lot of time!
I was so excited to see our rec department offering tennis lessons, I went to sign up and the classes are full. Whomp whomp.
Yes tennis and the peloton are having their days! I hope they add more offerings or you can find a lesson group. I signed up for t2, you can pick the beginner level, play singles, doubles or mixed doubles and schedule all five matches on your own for $30. None of us had a clue when we started. Maybe they have that or something similar in your area?
Post by Ashley&Scott on Sept 3, 2021 14:34:54 GMT -5
Reading or listening to audiobooks Playing simple games on my phone like snake scream Organizing Buying clothes Watching tv Photography Taking walks Adult coloring books