Hitting a dip

[Roxy]

I've suffered with severe depression for over 8 years but things have been pretty good for the past couple of months. However, things are building again and I'm hitting another dip.

I get overwhelmed by stuff. This time it's Christmas and my DH is having an op in just over a week. I wanted to get everything done before DH's op as he'll be laid up for 6-12 weeks. I don't like going out on my own so shopping after his op is going to be difficult.

The whole change in routine once DH is in hospital is really starting to bother me. Things will be so different. We've not really spent a lot of time apart and I've never been without him at home before. I'm so anxious about it. He does a lot of the household stuff because I don't cope with it all on my own (and he only works part time too). Once he's had his op I'll have to do everything - all the domestic stuff, still work part time, get Christmas sorted, visit him in hospital (he'll be in 4 days). It all feels way too much.

People in the real world don't understand why I get in such a state over the changes. Nothing will feel the same :shocked: I want to put my hands over my ears, close my eyes and shout so I can block the whole world out. I've self harmed a lot over the past year but had got it all under control but I can feel that slipping out of my control again.

Hopefully people here will understand where I'm coming from because in the real world I feel so alone.

 

[redkmkz]

Been fighting depression too... and when something like this happen, it is a blow... What I try to do to overcome these crushing feelings is to focus on the "after"... I've notice that when I think of the hard times I have to face (even just shopping, or waking up to work) it helps to visualize the end of it. I mean, keep telling myself "it is suffering, but has an end - everything will be ok and this situation is just temporary" like swimming in a rough sea, eyeing the beach... compartmentalizing helps too... break your chores in tiny bits and go through slowly, at your own pace as much as possible... If X-Mas this year will be a tough time, skip over-preparing - keep intimate and take the time off to do something nice even if just small - cut the pressure if is due just to pleasing other people or keep appearances. If you have someone close, though, that you can rely on/is aware of your condition, ask for help even if it is hard... little gestures like grocery shopping or tagging along for support when you have to go out... You said yourself: "I've suffered with severe depression for over 8 years but things have been pretty good for the past couple of months." Keep thinking things will be ok again soon...

 

[epath13]

I've suffered with severe depression for over 8 years but things have been pretty good for the past couple of months. However, things are building again and I'm hitting another dip.

I get overwhelmed by stuff. This time it's Christmas and my DH is having an op in just over a week. I wanted to get everything done before DH's op as he'll be laid up for 6-12 weeks. I don't like going out on my own so shopping after his op is going to be difficult.

The whole change in routine once DH is in hospital is really starting to bother me. Things will be so different. We've not really spent a lot of time apart and I've never been without him at home before. I'm so anxious about it. He does a lot of the household stuff because I don't cope with it all on my own (and he only works part time too). Once he's had his op I'll have to do everything - all the domestic stuff, still work part time, get Christmas sorted, visit him in hospital (he'll be in 4 days). It all feels way too much.

People in the real world don't understand why I get in such a state over the changes. Nothing will feel the same :shocked: I want to put my hands over my ears, close my eyes and shout so I can block the whole world out. I've self harmed a lot over the past year but had got it all under control but I can feel that slipping out of my control again.

Hopefully people here will understand where I'm coming from because in the real world I feel so alone.

I think there're lots of people here who can relate to this.
Do you think you can concentrate more on positive...even though I believe it's hard to look at anything positively when you're not feeling well, but still. Try to praise yourself for every little success or achievement. And maybe you could create a new temporary routine until things go back to normal. It could bring you some level of comfort.
Sometime it might feel like after all the efforts you put in to maintain balance life gives you even harder challenge and you start wondering if the new obstacle is too hard for you. But maybe what it actually means is that you're much stronger now, and that you can win this battle as well no matter how hard it seems...