Source
r/RandomActsOfPolish•
ThatOneFemale

Because you're the nicest folks around...

You guys should help me get out of my funk! Tell me something to do to make myself feel better!

I've been sick the last few days, so naturally I've been feeling blah, but I've been gradually getting more depressed and stressed out with life around here. I had a panic attack last night while I was trying to sleep and that's always SO fun. I don't have any medication to help me manage my depression and anxiety, so it's on me to try and keep myself as level as possible. But I need some help, because I've been having trouble even getting myself off the couch the last few days. So what should I do today to try and get myself going? Keep in mind I have a 1 year old with me, so anything super time-consuming or extra wild will have to wait. :)

Posted Sep 25, 2012, 4:01 PM UTC

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stargirl142http://amzn.com/w/2VJUSVJ27EUHI •

Oh geez, stuff to do with a 1 year old.... Hmm I don't even remember, mines 4 and a half now lol. The fact I don't remember means I probably couldn't do jack squat with her. Sometimes now though if I need to get out of the house ill just take her and go walk around Walmart for a while. That only works for people like me though who live in a small town with nothing else to do. Do you have a mall nearby to go walk around?

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

We do have a mall! That's not a bad idea to just go walk around it for a bit, hopefully it won't be too busy today. I was thinking something along the same lines. I wish he liked the bookstore, but alas he goes ballistic after like five minutes in there for some reason. Silly babies.

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

It's actually still quite hot here, which is why I've been having problems taking him on walks. It's depressing. I want fall weather to be here NOW.

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Zazzlesthe7th•

I'm sorry you're having a rough go. I have felt like I have been on the edge of a panic attack for a few days and I've been fighting it off as best I can. I may go for a jog today. This time of year is hard on me too, as the day gets shorter my mood gets slower.

Why don't you take the little one for a nice walk, if it isn't raining or something. Or grab your camera and go out somewhere you like and take adorable pictures of your kiddo and the cool stuff around you?

I hope you feel better soon, I know what you are dealing with isn't easy, but I got your back! Feel free to send me a PM should you need to rant or anything.

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

Jogs are good, get the happy brain chemicals going. I hope you start feeling better ASAP. I too am very easily affected by the weather and season, maybe that's a factor I didn't consider. The days are getting shorter.

The weather's not too bad, just still quite hot. We do live right down the road from a nice park though. :) I need to finish sewing my camera bag so I can actually take my camera places with me!

Thank you. :) And same to you, of course. I've always got an ear open for all the lovely ladies here.

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Zazzlesthe7th•

I pretty much have gotten to the point where I know exactly when my mood will start bottoming out.

I think you should finish up that camera bag, because going out taking pictures is so much fun!

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

Blah, I wish mine was more predictable. Sometimes I'll just crash for no reason, or start getting super restless and anxious without any warning. Once I got over my post-partum depression (at least that's what I assume it was) after having my son I've generally done pretty well, but the last few weeks have been really difficult. My mood has been poor anyway, and then it's like bad news after bad news so it's hard to keep my head above water. I do try hard with my son around, just because I don't want it to affect him.

I know, I feel silly that I haven't done it yet. I went and bought this nice camera and I never take it anywhere or use it for anything but nail shots it seem. :]

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_wonderlust_http://amzn.com/w/1I615DRHQWWRV•

I've been having a super shitty day so far. My mood started slipping Sunday night. Yesterday I couldn't maintain interest in anything long enough to enjoy it, and today I woke up with the full weight of depression already sitting on my chest.

One thing that usually helps me is playing my favorite music nice and loud. Hasn't done the trick so far today, but I've still got some hope that it will. Another thing is caffeine. Sometimes an artificial jumpstart to my mood/energy level is all it takes to turn the tide. I drank some Diet Coke, but I'm thinking I may have to pull out the big guns and go full Red Bull. Lastly, sunlight is good. Get the good ol' Vitamin D in your bloodstream.

Coming here always puts a smile on my face, too. :)

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

I'm sorry you're feeling down, too. :( I'm just gonna send you a big old internet hug and hope you get to feeling better soon.

Usually the sounds of Yo Gabba Gabba are floating through the house, because it's kind of like baby crack. Maybe we'll take a break and I'll put on some Rasputina or something. :) And yes, caffeine! I've actually been cutting my caffeine almost completely out but I think I'm going to go get a coffee and a scone, if nothing else just to get out of the house. Blah, there's plenty of sun here! I'm ready for sweater weather but it's still so darn hot I'm in tank tops.

Agreed. :D I know if all else fails there'll be something around here that'll make me smile, if even for a minute.

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stargirl142http://amzn.com/w/2VJUSVJ27EUHI •

Well there's a problem right there, Yo Gabba Gabba is on! Lol, unless you are one of the people that actually enjoy that show. That and Caillou are the top two shows I cannot stand to hear, ugghhhhh [Shudders].

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

Haha It doesn't bother me much, but I hate Caillou. I think I've just become desensitized. It's the only show my son really likes to watch, and it's a vast improvement over watching Ice Age over and over and over.

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stargirl142http://amzn.com/w/2VJUSVJ27EUHI •

Oh yeah, that was me and Spongebob for about a year and a half lol.

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minikin_snickasneehttp://amzn.com/w/2ZDGRBVZ8XDPV•

Oh god, I have had the panic attacks while asleep/nearly asleep. Not fun.

How's the weather there? It's cool but sunny with a slight Delta breeze here. Open the windows and let the fresh air blow through... that's usually invigorating for me. Stay bundled up if you're possibly sick, but sometimes freshening the house sweeps the feeling of sickness away.

Play some cheery music. I always like Hawaiian music, or classical music, because it's slower, pleasant, and reminds me of happy things. If that's not your cup of tea, check out my favorite area band! They have a streaming player on their website (it used to auto-pop, but I think they changed it): thekimberlytrip.com

Do you have ingredients to start a crockpot with soup or some savory dinner? I find the smell of something cooking to be calming, yet something to look forward to. Allrecipes.com has some great recipes for crockpots.

I'm at home after a sleepless night, and have a doctor appointment in an hour. I'm frustrated because missing work = less money. I don't like that. :(

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

Yeah, it always creeps up on me without any warning, too. And I have to try and be quiet and deal with it without waking up the hubby, which is always a challenge.

That's not a bad idea while it's still cool in the morning. We rent an hold house so it's kind of dusty and funky when it's locked up tight for a long time.

I will have to check that out! I haven't listened to any classical music in ages, shame on me. I've been kind of on a dubstep kick, thanks to my husband.

I DO love cooking in my crockpot. And the husband would probably be surprised to come home to a cooked dinner. I am not exactly the best chef, so generally I don't do a lot of the cooking.

I hope your appointment goes well. :( Less money is no bueno, to be sure.

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demented_pants•

Crock pots are great for people who don't consider themselves to be good cooks. Plus the house smells great!

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

Yeah it's kind of my BFF. I can make a mean pot roast, and it makes me look like a totally competent cook when nothing could be further from the truth. :D

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demented_pants•

We do thanksgiving and christmas turkey in a crock pot every year. It comes out so moist it falls off the bone and it's hardly any work!

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minikin_snickasneehttp://amzn.com/w/2ZDGRBVZ8XDPV•

It seemed to go okay. Wants me to do labwork to follow up on a couple of issues, upped the dosage on a medication to see if that will help me sleep.

Meanwhile I need to stay awake the rest of the day so I will be tired this evening and hopefully sleep. This paycheck is going to suuuuuuck. :(

I've been too tired and kind of headachy/dizzy to even want to paint my nails, or wash my hair!

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

I hope you get some sleepies soon. :( We'll keep you busy until it's time for bed. Blah I know what you mean! I finally did my nails last night because I was feeling all right, but I'd been just sort of stewing on the couch for days.

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minikin_snickasneehttp://amzn.com/w/2ZDGRBVZ8XDPV•

I do, too, and I hope the dizzy feeling goes away once I get some rest. It makes me confused at times, and I have to be thinking clearly at work.

I may do my nails this afternoon, if I find the energy. right now I'm ensconced on my sofa with the cats, browsing the web and trying to rest without falling asleep.

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Hai_kitteh_mow•

Bake cookies?

I always bake something when I am in a funk. Not only is it relaxing but then you have a nice comforting sweet to make you feel better :). Especially if you make something that gives you good memories.

For me, I like to make butter thumb print cookies with cherry filling and powdered sugar topping because it reminds me of when I was a kid and my mom would make those during the holiday's and how the house would just smell of these fresh yummy cookies. And well, since my mom lives across the country from me and I can't exactly get a hug from her when I need it, this is the best substitute :).

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

That's a wonderful solution! I'm not much of a baker but it would give me an opportunity to whip out my cute apron and get a little domestic. I do have to pick up some milk and ketchup (my sons dietary staples, lord help me) so maybe I'll get some ingredients for a sweet! Maybe I'll make some chocolate pies and take one to my mother-in-law, she's kind of addicted to them. And I feel your pain about your mother living far away. Mine does as well, and it can be really hard when your down.

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Hai_kitteh_mow•

Ohh Chocolate pie :) And I LOVE the idea of bringing one to your mother-in-law, because it sounds as if you are like me, that it can brighten your day and mood when you brighten someone else's, so that is a win-win :). Im lucky enough to have my dad and brother here, so I love to make them dinner or bake them stuff whenever I can and it just makes me feel so good, especially when they are so appreciative of it! (which they always are).

Yeah and sometimes phone calls help but it's not the same, I just wish she was here to rub my hair, that is my favorite. She has done it since I was a little girl and any time she visits, I always ask her if I can lay my head in her lap (at 23 years old ha!) and to rub my hair and she will :). Mom's are seriously the best.

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

Agreed! Making others happy always makes me feel better. So it's kind of selfish, I'm a good-deeds junkie. :p

Yeah I don't know where I'd be without at least phone calls from her. More than once she's called me and I've just start boo-hooing before I even realized it. That makes me think of my grandma. :) She used to do this thing we called "tickling our backs". Basically she'd just run her fingertips lightly over our backs, but me and my brother loved it. She used to do it to put us to sleep when we were young, and then it just kind of stuck. I remember my brother, this gigantic 6 foot 16 year old draping himself across my poor grandma's lap and asking her to do it. So funny.

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Hai_kitteh_mow•

There is nothing selfish about being self-less LOL :) You are silly!

I know that feel! You sound like you have an amazing grandma :)!!!

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demented_pants•

Do me a favor.

Go look in the mirror and repeat this to yourself:

"Gosh, I am an awesome mom." (I can tell you are because even when you're in a terrible mood you put taking care of the kidlet first.)

Give your kid a big hug and tell her/him that you love them. Ask if they would like to play a game - then let them pick! I think adults tend to lose track of how much FUN it is to just run around playing like a kid. Maybe you can let your imagination run wild for awhile.

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

I think I can manage that. :) And baby hugs ARE the best. Playing with him is always a wonderful little break from being a grown up. He loves to wrestle on the bed or sit in my lap and have me read him one of his books. And chasing him around and pretending to be a monster? It's so much fun I think they should charge for it. Might just be time for a good chase right about now.

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demented_pants•

Rarr! I love playing monster.

I don't want any kids of my own but I am looking forward to being older and having a ton of friends with kids - because those ones I can spoil and send home. :D

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

Haha You can be like the bad ass "auntie" that they always want to go hang out with.

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demented_pants•

Hell yeah. Except instead of noisy toys I will buy them things like a telescope and a microscope.

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[deleted]•

I'm in that postion too, I find what really helps me I sit outside, or bake cupcakes, (the rainbow ones are super and easy, plus they are RAINBOW) or doing something that i absolutely love, taking photographs or walking around thrift stores. If you ever just need someone to talk to, I'm here.

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

I've never made rainbow cupcakes. It looks so complicated to me. Ahhh, thrift stores. I looove thrift stores, but we don't have any really good ones here.

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[deleted]•

It isn't, I promise, You split the batter into separate bowls, mix in desired amount of food coloring, and then just pour them into the cupcake holder thingy in your desired design. only takes about 5 extra minutes!

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

No way! I always imagined having to like bake them separately and then cut and layer or something. I'm gonna have to try this now!

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[deleted]•

Nope, I ussually go for a marbled effect, but you can pour very carefully with layers, if that's what you want, it wont be perfect, but still fun. When I can get imgur to work, I'll show you mine.

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[deleted]•

Actually, here take my Flickr Pics RAINBOOOWWWW

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minikin_snickasneehttp://amzn.com/w/2ZDGRBVZ8XDPV•

Isn't there a "Superior Thrift" in town? The one up my way usually has some good stuff in the yarn/craft department, as well some neat antiques, and fabric (huge fan of scarves/saris)

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

Maybe you're gonna have to show me the good places around. Everything I've checked so far has been pretty meh, although I did find some cute cups once.

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minikin_snickasneehttp://amzn.com/w/2ZDGRBVZ8XDPV•

Been a while since I went thrifting in Mo-town. I collected capri blue glassware, and I used to find pieces there from time to time.

I know there are quite a few stores in Stockton that are hit and miss. Superior and Delta seem to be the best. One of the other gals in my SNB group (the other one who does drop spindling) goes to several thrift stores regularly. Goodwill is pricey now. The Salvation Army always used to be good pickings, but they closed the one in Lodi, and I think the one in Stockton is way down in south Stockton, so I don't go without a male companion.

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bacon_butterhttp://amzn.com/w/3C0JC5D85LA21•

I have pretty bad anxiety too, I wouldn't say I'm a pro at managing it. For me the only thing that makes me feel better is relief about what I'm anxious about. The best thing might just be to find someone to go out with you and rant (If your anxiety is tangible that is) because hearing your fears out loud can kind of put them into perspective. (Sometimes my worries are just amplified in my head but sound quite normal out loud)

I'm also usually quite soothed by cleaning or baking.

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

Ranting does help sometimes, although sometimes it gets me more worked up and then I start going off on tangents and fixating. I can be kind of obsessive. :] I USED to be a cleaner, but after so much cleaning up after baby and husband I really don't enjoy it much. The house just barely stays tidy, and occasionally it's kind of unlivable. Baking, however, is sounding more and more enticing.

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bacon_butterhttp://amzn.com/w/3C0JC5D85LA21•

I am very obsessive! And sorry but it's a bit of a relief to hear that someone else can feel that way too.

Anyway baking is a great idea if you're up for it! Here are some of my favorite recipes:

Best brownies I've ever had, a bit of work/ingredient hunting, but if you're up for something like that: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2006/09/outrageously-good-well-intentions/

Simpler brownies: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2010/01/best-cocoa-brownies/ (I think these are single bowl brownies)

Something fruity if you're not into chocolate: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2007/11/simplest-apple-tart/

and if you're not into fruit or chocolate: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2006/08/punishment-sandwiches/ because please God tell me that you at least love butter.

I hope you feel better :)!

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ThatOneFemaleOP•

We can obsess together. /fistbump

Oh lawd, brownies. OH LAWWWWD.

And I'm southern. We love butter. We love butter so much we fry it and eat it whole. :)

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bacon_butterhttp://amzn.com/w/3C0JC5D85LA21•

Pretty sure we were soulmates at one time or another.

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