How do you define a good day?

[EveHarrington]

I’m wondering how other people define “a good day”?

I think I may be too hard on myself as my requirements for “a good day” ultimately mean no anxiety or mood issues or PTSD symptoms whatsoever.

Let’s just say that under my current guidelines, I haven’t had a good day in a very long time.

I know this feeds into my perfection issues and my desire to be “normal” ie without PTSD struggles. (Please no discussion about the definition of normal as that is off topic.)

So how do you define “a good day”?

 

[nowthisisme]

I don't have good days, I have good moments in a day.

The happy moments, the moment I use a grounding technique and it works. The moment my son gives me a sloppy kiss or my daughter makes me an "I love you" card. The moments i get myself up and cook or take a shower.

I have been through soo much and lately i have just struggled to grab on to any happy moment.

Having a good day is possible but good moments are easier to find.

Not sure if it makes sense .. but that's my point of view

 

[EveHarrington]

I don't have good days, I have good moments in a day.

The happy moments, the moment I use a groun...

Thank you.

I see I should be more appreciative of my good moments, my good minutes, and my good hours.

This gives me a different perspective.

:) :hug:

 

[LanaD]

I think I may be too hard on myself as my requirements for “a good day” ultimately mean no anxiety or mood issues or PTSD symptoms whatsoever.

Wow, that would be a perfect day, and I don't think those exist :) I define a good day not as one without challenges (e.g. PTSD symptoms) but as one in which I'm able to recognize symptoms/identify triggers, so that next time I'll (hopefully) handle the situation better.

A "good day" for me now is one in which I'm happier about the good things that happened than I am upset about that one little bad thing that happened. For example, in the past if I said one little thing that I regretted I'd spend weeks overthinking that and punishing and internally yelling at myself for having said it. Now I'm like, "Yes, you said one regrettable thing, but what about the hundreds of good things you said? Let's rejoice at those." I live in constant fear, so I try to consciously enjoy all the times when I do feel safe, and when I can express gratitude for all those times, that's a good day!

 

[Deleted member 37474]

A good day to me is a day where I am able to enjoy the things that I used to enjoy prior to ptsd. When my job doesn’t feel like “work.” When I have sex with my husband without flashbacks. Hugs and affection from family that feels right. A day without rumination or unpredicted triggers. The day can have some ptsd in it, but not a lot. Getting to walk my dog or have a moment to sit by a body of water and breathe in the air. Art. Music. Nature.

 

[EveHarrington]

Wow, that would be a perfect day, and I don't think those exist :) I define a good day not as on...

I had a perfect day today if you define it as no ptsd stuff. I’ve been wanting these kinds of days for a long time. I had a med hangover but once it wore off I was very functional and didn’t have any anxiety, mood issues, or other ptsd symptoms.

I feel like I need to have these “perfect” days in order to not be alone and to have people like me.

 

[LanaD]

I had a perfect day today if you define it as no ptsd stuff. I’ve been wanting these kinds of d...

That sounds like a recipe for disappointment, though, Eve. What if there are good days and, maybe, some perfect days every once in a while? Otherwise it does seem like a lot of pressure :/

 

[EveHarrington]

That sounds like a recipe for disappointment, though, Eve. What if there are good days and, maybe, some p...

Maybe, but it’s a reflection of my life, and how people have left me when they see my symptoms. I don’t know how I could have ptsd symptoms and have people in my life. This hasn’t worked out well in the past.

I don’t even know how a day could be good if I experience anxiety or mood issues.

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

I'm more of a moment by moment person, too. Some days, the moments are all I'm response-able enough to manage. Each moment presents a new chance to do something different if the day is feeling super shitty...or not. Choices can trip us up in a heartbeat, especially when they are severely limited.

As long as I'm still breathing, have shelter, water, genuinely nurturing sustenance, and haven't caused myself or other living things any purposeful harm within a day, I call it a good one.

If I'm able to move, sing, dance, soak up some nature, lend a hand, nurture myself beyond basic needs, offer support, drop some helpful knowledge when asked, somehow pay forward the kindness I've received in my life, and get a smile from another, I call it a damn good one.

If I don't manage to make it a good day, each moment still has hope as long as I can recognize where I may have caused harm to myself or another and can still feel drawn to improving my choices next time, if that makes sense.

 

[Lionheart]

As long as I'm still breathing, have shelter, water, genuinely nurturing sustenance, and haven't caused myself or other living things any purposeful harm within a day, I call it a good one.

If I'm able to move, sing, dance, soak up some nature, lend a hand, nurture myself beyond basic needs, offer support, drop some helpful knowledge when asked, somehow pay forward the kindness I've received in my life, and get a smile from another, I call it a damn good one.

I could not agree more!!! I really like your take on things @Tornadic Thoughts . Thank you for sharing and for helping me to see how I am actually having a good day rather than a crappy one!!!