1001 Ways To Appear Functional (even Though You're Not)

[Ronin]

Note indoors activity as outdoors & engaging other people if you really have to talk to someone about what you've been doing when you couldn't get out.

Also improves a sense of own capability: You not only spared money & energy of dealing with morons in your beloved activities, but did so many things in your days they can wonder how the hell did you fit it into your schedule. :rolleyes: Mad organizational genius and a soft smug smile, that's how.

 

[Ronin]

2) can hardly be bought here.

Gently soaked laundry powder (not enough to break apart or fully melt in the water) and a few hours after spraying the clothes with something fresh smelling works about as well for 2). Citrus based scents, sea based ones, and similar 'fresh' associated, better than heavier and wood based scents.

Just water-washing & careful brushing through & careful layering of hair strands works for the 1). Mess with how you arrange your hair & make it look deliberate in case it just Won't Obey.

 

[Kintsugi]

Constantly drop little references to your friends around the world and the funny jokes and anecdotes they've recently told you or conversations you just had with them. Do not mention all of those friends exist on a PTSD forum. People will assume you just keep in really close contact with your worldy college friends.

Also, occasionally off-handedly mention the volunteer work you do... Do not mention it's as a moderator on that PTSD forum you didn't mention in the previous example.

:D

 

[Ronin]

Also, occasionally off-handedly mention the volunteer work you do...

:D Do not mention it as 'volunteer work you do'. Mention it by hours or shifts you do it. I'm doing 10+ hours per day work, you?

 

[Deleted member 28403]

Hahaha, just loving this!

I study so much, all the hours I spend reading self help and psychology stuff :P Yea
Yea, friends all over the world :)

@Cashew
I generally forget to shower or anything for a week at a time, especially lately.

 

[Ronin]

@Saelben - pick the day of the week you like the most / dislike the least, mark it as a shower day, try to see if it's doable after you decided on it ;)

And yep, a good idea to make a thread for everything we learn(ed) skill-wise just as, and for, being here. :sneaky::tup:

 

[Deleted member 28403]

@Cashew
But shower is not nice...

 

[Changing4Best]

You can read a book, magazine, newspaper or whatever (in church I read the bulletin, so no one bothers me, until the service starts). You can also fake reading it, if you have finished it and the service has not started yet.

My pastor is one of my therapists/ councelors so I enjoy church, but not always everyone who attends it. Some folks are hard to ignore though. One woman gets upset when I read the bulletin and ignore her. So I just look at her when she talks for a bit, then go back to my bulletin.

 

[Recovery4Me]

@EveHarrington This thread has made my day! Thank you for initiating FUN or creative thoughts within our working truths. Plus some of these tips posted are just outstanding! :hug::p

*Smiling & nodding yes, instead of answering direct inquiries as to your day, mood, work ect. Then after your sparkling third nod, redirect the question back to them in melodic notes.:singing:

*When in those cycles of forgetfulness or aversion, use smart phone calendar with repeated alerts as to your need set for your regime.

* Break down your to-do list in manageable and flexible components. Divide up those stressors when possible and allow just isolation-fun time or kick-back time as needed without self-flogging. Possibly reframe the word isolation (that for some of us is the best part of our day:roflmao:) into labels such as Me-Time and/or Self-Reflection for main stream use or when around the non-PTSD.

*Consider an on-line course for continuing education to have an handy + goal orientated opt out for any social gathering and feel empowered in saying ,"No can do, gotta study for my test !". Everybody wins.:laugh:

 

[Ronin]

Make to'do's only of things you actually want to do that day.

It not only leads to higher likeliness of them getting done, but you can say with a grin you don't do anything you thoroughly dislike doing ;)

 

[Kintsugi]

Lavishly dress yourself when you go out and about. Everyone will think you're well put-together, and no one will realize you've been wearing the same pajamas all weekend and eating beans and salsa out of the can to cut down on the dishes in your already overburdened sink.

 

[Ronin]

Walk at a slightly faster pace than those around you, unless it would paint a target on you, to convey you're really busy... even when you have nothing to do whole day long and are just taking a walk.