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Can you tell when you're doing okay, or when you're not doing too well?

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candletea19

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I thought this would be a fun thread. I've noticed over the past couple months that I can sometimes tell when things are headed in either a good or bad direction. Sometimes it's just small things, like I can tell when my anxiety is spiking up before I feel extra anxious, I can tell when the depression/lack of motivation and energy is about to sink.. stuff like that. Feel free to add your own, as personal or as vague as you want!

Things that happen/I do when things are starting on a positive rise:
-Get more than one shower in a week
-Tidy the house (I'm on top of garbage always, but the messy is something else. If I'm cleaning the tub or something, I'm having a REALLY good day)
-Use less than 7 alarms(plus "snooze"s) to get out of bed in the morning.
-Little things don't irritate me as often



Things that happen/I do when things are starting on a negative slope:
-My word skills start declining (mixing up words, forgetting how to spell or certain grammar rule, etc)
-Showering feels like the worst chore in the entire world, even if I do shower it's dreadful and takes me forever to convince myself to get in.
-I don't talk to my mom (if I don't see her, I'll call her, usually, on good weeks)
-My eating is all crazy. I want junk food, don't want to cook, etc. I usually love cooking, hate junk food (for the most part haha)
-While in the car, I'm focusing on the road/other cars always
-Also while in the car, I'm holding onto the door handle always



There's more, but that's what I can think of on the top of my head. I know some of these things are just a part of what I go through, but I've taken a notice to these things, and when they happen more or less, and have noticed somewhat of a trend (though it's not always reliable).
Hopefully I can use this to my advantage, and help predict panic attacks, or help stop them, or it'll help in some way, some how.

But for now, I thought it was a great discussion thing. See if anyone has similar experiences, or if anyone posts something and it clicks in my mind that I do the same, or even just as conversation!
 
I usually have an idea of when things are good or bad or on the way to either.

If things are good first I have to go through a checklist to make sure I'm not manic. Once I get through that, I will allow myself to feel happy, and just keep watch that it doesn't turn into hypomania because I am paranoid about becoming manic. The happiness is so fleeting that it is a little bit scary when it actually happens. Laughing, smiling, singing out loud, being overtly affectionate with my husband are all signs that I am doing well.

On the flipside, self hygiene is always the first to go. For some reason I hate brushing my teeth, and will go almost all day without doing so. Showers also decline, I rarely wash my hair is it is but I will go much longer without washing it. I don't want to get up out of bed, or leave the house. I'm not a neat freak to begin with, but I will do the bare minimum as far as cleaning to appease the husband, and will also stop eating. My anxiety starts to worsen, my driving can become erratic and I start dissociating. I completely isolate myself and won't talk to anyone.

That's all that I could come up with but I think it's enough.
 
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