Do you manage to sustain all regular chores and work during bad mental health times?

[SeekingAfrica]

I couldn't whatsoever at one point, my room would always be a mess etc. But I thought I just hadn't learned how to cope or have routine.
I have now worked very hard for a long time to plan, have routines etc. I'm had few super rough days in practical sense. Today I also hit in some ptsd nerve too, as in, had a trigger that still affects me, but I still have no clue what it was. I was watching something and then suddenly something set me off and I cried hysterically and couldn't stop for a while. Now I'm at the opposite end, super low to a point of being unable to care about doing stuff and getting occasional wave of wanting to sh. Feeling sleepy hours before regular. Unable to feel present much yet.
And between the last days and today, my room is becoming messy in 2 sec flat, I'm finding every cleaning task incredibly hard and so on... So all my careful systems fell apart. So fast. I just wonder if that's normal and I'll snap back once I feel better, or just need to edit my habits and routines a bit so I can somehow kerp doing them no matter what?

 

[PandaPower]

Hey seeking Africa,
I’m sorry you’re going through a low point. I’m in a similar boat these days. Maybe when you feel able to do more you could map two other routines, one that is low intensity and another of medium intensity.the low intensity one could have basic requirements listed: take shower, order a frozen meal or somethin like that. This way when you hit a low point you won’t have to spend mental energy prioritizing things and making decisions about what to do.take care of yourself during this time . remember that it’s okay to have off days and days that will not be as productive as others.
Best,
M

 

[Mach123]

Yes. It's a few levels up from not being able to get off the couch or out of my pajamas, which is where I was about 7 years ago.

I don't work outside the home but that's harder in some ways, the routine having no coercive authority behind it meaning, nobody makes me do it but me.

But yes I do it because I don't want to feel bad or I want to feel good more than I want to feel bad when it comes to the housework.

Being male I feel bad because I never got to where anyone cleaned for me and I couldn't afford to pay for the service. On the other hand, I always liked doing it for someone else. I like cooking also. I remember telling my wife when I met her, before I knew I'd been abused, that I was thoroughly house broken.

I love cleaning gadgets and I'm especially attached to my Dyson vacuum which is older now but with a replacement front brush thing it's still doing it for me.

Bottom line, if things are dirty, meaning if I can see it, especially the floors and the bathroom, I get depressed.

I usually feel there is nothing I can do about being depressed but I can get up off my ass and clean the house so it's nice.

If it's clean that means there must be something good about the people who live there.

Nice makes me feel good. Nice I like.

 

[The Albatross]

Mostly yes I can... usually the chronic illness is the issue rather than mental/emotional.

 

[SeekingAfrica]

Well as it turns out once I started cleaning a bit getting things is easier once I have had set organisation and place for all. So getting back on track is faster than expected. But it seems I do have tendency to let things go a bit in tough times. So I like the idea of low intensity routine in case of such moments like now so I don't have to feel bad. Usually seeing mess makes me feel worse yes, but sometimes in a freezing manner.. Thankfully I've been slowly trying to push to semi normal at least in terms of cleaning.

 

[SeekingAfrica]

Mostly yes I can... usually the chronic illness is the issue rather than mental/emotional.

I'm good with pushing through physical illness, while mental can crush me. I've gotten better in time, but clearly there's more to learn. Well, we're human, there's always more to learn...

 

[frogthroat]

Hello. I've seen your status updates so I'm aware that you've recently moved. It's normal to be exhausted after such a big life change. Also, financial stress would be exhausting to anyone even with people without PTSD. I'm not trying to minimize how you're feeling at all. I just think maybe you need to cut yourself a break about not feeling good all the time or not being able to take care of things perfectly all the time.
That being said, it's really taken meds to get me to where I can clean and cook regularly and I still have concentration issues. I guess now that I'm not as depressed ADD is an issue. So It's been a year and a half to get to where I can stick to a routine!
Idk if you are able to receive therapy and get meds at this time. This is probably going to sound goofy but when I got out of the hospital when I got up in the morning or I was overwhelmed I would sit at the kitchen table and just talk to God, the universe, spirit, etc. like I was having a conversation with a physical person about everything I didn't feel like I could talk to anyone about. I have let out some really negative feelings that way and surprisingly it was so comforting. It still works but I still see my therapist every 2 weeks and I'm on an anti-depressant. Best of luck to you. It's hard to care about everyday things when you're experiencing life issues and trying to figure yourself out mentally with no professional help.

 

[SeekingAfrica]

Hello. I've seen your status updates so I'm aware that you've recently moved. It's normal to be exhausted after such a big life change. Also, financial stress would be exhausting to anyone even with people without PTSD. I'm not trying to minimize how you're feeling at all. I just think maybe you need to cut yourself a break about not feeling good all the time or not being able to take care of things perfectly all the time.
That being said, it's really taken meds to get me to where I can clean and cook regularly and I still have concentration issues. I guess now that I'm not as depressed ADD is an issue. So It's been a year and a half to get to where I can stick to a routine!
Idk if you are able to receive therapy and get meds at this time. This is probably going to sound goofy but when I got out of the hospital when I got up in the morning or I was overwhelmed I would sit at the kitchen table and just talk to God, the universe, spirit, etc. like I was having a conversation with a physical person about everything I didn't feel like I could talk to anyone about. I have let out some really negative feelings that way and surprisingly it was so comforting. It still works but I still see my therapist every 2 weeks and I'm on an anti-depressant. Best of luck to you. It's hard to care about everyday things when you're experiencing life issues and trying to figure yourself out mentally with no professional help.

Thank you! Actually, 3 months ago I was very stuck and I did do both therapy and meds, and every self care thing I could think of. It was the only way to survive quite honestly. And I did get better, immensely. I do admit, between being busy moving, financial stress of moving and my t going on vacation, I did slip on following through in some of these things. For example I was taking regular meds and sleep meds but for few weeks I haven't been able to buy the sleep meds. And with the moving, I haven't seen my t in maybe 3-4 weeks, which combined with the changes may have had adverse effect. In any case thank you for the writing and the support. It's nice knowing I'm not alone. Talking to God is OK, whatever you do that helps you is a good thing. I'm going to try to pick myself up and get back to some things that help me too.

 

[Muttly]

For me, I can go to my job and manage work but when I'm in a bad mental state chores fall apart. I can't keep my home clean. I hate it. I think, I have experienced something like you though. I have routines that help me manage. I recently went through a bad bout and chores fell to the side, but today I got caught up. Having the routines helped me get back to a normal functional level of function. Not sure if that makes sense.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Answering the title: Nope.

But at times I have been able to get some cleaning done out of the blue as a distraction technique and it worked.

But, if I am really bad off mentally, I am typically useless.

My therapist and I have worked on it and worked on it not overwhelm me and make me more useless by focusing on just one thing. Just that one box. Or just sweep that one room. And then that gets me in the groove and I tend to do way more then planned.

That said, I am still typically useless when bad mentally. Working on it. Been working on it for like a few years so I'd give yourself a break. And know you are not alone. Just working takes all out of me so its so hard to do anything more or do anything on days off. Just keep working on it and focus on one small clean task at a time!

 

[TruthSeeker]

I make a list....and when I bother to read the list.....I get much more done. No list....well cleaning, chores, etc.. can be hit or miss.