What Costs You A Spoon?

[Chem Lady]

I see that many others have referenced the spoon theory, so I see that I am behind the times here, but I really liked it. If you haven't heard of it, I posted a link.

The Spoon Theory written by Christine Miserandino - But You Dont Look Sick? support for those with invisible illness or chronic illness

According to this blog, the theory was created to help a friend understand life with lupus, but it just as easily explains life with PTSD.
What are the things that cost you a spoon? Here are a few of mine:

- wearing uncomfortable clothes
- being cold
- having to spend time in a car conversing with people I don't know very well (that's multiple spoons!)
- hearing video game sounds
- my boss saying "drop by my office when you have a minute"
- thinking someone is mad at me

 

[Enaila]

--A loud sudden noise
--nightmares/night terrors
--flashbacks
--social events with work colleagues

 

[gealach]

I've never heard of the spoon theory before... I love it!!!!!

-nightmares
-insomnia
-anything that MUST be done before noon
-anything in groups of people
-everything that startles me (that's basically everything)
-a** holes who can't drive but think they can, and drive mach-chicken while drafting off my back bumper

 

[lostforgottensoul]

• Getting up as when I do I am in a lot of pain
• Sleeping as I have many nightmares and I am terrified if the dark. Is that two spoons?
• Eating as many times I can't or forget
• Showering as many times I have major pain where I can barley undress.
• Being undressed and dressing. It serves as a panic and many times I dress in my closet, even today
• Driving as I have many panic attacks.
• Working is a few spoons. I have to make sure my tone stays even and calm though people are screaming at me.
• My days off it is extremely hard to do anything but sleep so each I do on a day off is a spoon
• I often have severe panic attacks and fears through out the day. They are a spoon each.
• I often have flashbacks that throw me into a physical place such as curled up in a corner.
• I have a roller coaster of emotions. A spoon for each high intensity

There are more. Those just a few I could think of. Not only do I have PTSD and BPD and struggle with both but I also have chronic pain from falling 3 stories so it is hard to move around and like I said, even dressing and undressing is hard. Anything more is much harder.

My dad wouldn't get the spoon theory. I think my step mom would get the pain part as she also has pain but not the mental part. Just last night I was watching an episode of Dr Phil with a very mentally ill Sherry Duvall. She said "what happen? She was beautiful!" And I said, "when you are mentally ill you often don't care of yourself" but she wasn't quite understanding it so I think it's still hard for people that don't struggle with it to understand. Even when it's right in their face.

It's a good theory but I just think it's easier to understand Lupus or medically ill and much harder to understand mentally ill and physical inabilities.

 

[Stickler]

Panic attacks...onboard spoon burner.
Suicidal ideation...onboard spoon burner.

Any stressor. Spoons.

 

[EveHarrington]

1) Clothes that fit "wrong". I hate clothes that are too big or too tight. Sometimes if my clothes shrink or I'm bloated, I'll change an outfit 10+ times. Even if I end up in something comfortable, I've lost a spoon or three because even having "wrong" fitting clothes on for a few minutes can really stress me out! My clothes always have to fit right, no matter what time of day it is.

2) Too much caffeine. It's a fine line. It's always too much tea or too much chocolate. I know it's completely within my control but I'm always pushing the envelope with my food issues. (Of which I have many, which is why I'm always trying to see what I can get away with. And then I'm kicking myself later.)

3) Being too active, going out too much, pushing myself too hard without scheduling rest time. Play a little now, pay in spades later.

4) loud noises, being startled, angry voices

5) being too hot or too cold

6) certain kinds of music. Horror movie type music=bad, some beats stress me out

7) bad sleep (for whatever reason), nightmares

8) having to do anything on someone else's schedule (anxiety ----> insomnia----> all my spoons are wiped out)

9) Flashbacks

 

[Wendy]

I just learned about this (spoon theory) a few months ago and I love it. It explains so well what we go through!

 

[corvidae]

i have a chronic physical issue that's an invisible disability and PTSD, so it's like each takes on a life of their own and fights over what spoons are available. sometimes all i end up with are sporks.

any stress, good or bad, will cause me to lose spoons: dealing with medical issues is the biggest one right now...and with the upcoming holidays, family will be added to that mix (in an extra-concentrated form).

leaving my house, even to check the mail, loses spoons.

 

[Tabbycat925]

-insomnia
-if someone yells really loud or loud singular noises
- anything that I have to be up before noon to do
-being peppy or normal around other people
- if someone wants to debate about anything
- anything that involves empathy
-night terrors
- anything that may seem repetitive
- being around a lot of people (that's a lot of acting normal)
Mostly just the things like lack of sleep and things that involve having to pretend that I'm alright when I'm uncomfortable

 

[intothelight]

1; Too many demands for my attention at once.
2. Conflict
3. Letting myself get overwhelmed and trying to do too much
4. Lack of sleep
5. Not eating
6. Not exercising

 

[Tinyflame]

not much sleep
pain, worry, fear, conflict, SI - +++ spoons
stressors
discomfort
depression
nausea
dating
the unknown

 

[Tinyflame]

Yes I was thinking, plus shopping, cleaning, commuting, dealing with superiors or challenging people, having to ask for anything, meetings, battling cold weather, family members or others' expecttions, self-doubt or indecision, definitely terror or shock(s). Anything that uses up physical or emotional energy.