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What's Our Fault And What Isn't?

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I know that I need to manage my time and allow myself lots of down time to recuperate, and I HATE it. But I have to accept that this is the only way I can get through.

Yup, that's me. I need so much time to recharge and refocus. I have no idea how people get so much done each day. Then I remind myself that my natural inclination is to gravitate to the couch. Then I struggle with whether that's my fault or not, or even if I decide it's not my fault, then what are my responsibilities as far as stopping being that way. How much do I have to try to change it and how much can I say "Hey this is me." and be okay with it.
 
You collecting disability isn't hurting anybody. Whether you're lazy or not (I strongly suspect not) is a separate issue.

I appreciate the suspicion that it's not laziness. Little affirmations like that can help a lot. But I disagree about collecting disability not hurting anybody. There are people digging ditches and breaking their backs to earn roughly what I earn. I can't help but feel that's unfair. Some of that feeling is my inherent guilt, but some of it is logical and heartfelt.
 
I've always heard the volunteering helps because it's not about you...

I know exactly what you're talking about. I can feel that when I read about others volunteering and doing so much outside themselves, but for some reason I can't really get there with me. I think a big part of my problem is that I am so inhibited by being a father. I was a lot more functional before fatherhood. It's as if I don't feel I have the freedom to fail or the freedom to branch out and do anything because it may end up causing me to be less diligent as a parent. I am in an almost constant state of worry.
 
There are people digging ditches and breaking their backs to earn roughly what I earn.

Some people are dead of depression after NOT doing that thing you feel guilty about, called self care.

You not joining them? A good thing, in my book. No buts accepted and no sorries needed. :)

(The shortest I can manage to make that statement of, our value as people is not measured by money, point.)
 
There are people digging ditches and breaking their backs to earn roughly what I earn.

I understand that thought process, I feel that way too but those people can, you cant, and you work for disabilty pay. You pay taxes for it. Also, those that are working are paying the same taxes if you didnt get disabilty as they would if you did.

I felt this way about food stamps too but i did need it and wasnt just being lazy have a ton of kids just to sit back collecting money.

You need it, thats what it is there for. And it doesnt impact me or anyone that works.
 
Have you tried mindfulness as a therapeautic technique (as opposed to just bringing down panic)? It sounds like you're spending way too much time in your head, as opposed to concentrating on what you're doing and what's going on around you. And your example of passing someone on the footpath is perfect, because you can't win if you get too locked in your thoughts.

Mindfulness is one way of learning to get outside your head, and more focused on what's happening around you, and accepting things as they are. So when you walk down the footpath and someone passes, instead of getting locked into the tortuous merrigoround of whether they acted appropriately and whether you acted appropriately, experiences like that become more like, "Ok, just passed someone on the footpath, and they didn't move over, it is what it is, next thought..."

Acceptances & Committment Therapy may also be a good place to go, but mindfulness therapy is easier to do on your own because of the broad number of youtube, podcasts, books, etc now available. A psychologist would be able to help you practice that as well.

People don't ordinarily think everything to death you know? And while it's totally fine to be an introspective person, if it's causing you to beat yourself up over your living situation and every last little event in your life, then it's no longer a helpful way of operating.

Because the reality is, the guy you passed on the footpath? It doesn't actually matter who moved out of the way and who didn't. And if your internal dialogue is causing minutiae like that to become distressing, it's time to turn down the volume on the internal dialogue, so that ultimately when you pass someone on the footpath or you sit down on the couch, it can actually become just another enjoyable experience.

"This is me sitting on the couch. We have a really great couch. Next thought...":)
 
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