Things to do to get going again.

[Jeshu]

After 10 years out of circulation I dread the day that I will be well enough to do some work again. Please don't misunderstand me I LOVE to work again, but how to get past all those hurdles? At the moment it is hard to walk from one point to the next. Let alone have responsibility again. What if I get a panic attack at the wrong time? Yet I have to do what many of you already do daily. My question is how do I get going again? Are there methods I can use, what things do I watch out for?

 

[Alive again]

That is a challenging question.

Some of it is individual. I had to start with getting back into church and some friendships. Going to the library and being around people. I had almost completely isolated myself. Then I slowly added some volunteer work, For me that started centered around my kids activities. As this slowly added friendships and I learned how to deal better with this illness and the stressors involved then I added and tried and discarded some things along the way. I also have volunteered with church activities (food bank, bible studies, etc) and began helping people with rides to the store or doctors office and food banks.

I am now doing a voc rehab training to return to nursing (RN) but I am still very uncertain if I can handle the actual stressors of actually working. There are so many times still when I feel like I am hanging onto my control by the skin of my teeth or just have a difficult day. So I am not sure I will successfully return to work, but I have felt enough better that I was willing to push myself (perhaps too hard) to see what I could do. This program is going well inthat I have a periods of home study and then I will have 160 hours of on the job training that is unpaid before I will actually get my liscense back.

I am trying to keep the focus on this being a trial to see what I can or cannot do at this point in my life.

FOr me helping people is good and dangerous territory. I fell good helping others, it is a important value to me. But I can quickly slip into unhealthy boundaries if I am not on my guard and get overstressed and tired trying to do too much! IN other words, I am good at taking care of everyone lese, but not myself!!!

Not sure any of this helps, but this is the best answer I can formulate this am!

 

[spdnet75]

alive again is a fine lady to listen to! She is so right and, I imagine, a fantastic nurse for people.

I've totally isolated myself and function reasonably well in public.

Start at the beginning and with small steps. It may be difficult, but evaluate your day and make little adjustments where you can. GOD and your friends here, will be with you to sort out the rest.

Stephen

 

[rushingwind62]

After 10 years out of circulation I dread the day that I will be well enough to do some work again. Please don't misunderstand me I LOVE to work again, but how to get past all those hurdles? At the moment it is hard to walk from one point to the next. Let alone have responsibility again. What if I get a panic attack at the wrong time? Yet I have to do what many of you already do daily. My question is how do I get going again? Are there methods I can use, what things do I watch out for?

I understand where you are coming from. The fear is at times overwhelming, when I think about going back to work. I have had so many bp episodes and fear the stress will trigger them again. I am fairly stable now and only have minor ups and downs. I really don't want the major swings again. I wish I had the answers for you but I am looking for them myself. Maybe we can both learn something in this thread. Thanks for posting it....God Bless You!!

 

[Alive again]

So the glaring part I misse din my advice, is that as I first stepped out I had to plan recuperation time, so I might push myslef a little and then rest for what ever time I NEEDED, often several days. As I felt better on the right meds for me, I was then able to do moreforlonger with less recuperation. I still need to be hyper aware of my warning signs and rapidly back off and take cart\e of myself. So I purposely build a lot of flexibility in my sechedlue and those I help know tha things can happen to change my availablitly and that I will say NO when I cannot help and I do not have to explain why, as ther are many that I have learned will ask what I am up to before they ask for help, so I always say, I always am busy and have plans, what's up. so I am always open to say no. or even I am just not feeling/doing well today or just too exhausted. Antying I nedd to say that is honest wihtout having to say I am manic today and not able to be around peopel or I am too depressed to get out of my pajamas much less the house!!!!

SO it is very important to take care of yourslef first!

 

[Jeshu]

Thank you ALL for your posts.
I have some added problems at times I can't get going while I'm well enough to do so. At other times I do far to much when I can't do anything really and work myself into the ground. These strange behaviours make it very hard to complete a goals. How can I shake suchs patterns?

 

[rushingwind62]

Thank you ALL for your posts.
I have some added problems at times I can't get going while I'm well enough to do so. At other times I do far to much when I can't do anything really and work myself into the ground. These strange behaviours make it very hard to complete a goals. How can I shake suchs patterns?

Just remember, you can only take one problem at a time and try to pace yourself to do the same amount of work everyday regardless of how you feel. Some days I don't feel like doing anything but I force myself to do something. Even if it is only small minor things. And on the days I feel like taking the world on, I always remember to sit down once in a while just to relax. By doing this I am sometimes amazed at how much in a weeks time I accomplish.....God Bless You!!