Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
I know I have Hypothyroidism. My dr. increased my Thyroid med. recently. I've been taking vitamins. It hasn't made much of a difference. I do have a lot on my plate. It hasn't been an easy life for me. I feel so fatigued all the time. I feel like finding a cozy place to curl up at and stay there.
I've been very hard on myself because I don't have the energy to do chores or other things as efficiently as I used to. I'm ashamed of myself for not being the person I used to be. I used to work full time and clean my home on my day off. Sure I would get tired but it was no big deal unless I was really over doing it. I used to go dancing, go to places that required a lot of walking, ride bike, etc. I don't understand what happened.
I would like to better my life but when I try to do something, I get filled with anxiety. I end up avoiding the subject a lot of the time. Is there a term for wanting to do something but your mind and/or body won't lot you?
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Here is my new brother, copper :) He's so tiny! Moo and Tuck were ok with him on first meeting. Rocket due to his severe aggression will never meet Cooper.
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https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTDeA9Wxg/
I had to make myself do things each day. Baby steps, a little at a time. It took time, but I did get back to being more active. Work was never a choice, I had to work, but I'd literally stay in bed until I had 15 min to get ready and leave, and get home and get right back in bed. So as I got my meds adjusted and begin to feel less depressed and my medical health in order, i'd get up earlier do 10 or 15 minutes on the treadmill, take some time drink a cup of tea read a little then get ready for work. I'd purposely not go in my room after work, I'd stay in the living room, watch TV, cook dinner, hang out with the cat for a bit, then around 9:00p.m. I'd go to my room. Spend some time catching up on the computer, or read, etc. Do my nightime bed routine and settle in.
On Fridays I'd clean the house, take my time, its just me and the cat, so my house is never really dirty, but I'd do laundry, vacumn, dust, do the bathrooms. But space it out through the day.
People change, we change, the day to day dealings with Mental Illness take a toll and all you can do is do your best to work through it and come through it your best self. So don't be so hard on yourself.
Baby steps and taking things slowly are a good way to start back towards being a more active, more productive person and feeling better about yourself.
Take care,
Kat
Stay strong. Try and do a little each day. Baby steps.
I don't rush.... Sometimes I put things off for a day or two or spread things that I want to get done over a day or two... As Kat wrote... baby steps..... xo
I found two things you said interesting. You said "I've been very hard on myself" and "I'm ashamed of myself". Speaking from personal experience it sounds like your expectations of yourself are a little unrealistic. You're only human, give yourself a break. OK so you can't do al those things you want or maybe need to do. I assume you're doing those things you're capable of doing under your current circumstances, yes? Give yourself credit for doing them.
I'm curious what the anxiety is all about. What are you worried about? And what are you avoiding? That seems to me to be the key to the rest of the puzzle. Have you talked to your therapist about this? It's perfectly normal. In fact everything you're experiencing right now is perfectly normal. It's just that your self image and anxiety are things you need to work on.
Good luck to you and I hope things get better for you soon.
Best wishes to you.