1) Pacing - I've heard all
my therapists say "you're really good at managing, you have good
self-awareness" etc., etc. I appreciate the vote of confidence, but the
reality is this - I don't ALWAYS get it right. As I said to my older daughter,
pacing isn't fun. It usually means missing out on something.
I went to morning Rosh
Hashanah services last week, did a little bit on the computer, and did a 1 1/2
hours each way trip out to Marengo to see family for a Rosh Hashanah gathering,
including some out-of-town family. If I'm being honest, I didn't pace myself
well enough.
The following day, I
went to the Deerfield optimist installation dinner, to support my husband being
installed for his final year as president of the club. I wanted to be there,
but going to an evening event the day after Rosh Hashanah was a lot for me.
It's really hard
sometimes to pace myself, because I want to DO, to feel normal. But I need to not beat myself up for making mistakes re my pacing, especially since I pay for it when
I don't pace myself sufficiently, which sucks. Pacing ALWAYS matters... taking breaks...
even when I feel like I'm doing OK, it's good to stop and say "do I need a
break, even a couple minutes?".
Was there more to this than my pacing?
2) Meds - the last time
I had an irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) flare up, my body responded well with
the med I can take as needed. This time I wasn't responding as well. I remembered I wasn't on any other meds when
my IBS was first diagnosed.
I also remembered having
stomach trouble when I tried to go up in dosage on one of my meds, and had needed
to go down. Maybe I needed to go down again. For various reasons, I'm on more than one antidepressant,
so lowering the dosage of one seemed safe.
So I e-mailed my psychiatrist,
was polite and gave concrete information, & got the OK to lower the dosage
of that one med some more, to help my IBS.
I also need to always
bring my meds - especially the as-needed meds - when I go on an outing. That
goes double if it's challenging.
3) Diet - my diet
matters, and despite trying to communicate with the coordinator of the optimist
dinner, my food was not prepared exactly as I have requested. Lesson learned - try
really hard, on the rare occasions I eat in a restaurant, to speak directly
with food provider/chef.
4) glasses - switching back
and forth between my distance and near glasses can be annoying. Switching may
even challenge me enough that I need to take a break, but I need to wear them.
Given my sensitivity, even a few minutes in the kitchen without my glasses
makes a difference. My glasses - all
three of them - help me. Chances are if I feel like I need a break, it's not
because of the glasses.
Final thoughts –
One day at a time.
Give myself credit for problem-solving.
Remember self compassion,
which sometimes means self forgiveness - I can make mistakes (pacing is so hard
sometimes - I mean who DOES want to miss out?).
Try to be in the moment,
in the here and now.
Notice ANY subtle
positive change, not just negatives.
