….sleeping at night. I just received a great comment on this topic. I often tell clients that there is one way to deal with the depression sleep issue- to have the motto: BEDS ARE FOR SLEEPING AT NIGHT. Tracy’s comment is a great explanation of why. It’s so easy for us to crawl into bed when we’re depressed. It’s easy to stay in bed when we wake up depressed- but you will never feel better. Ever. Thanks to Tracy for telling her story!
Hi Julie,
I woke up this morning to a cloudy, dreary day. My mood also reflects this weather change- unmotivated, discouraged, low energy. Yesterday it was 80 degrees and sunny and I felt great! A 4 mile run probably contributed to my feelings of happiness.
I work at home. After being up for a few hours this morning and getting the kids off to school I found myself migrating towards the bedroom to take a nap. The blinds were drawn, the phone turned off, and my sound machine was running full blast. Just before I climbed into bed a little voice stopped me and reminded me that crawling into bed wouldn’t make me feel better. And I really wasn’t that tired. I had been focusing on the work/errands and chores that need to get done- anyone would want to crawl in bed after looking at that list. Mentally, I went through the list, crossed of everything that wasn’t urgent and focused on doing things that I enjoy and those that must be accomplished. The list is much shorter than it was a few hours ago. I’m still don’t have any pep in my step, but I’m not in bed either.
This illness just creeps up on me when I least expect it. I never go to bed at night thinking tomorrow’s supposed to rain what do I need to do the ward off the depression? ‘Normal” people don’t do that and I forget that my brain works differently that others. So I’m off to do some good things for myself and hoping the mind will follow.
Tracy
Hi Julie,
Just wondering if anyone is triggered when they get a cold. I get really depressed even when I have been in a stable mood for months. I have to fight very hard and it takes me awhile to get back to a a functional state.
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
Depression is physical as well as mental- so it makes sense that getting sick would bring you down. I also find- without question – that people with depression are more likely to get sick. I changed one thing last year that has made an amazing difference. I wash my hands every single place I go and then use a paper towel to open and close the door. This includes restaurants- other people’s houses, movie theaters, etc. For the first time in eight years- I didn’t get a cold or flu this year.
A question- is it possible you are stable and then start to get depressed and that leads to getting a cold? It’s always fascinating to me how arbitray these mood swings can be.
Readers- I would love to know your answers to Sandy’s question as well.
Julie
Hi
I have had low fever for a day or two and I went to an art museum today with class and got hypomanic.
I mean I loved it and got very excited well you know how it is….
Now its 3 am and I have just woken up with racing thoughts etc….
Do you think that fever triggers cycles…(.or was it my excitement about all the amazing art..?)
I also noticed with the fever that I kept forgetting what I was doing…
I don’t take meds for colds because I’m concerned about interactions..I am hypersensitive.
I do the hand washing thing ever since I did chain of transmission in my health class LOL.