OT: in a funk

Sounds like seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. My wife sometimes suffers from it and it is caused by the long dark days of winter. There is something that seems to help her and others and that is light therapy. There are these lights you can buy which replicate the actual sunlight that fools your brain when you sit in front of them for 1/2 hour per day and read the newspaper or a book. It tricks your brain into releasing the chemicals that it produces that are released when you experience natural sunlight. Not just any light but a special spectrum light. Unfortunately, they are not cheap and must be used regularly to have the greater effect. She was skeptical when I first suggested it after reading about them and after trying it for a few days she said she felt better and has continued to use it. You should probably get checked out by your doctor before starting any therapy to make sure that there is not some organic reason for your state. The long dark winters are hard for some people to take. Hope this helps. Below is a link to one of the vendors and I am sure if you type Light therapy and SAD into a web search, you will come up with lots of hits.

John

Larisa -- sorry to hear you are in a funk. I spent most of last year that way. I couldn't really identify any specific problem (other than 2 deaths in the immediate family). I just kind of moved through the day in a funk = getting done only the bare minimum to keep the household intact.

One thing I did was start making lists -- identifying 2 or 3 tasks that MUST BE DONE TODAY -- these would be things that I likely would put off otherwise. I had to really push myself to get even one done at first - but as I began to accomplish a few of the "smaller" tasks -- I regained a bit of confidence in doing a few more.

I also started an exercise routine. Not a lot -- but at least 30 minutes a day on the treadmill, going for a walk, on the bike... anything that would push my heartrate just a little. It really did seem to make a difference -- especially if I did the exercise early in the day.

Hang in there... keep putting one foot in front of the other. I know how horrible it feels to have no energy -- no desire -- no... nothing!

Also -- if it continues for a prolonged period of time... give your family doc a call. I don't know how old you are -- but sometimes hormones start messing with you too.

Kate in MI

Larisa, do you think maybe you are just tired, and not really in a funk? You do so much all the time, that sometimes the body and mind just say "enough is enough." Maybe you just need to not do anything for a few days. Your son will survive without a new bathrobe, the fabric can be put up later. Try to remember that not sewing or painting, etc. are not life threatening situations. Portion control is extremely important in controlling diabetes. DH went to a nutritionist, and like all of us, he was amazed that a serving of meat, chicken, fish is the size of a playing card. He was told he could have 5-6 ounces of protein a day, 4-5 vegetable servings of 1/4 to 1/2 each depending on the vegetable, and 2 fruits a day. He kept a food diary for about 6 months. We should really all eat like that. He controls his diabetes with diet and exercise. He hasn't taken any medication in years. I hope you feel better soon. You know everyone here is sending you lots of good thoughts and hugs.

Sherry Starr

((((((Larisa)))))) Sounds like a difficult time in your life. Not sure how I can help, but sometimes extra time in the sunshine improves my mood. It's worth a try.

Everything John says, I'll just say "ditto" - I have full spectrum lighting throughout my house, and feel much better in winter than I used to (hence my earlier suggestion for extra sunshine).

Thanks everybody, I really appreciate knowing that you all care - even though most of us have never met. I have talked with a couple of my local friends as well, so maybe I can work through this.

To make things even worse, though, I got a REALLY big shakeup - DD (3.5yrs old) swallowed a metal ball from DSs Magnetix set today. As calmly as I could I told them both to get their shoes on because we needed to get her to the hospital for an x-ray....DS was horrified that he had killed his sister but I kept telling him that, unless he shoved it down her throat, there was nothing for him to be feeling guilty about. They did 2 x-rays (chest and abdomen) and couldn't find the ball, so they are thinking that she might have coughed it up. However, we still have to sit and wait, and go see the Ped. on Friday for a followup....talk about scary.

I think I'm still in shock because as has happened in the past when something stressful happens, I just want to curl up and go to sleep....but they children are still awake, and that really wouldn't serve a good purpose anyway.

So, I'm here, and rattled, but getting little things done. Not shooting for big goals, like tackling a major project, but at least I remembered to get the new fleece jacket out of hte dryer so that DH could take it in to his coworker. That's progress, right? Argh...so much hitting at once....I will be seeing my regular doc on the 26th for some testing (I think) because of heightened sensitivity in my extremities...pin pricks have been hurting like blue blazes lately whereas before they were hardly even noticable...also, think there might be a pinched nerve on the right...when I try to sleep on my right side, my feet stay extremely cold, but as soon as i roll over onto my left, I can feel them getting warm..strange, huh?

I really think I'm being tested....and as annoying as it is, I'm going to work as hard as I can to make it through this. It's times like these when I wish my Nanny was still around....she could joke me out of any bad mood. However, I am blessed to have such good friends in my church

- called the office, barely coherent, and our choir director came to sit with me until Ken came to the ER...she didn't have to, but she did....

I;'m rambling and bot doing too welkl with spelling, so I'm heading off

LArisa

I'm so sorry for your troubles.......... Please don't try to go it alone.........get help from the doctor and all your friends and family. This is nothing "silly" that you should ignore-

Ask how I know? My very best thoughts to you............hang on tight.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Larisa}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} You'll get through it, we'll help.

On Wed, 7 Mar 2007 13:49:01 -0600, offkilterquilter wrote (in article ):

(((HUGS))), Larisa.

Maybe you need to take a little time off and do something you want to and not something you feel you have to do. You do drive yourself pretty hard.

Maureen

You could always come vacation here. We'll play in with the kitties in my craft studio.

Aww, thanks for the offer. It is greatly appreciated. I actually got out and walked this morning with a dear friend of mine - she is diabetic, so she understands what I'm going through with that right now. We spent an hour walking at church while our daughters played together.

I'm thinking that I need to do a dream board and use it for times like these....just a piece of poster board, and clippings form magazines that appeal to me, mixed with pictures of myself....will give me something to mentally vacation with.

Doing well today, I think the walking and talking things out helped quite a bit. I feel better and am actually ready to *do* things again. But, as soon as I finish emails and stuff I will be playing with DD and letting MY list of things sit for a while :-)

Larisa

It's hard to just sit and not do anything....but I have lots of reading that I want to get to, so that may be where my focus is tonight. I actually was in bed around 8pm last night catching up on homework for the class that was cancelled because of snow and then revival...we are covering 2 chapters this Sunday.....whoops! I was in the middle of chapter 5, and we are covering chapters 6 and 8 (will return to 7 later on)....have to get a move on. I'm almost done with chapter 6 now. Then I have the homework for the Wed. class (usually done monday and tuesday before the class) as well as the work my mentor has given me....lol...it's not really pressure, I enjoy the reading and the things I"m learning. It's MAKING the time.....which is what I'm going to start doing.

Think tonight, since karate was cancelled due to illness, I will take a nice long soak and read....that should help me finish resetting :-)

And hey, according to the scale, I'm down 4.4 pounds!!

Larisa, th> I'm glad you were able to get out and move today. That should be

On Thu, 8 Mar 2007 09:22:59 -0600, offkilterquilter wrote (in article ):

Glad to hear you are feeling better. Sunshine can make a world of difference sometimes, can't it?

Maureen

Larisa, prayers and good vibes are on the way from Tucson! So sorry you are feeling depressed, I spent three years staring at the kitchen walls, nearly unable to function, and it wasn't fun. I wouldn't wish depression on anyone, even my exes! LOL

Seriously, if you find yourself down and feeling like a rat in a coffee can, drop me an email. BTDT, and I have ideas to help you through the worst part.

Best thing for you to know is that it DOES pass. Though I once was so depressed I was suicidal, I can tell you that I am now at a point where I am so happy and contented, I don't think I have never been happier in my life. Depression is like plagues, famines and other disasters....the trick is to live through it and out to the other side.

Keep in touch. You may have to whine and complain for a while, but we are just the folks who can listen and encourage you.

Hi Larisa, Fellow diabetic here. I know how tough it is to tow the dietary line, and sometimes something we are doing that we thought was okay, isn't. Just this evening, after fixing a large batch of fajita chicken, I happened to look at the fajita seasoning label and found out it has corn syrup in it. AUUUGGHHH! I'd never checked my BG after eating the fajita chicken, because it was just chicken, right? Duh! Anyway, there is another newsgroup you might find helpful for your diabetes woes: alt.support.diabetes. I read it almost everyday to help stay focused. I realize your message was about a lot more than the diabetes, but I'm hoping this may help a little.

Larisa, I did not see your post on this other than reading it on the back of someone else's. I, too am in that same situation, only I get here every March it seems, but this one is worse. I will pray that we both get out of it without too much damage done to families and ourselves.

Jacqueline in KY

Jacqueline in Kentucky, USA

to reply leave out the nopam in snipped-for-privacy@nospamgmail.com snipped-for-privacy@nospammountain-breeze.com

{{{HUGS}}}

Erin

Thanks MIchelle - this is the kind of stuff i need since I check email and newsgroups a few times every day....hopefully it will help me keep focused. I screwed up tonight..dessert took ALL my carb allowance....forgot to figure that in when I planned dinner, so tonight might be a little wonky for me But dinner was good, and I couldn't just not eat when we had company.....next time I will plan out everything based on food labels, I think :-)

Larisa

Hi Larisa,

Trying to coordinate eating with other people is the hardest! I'm very fortunate that my family understands and supports my diet--in fact, they've mostly adopted my way of eating, except they still eat bread instead of the low carb tortillas I use. However, to try to explain to someone who has very little knowledge about T2 diabetes that it's not just about sugar, can be a little difficult.

Hope the dessert didn't whack out your glucose too badly! I've become rather fond of cheesecake made with Splenda in a nut crust. Somehow it seems especially sinful to be able to eat such a tasty dessert and know it won't be bad for my BG. ;-)

If you ever want to email me directly, I'd be happy to support, commiserate, or whatever. You can reach me at: bookbug2005 AT gmail.com.

-- Michelle in NV