Hey there! I am currently dealing with trauma-related issues and being out of work. It is extremely tight money-wise and I won't lie, it has not been easy. However, I remain defiant - ha! I wanted to post a little friendly challenge on here (only just joined this forum and I love it already).
Depression, anxiety and trauma are nasty beasts and they can easily overwhelm us. Trouble is, they are all compulsive liars and trick us into thinking things about ourselves, life and other people that are simply not true. Yet they feel true to us. We have to break the cycle, but that is easier said than done when you are going through it.
I have often used humour in the past to break myself out of negative thought pattens - I have seen myself naked in the mirror, so I either laugh or cry, and I am not gonna cry😂...but when you are really going through it, sometimes trying to raise a laugh or even a smile can seem near impossible.
BUT, while you might not be able to take a big wet bite of funny right now, you can try a nibble...here is what I mean: Find one small, teeny tiny, baby step to move forward. It can be as simple as something that makes you feel accepted, loved, grateful, happy, or just gives you a smile.
When life seems to be determined to stomp on our heads, as if you are a jack-in-the-box and your spring has worn out, ANY step forward will help you shift out of that low state, even a little bit. Every bit forward helps. For me, aside from humour, there is my cat and her silly antics, there is my home (my safe place - safety is verrrry important when you are dealing with trauma because you feel very unsafe). I have a comfy, soothing lounge room set up where I can hide out when it all is feeling too much. I have it set up with smart lighting, so soothing lavenders, blues and golds do it for me. Scent is another thing that will make you feel better - diffusers are cheap at K-Mart ($15-20 bucks and you even get coloured lights with them - bonus!). I would recommend scents like orange (its very comforting, lemon balm, jasmine, cedar and sandlewood, but I am sure there are many others equally as good. Also, if you have smart speakers and Spotify, Apple Music or another streaming service, you can use sounds to help soothe - I have two set up in stereo on each side of the bed and ocean sounds played at night on low volume like this sound exactly like the real thing - I live nowhere near the beach currently, so I brought it to me instead. The sound of rain on a roof also relaxes me and there are so many to choose from on these platforms. You can easily put them on repeat to play all night.
My challenge to you worthy folks is simply this: What is one small thing you can do today to feel a little better? It doesn't have to be fancy at all - making a cuppa, for example, or making one for someone else will do. Perhaps it is spending time outside for a bit (I recently started sitting on my back step at 6am, morning coffee in hand, going full Hippie mode with bare feet on the ground - it works, believe me. Here are some suggestions if you are having trouble thinking up some:
- go for a walk
- hug a tree (do it for ten minutes and it will change your life, I promise - you will feel the life force and re-connect with yourself) - just walking into the forest a little where you have some privacy, if it is safe.
- make your favourite meal
- make a cuppa for yourself and/or another
- have a chat with a friend
- play with your pet if you have one (mine goes nuts for the yellow duster and the look on her face is priceless).
- if the dishes are piling up, just wash a couple, not the whole lot. Then do a couple more - break it into manageable chunks.
Just get some movement of some kind - motivation comes after action, not before.
Peace.
