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Finding Ways To Help Myself Cope With Daily Stresses

Lately, I've been under a lot of stress with work, volunteering, family life, and promoting my book. My mental illness seems to enable me to do what I want and need to do, but I feel I need to tweak my medication, because of my challenging thoughts and depression. Whenever I experience a lot of unwanted thoughts, anxiety, and a lack of motivation to keep my house neat I know I must focus on managing my stress. To help myself with the stress, this week I organized my work into one binder opposed to keeping a lot of folders and loose papers. It helped a little for my work environment. However, my mood and home environment are my most difficult concerns, because I am less accountable to keep a clean house, and I could make up a series of excuses as to why there is a mess.

Last week I cancelled my doctor's appointment because of a valid reason that I will not go into detail about. I will reschedule my appointment ASAP because I feel like some of my symptoms are gradually returning- the irritability, anxiety, lack of my motivation at home, and strange thoughts. I do a series of coping skills to help me cope with my daily stresses including listening to music, writing a journal, forcing myself to make time to talk to friends and to hang out with them even for a short while such as less than an hour.

Last month my work gave me an opportunity to go to the Atlanta Zoo. Initially I was not excited about going, however after I put myself in that environment I realized it helped me get out my box and to experiment with alternative activities. Even thought the rain encouraged me to leave the zoo early I enjoyed it and now I look forward to going back again this summer. Below are some pictures of my adventure at the zoo...









Comments

Unknown said…
Wow, you are so inspiring! I have bipolar I disorder, and I've experienced symptoms of psychosis, so I feel like I relate to you on a level. But MAN! I can't imagine what you go through. Thanks for being so strong and such an example to others!
Unknown said…
Wow! You are SO inspiring! I have bipolar I disorder, so I've experienced some symptoms of schizophrenia, but MAN! I can't imagine what you go through. Thank you for being such an example to others and sharing your experience!
Unknown said…
Wow!! I am glad that I was able to meet you at the peer of the year you are so amazing I have bipolar mix and borderline personality disorder so you are in inspiring person to me cause what you went through in your life and you are able to do what you do I know I can do it to I was going to give up on applying for the cps cause I was turned down so I got upset about it but hearing you tell that you kept on for four years before you got it really made me think about not giving up on anything cause if I don't get it the first time I need to keep on keeping on thank you for that I needed to hear that for someone and you happen to be the one I heard it from
Ashley Smith said…
Maddy Stutz, I love your encouragement...Thank you!

Shanan Corso, I enjoyed the conference too! I am glad you will re-consider the CPS training, keep pressing forward in your recovery and goals.

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