Tag: mood

Having a bad day?

Posted on by kathleenmc1953@sbcglobal.net

Having a bad day

Some days things will not go your way. I’m not talking about those days when you may have some setbacks. I’m talking about those days when you just can’t seem to do anything right, when it seems that you can’t pick yourself up, brush yourself off and try again. When, no matter how you try, you can’t begin to do things the “right” way.

People describe feeling ungrounded. A general feeling of dis-ease descends into increasing anxiety. These feelings are amplified by trying harder and harder to accomplish something, which on other days, might be fairly easy to do. As a result you can begin to feel incompetent. This can spiral downward as the day wears on.

How do you pull yourself out?

Notice how you feel
Feeling somewhat anxious when facing the challenges of the day is not unusual but when the anxiety becomes sustained it can be counterproductive to continue to repeatedly try to get something done and not be successful. Tune in to how you are feeling. If your anxiety is increasing as the day goes on, back off and use some of the following strategies to help you feel more grounded and in charge.

Lower expectations
Being too hard on yourself won’t help you achieve your goals. When we are too anxious it is disabling. Back off from what you feel you have to get done. Bite off a smaller chunk to work on. Give yourself permission to NOT get everything done.

Take a break
Do something else. Get your mind off the task at hand for 15 minutes to a half hour. Take a nap (or take a powernap if a nap sounds too wimpy to you), take a walk or indulge in a conversation with a work buddy or a friend. Many people do their best work when they leave the task at hand and come back to it later.

Eat and/or drink something
You could be dehydrated or your blood sugar might be low. Either of these things can have an effect on your thinking, mood or energy level. You can become dehydrated even in the course of normal daily activities other than exercise. Regular small meals are also recommended to stay sharp.

Back on track (or not)
Recognizing you are off kilter and doing something about it may give you the chance to redeem the day. If not, surrender to the inevitable and remember, tomorrow is another day…….

Triggers aren’t always a bad thing…

Posted on by kathleenmc1953@sbcglobal.net

Triggers

Triggers have a bad reputation in the substance abuse and mental health fields. But the news about triggers isn’t all bad. There are positive as well as negative triggers and every person has certain triggers that make them feel better or worse. Let’s focus on positive triggers in this post. It is important for people to know that they can do small things throughout the day that lift their mood.

Think about those things that make you feel better, things that you enjoy. These could include listening to certain kinds of music, being around people who have a positive attitude and value your company, going on a walk in nature or through a part of town that you find interesting or participating in some type of exercise.

I’ll give you some examples. I’m going to a funeral today in a town about 30 miles from where I live. I purposely arrived in the town early because I know that outside of town there are beautiful vineyards with a mountain ridge of redwoods in the distance. This view gives me a sense of pleasure and peace. I sit comfortably in my car on this country road before the ceremony. This experience lifts my mood and, consequently, I can go to the funeral with a more positive attitude. This will also result in me being more able to relate to other people there. In the end, a possibly difficult situation is transformed into something meaningful and rewarding.

Music is another way that you can manage your mood. Music can be used to energize, inspire or decrease stress. Certain music can also be very agitating. Keep track of the effect of different types of music on your mood. Listening to the right kind of music at the right time will make a difference.

Your social circle is a third example. Who do you enjoy being with? Who do you want to spend more time with? Who do you think has a positive influence on you? Make an effort to have contact with these people regularly. They could be family, friends or someone you would like to get to know better.

These are examples of people, places and things that can affect your mood in positive ways. Feel free to share what works for you.

Here’s to feeling better!

DISCLAIMER
This information is for educational purposes only and should not in any way be considered a substitute for professional help. If you feel that you need immediate assistance please call your local psychiatric emergency services or the SAMSHA Disaster Distress Hotline at 1-800-985-5990.