Sometimes we deserve a break

[lightning05]

This week I had terrible anxiety and a depressive episode with suicidal ideation that disrupted my life. I had to take off of work, which I battled with back and forth about doing but have come to realize that it was vital to my mental and emotional health to take that break. Since I was in danger of self harm I spent the week at my boyfriend's place.

If I did not take this week off of work to simply just get myself together I may be in an even worse place right now than when this episode first hit. I am feeling more calm with anxiety completely gone and no thoughts of SH. I learned that sometimes WE JUST NEED A BREAK. And our lives are so busy nowadays that we DESERVE one. There's a lot of people juggling work, school, families, financial problems, and any combination of those on top of battling with depression and anxiety. When everything feels too overwhelming the best thing to do is pull back. This week I realized that I am not weak for doing this, that I have to put my emotional well being before everything, sometimes even money. Besides, my paycheck wouldn't really do me any good if I ended up taking my own life or having to be hospitalized for SH and potentially missing even more work.

Hopefully anyone who is reading this can understand that we need to love ourselves and take care of ourselves in order to feel better. Sometimes on this road to recovery the best thing to do is to do nothing and just reflect and work on your inner self. Don't feel like you are being selfish or feel guilty for taking care of you. s* to everyone and be kind to yourselves.

 

[Hukka]

I'm a little late but this is a very important post. I appreciate you writing it.

 

[nobodyknows71]

Hi @lightning05 I've only just seen this too but you are sooooo right. It's the best thing to do. It's not always the easiest thing to remember when you're caught up in anxiety, but to give yourself the time and space to just breathe is the single most helpful thing.

Thanks for sharing

 

[BarryW]

Thank you lightning, I will try to remember to take breaks. Lately I am pushing myself too hard I think

 

[lightning05]

@BarryW I've come to learn that taking time for yourself and resting for you own emotional well being is not selfish, lazy, or weak but it is necessary. I hope you can find some time to relax, my friend.

 

[Lara_C]

Sometimes on this road to recovery the best thing to do is to do nothing and just reflect and work on your inner self

Couldnt agree with you more. We need to give ourselves mental space from the hectic demands of everyday life and I'm all in favor of doing this by building regular physical breaks into the structure of our lives to just enjoy being alive without thinking about all the problems of daily living. I read somewhere that 97% of our daily thoughts are exactly the same as the ones we had the day before, and 85% of these are negative. Not surprising we're miserable!

 

[BarryW]

I read somewhere that 97% of our daily thoughts are exactly the same as the ones we had the day before, and 85% of these are negative. Not surprising we're miserable!

Oh god that is probably right. My new goals: have 5% new thoughts each day and have 30% positive thoughts per day!!

 

[lightning05]

@Lara_C I can definitely see how that statistic is possible. That's so scary. I've been trying to do this new thing where when I have a negative train of thoughts I try and think out the positives too. It's a distraction from getting angry or upset and can make me see the light. Unfortunately it doesn't work all of the time.