I had an attack of the ‘sads’ last night. More than melancholy, an overwhelming feeling of feeling overwhelmed.
I know we all have them. Indeed, if there’s one benefit from the advent of social media (and blogs), it’s ensuring we never feel alone in our thoughts or actions. And I must confess to being relieved when someone leaves a comment on a blog post saying:
“Oh my god, I do that same thing and I thought it was just me!”
Once upon a time we didn’t admit to such things in public, but as it’s something we all feel from time to time I’m not sure why not*. Naturally I had a whinge on Twitter (#asyoudo): a cry for help; attention-seeking behaviour; or just feeling alone and needing to (over)share? Who knows?
My #blahness was the result of a combination of things. I knew what they were and some I’ve been struggling with for a while. But the feelings snuck up on me. One minute I was reading in the bath and getting out to cook dinner – the next I was having a little sook in bed.
Some people reach out to others when they’re struggling. I withdraw… and I’m sure my close friends will attest to that. Asking for help or reassurance is difficult for me… although I almost jumped in my car and drove the 42km to my mother’s – ‘cept it was pouring rain and I was in my PJs.
What eventually occurred to me however was this:
I shared it on a Facebook Forum recently and I truly believe it to be true. So… after I wallowed for a while I pulled on my big girl pants and got back into it.
And of course today… nothing seems quite as dire.
Do you sometimes struggle with the ‘sads’? What’s your cure?
*Note I’m not talking about longer-term depression here.
I’m flogging my blog With Some Grace today.
May 16, 2014
Usually it means I need better sleep1
May 16, 2014
Ah yes. I was tired I will admit. I was torn between just staying in bed and trying to sleep, or getting on with my night!
May 16, 2014
Oh yes! This happens to me too. I try to get more sunlight and take vitamin D when I do which helps a lot. I get Seasonal Affective Disorder in Winter and feel bad without Summer boosting my happy hormones. Do try some vitamin D as it works wonders!
May 16, 2014
Sounds like an idea Jody. I actually love winter though – hate summer…. but getting dark early etc probably doesn’t help my frame of mind. (The sky, not my mood, I mean…)
May 16, 2014
Yes, this happens to me too and ironically it happened to me last night. I usually play some music, eat some chocolate and pray and it’s amazing what a good night’s sleep does to help.
I hope you are feeling better today. Love that you shared about this today. 🙂
May 16, 2014
I did fantasise about chocolate quite a bit. If it hadn’t been pouring I might have driven to the supermarket and bought a heap of junk food… But – I’m trying not to deal with stress and #mehness with bingeing. I made ‘real’ food in the end – though it was about 9.30pm when I ate dinner!
May 16, 2014
Vitamins and long walks in the fresh air fix me up a bit! Plus my dogs. I’m glad everything seemed better in the light of day.
May 16, 2014
Thanks. I actually like the idea of a pet for company and comfort now but am living in a pet-free apartment complex!
May 16, 2014
Hope today is a better day for you
May 16, 2014
Thanks so much. It has been. I just need to put the negative stuff out of my mind or deal with it more effectively. (Or act on the stuff that frustrates me!)
May 17, 2014
Like you, I withdraw. Sometimes I have to sit back and think about what I really need right now (and usually it’s more sleep, or just giving myself some TLC with a shower, some yoga stretches etc.) xoxo
May 17, 2014
Yes, what I really wanted was lots of chocolate. And hot chips. But I needed real food and sleep – which I eventually got.
x
May 17, 2014
It’s easy to withdraw when you live alone … I acknowledge it’s “down” time … have a good cry then treat myself with TLC … sleep, massage (& more sleep), shopping, favourite piece of cake!
May 18, 2014
Yes… the sleep thing seems to be something everyone agrees on and I guess everything seems worse when you’re tired!
PS. Shopping stresses me out so I’d skip that one! 😉