I have a new blog.

Hello, everybody.

I know it has been a really long time since I was on here, but I have a good reason. In October 2012, I started a new blog over on WordPress.com. I know it's probably Blogger.com's biggest competitor, but it has definite advantages.

One of the advantages of WordPress is that it allowed me to "Import" both of my Blogger sites without any hassle or HTML knowledge.

Please come visit Theresa's Blog for more about Depression, Anxiety, ADHD and my answers to Daily (or Weekly) Prompts.

Sincerely yours,
Theresa Jewel Pinkston

Blog moved.

This blog, Depression and Anxiety Help was exported to Jewel Ammons on WordPress.com. Please click on the link for further posts. Thank you.

Make Time for You

Everyone needs time for themselves. Your Self is your soul and it needs time to refresh and replenish. It's hard to find time for yourself, but you can make a time to be alone and/or do other things just for yourself. Here are some suggestions on how to do that:

• Organize your errands and grocery shopping to be done on one or two days per week;
• Only vacuum on one day per week and then only do the main "traffic" areas;
• Go to a park, library, book store or coffee shop and sit alone. You can write, read, eat, drink or just look around, but enjoy this time for your self;
• Wake up 15-60 minutes earlier than normal and spend that time doing something you enjoy;
• Write in a journal. Keep a record of what you've done right and try to think of three or more things to record.

I'm sure there are many more ways to make time for You and I may add more later. However, you are more than welcome to leave comments on how you prefer to set aside time for your Self.

Anxiety and Depression Symptoms

This probably belongs down near the beginning of the blog but it was written on June 14, 2011. Now I've decided to include it on this blog.

           You should always see a doctor if you have at least half the following problems:

·        unexplained, long term or frequent sadness

·        anxiety including feeling jittery, wanting to hide or panic attacks

·        unexplained weight loss OR weight gain – most people say this should have happened in the last six months, but if you can narrow it down to any six month period, I say it counts

·        changes in your personality or reactions, such as from calm and collected to angry and abrasive or the opposite

·        you're often angry or dissappointed with yourself

·        losing jobs because you're “too slow,” because you get nervous or because you can't concentrate

Back Again

I haven't posted on here in a very, very long time and I apologize. On July 12, 2010, I made a blog called "ADHD, Anxiety and Depression". It was supposed to replace this one, but I only wrote three posts for it. 

After that, I tried to start another blog about Depression and Anxiety on WordPress. However, I didn't write anything for it beyond the initial "Hello" paragraph.

Today, I decided come back to Blogger and renew my efforts here. I studied both pages and decide to add more posts to this one.

A lot has happened in the 1-1/2 years since my last post to "ADHD, Anxiety and Depression". The most significant occurrence is the death of my mother.

That's right, I lost my mother in March 2012 and I still haven't fully recovered. I'm not sure when I will get over this loss, if ever.

However, my mother's death also served as a wake-up call. It taught me to reconnect with my siblings, to take care of myself and it gave me a shove into doing things I've wanted to do for a long time! Her sudden illness and death showed me that we all have a very limited time on Earth and we had better use it wisely.

I promise to write more about this later. But, I ask you to stop a moment and ask yourself one simple question, "What have I done today that counts toward my goals?"

Can't Take It Any More

For several years now, I have taken my mother-in-law and brother-in-law to their appointments, pharmacy, bank and to stores. I also ran errands such as shopping, buying cigarettes, picking up prescriptions and almost anything else that they wanted me to do.

But, I'm fed up and I "can't take it anymore." My mother-in-law almost never appreciates what I do for them. I can do 100 errands for them in a week; going to three, four or sometimes more places for them in one day; and I translate medical jargon into layman's terms at the doctors' offices. But, what do I get for all my trouble? $10 or less (sometimes $0) for "gas", which I can deal with. But, then my mother-in-law will put me down, complain that I and/or my husband did something wrong and/or find something else to gripe about. She complained last night about them "being alone" but that is her own fault. She is a bitter and vindictive hag that's made enemies with all of her neighbors and most of her brothers and sisters.

Well, I've decided that I'm not going to take her constant criticism and griping. I MIGHT take them to medical appointments, but I am NOT going to buy cigarettes, pick up prescriptions or go grocery shopping for them. She doesn't need to be driving, but there are two taxi companies in town and groceries and prescriptions can be delivered.

Now, I'm sure that one or both of them will be even more angry than they are now, curse me and/or wish me dead. But, I've got to draw a line. I've got to say, "No. I will NOT get out and be your errand runner for more than two trips per week!" "No. I will NOT go get your cigarettes." and/or "No. I will NOT stop at five different places."

Start (or Continue) a Journal

Today, my humble advice is to Start or Continue a Journal. If you haven't already recorded your thoughts, feelings and/or questions, then start. Have a journal or diary? Then bring/keep it up to date.

If you're just starting, you may wish to write in a notebook, diary or journal. Or, you may want to record your voice and/or you can try an online journal. Try one method and then another if you're not sure how you want to record your thoughts. OR, you can keep separate journals for different topics.

You don't have to write every day, but record good times as well as bad times. Journal when you have questions, when you're confused, when you're anxious or depressed, when you're sad and when you're happy.

I have listed Live Journal on the side for those who wish to try the online method. Users may choose to make their journal(s) private or public and you can search for public journals with similar subjects and/or problems.

Tied in Knots

Tied in Knots – originally written Aug. 14, 2009

I fidget – a lot. Most of the time, I fool with with my hair. I braid it, twirl it, tug on it and sometimes twist or tie it into knots. That's what I've been doing all morning and that's what I did for three (3) or more hours last night. It would help if I showered and washed my hair, but only for a little while. As soon as I sat down to watch TV or something, I'd be fidgeting with it again. Even when I put it in a pony tail or wear a bandana over it, I still find ways to mess it up. I've even had to go get one knot CUT OUT by a beautician because I couldn't un-knot it myself! I've tried several other things such as playing with rubberbands or a stress ball, but nothing stops me for long.

I need to do something productive that will distract me from always fiddling around with my hair. I've thought about learning to knit and I have at least one latch-hook project (I think) but, again, I would probably not stick to it!

I need a purpose! I'm not just talking about something to do such as washing dishes or doing other housework – because I hate housework! I need a real purpose, a goal other than taking care of other people or even other pets. What I need is a job outside the house or else I need to physically go to school!

Now, that may sound drastic or even crazy to some people, but I need the structure. I need someone else to tell me what to do and when to do it. I need a schedule and/or deadlines. I need a reason to stay up even on days when my stomach hurts or I'm extremely tired and most of all, I need a reason to take a shower other than my hair being dirty.

Attention Deficit Disorder or ADHD

Hi, again.

Just a short note to say that Anxiety and Depression are very common in people Attention Deficit Disorder, also known as ADD or ADHD. My links will now include sites that address the disorder, its symptoms and treatments.

Cleaning Up My Cobweb

Hello to anyone who might "follow" this page. I flipped through a book about building web pages and blogs and it says that a page that hasn't been updated in a long time is called a "Cobweb."

I realize that this blog may qualify as a Cobweb page and intend to change that. However, I will not concentrate on the "Help" area any longer because there are plenty of books, articles and web pages for that already. Instead, expect many more links to click on.

"So, what are you going to write?" you may wonder. You may anticipate the following:

• My journal entries -- either in type or as a picture (of my longhand)
  
• Writing/journaling prompts when I think of them or run across one I hope you like
• Suggested books, blogs, articles, etc. with short reviews when needed

I hope this doesn't turn you off too much. Feel free to comment on this and on everything I add in the future.

Exercise, Writing Prompt

July 14, 2009: What makes you happy?

Write about anything that makes you truly happy, not just what you like. For instance, you may like money or a good job but what can cheer you up no matter how bad your day has been?

Terrific Slide Show

I know that I haven't posted on here in a L-O-N-G time, but I just found out that "Anxiety is a common symptom of depression." That's right, anxiety is a COMMON symptom.

If you're like me, you thought they were co-existing disorders, that they "fed" off each other and/or that anxiety caused depression. Check out this link for more depression information.

Slide Show

Tough Two Weeks

I've had a rough, stressful two weeks. My mother-in-law fell off a ladder two weeks ago today. It took three or four days for her to go to the doctor.

Today, I went to the wedding reception of one of my sisters. At first, I felt out of place -- there were a lot of people there and I didn't know most of them. Having kids playing and strangers passing by brought out the worst "social anxiety" I've felt in a long time. But, the food was ready within 45 minutes and we gathered in groups to eat. I started feeling more comfortable after we all sat down. We ate outside in/on her carport and at tables lined up on her back yard.

Hi, again.

I haven't written on here for quite a while. I just want to say; we should be thankful for the good things in life. And, there are almost always good things if you just look around.

I try to write down my good times as well as the bad. Sometimes I use a special notebook for good times. I call it my "Happiness Journal."

Seeing a rainbow, horses, nice cars or pretty scenery cheers me up and I record that for future memories. I want to remember being happy, especially when I'm having trouble in life.

I'm Tired

I'm tired a LOT. As a matter of fact, I've written at least one journal entry titled, "Always Tired". But, today I'm tired because I had to get X-rays of my left knee which has been hurting for approx. a week. One "position" they wanted me in was agonizing and brought tears to my eyes. Another two or three were very painful. Why does pain and/or very high anxiety make someone tired? It could be (IMHO) due to our bodies trying to compensate for what it thinks is an attack that we are neither fighting against nor fleeing from. Or, perhaps it's because we are fighting our urge to flee. Either way, pain, anxiety and especially a combination of the two can make a person extremely tired!

Terrific Links

Here are some absolutely terrific links:

ThreeMinuteTherapy

Depression-Helper.com

Depression-Guide

and for more links and info, try

Angelfire.com Counseling Contacts

Hello.

Hi. This blog is not meant to be a diagnosis or free psychoanalysis.

PLEASE seek professional help if you haven't already done so!

Everything written here is from my personal experiences! There is not an MD or a PhD after my name, nor do I claim to have ANY experience as a counselor.
However, I am in recovery! I've been going to doctors and counselors for many years and still visit on a regular basis. I deal with ADD/ADHD, depression and anxiety Every Hour of every day!

Some of my journal entries and observations will be typed in. What I've learned has been or will be turned into suggested steps for anyone else suffering from Anxiety, Depression, and/or Attention Deficit Disorder (with or without Hyperactivity).