Small goals set. Now can I do it.

[Tbone019]

After my first post yesterday I took what a few people had to say to heart. I decided I was going to make a plan. I started with just a small daily recurring organizer.

Step 1 - take meds (that’s the most important and most challenging)

step 2- meditation (I need to learn to calm the voices in my head)

step 3-light exercise (to try to get out and about)

step 4- short reading (focusing on ebooks about my illness because I don’t know much about it) (hard to read for more than a little bit before my headspace is everywhere)

Step 5 - meditation again (collect my thoughts from the day and try to make sense of them)

Step 6 - journal (I decided it would be good to get my feelings down on paper, well rather screen, to express myself as well as when the time finally comes to my appointment next month I will have material to discuss)

These are my 6 daily goals. It might not seem like much but this is much more than I’ve ever tried to take on at once. I slotted times into each day I want to accomplish these tasks.

What do you think? Am I off to a good start? Or am I being to ambitious? Can I do this? Or will it be another thing that I fail? Will others around me support me or just mock me due to ignorance?

I need help through this. I don’t have a support system and although I’ve been struggling with these thoughts and feelings for quite some time I’ve never taken steps like these to reach a better future. I’ve always just felt the way I do and have been too defeated to think there was any other way.

Thank you all for listening/reading me in my journey. I finally stood myself up inside of the abyss but I may need help pulling myself up and out.

[souljapods]

im really excited for u that u are setting some goals to feel better. i also struggle with very severe depression, mild add, and mild anxiety which used to be so extreme that i became agoraphobic and never left the house, as i had 5-6 panic attacks a day at school. i can tell u that my life is soooo much better. i went from wanting to end my life and ending up in the mental hospital and treatment to actually having hope and feeling excited 4 the future. ive started planning for college, which i thought id never ever make it to, so i never even gave it a thought. medication is a great thing when u can find the one that works for u. my aunt was taking welbutrin (used to treat depression) and it worked for her, so i tried it and it has honestly changed my life. since i started taking it my depression has been wayyyy less intense, and i only get intense bouts of depression once every couple days but it only lasts for a few minutes and i feel fine afterwards. of course, welbutrin might not work for u, so what i recommend is that if u have any family members that suffer from adhd or depression, ask them what meds work for them and then try them out (under supervision of a psychiatrist). i know it can be crazy difficult to stick with goals when u have adhd. that is why, rather than setting goals, i try to just launch myself straight into lifestyle changes, and just try to improve my life as much as i can day by day. but that might not be your style, so if goals work for u thats great. if pure meditation doesnt end up feeling very helpful, i would try guided meditations or relaxing sounds (i rlly like whale sounds). if u watch a lot of tv or are on technology a lot, i would definitely stop as thats terrible for ur ability to focus and hold attention (i should know, watching hours of tv a day and spending all day on my phone destroyed my focus). i think u should go into these goals with the mindset that u are GOING to achieve them rather than the mindset that u are going to try to achieve them. i hope my advice and thoughts have helped some, and i wish u the best on ur journey of recovering from mental illness. it’s definitely possible, ive seen it firsthand!

[Tbone019 in reply to souljapods]

Thanks for you input. You’re right, on many things. I try to launch myself into things and that rarely works, I end up foots from the door about to do it and cave. I’m hoping setting goals and sharing them will help me. I know I can do this, I’m not trying I’m doing! Thank you.

[Stilltrying_]

Well done x

[Tbone019]

Haha well yeah those are assumed. I enjoy cooking good meals and am doing just fine staying clean 😅

[Tbone019]

These are just goals. It has been years of ruining relationships, failing school and jobs because of this illness and I’m ready to take life back into my hands.

[Esther228]

Hi there,

It sounds like you are doing a great job of getting yourself into a more positive frame of mind. Depression and anxiety can be so difficult to work through and overcome. I had some strong anxiety at work and found that when I started to feel anxious, I could refocus my thoughts onto something else; such as, a picture on the wall, looking out a window, or thinking of my list of to-do lists. For me, a big part of my healing was in reading scripture. I also used breathing exercises.

Do you have a Bible or listen to Christain music? It’s funny. I used to play my music at work and sometimes people would just turn around and walk back out—it was so peaceful and soothing.

I like what you are doing! Remember, one day at a time. Keep moving forward!

[kittenkisses91]

Your goals sound great to me! Now just don't beat yourself up if you don't meet them all everyday. Maybe start with one (like taking your medication everyday) and progress on to the others as you master them. I like that you have a plan!