📣 Discussion Topic: How do you care for your mental health with pancreatitis?

[Olivia_MC]

Mental health is just as important as physical health! What do you do to be kind to your mind? Is there a specific type of therapist, hobby, or exercise that you've found that helps? Share your thoughts below. 💙 👇

[Briana1]

I like to use calm app. It helps to meditate and try to relax before bed. I really enjoy that app. I also like the apps that you can look at the stars. These help me to really relax. I also love to listen to audiobooks. I think out of all the stuff I do the audiobooks really help me to relax and paint by numbers also. The library app Libby is great for those on a budget it’s free. It’s has ebooks and audiobooks. Just go to the library online in your area and apply online. 🌸🌻🪻🌷💕💜

[madonbrew Pioneer in reply to Briana1]

Audio books are a good idea because you don't even have to concentrate on the actual reading! That app sounds a good one! Will have to try it out!

[Jackie1947]

Medication. As I don't get any treatment because of lack of alternatives I just have to get on with it. Now I also have unspecified colitis plus long standing Rheumatoid arthritis ( I get treatment for that,). So it's the happy pills that help my anxiety. It's a year since Pancreatitis was confirmed but here I am . My consultant is a drip.

[madonbrew Pioneer in reply to Jackie1947]

Sorry Jackie that things are feeling so rubbish atm. Anxiety and depression are horrible to deal with on their own, let alone with all your physical ailments too...which of course aren't going to help. Do you have people you can chat openly with? Friends or family or even anyone medical? A nurse from my surgery sees me once a month, just to check up on me, and hear me out for where I'm at.

And I know physical things can be really challenging when you're struggling both physically and mentally, but even achieving one small thing a day can help...having a bath, buying yourself flowers, listening to something that makes you smile.

Hang in there!

Sending you some flowers 💐 today!

Dee

[Jackie1947 in reply to madonbrew]

Thank you Dee. I have a wonderful family. I've had talking therapies but not lately. I find it's physically hard to carryout things but my husband is great at that. I do my best as basically I'm usually positive but I do manage to appreciate what I do have in life. Just medically frustrating

[madonbrew Pioneer]

I play the piano...I've been taking lessons and can play enough now that I can enjoy playing. I can let out my feelings onto the keys. Writing helps too, and anything arty crafty. Reading another good one...any gentle distraction helps.

[Paleta in reply to madonbrew]

Music, I love going to the beach and just let my mind rest (if I can!) I love salt water, I try to go everyday, at least even if it’s just stepping out of the car for a minute to take it all in. (I live in PR) I sleep a lot and want to be more active, so after 3 years of not working out, I’m starting again on Monday. Just taking it easy. Baby steps, for me it would be to walk my dog to the end of the street and come back. Little by little, I start adding more distance. I also started playing beach paddle ball again. I can only play 15-20 minutes, when I would play for 1-2 hours easily. I had a very hard time accepting the new me. I was in denial for a long time and made it worse. I still grieve the old me, but as long as I keep a positive mind and a good sense of humor!! 🙃. Some dilaudid for this awful pain -and I’m golden!!! 😊. (Yeah, I ‘ll keep dreaming about the dilaudid 😂😂) Hope you have a the answers you are looking for and most of all, health! Prayers for you and a big hug! 💜😊

[Sungirl0]

Hi I try to keep my mind off everything by watching animal rescue videos on u tube... works really well for me being an animal lover ... I can also watch a good movie sometimes even if it's not at once but I find reading really difficult to concentrate on ... my savior though is I take half a MG tablet of ativan in the morning which helps so much. I also see a clinical psychologist once a week which helps a great deal as I c an just tell her everything on my mind. I get my hair done once a week which I enjoy too. The audio app sounds really good so will try look it up thanks