Survival Tips - Progress Report

I started this blog a few weeks ago with a post about self help tips to survive and recover from depression  (Are you really Sick?) and hopefully reduce the chances of succumbing to it again.

It's been about four weeks now since I returned to work on a part time basis gradually increasing my hours until I'm back to the normal full time roster.

I thought I'd  revisit my survival tips one month on to see how successful I have been in using them and which ones have worked better than others. Looking back on it I must have been quite manic to have pursued so many resources in such a limited time. Obviously to even implement half of them was going to be difficult over time.

In fact there is a real danger that I 'll fall back into my previous patterns and habits particularly now I'm back at work. Finding time and energy is now a problem.

Let's look at what's worked and what  hasn't:

• Remedial massage - I need to find a different venue. The previous location changed the room setup and it is no longer a relaxing or invigorating atmosphere.

• I have not scheduled regular walking exercise. In fact I hardly do any. It's not so much lack of motivation but I need a reason to make it a priority in my day because it seems to be unproductive. Wrong thinking I know!
  

• I haven't ridden the bike since- I don't seem to get the time. 

• The book club has kicked off but I didn't finish the first book, though it was pretty boring. The current book looks interesting but I should be reading now not fiddling with my blog. The other  members are women and pleasant enough. We probably should meet in a more relaxing setting with coffee though. I need this one to work because getting lost in a book is enforced rest from other things my non stop mind thinks up!

• I haven't performed again at the 'open mike' night since I went back to work. My excuse: Tired, cold, late night. I need to get along there because it's the only time I get to perform my music which is so important to me.

•  The lid of my piano remains  invitingly open and my sheet music nearby  but I haven't sat at it very much. I so dearly want to sit for an afternoon and play but I feel self concious in my new place. Noise travels. I need to get over that. I also can only play when I have the house to myself. I have invited a talented local musician to come around and play some music but I suspect I'm aiming too high there.

• I haven't followed up any further ideas or practiced any of the songs for the duo with my musician friend. Time and priorities get in my way, But I must make a point to keep in touch with him.

• The social  group that was formed from the communication course has bloomed. We have booked a number of outings and we talk regularly online and meet for coffee etc. This has been by far the most productive and useful idea.It is currently the main ingredient of my social life.

• I've since attended a  theatre performance with a friend and have invitations to go to the movies but I usually forget to call  or it's  too late at night to ring. I did email a friend tonight to try and organise a movie for this week.
  

•  I still regularly attend a weekly community meditation session.My home practice is woeful mainly because I'm so tired. As soon as I stop thinking I go to sleep. I need to make this work but the devotional 'religious' aspects of Buddhism go a little against the grain for me.
  

• My 'events diary' has been useful.

• I haven't received any invitations to birthday parties, dinners or family gatherings yet so my ability to say 'yes' has yet to be challenged.

• I have organised birthday gifts to be sent overseas to my daughter and sent her a well prepared birthday greeting via email.

•   My sister is coming to visit me again next weekend because she so enjoyed the contact we made last time.

• I  haven't had another picnic lunch with my 'soon-to-be' daughter-in-law but it has been suggested so I'll have to schedule one in soon.

• I haven't yet followed up on my commitment to become more involved in my son's sporting life.
  

• I  have installed skype on my PC and have used it to contact my family overseas and on the south Coast. I still haven't scheduled a regular catchup though.

• I have kept contact with a few newly re-acquainted friends.Still need to phone, email and visit friends more regularly. I don't seem to get the time to keep up communications with people. This is a problem. I probably still think talking and chat is unproductive. I need to get off my own treadmill.

• I haven't re-visited any newly re-acquired friends lately. Again I'd rather just get on with my own stuff.

• I have visited nearby venues to enjoy some music and established an acquaintance with a young musician who I have invited to play some music.We'll see how that goes.
  

• My reading of self help and health/reference books has slowed down.Just don't get the time now.

• I still research the internet on depression and related health issues. I haven't had as much time to read the subscriptions and website links that I set up relating to health. I have been spending a lot of time developing my mental health blog
  

• I don't get time to listen to my usual radio segments, I could time in at night but I instead spend too much time on my PC. Unfortunately one of the legacies of depression is the inabulity to multi task!
  

• I am yet to attend the meeting of a local support group related to my health issues
  

• I am yet to spend  another Sunday afternoon reading and enjoying the winter sunshine in the local park

• Homemaker purchases have slowed down due mainly to again lack of time.I have made a point of buying fresh flowers each week after cleaning up

• I visit the local library less frequently but still have plenty of CD's and DVD's on hand to relax or inspire me. But I rarely stop to watch a DVD. I really have trouble with this.

• I  haven't had time to browse 2nd hand bookshops lately

• I bought the tickets to the ballet It's all locked in! I look forward to it

• I have spent considerable time further developing this blog (which is my first) I'm not sure if I can afford the time required to use it fully as my 'journal' but I am enjoying the designing aspect. It is quite time wasting and energy draining.

• I haven't further investigated the camera purchase yet.

And then all of the medical commitments:

• The medical appointments continue at the rate of two per month now but I have been neglecting some other health issues whilst battling the depression. I need now to follow those up.

• Pharmacist visits still take time often having to return to complete prescriptions due to lack of stock - frustrating. Also one of the meds is very expensive (not on thePBS)

• Still looking for receipts to receive rebates on Medical bills

And then some long overdue tasks to simplify, organise and de-stress my life:

• I'm still to sort out my financial matters - no time to concentrate on this and can't locate paperwork etc
• Storage rental is due again soon. Landlord Maintenance items yet to be fixed. I haven't had time to re contact the agent
•  Garage as still messy and garden maintenance still to be done!

It never ends............always more to do and not enough time!

Sounds awfully like Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) to me. I'll talk about that in another post as well as my overall thoughts on the success of the survival tips so far.

Andante