Tag: faith

25 Things That Make Me Smile

Almost a month has passed since I last posted. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to – it’s either that I didn’t have an idea for what to write about or I didn’t have the energy to put “fingertips to keyboard.” The depression and anxiety have been relentless, but God has gotten me through day by day. In an effort to focus on something more positive, I’d like to share with you – in no particular order – 25 Things That Make Me Smile. 😀

  1. My Hubby. He’s a wonderful friend and a good “Daddy” to our pets.
  2. Dunkin Donuts Cold Brew coffee. With cream and *regular* sugar (not the liquid stuff).
  3. Sleeping in! I love being able to wake up slowly and get my bearings before beginning the day.
  4. Sliding into bed at night with the cool sheets enveloping me. I love letting out that sigh and snuggling deeper into the covers.
  5. Sunrises. They are so quiet, and still, and beautiful…and they help you look forward to the rest of the day.
  6. Daisy. Our little pup. She is energetic and vocal, and she brings joy to our lives.
  7. Misty. Our food-loving cat. She enjoys snuggling up in her “cat condo,” sleeping, and – of course – food!
  8. Soup. Specifically a creamy, comforting soup, and accompanied by a crusty bread.
  9. A good hair day. It makes you feel like you can conquer the world!
  10. The appropriate usage of a descriptive adjective in a sentence.
  11. A hot cup of tea between shivering hands.
  12. Warm, fuzzy socks on ice cold feet.
  13. My God. He is always there for me…and I wouldn’t be able to “do life” without Him.
  14. Our little succulent plant that sits in our window and brings cheer to our home.
  15. My family. I have been blessed with a supportive family on both sides, and I am so glad to have each one of them in my life.
  16. Baby giggles. Enough said.
  17. Long, hot showers.
  18. My friends. God has also given me awesome friends – friends who are gracious, understanding, and there when I need them.
  19. An engaging book. I love getting lost inside its pages!
  20. The Bible. I’m thankful for its truth and it’s relevancy to our lives.
  21. Trips to Target to grab a Starbucks and visit with my Hubby on his work break.
  22. Re-watching NCIS for the umpteenth time.
  23. When I don’t have to cook or clean up after a meal.
  24. Getting a card in the mail that really encourages me.
  25. The Lord’s provision. Somehow He has gotten us through this far, and I’m very grateful for His generosity.

Thanks so much for reading! I hope to continue this list at a later time. Now what I want to know is, what is something that makes you smile?

 

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Choosing Hope

I haven’t been feeling the greatest the past couple of days. My anxiety level is very high, and my depression makes me feel like I’m locked in a dark room where the only source of light has been snuffed out. But I know that there is hope in all of this. I choose to see hope!

I was blessed to be able to spend time with my husband’s family this past weekend, and that shone a light in the darkness. It was my sister-in-law’s birthday, and it was great to share that special time with her, eating good food and watching football.

Then my Mom and brother came up to see me today! We didn’t do anything too exciting, just went food shopping together…but we did end the visit with a trip to Dunkin’ Donuts. 🙂 I’m very grateful for the opportunity to spend time with them, and hope we can get together again soon.

I have an appointment with my psychiatrist tomorrow, so I’m praying that I can communicate to him how low I’ve been feeling…and that he will understand and know what to do. I seems like I’ve tried most every type of treatment available, and this can get discouraging…but I’ve got to keep fighting! Day by day, moment by moment, I need to choose to see hope. And choose to be grateful. ❤

 

Photo by Jasper Boer on Unsplash

Living with Lethargy

Lethargy – noun, plural lethargies
1. The quality or state of being drowsy and dull, listless and unenergetic, or indifferent and lazy; apathetic or sluggish inactivity.
2. Pathology. an abnormal state or disorder characterized by overpowering drowsiness or sleep.
dictionary.com

I struggle a lot with lethargy. It’s been an unwanted companion of my depression for many years. I have to fight to get up in the morning. I have to fight to stay awake throughout the day. And I’m always very happy when bedtime comes around and I can tuck myself into bed for the night.

But it’s not just fighting against sleep. It’s an extreme lack of energy that inhibits me from accomplishing even small tasks. Taking a shower, preparing meals, and paying bills are a few examples of tasks that can be overwhelming to me.

Why is this such a struggle for me? Well, for one, it’s a symptom of my depression. And on top of that, it’s a side effect of several of the medicines that I take to help with my depression. Sometimes I feel like the medicines cause more harm than they do help…but looking back, I have been better on them than off them.

So what do I do to combat this lethargy? I try several different methods. One is that I aim to do everything in baby steps. By breaking down tasks into smaller chunks, it can be more manageable. A second technique is to give thanks for and to allow myself to feel good about the little tasks that I complete. This encourages me to keep pushing forward. Third, I make use of caffeine. I enjoy the taste of coffee and it contains the caffeine that I want, so you will often find me sipping on a cup of joe. And lastly, I have been doing a  Five Minute Energy Routine by Donna Eden on a daily basis. My therapist shared the routine with me, and although I don’t understand all of the science behind it, it does seem to help.

What are your tips for fighting lethargy? Do you have a specific idea or method that really works for you? I’d love to hear about it in the Comments! ❤

 

Photo by Vladislav Muslakov on Unsplash