advertisement
Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
MuddyBoots
Monster on the Hill
 
MuddyBoots's Avatar
MuddyBoots Bricks through the window and I think it's time I go
 
Member Since: Sep 2020
Location: by the river
Posts: 4,093 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
4,819 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 22, 2020 at 04:45 PM
  #1
My therapist doesn't like me drinking, cutting, or fighting with friends and family to achieve that goal. She wants me to find two new positive ways to feel within the next two weeks.
Things that already somewhat help but I refuse to do 24/7: Singing/playing piano, writing, skiing, running in traffic, hiking in bear country (especially in fall when they're restless), and climbing **** (houses, trees, cliffs, etc)
What helps you?
MuddyBoots is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
bpcyclist, Fuzzybear
 
Thanks for this!
bpcyclist

advertisement
Daonnachd
Magnate
 
Daonnachd's Avatar
Daonnachd ...
 
Member Since: Feb 2006
Location: Napa Valley
Posts: 2,116
15 yr Member
3,379 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 22, 2020 at 05:08 PM
  #2
When you say "to feel" do you mean generate sensation? Or something like generate positive emotions?

In your list of things you refuse to do you already have things I would've recommended so I'm kinda stumped. One thing not listed though, is making art. You could get yourself a block of postcard blanks and create art in place of cutting. Then you would have images to share with others, too. I'll keep thinking on this.

__________________
><
Daonnachd is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
bpcyclist
 
Thanks for this!
bpcyclist, MuddyBoots, RoxanneToto
MuddyBoots
Monster on the Hill
 
MuddyBoots's Avatar
MuddyBoots Bricks through the window and I think it's time I go
 
Member Since: Sep 2020
Location: by the river
Posts: 4,093 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
4,819 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 22, 2020 at 05:37 PM
  #3
More like generate emotion
MuddyBoots is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
bpcyclist
 
Thanks for this!
bpcyclist
Daonnachd
Magnate
 
Daonnachd's Avatar
Daonnachd ...
 
Member Since: Feb 2006
Location: Napa Valley
Posts: 2,116
15 yr Member
3,379 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 22, 2020 at 05:50 PM
  #4
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapien View Post
More like generate emotion
OK, so what do you think of doing creative things like painting or drawing? In my photo album you can see some of my postcards. If you want, obviously.

__________________
><
Daonnachd is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
bpcyclist
 
Thanks for this!
bpcyclist, MuddyBoots
*Beth*
catches the flowers
*Beth* is practicing healthy breathing for brain, mind, body, spirit.
 
Member Since: Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
23.7k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 22, 2020 at 05:59 PM
  #5
I don't think I experience numbness/emptiness. If anything, I'm constantly striving to be more mellow and less "intense" (as they usually put it). I'm usually doing at least 2 things at once, with 3 more spinning in my mind "to be done".

Is it medication that causes you to feel empty or what I call "flat"?

__________________




*Beth* is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
bpcyclist, fern46
 
Thanks for this!
bpcyclist, fern46, MuddyBoots
MuddyBoots
Monster on the Hill
 
MuddyBoots's Avatar
MuddyBoots Bricks through the window and I think it's time I go
 
Member Since: Sep 2020
Location: by the river
Posts: 4,093 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
4,819 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 22, 2020 at 06:02 PM
  #6
I doodle a lot (though it's frustrating bc I black out for a couple seconds a lot) so I suppose I could try actively drawing.
MuddyBoots is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
*Beth*, bpcyclist, Daonnachd
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*, bpcyclist
MuddyBoots
Monster on the Hill
 
MuddyBoots's Avatar
MuddyBoots Bricks through the window and I think it's time I go
 
Member Since: Sep 2020
Location: by the river
Posts: 4,093 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
4,819 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 22, 2020 at 06:06 PM
  #7
Quote:
Originally Posted by BethRags View Post
I don't think I experience numbness/emptiness. If anything, I'm constantly striving to be more mellow and less "intense" (as they usually put it). I'm usually doing at least 2 things at once, with 3 more spinning in my mind "to be done".

Is it medication that causes you to feel empty or what I call "flat"?
Probably. I'm on two antipsychotics right now. Idk though because even off meds/before meds I struggled.
MuddyBoots is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
bpcyclist
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*, bpcyclist
downersgoup
Junior Member
downersgoup has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jun 2020
Location: Washington State
Posts: 22
3 yr Member
28 hugs
given
Default Sep 22, 2020 at 11:16 PM
  #8
Often times when I'm feeling numb or empty I try to force myself to do something other than dwell on my own thoughts, like take a short walk, or call someone. I think numbness, for me anyway, is usually a response to feeling powerless in day-to-day things, like maybe a friend seemingly taking advantage of you because they know you won't say anything, or something similar. Again, this is just my experience, but maybe that makes sense to you? I just took my seroquel for the night and my brain has begun to significantly fog.

__________________
Lamotrigine 200mg, Citalopram 20mg, Seroquel 100mg
downersgoup is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
bpcyclist
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*, bpcyclist, MuddyBoots
fern46
Grand Magnate
fern46 has no updates.
 
Member Since: Mar 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 3,021
5 yr Member
4,300 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 23, 2020 at 10:37 AM
  #9
Push my body physically. I don't experience numbness, but when I need a shift an intense workout helps. Even if you don't end up with the high, you still did something great for your body, so it's a win. I also like water for these purposes. A swim or just the shock of a cold shower help me reset.
fern46 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
bpcyclist
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*, bpcyclist, MuddyBoots
*Beth*
catches the flowers
*Beth* is practicing healthy breathing for brain, mind, body, spirit.
 
Member Since: Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
23.7k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 23, 2020 at 11:40 AM
  #10
Cold water...shower, pool, whatever. I think there's a reason why psych hospitals used to use baths or wrap people in cold sheets. As primitive as it sounds, cold water can really change the track of our thoughts. Even a cool-ish shower can be helpful, I find.

__________________




*Beth* is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
bpcyclist
 
Thanks for this!
bpcyclist, MuddyBoots
Living in LaLa Land
Member
 
Living in LaLa Land's Avatar
Living in LaLa Land has no updates.
 
Member Since: Aug 2020
Location: United States
Posts: 94
3 yr Member
178 hugs
given
Default Sep 23, 2020 at 12:41 PM
  #11
Listen to music or audiobooks to escape. I totally understand the feeling of emptiness. I'm dealing with that now. Once I refocus on these activities, I can move this feeling to the wayside.

But, it's difficult given the atmosphere. It's really difficult to focus.

__________________
Bipolar 2

Currently on:
Trileptal (300 x 2)

Feeling: A bit hopeless
Living in LaLa Land is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
bpcyclist
 
Thanks for this!
bpcyclist, MuddyBoots
MuddyBoots
Monster on the Hill
 
MuddyBoots's Avatar
MuddyBoots Bricks through the window and I think it's time I go
 
Member Since: Sep 2020
Location: by the river
Posts: 4,093 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
4,819 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 23, 2020 at 05:42 PM
  #12
Thanks everybody for the suggestions

Yeah, I can't focus for ****, but that's been all my life so I just don't do things like watch movies or read books.
Really the only thing different I did today was draw, which I guess was fun but not really. Still went for my walk/run (run 2 miles, walk 3), talked to my mom, gardened (I think that helped the most, but again, not that much). Next time I shower, I'll make sure it's a cold one.

I do get "intense" emotions, but that's usually just rage and that's like 10% of the time and not really what I'm shooting for.

What if it is my meds? I'm on 400mg Seroquel, 37.5mgRisperdal every 2 wks, 600mg Tegretol, and 30mg of Temazepam. I still have psychotic symptoms and mood swings (but not like manic or depressive episodes, more like a couple hours of intense rage, excitement, or despair a day and the rest is just meh). I'm thinking of asking to have my Risperdal shot lowered to 25mg and see what that does. Good idea or no since I'm still hearing voices and seeing things?

Could it be because of past/current substance use? I drank twice (got drunk but not blackout drunk) in the past week but went on a 5 day binge three weeks ago, have been clean from MJ for three weeks (moderate user previously(, and clean from opiates for almost 6 weeks (heavy user previously). If it is that, how long do you think before I start feeling normal?
MuddyBoots is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
bpcyclist
 
Thanks for this!
bpcyclist
bpcyclist
Legendary
 
bpcyclist's Avatar
bpcyclist has no updates.
 
Member Since: Sep 2019
Location: Portland
Posts: 12,681 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
40.2k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 23, 2020 at 06:04 PM
  #13
Substances can always be a factor. Has anyone ever talked to you about Clozaril?

__________________
When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield
bpcyclist is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*, MuddyBoots
MuddyBoots
Monster on the Hill
 
MuddyBoots's Avatar
MuddyBoots Bricks through the window and I think it's time I go
 
Member Since: Sep 2020
Location: by the river
Posts: 4,093 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
4,819 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 23, 2020 at 06:17 PM
  #14
Quote:
Originally Posted by bpcyclist View Post
Substances can always be a factor. Has anyone ever talked to you about Clozaril?
I was actually on Clozaril for a couple years a few years back. Worked, but made me "flat and fat." I realized my doc was obsessed with the stuff and gave it to anybody who didn't like Abilify or Latuda. Also, my pharmacy doesn't do clozaril because of all the work involved so I'd have to drive an extra half hour each way to pick it up. I could go on and on, but let's just say I'm not willing to give it another try.
MuddyBoots is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
MuddyBoots
Monster on the Hill
 
MuddyBoots's Avatar
MuddyBoots Bricks through the window and I think it's time I go
 
Member Since: Sep 2020
Location: by the river
Posts: 4,093 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
4,819 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 24, 2020 at 11:19 AM
  #15
Tried the cold shower. I feel guilty for the things I did before the shower and in general so I'm feeling something. I feel more alert too, I guess that's good.
MuddyBoots is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
*Beth*
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:49 PM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.



 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.