healthy coping mechanisms (original) (raw)
25 October 2010 @ 08:44 am
Hello All,
I am in recovery from a life of restricting, purging, overexcersing, and hating myself. For once in the 20 years of my life, I actually feel good about myself!
Anyways, I've started a blog- a different approach to thinking about ED recovery: with intellectual curiosity.
Please read, hope it helps, and comment if it does or doesn't!
You are all so brave for working on making your life worth living!
-Christina
Hey guys, I know this isn't really totally on topic but I am begging for help here.
I am 19 years old and have dyslexia and ADD. I have been a perfectionist my entire life (my mother is also a perfectionist) and this past spring I was diagnosed with PTSD, general anxiety and severe depression. I noticed my perfectionism getting worse and worse and my desire to control every situation grew. My therapist said that I was displaying OCD like tendencies as coping mechanisms for my other issues. However the more I read about Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, the more it seems like me. I literally exhibit every single symptom on the list to some extent with the exception of hoarding.
* Excessive devotion to work
I work 80 or more hours a week and would work more if I could. I know that one reason I do this is in order to distract myself from my problems but since I was a workaholic before all of my symptoms started I think it still applies.
* Inflexibility
Even as a kid I hated it when plans changed. My mom often talks about taking me to preschool and how I loved it when she picked me up- but only if I had prior warning. If she showed up to surprise me I would become hysterical because that was NOT the plan.
* Inability to throw things away, even when the objects have no value
Not so much, I do often keep things that I think might be useful later such as old class notes and stuff but eventually I throw them away.
* Lack of generosity
I am really not good at sharing.
* Limited expression of affection
I have never let anyone get too close. It scares the shit out of me when people do, especially guys.
* Perfectionism
yes.
* Preoccupation with details, rules, and lists
People constantly tease me about my need to make lists. I actually have lists of lists that I need to make. I keep my to-do list on my blackberry and also a written copy in my agenda. I recently became the manager of a small water park and I cannot go anywhere without my binder, even though I rarely actually need it. I will spend and hour re-formatting a document or spreadsheet that someone sends me before I print it... I could go on and on.
* Reluctance to allow others to do things
This has especially become a HUGE problem with my job. Not only am I stressing myself out trying to do everything myself but I am insulting those around me who are fully capable of performing tasks that I refuse to share.
Basically I was wondering if any of you have information about this condition or have any experience with it?
Hello guys. Just wanna ask each one of you about what's the best medication for depression, in your own opinion. It can be drugs, music or any stuff that you think is helpful. Thanks in advance!
Hello All,
I am in recovery from a life of restricting, purging, overexcersing, and hating myself. For once in the 20 years of my life, I actually feed good about myself!
Anyways, I've started a blog- a different approach to thinking about ED recovery: with intellectual curiosity.
Please read, hope it helps, and comment if it does or doesn't!
You are all so brave for working on making your life worth living!
-Christina Pillsbury
Positive thinking, positive reinforcement, cognitive therapy, what ever you want to call it... it doesn't hurt to give it a try, right?
Please take the time to write down 3 good things from the past week. It can be something that happened today or yesterday, something you plan to do that will make you happy, or maybe even a quote or some small thing that makes you smile.
Don't compare your positive things to others and don't worry that they aren't big enough or good enough. As long as its something GOOD, big or small, and that it helped you, that's all that matters.
Positive thinking, positive reinforcement, cognitive therapy, what ever you want to call it... it doesn't hurt to give it a try, right?
Please take the time to write down 3 good things from the past week. It can be something that happened today or yesterday, something you plan to do that will make you happy, or maybe even a quote or some small thing that makes you smile.
Don't compare your positive things to others and don't worry that they aren't big enough or good enough. As long as its something GOOD, big or small, and that it helped you, that's all that matters.
Are you having a bad day? Then I dare you to watch this video and not smile even if it is for a brief moment.
Current Mood: 
calm
This past week was not as productive as it should have been so I'm setting goals for myself this week. I need to clean up my closet, organize my craft area, goto bed by 12 AM, look for a job, begin my walking exercises and continue to do dishes once a day.
It helps me to set up clear goals of what I need to get done otherwise I just slack off. There is something about marking off a task on my goals list that makes me feel better and motivated. What are your goals for the week?
Current Mood: 
lazy
Positive thinking, positive reinforcement, cognitive therapy, what ever you want to call it... it doesn't hurt to give it a try, right?
Please take the time to write down 3 good things from the past week. It can be something that happened today or yesterday, something you plan to do that will make you happy, or maybe even a quote or some small thing that makes you smile.
Don't compare your positive things to others and don't worry that they aren't big enough or good enough. As long as its something GOOD, big or small, and that it helped you, that's all that matters.
NOTE: I want to start a daily Beautiful Things post. It is a great way to get us to notice the beauty around us and find joy in it. This is basically a variation on the good things post. The point of both of these posts is to help us change the way we view our world. Instead of all the bad thoughts, stress and whatever your particular issue is this helps focus you attention to positive emotions in our day to day life. I've found this to be the best coping trick I've done especially when I'm really down in a black hole.
Hi Everyone!
I've been neglecting live journal for far too long. I'm doing okay other than hitting my 2 year mark of being without full time employment. I'm recuperating nicely from the lap surgery I had about 3 months ago for my endometriosis. I still live with daily pain but the surgery did help decreasing its level a lot. Before I was at an 8-9 on the pain scale and now down to what I would consider a 3-4. Now I just need to get my physical strength back after a year of not walking.
How is everyone doing these days? Better, worse, happy, sad? Have I missed anything big in your lives?