I just wanted to say thanks to everyone that has left a comment or sent me an email. They’ve all meant a lot to me. Seriously. I had some major progress this past week so I thought I’d share.
For the first solid week in seven months, I felt good. Sure, I had moments of sadness or frustration, but those are average emotions that one goes through in the course of the day. For a whole week I’ve been able to function and it feels great. I thought I’d share some of the things that have helped me in the process in case anyone else needs to get out of a serious rut.
- I quite coffee. Yup, cold. Its been three weeks now and it has made a huge difference. For those that don’t know, coffee fucks with your brain and your seratonin levels, which are what keep you sane.
- I cut out most sugar. I gave it up for a week and then I had some vegan ice cream at my housemate’s celebration party. She made the roller derby all-star team… its a big deal and worth eating ice cream. Since then I’ve seriously minimized my sugar intake. In fact, most days I still don’t eat any at all.
- Replaced coffee and sugar with lots of fruit, lots of herbal tea, and four meals a day
- I go outside for at least 30 minutes a day. Its been warm enough to go out, so I’m taking advantage.
- I have at least one cup of nettle and gotu kola tea a day.
- I started taking a multivitamin and a chromium supplement. I don’t remember what the chromium was for, but probably something to do with helping seratonin levels.
- I watched The Science of Sleep for the first time. I know that it can be awkward at times, but the main character, Gael García Bernal, helped me remember that I’m not the only crazy one… and there is genius in the lack of sanity. Plus I got to watch two hotties doing cute stuff.
- I spend at least 30 minutes a day reading Watership Down.
That’s about it. I keep telling myself I’m going to start getting more exercise again (living in the middle of nowhere I do a lot more driving than I’m used to), but that will probably come once the weather is consistently above 50.
In other news… I won’t go into details, but the love of my life, Osil (pictured left), is recovering from a skin disorder (and some as yet unknown cause) which caused her to bleed a lot. Wish her well in her recovery.
I’m glad to hear you’re doing better and am looking forward to future posts. Glad your puppy is doing better as well! Best Wishes.
Ahhhhh vk, I’m so happy to hear this news from you. Keep on healing and give Osil a big cuddly hug from me. You get one too. Keep us posted when you can and thank you for posting the steps you have taken. I know how hard it is when you are in the “rut”. It’s even hard to recognise that you are in one, let alone take steps to get out. Good for you. Much love. DD
so glad things are looking up for you.
much love to you and Osil.
fabi
Aw, yay! I’m so glad that you’ve had some improvement, & I hope things keep going upwards. Your list of steps you’ve taken is a good reminder that I need to do more of that stuff myself. I also hope Osil makes a complete recovery soon (what a cutie!).
Just a quick wish to you for a Happy International Women’s Day today, vegankid (it’s IWD here in Oz already, anyway). Take good care of yourself, and I just wanted to especially thank you for all the work you put in to Blog Against Sexism day in previous years.
Really happy that you are beginning to feel better. You are right coffee fucks up your head, makes you nervous and hyper. I had a weird dizzy spell yesterday and decided that’s it the coffee has to stop but I am not going cold turkey rather starting with a mix of regular and decaf for a week then going on to decaf. I do drink loads of herb teas though during the day and a lot of water. I am of the strong opinion that many of us who are activists and conscious individuals suffer from various types and degrees of depression which leaves us unable to function in a way we would want to and then we start feeling guilty because we are not doing what we feel we should be - its a vicious circle.
Sending a big hug and get well soon to Osil. Zami had an illness in 2006 which gave her horrendous nose bleeds - it was from being bitten by a fly of some sort and she was really ill. Anyway she’s better now and I know if she could say it she would give a few tail wags and a big up to Osil!
Take care and loads of cyber hugs
Sokari
Thanks, everyone! It really does mean a lot to me. This much a lot (fully extends arms out to the sides).
I ended up getting really sick this week (its going around town) and I think that contributed to me feeling like shit (mentally and physically) for a couple of days. But the only remnants of my illness are the lack of a voice, and I’m feeling a lot better. Actually, I feel really good today. I think its cuz I spent the last couple of days tabling for the sanctuary and I remembered how good it feels to talk to people about something you’re passionate about.
In the midst of my bed-ridden illness, I also finished writing my first comic. I plan to have the illustrations done within the next two weeks. Free PDF versions for all my blog buddies. I won’t give away what its about, but I will tell you its a sappy indie comic and is titled Who Could Love A Monster?: Star Wars Saved Your Life.
Osil has had a full recovery. Not thanks to the vet, but to my friend’s book on homeopathic healing for dogs and cats, which i read frantically. Still not sure what triggered the reaction, but treating the liver and intestinal track seemed to do the trick (and cleaning the wounds with tee tree oil… which cleaned the wounds and helped prevent her from scratching).
sokari - i agree about how activists deal with depression. i tried not to beat myself up for not doing everything i wanted to be doing. i feel like i did a pretty good job at that, but the problem with depression is that you lose control over your thoughts. there is a good book that i started not long before the depression and really need to finish. its called Lifelong Activist by Hillary Rettig (sp?). She talks a lot about how to take care of ourselves mentally, physically and financially (and how they are all intertwined).
tigtog - thanks! i admit that i did feel really bad about dropping the ball on Blog Against Sexism Day. But i also felt like maybe it had worn out its usefulness (now that feminist blogging has become big enough to start ostracizing and marginalizing one another). but hey, with a theory/concept/way of life as expansive and fluid as feminism, you are bound to have lots of dissenting views within the confines of feminism.
Blog Against Sexism Day [...] maybe it had worn out its usefulness (now that feminist blogging has become big enough to start ostracizing and marginalizing one another)
Good point
- although I agree that dissent is also the sign of a living movement.
Anyway, it was last year’s BASD that got me off my arse to revive the Feminism 101 blog, so thanks for that!
I fully agree, tigtog. I certainly wasn’t trying to imply otherwise. I love the fact that feminism is large enough to encompass so many conflicting views.
I’m glad to hear that BASD inspired you to do something. Maybe it hasn’t worn out its usefulness:) It did also help new bloggers find other feminist bloggers (hell, I found lots of new folks in the process). Something to think about.