Practice makes better

If you had asked me what my motto for life was around 11 years ago I would have said, “Life sucks and then you die.”
I really thought that and said it often. Looking back, I now know it was mainly due to OCD which in turn caused severe depression and anxiety. I was the epitomy of pessimism and self loathing, hiding behind too long bangs and oversized jeans and polo shirts. Then a friend came along and gave me hope. Hope that maybe life didn’t suck, that maybe I didn’t suck. Slowly, oh so very slowly, I began making my way toward being more optimistic. I’m still not a true optimist but I do attempt to see the good in every situation. These three things have helped me to do so:

1. Medication - This is not for everyone. But once I realized the darkness in my mind wasn’t something I could fix on my own, I saw a doctor. The medication has done wonders in helping me see more clearly through the jumble of scary thoughts that use to plague and nearly paralyze me with fear every waking moment.

2. Imagination - Thinking up wild ideas about how the current situation could be so much worse often brings a laugh at my own creativity and really does help me be thankful that such and such a thing didn’t happen

3. Prayer - I’m religious, and prayer plays a gigantic part in my life. When I remember, I like to pray for Heavenly Father to help me see the beauty or lesson in my every day activites and situations. And I pray for clarity of thought, to be able to see through the emotions of events that are depressing or heartbreaking, to know that those feelings will pass and that there is still much good in the world.

I have to practice every day to keep an upbeat attitude about life, but, practice makes better. ;)

This post was written as part of Mommy Zabs’ first group writing project.

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September 23, 2007 | Filed Under Group Writing Projects, Mental Health | 9 Comments 

Summer’s guide to Mom De-Stressification

1. Have someone babysit the difficult child at least once a week.
* Note that the child labeled difficult may be an angel for the sitter, who may then ask you why you called her in tears over said child, which may in turn make you assume she thinks you’re just a bad impatient mother, which may cause more stress and tears.

2. Designate a certain amount of time every day as “room time”, where the children are to stay in their room and play quietly while you relax with the baby and a book.
*Note that your relaxation time may be interrupted by children having a shouting match over who is being the quietest. You may also hear small voices calling down the hallway every 5 minutes saying things like, “I have to pee!” or “I’m firsty!” or “Obi-Wan hit me with the light saber!” or “Count Dooku stole da Piston Cup! or *sob sob, blubber blubber, snort, sob*.

When trying to relax fails, just try to release.

3. Sit at the piano and pound on it.
*Note that a child may come out and ask in awe, “What’s dat bootiful song mom?” which may just make you smile and forget why you were pounding in the first place.

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September 23, 2007 | Filed Under Motherhood | 9 Comments