Challenge from my Psychologist. Write down 3 positive things a day. Join me?

[fuzzpig]

Background in brief - history of abuse and lengthy depression, self harm, lots of therapy in teens inc psych ward stay. Now suffering from CFS (also known as ME) and having CBT as part of the treatment.

So, we were talking about low self esteem, negative inner voice etc, and she suggested doing this to gradually build up evidence against these thoughts. I've done similar briefly in the past but having done a lot of psychological 'inner work' this year I feel ready to make it stick and I thought doing a thread on it would make me more likely to bother!

I'm off to watch telly with DH in a mo (Big Bang Theory 6 arrived yesterday :o) so won't be back til tomorrow but if anyone wants to do this with me then jump in! Could be stuff you've achieved, nice things that have happened etc.

Mine are:

• Had my consultation over the phone for the first time - was worried it'd feel weird but I stuck with it and found it really helpful.

• Contacted a friend to arrange a meet up while he's visiting home (I hardly ever initiate anything like that)

• Wrote in my treatment journal the same day as my session, instead of leaving it for weeks!

:)

ok

1. more than coped with having the dcs til 3 on my own - actually we had a nice time

2 met up with an old work colleague 3 sorted out kids toys in lounge - looks a lot better!

1. saw friends

2, less pain today

1. had time to read

OK, so let's think for yesterday ....

1. Caught up with some friends at our Quaker Meeting in the morning
2. dd went into town with a friend (so, nice for her which made me pleased)
3. Autumn colours were looking good I thought - and trees holding onto their leaves well into November

Nothing good to report so far about today, except after Monday morning madness am now recovering on here with a nice mug of spicy tea
Oh, and we did find the car key in the end
And dd and her friend did get to their work placement on time, dd with packed lunch

See, 3 things already and that's on a bad day!

1. DS1 slept last night (hurray!!! he has special needs)
2. Enjoyed watching gravity at the cinema, it was brilliant
3. Won't need much shopping at the supermarket today, my menu for the week will use most of what I already have. Brilliant.

1. Got loads of cleaning, tidying and sorting done
2. treated myself to some as a reward
3. ds wanted me to read with him

!. Had a much better morning today and everyone went off happy (including me!)

1. Enjoying some toast and marmite with my
2. Have a couple of promising interviews this week

1 got some jobs ticked off my to do list
2 coffee out
3 DD was so well behaved for a change

Things are getting tough here :( I hate winter!

Today:
Actually had a bath first in over a week
Found sheet music online for little donkey - can't wait for it to arrive, I love that song and the DCs are learning it at school for the Xmas play
DH gone to bed early so I'm watching vicar of dibley

Made Christmas cake with a friend.
Cuddled up with ds for lovely story
Tidied house (well downstairs is now liveable-upstairs might take longer!)

ooooh Christmas cake yum

allowed myself to have a rest this morning as I was feeling shattered
got out for a walk
sorted out our finances!

1 fixed something that was broken and had been annoying me for months.
2 beginning to recover from illness last week
3 looking forward to tomorrow as I have something nice planned

Couple of Xmas presents arrived and they are fab
Managed to pick up DCs from school and take them into town on my own
Just realised I have a bit of chocolate left in my bag :o

Managed to get dd2 to sleep in the house for today's nap. We usually take a nap drive which does the trick but means I can't relax.

Managed a play date for dd1 without feeling frazzled.

Dd has some really lovely piano pieces to play at the moment.

Haven't been on here for a bit, struggling with meds etc, but must come back! I will read through in a mo and catch up.

1. DD2 has been playing Christmas songs on the keyboard - so festive and she plays like an angel

1. DD2 and I had a great Christmas sing song tonight taking it in turns to play which culminated in me playing Ding Dong Merrily to a rock beat and us both seeing how long we could sing the Glorias for without taking a breath. It was really uplifting and so much fun - I don't care if the neighbours think we are mad!

1. Took my Dad to hospital for a small op today. I had a very yummy salted caramel latte in costa (and managed to ask for cream and not worry about the calories!) and sat with him and had a lovely chat. His op went well and he was home bright and breezy tonight.

All in all a lovely day :)

Great thread! This is something I keep meaning to do so this has got me started My 3 are:

1. Walked dog and saw worms (I love worms, they always make me smile )

1. Just looked out of my window and there's a gorgeous cock pheasant in my garden

1. I've just found my muddy (but dry, thankfully) dog on the uncovered bit of the sofa! Well, my sofa is covered but then I have extra protection on parts he goes on so it's not the end of the world. He's allowed up there but I cover half with an old duvet cover and "my" half with a collapsible laundry crate. He was on the rug when I took the crate off to unload the washing machine and when I went to put it back on the sofa he was in its place, looking very comfy too. Bugger! LOL.

1 Some interviews this week went OK
2 dd and ds both had good reports - ds settling in well at secondary school
3 Went for walk in park and enjoyed the autumn colours of trees

fuzzpig - I love "Little Donkey" too. It always made me cry during the church nativity play - one year ds dressed up in donkey costume and galloped around the aisles (on all fours) - I didn't know whether to laugh or cry that year (that may out me - waves to "anyone I know" )
"Don't give up now little donkey, Bethlehem's in sight"

Another successful play date, in the sense that I felt relaxed about it

Lovely coffee with friend who didn't mind my messy house and we had a lovely mind meeting chat with things to giggle about. I so knew I was depressed when I started to totally avoid things like this and I know I'm getting better because I want to meet people again.

Dd gave ds some of her cake because he was sad he'd finished his and really wanted him to sleep in her room tonight (we had to clear ds' room ready for decorating tomorrow)

1 absolutely lovely relaxing day out with my best friend
2 delicious lunch out together
3 lovely weather to enjoy or time out.

kids were even well behaved for babysitter and I had got myself organised in the morning beforehand to prepare dinner so not too much to do when I came in.

Got past my crazy anxiety and managed to paint a picture for my dbro.
Had a nice giggle with dcs this evening
ermmmm
nice banter with another painter and college

Aww I love all these latest positives! So festive :o welcome livid

Mine for today... sorry in advance for waffling...

• Had horrible nightmare while sleeping on couch in the small hours (often too tired, ironically, to make it up to bed) - didn't really want to disturb DH but felt really on edge finally went upstairs, told him I'd had a bad dream and he held me and didn't let go for the rest of the night. Because of DH having a back injury for a few years, that hasn't really happened for a long time, because he was usually in too much pain to cuddle, so it was nice to have that back
• Successful day Xmas shopping both in town and online - I've been a bit anxious about some bigger purchases that have needed a decision so it felt good to do that at last.
• Got loads of stuff ready to make the DCs' nativity outfits! I feel so much more confident about it now.

Hiya

Managed to be supportive of dh this morning and enthusiastic with dcs
Found a good farm shop
Ds loved his dinner

Lovely craft fair with dd this morning where she made a beautiful decoration

Dd and ds apologised to each other when they hurt one another and were giggling and laughing together soon afterwards

Had a good night's sleep (within my definition when I have a poor sleeping two year old) after a run of very bad ones.

Communicated better with dh re dd
Made choc cake!
Allowed myself to take things easy this pm

Hi
May I join? I have had depression and anxiety for the past 9 years (and probably long b4 that). At present I have been feeling very level - which led to me forgetting to take my citalopram, which led to me running out - I am now into my 5th day of no meds and waiting for my script to be filled. Getting terrible withdrawal - mainly dizziness - and I can feel the bad days creeping in. This seems like a really gd way of keeping on a level xx Thanks