Tips to stay mentally positive

[antisupermum]

About 18 months I "recovered" from a pretty bad bout of depression and anxiety. The end of a shit relationship gave me an epiphany moment and I realised I had to climb out of that black hole and I haven't really looked back since (it wasn't easy but I done it). I came off my AD and life since has been really good. I am in a good relationship, the kids are good, work is good, social life is good.

However, the last 4-6 weeks I have started to feel things slip. There has been no traumatic events (this started the last bout of MH issues). Nothing major has changed in my routine. Literally the only thing I can think that has changed is that around 2 months ago I started a --much needed- healthier eating/exercise plan. I have lost over a stone so far. (It's nothing extreme, just being more active and using MyFitness to count calories. I'm still splurging a little & enjoying my weekends).

I'm tired. I feel like I am being pulled in so many directions and not doing very well at any of them. I feel like I am constantly food-prepping, taking kids to clubs, visiting family, working, organising for festive season, saving up money for endless things etc. Its absolutely nothing different than I have done for all of my adult life, and what I'm sure all of you guys are doing too. It's just normal, monotonous life.

I don't know how to stop this spiral before it takes hold. I don't know how to get a grip of myself and "reset" my brain to realise that things are pretty damn good. I'm annoyed at myself because I've been here before and climbed out of it, so why is it so hard to see the light this time?

First of all well done on your epiphany moment and pulling yourself through. I know that's not easy so seriously good on you.

Are you using My Fitness to track nutrition? If you've reduced calories I just wonder if you are missing some nutrients? I say this as I went through a period where I lost a lot of weight and felt awful. I look back now and can see I wasn't eating enough (I see calories aren't the issue for you) and was probably lacking nutrients. So maybe a blood test at the doc might rule out low iron and so on.

The other thing to point out is that when we recover from any illness, it's tempting to take on too much. We feel great, bounce back hard, and then comes a point when we potentially could burn out. So perhaps look on this not as the start of slipping back, but as a blip where you perhaps need to regain balance.

You sound like you have plans and goals, maybe its a case of easing back - doing what you have to do - and otherwise just enjoying the moment.

@GoldfishGirl You have raised some really good points there, thank you. I will look into the possibility of some vitamins which might make me feel more balanced. And I think the point is particularly valid that I may have felt better and leaped right back into life, and am now reaping the consequences of that. I'm not quite sure how to remedy that issue but at least it may make a little more sense in my head.

I appreciate you taking the time to offer your insights, thank you.