It's happening again. Something that happens to me over and over it seems.
I take on one little thing. It's little - can't hurt, can it? Then I take on another little thing. And the little things lead to other things. I find it so hard to say no when I'm asked to do something. I love doing so many things. But, unasked for, the little things turn into big things.
And I begin to feel tired, even when I don't seem to be doing very much. And the things that are little begin to seem big, even though they aren't.
I think this is what's called "stress". And the funny thing about stress is that it doesn't go away by resting. I have to just carry on, one little item at a time, and find activities to relax me in between.
I know that this feeling is a wake-up call. Maybe I'm not organizing my life the way I should. Maybe it's not balanced enough. I'll have to watch that I don't fall off this tightrope I'm walking.
So what can I do that might help? Take a nap? Go for a walk? Visit a friend? Read a book? What kind of a book? Do some cooking? Clean up the bedroom? I know that any one of things "might" help. But none of those would help get rid of the work I have to do - the stuff that is pressing on my brain, making my entire body feel weary.
The best thing of all that I know of is to make a list. When I make a list and check things off as I accomplish them, my responsibilities don't seem nearly as heavy as they are in my mind. As I work I can tick off my accomplishments. And as I tick them off, my burdens become lighter.
When my head seems crowded with stuff, causing me stress, quite often things are not nearly as bad as they seem. Putting things on paper clears my stressed brain. I have found that out in the past. I'll just have to remember that today.
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4 comments:
I totally agree with your list thing!!! I love lists too, but when i'm unwell, i don't use them and it just makes everything worse! I have something to send you... do you have email?
Hey Marja - The People Pleaser Syndrome. I have it and I've learned to back off with some stuff.
Take baby steps, don't worry too much how others feel right now, and just take one minute at a time.
I also have Fibromyalgia along with Bipolar, so I know the pacing technique all too well.
YOU are your first priority.
good blog did you know that stress and thinking about how stressed you are makes you stress more bizarre isnt it
I too have both fibromyalgia and bipolar disorder. I am also a Christian. Even in the bible is states "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Mat. 6:34)
Basically it is saying what you are, that you need to pace yourself.
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