finding other things to do

[tigger_gal]

Hi all......
In Sept I was put on antidepressants.... its really tough to fight all your emotions and your anger.. I see so many posts from all of you (including myself) that we lost friends... no one understands... Its a known fact.. we have proved over and over again that they just don't get it.....
I have 3 great listeners at my house... Sir Lucky, Beatiful Bear and Pretty Piper, I can tell them any thing and they never repeat what I say or never tell me I am complaining to much.. Yes they are dogs.. but no matter how crabby I am or If I scream at them to get down or go lay down, they great me with kisses and try to hop their 50 to 110 pound butts in my lap....
I have incountered some very mean people personally and on the internet. I try to remember that they are not worth my time and effort to tell them to mind there own business, especially when they are doing the same thing you are.. venting out your frustrations and complaining about your pain weather is mentally or physically.. We all do it, and we need to.. It can't stay bottled up inside because it just makes you fell a million times worse.... We all have chewed someone out in anger or out of pain, sometimes not realizing what you had done.....
I have stayed away for sometime to get my life back together.. Maybe it helped.. maybe it didn't.. But I did make use of my time not sitting in front of the computer... I made 3 pillows for my friends children.... I made a quilt for my grandma, gave it to her 2 months before she died..... I am making another quilt.. these are all crossstitching patterns... I made valences for my living room.. Painted the living room and the bedroom.. which by the way was not ic/fibro friendly...
anywho... I think its a great Idea to do something instead of sitting in front of the pc, It really can be a bad place to be when your angry at the world.....


take care of you
Brat

[Dixiefireball]

Your right cindy none of us need to sit in front of the computer all day its not healthy no matter how we feel.
there is another world out there beside cyber world but cyber world can also be nice when we need people who understand.
I love you sis and if there is anything i can do for you please let me know you know both my numbers.
hugs and prayers coming your way
Rhonda

[kadi]

Yep, balance is very important. I've resolved that every time I flare, I'll organize a drawer, polish or plant something, or otherwise spiff up my house. Unfortunately, it's been a bad week IC wise, but at least the house is shaping up nicely.

[Lyn40]

I totally agree that finding other things to do is a great way to distract your mind from the frustrations of this illness. I also quilt and spent 3 hours today working on one. I haven't quilted since last January. I am even flaring today and feel so much better emotionally because I have done something FUN. I also read a lot and do scrapbooking.

I don't spend as much time on these boards as I used to. It can be addictive and I have forced myself to get away from here on my better days. Of course there are days when I give myself permission to spend time here when I am flaring or when I need the connection to be with people who understand. It has taken time to learn how to balance this out.

Lyn

[trytosmile]

Yippy...crafters.

I find is very hard to put in my days. I've been on disability for 2 1/2 yrs now and it is unknown at this time if I will ever return to the work force. I had a very high demanding job. I also was very active in sports, baseball, ballhockey, golfed twice a week, worked out 6 days a week. You get the picture. Now...bluck.

I always was a crafter but now I'm a crafter ! I too quilt, just really getting started into it. Easy block types now but starting this Thursday my mom and I are taking quilting classes. Looking forward to it. My speciality is Cuddle and Rag time quilts. Now I'm in a knitting mood. I knit mittens, hats etc for babies at the hospital when they leave. Puts in time and for a good cause.

I also have a dog and now a new kitten that put in alot of my time playing etc. They also don't talk back so nice there too.

Then there is my boyfriend. He is 38 going on 5 so is a mitt full. LOL

[Annie2]

Brat, you are so right! Finding other enjoyable activities can help us all. There are times we need to be here and times we need to stay away. There is an old saying about having relatives staying in your home as guests. It goes, "After 3 days, fish and relatives should be thrown out". Of course this is not the same situation, but in some ways it's like that. After awhile, we just need to get away as it isn't helping us or the others here. We need to visit and then we need to go away for awhile. Finding the correct balance is the key here.

Like some of you, I took up quilting after developing IC. I took a few classes and enjoyed learning. I haven't had time in the last few months to do more quilting but I think now is the time to get back to it.

Thanks for this post, Cindy. This is a topic we all need to think about.

Annie