Telling You What to Do, Friend

The other evening, one of my friends who has a depressive disorder was crying about her depression and her life. I heard her. I've been there, and sometimes I feel like I still am.

Here are some things I would have liked to tell her had she been in a listening mood:

1) Stop drinking alcohol. You are not suppose to drink it with your medicine, and alcohol is a depressant in the long run.

2) Get some hobbies. Drinking is not a hobby.  Explore some activities at the park district, or take a continuing ed class.

3) Take a parenting class of some sort. Your ten-year old is ramping up for life of juvenile deliquency. Learn how to discipline and set limits before it's too late. Also learn something about children in this age group, and what they need.

4) Learn some assertiveness skills for the adults who live in your house and don't respect you.

Yoga

Last night I went to my second yoga class. I felt great leaving, and today my body is SO relaxed. I feel so good.

149 pounds

That's how much I weight now.

More importantly I had a great weekend spent with friends going out with them for ice cream, for mini golf, for meals. I wish every Saturday was just as fun and friend filled.

Looking for Trouble

Today's post is from Meditations for People Who Worry by Anne Wilson Schaef.

"Whenever  we look for trouble, we are sure to find it. If it has already happened, we can't change it anyway. If it is happening right now, we'd better just get busy and deal with it and not take the luxury of worrying about it. And, if it may happen in the future, we might as well relax, deal with today, and see what happens. This can certainly keep us occupied enough without having to borrow trouble and having to pay interest on it it."

Lost Two pounds

I'm down to 150 pounds. I feel skinnier already. Ha.

My mind is calming down too.

Adios Abilify, Hello Zoloft

My doctor cut out the Abilify. He switched me over to Zoloft to stop the weight gain. Also the Zoloft is to stop all the negative obsessive thinking in my mind.

I felt better having the script for Zoloft in my hand. I feel better having taken just one. The power of suggestion is really strong.

Weight Gain Way to Go

Yesterday I hit a high of 152 pounds. I am turning down food, so I feel like I have mastery over the darn activity. I wonder if Abilify effects the way one's body uses or stores energy besides increasing appetite. I'm no doctor or pharmacist, but I'll be seeing my doctor tomorrow.

The drug should be called Appetitify. The damn thing. Plus my anxiety is INCREASING. I've had to take 1/2 Xanax every few days.

Today I told myself that I'm practicing distorted thinking. The Xanax makes me sleepy. What kind of life am I leading?

Yesterday I went to my first real yoga class and enjoy it. It's the first time I heard an exercise teacher tell you not to be in pain. Don't do it if it hurts. Modify as needed.

iPod

I'm still on Abilify. I continue to exercise, mostly be going for walks. I have a brand new ipod, and walks are a lot more enjoyable now that I have musical company. Also, I have a handle on my eating. I think. I hit the high weight (for me) of 148 pounds. Like gas prices, the weight goes up quickly and comes back down slowly.

I'll keep weighing myself every few days and post my progress. So far I'm still squeezing into my clothes, but I would rather not squeeze.