brain fog

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    MORE EVERYDAY STRATEGIES

    So I reported recently that I have made great progress combating my apathy and depression by getting off meds known to have a side effect of apathy, and by finding out my brain was oxygen-starved from undiagnosed sleep apnea. But I still have fibromyalgia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), cPTSD, and I am still overspending myself as a 24/7 caregiver to my husband… so I still have daily struggles. I know that if I am not very careful, I could lose my progress and return to an unhealthy state where I am “frozen” hiding in my Nest all the time again.

    Here are some things I have been doing to keep myself from slipping back into depression and inactivity.

    - 30-minutes of sun lamp therapy within the first hour after waking (makes a huge difference for me regarding how alert I am and how energetic I feel)

    - Taking a shower no less than every other day early in the day—even when I don’t want to (This is HUGE for me and I use it to mindfully transition from sleepy to awake by focusing on how wonderful the warm water feels on different parts of me.)

    - Eating protein, fruits and vegetables for breakfast BEFORE having coffee, dairy, sugar or grains (I hard-boil eggs 18 at a time so they are easy to grab in the morning, and I put them in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of basil/kale/cashew pesto from Trader Joe’s, with a small handful of raw almonds and a piece of fruit on the side. If I feel hungry later before lunch I have a small bowl of healthy grains, like meulsi. This helps a lot to provide energy

    - Never skipping morning meds and trying to take meds at the same times every day to better regulate my body/brain chemistry.

    - Less screen time and more looking out of the windows. I have my face in a screen a LOT as a way to escape, so I really need to ask myself what else I could be doing when I am tempted to scroll on my phone. So I look around the room to find one small task to do instead, like straightening or dusting—something that will help me move forward toward a happier, healthier life. On days this is especially difficult, I make deals with myself that I can justify some screen time after I accomplish a task.

    There are lots more of these small habits that end up having a powerful positive impact on me over time. I have them on a note on my phone so I don’t forget any. Please share some of your strategies too.

    #apathy #Anxiety #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #Depression #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #Fibromyalgia #ChronicFatigue #SleepApnea #PTSD #BrainFog

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    Episode 12: Fibromyalgia Deep Dive

    It’s Thursday and a new episode of Creative Copes Podcast has been released on all listening platforms. This is episode is a deep dive into being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Go have a listen on your favorite app and let us know what you think!
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    #Podcast #creativecopes #Fibromyalgia #ChronicMigraineSyndrome #ChronicVestibularMigraine #Migraine #BrainFog #Anxiety #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicHeadaches #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ChronicMigraines #ChronicFatigue

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    Brain fog

    In a precedent miniSode to our deep dive into Fibromyalgia we talked about Brain Fog as a symptom of chronic illness and have disabling it can be. Please Go listen and tell us what you think:

    creativecopes.wixsite.com/podcast/episodes/episode/428d599d/...

    And stay tuned on your favorite listening platform as we release the deep dive into Fibromyalgia this Thursday 3/30-23.

    #BrainFog #FibroFog #ChronicFatigue #Fibromyalgia #ChronicVestibularMigraine #ChronicMigraineSyndrome #Migraine #FMS #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #CrohnsDisease #Endometriosis #Anxiety #PanicDisorder #ChronicHeadaches #ChronicIllness #ChronicMigraines #ChronicPain #creativecopes #SpinalCordInjury #Whiplash

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    What is one micro thing you did today that you didn’t realize was an achievement?

    I wanted to give space for us all to think about what is one micro small thing we did that was an achievement and then take a moment for gratitude and give yourselves a pat on the back. Mine was laundry. I haven’t been able to do anything but “couch it” but we are all professional Overcomers and even though I will be sore from it and exhausted I will be all of those things in clean clothes 😂.

    #POTS #Fatigue #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Anxiety #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #BrainFog

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    Canes & Brains

    I was looking everywhere for my cane one afternoon. Couldn't figure out where the heck I put the thing. My partner comes home and goes to get a water from the fridge and there it is, hanging up on the shelf, literally just chillin.
    #Cane #funny #BrainFog #ChemoBrain #Humor #Laugh #gallowshumor #MigraineBrainFog

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    Toothpaste Follies

    Today I went to get my blood drawn. I take off my hoodie and feel something tubular and squishy in the pocket. So I reach in and what do I find? When I burshed my teeth I put the toothpaste in my pocket afterwords because THAT is where the toothpaste goes, my friend!🤣😂🤪
    #BrainFog #FibroFog #MigraineBrainFog #funny #Humor #lol #CheerMeOn #whoops

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    Prescription anxiety

    I had spine surgery on 3/3 (5 days ago) and I’m in a lot of pain. I expected this as I just had spine surgery 6/22/22 as well. I prepared for the worst and I hoped for the best. Here’s my question….I got a prescription for pain medication the day of my procedure which contained enough for 8 tabs a day spaced at every 4-6 hours, just like the prescription says. Here I am on day 5 with 8 tablets and I’m anxious…is the surgeon going to give me a refill , there’s no way people come off pain meds 5 days after spine surgery right?, am I crazy that I’ve calculated my dose’s exactly because I don’t want to experience the crazy pain that follows?.
    Seriously, is there something wrong with that/me? I’ve never been an addict, but if pain was involved and pain medication was needed, I didn’t let anyone help me with that part. I’m the child of an addict, could be something there.
    My bruising has only just begun and the swelling is horrific (ice is my friend). So my anxiety has kicked in because I’m scared to call the surgeons office and ask for a refill (to be called in tonight preferably so I don’t have to drive), docs don’t like to refill pain medication even for surgery relief. I’m so afraid to be in pain, but the anxiety of actually calling is getting the best of me right now. Ugh. Why? Just why? Why does my brain do this? I’m certainly not actively thinking these thoughts. I don’t understand why this has to be an issue for me. 😤😩🥴😵‍💫🙄🤥🫥🫤😳😔 #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #MajorDepressiveDisorder #Anxiety #PanicDisorder #MoodDisorder #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #AnxietyMedication #SpinalStenosis #MightyTogether #CheckInWithMe #CrohnsDisease #Fibromyalgia #BrainFog #BackPain #SpinalSurgery #ChronicPain

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    Been There, Forgot That! | Finding Humor in the Forgetfulness

    The cognitive function struggles when your #RareDisease causes brain fog and #neurodivergent disorders poses difficulty in remembering can be extremely frustrating. But don’t see this as a personal flaw - you are not to blame #neurodivergentzebra

    The next time your neurological and physical conditions are contending for your brain power, imagine each one as two cartoon characters. Next, visualize them playing tug of war for your brain. Let them play their silly game and imagine yourself walking right past them. This will send those characters a visual message that you’re not going to give them any more of your time or energy.

    Back in the physical world, consider keeping a notebook or to-do list handy so that, as those random tasks come up you can immediately write them down - checking them off later on is oh-so satisfying! You got this 💪

    #Neurodiversity #neurodivergence #ADHD #PTSD #OCD #executivefunctiondeficit #BrainFog #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #EDS #RareDisease #Anxiety #PanicDisorder

    9 reactions 2 comments
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    Migraine ... a new challenge ?

    I'm experiencing migraines for a bit now.... seeing neurologist again tomorrow. Here's to hoping to find some relief.

    #Migraine #BrainFog #BipolarDisorder #PTSD #Autism #PolycysticOvarySyndrome #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #MentalHealth #Disability

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    😬Our ‘Public Persona’😬

    This is exactly what I, and countless others, do everyday - we put up a ‘public persona’ to hide what we’re truly going through. We pretend that we aren’t: in #AGONY or #depressed or #exhausted or #anxious . We pretend because we are #scared of how others would treat us if they really know what we were going through. The thing is though, by pretending we are something we’re not, we are giving ourselves more #Stress but also denying someone the opportunity to help us deal with the things that are really going on in our lives.
    #itsokaynottobeokay #itsoktoneedhelp #ChronicIllness #chronicillnessawareness #ChronicPain #chronicpainawareness #mentalhealthmatters #MentalHealth #MensMentalHealth #CollegeMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Disability #IntellectualDisability #DevelopmentalDisability #InvisibleDisability #disabilityawareness #invisibleillnessawareness #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FND #FNDAwareness #JointHypermobilitySyndrome #ChronicMigraineSyndrome #ChronicVestibularMigraine #HemiplegicMigraine #Migraine #BipolarDepression #ChronicDepression #Depression #ChronicFatigue #Anxiety #SensoryProcessingDisorder #BrainFog #PanicAttacks #PanicDisorder #notalone #BeYourself

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