Time still feels strange to me, passing fast and slow all at once. I’ll think about posting something here, and then…more time passes.
Anxiety is still a problem for me, in a big way. It’s been a bit over 18 months since my taper off xanax ended and I still have times of flare-ups of various symptoms, and my central nervous system is still super-sensitive. I continue to try to take things day by day, even moment by moment, and get through as best as I can. As to be expected (since this is the way life is) some days are better than others.
Here are some of what’s currently helping me through what continues to be a difficult time…
Painting.
Even though I can’t really explain the why behind it, holding a brush and moving paint (on a page or a canvas) helps me calm. I don’t worry about how it looks. I’m not doing anything fancy. I even call what I do “paint play” because I’m just playing, simply moving the paint wherever.
It’s okay if I don’t know the why of it working – what matters is that I know painting helps me, and I’ve been spending time doing it. It’s grounding, and relaxing, and calming. It’s one of my joy connections – and whenever we can connect with joy, it helps.
Writing and research.
I’m putting these two together because, for now, they’re overlapping for me a bit.
As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been working again on genealogy research.
I’ve also been doing research for my current fiction project.
But. I’ve been having trouble getting back to a regular, consistent, routine with writing. To try to shift this for myself, I decided to try having a writing schedule even though, historically, writing schedules haven’t worked out too well for me. I’m willing to try it again, though, so…I’m giving it a go.
What I know is that my life is better, in general, when I’m writing consistently (especially, when I’m writing fiction). Even when life is difficult, it’s better when I’m writing.
That’s a big reason I’m giving the writing schedule a try again. I really-really-really want to get back to writing consistently again.
Walking.
Because of various physical things, I’m not always able to take nice long walks. But taking walks is something else that really helps me. It helps the anxiety, it lifts my mood, it just makes me feel better.
My husband and I have been walking in the neighborhood, as well as taking walks some days near his workplace on his lunch hour.
Getting out in the fresh air is something else that really helps me.
Reading. And watching shows.
Reading fiction takes me to another place, putting me in the lives of imaginary characters far away from whatever is happening in my own world.
Spending time reading on the front porch has become a grounding routine of the past months, and it helps calm me. I also generally read for a while in the evenings.
Watching shows does a similar thing for me, putting me into another place and time. I have a variety of what I call “comfort shows” and I’ll often watch complete series multiple times.
Prayer and Bible study.
Time with Jesus just helps me in so many ways. It brings comfort and clarity.
It helps me remember that I’m not alone.
It helps me deal with life.
Connection with loved ones.
Hanging out with my husband… taking walks with him, watching “our shows” together, sharing meals, cooking our usual breakfast-for-supper on Sunday evenings… I’m so grateful for him, and for our time together.
And there are the phone calls and texts and messages and voxes with friends and family.
And also…
Our girl.
And this sweet kitty continues to bring joy and love to our household. We love her to bits.
These are some of the things helping me through.
Simple things, but oh so helpful and valuable.
Find what helps you get through, what helps you cope and deal… and what helps you connect with joy.
I’d love to hear what helps you (if you’d like to share your thoughts) – just get in touch with me anytime.
♥
Ginger Simpson White 