Asking For Help

Sometimes we have to just ask for help, something which I think we all find very difficult.  I know I do.

Last week it all got to be too much & I took myself back to my GP to ask for help.  Help with my pain, but also help with my compulsive eating, constant exhaustion & non-stop teariness.

Our GP is a saint.  She listens attentively & absorbs what you say to her.  She hears between the words & tears & guided me towards a solution & realisation. 

The realisation?  That for a long time I have probably been treading water & that exercise has been a coping mechanism - a very, very good coping mechanism.  And without it I am very lost at the moment.  While I continue to recover, I am to slowly, very slowly, introduce exercise back into my routine.  This week was a little pottering in the garden each day.  I love my garden & this has helped clear my head.  I’m also to start walking for 10 minutes each day.

We also came to the conclusion that I’m very bored at the moment.  All of those years of study & work mean that I need to continue using & stimulating my brain.  Yet we both agree that going back to work isn't the solution.  So I’ve cleaned out my sewing room & used Pinterest for some inspiration, all with the goal of getting imaginative & creative again.

Finally, we also agreed that I needed some medication to help me through this period, something to help replace the loss of serotonin as a result of not exercising & to also help combat the compulsive eating & depression.

Today is day six of my “happy pills” & I’ve noticed that I’m not eating constantly & that I’m keeping myself busy & not just moping.  I’ll be on these pills for at least 6-12 months,  which I am fine with, as I understand their importance in treating depression.

So it looks like my weight loss journey has taken a slight detour.  That is okay – life is about lessons learnt & the journey itself, not the destination.

 

If you are suffering from depression or anxiety, please go & talk to your GP or contact Beyond Blue http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?