taurean Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 (edited) Last week my strategy was built around packing in a large volume of activity and keeping on the go. This week I still aim to keep focused and distracted, but particular areas of involvement will be: "REDS" Relaxation, exercise, diet, sleep Projects A shopping trip to the West End with my wife, plus lunch out together A day at my sister's in Croydon. Finalising paperwork with my financial adviser Seeing the ear specialist again on Friday Response Prevention Applying "The Four Steps" if an OCD trigger intrudes. Spreading Happiness One of the personal trainers at my gym smiles at everyone and generates a smile, not a scowl, back - from almost everyone. Her (secondary) business is therefore manufacturing happiness, so I will be looking to try doing the same thing this week. Anybody wish to try this formula along with me? I'll feed back how I get on. Edited August 17, 2014 by taurean Link to comment
Guest Shannon Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Some people do indeed have a light and warmth radiating around them that is truly inspiring- it is incredible how a simple smile, a gesture of good will can make you happy and lift your spirits. A smile is essentially an act of kindness, you do not know the benefit that it can bring to others. It also reinforces positive energy and being positive is the way in which to live life,it is infectious and being around people with this attitude makes you feel happier and lightens the load. Absolutely Taurean, bring on the happiness!! Link to comment
taurean Posted August 17, 2014 Author Share Posted August 17, 2014 (edited) I shall do my best Shannon. Anyone going to join me trying this programme out this week (personalised to their work, domestic, or both individual projects of course?) All the best Roy Edited August 17, 2014 by taurean Link to comment
Guest Saz Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Me I'm going to do it too! Sounds like a great way to go about the week I have been feeling a lot more positive lately, hate saying that as I don't want to jinx myself but I've been feeling a calmness I've not felt in a long time. I'm STILL waiting for baby lol and am so excited for her arrival, it's a feeling I can't describe, maybe that's why I feel so calm inside, like im ready and prepared now Roy- I had a severe ear infection for almost 3 years a few years ago. It was actually horrific! It was otitis media which is an infection of the middle ear, it was blocked and then began oozing (gross) and wouldn't stop. I had to have an operation on it in the end as I had a perforated ear drum. It took so long to fix it but thankfully it was eventually sorted out and you know what, my partners dad is an Ear Nose and Throat consultant!!! If only I met him earlier lol. Hope you manage to get yours sorted soon, it's horrible having any sort of problems with your ears.x Link to comment
Guest OCDAY Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Hi Roy, I am on on mission to enforce this, this week, as im on hol and have always had similar probs with this to you. You are doing amazing and I want a shot at that!! Just currently writing my plan/schedule for the week, most will include exposures. It won't be easy and my med situation won't help. But **** it am determined to see what I can do...................... Your posts are inspiring. Link to comment
taurean Posted August 17, 2014 Author Share Posted August 17, 2014 (edited) Me I'm going to do it too! Sounds like a great way to go about the week I have been feeling a lot more positive lately, hate saying that as I don't want to jinx myself but I've been feeling a calmness I've not felt in a long time. I'm STILL waiting for baby lol and am so excited for her arrival, it's a feeling I can't describe, maybe that's why I feel so calm inside, like im ready and prepared now Roy- I had a severe ear infection for almost 3 years a few years ago. It was actually horrific! It was otitis media which is an infection of the middle ear, it was blocked and then began oozing (gross) and wouldn't stop. I had to have an operation on it in the end as I had a perforated ear drum. It took so long to fix it but thankfully it was eventually sorted out and you know what, my partners dad is an Ear Nose and Throat consultant!!! If only I met him earlier lol. Hope you manage to get yours sorted soon, it's horrible having any sort of problems with your ears.x Thanks for following the programme (tailored of course to your own interesting circumstances) Saz - I think it might be a good package - and I share your excitement too re the forthcoming happy event. :original: I am now down to just two steroid tablets per day for the ears, plus still blowing up the little balloon with my nostrils - and I have lots of frequencies back now.The ears are popping regularly, and I am just hoping that the fluid in the eustacian tubes is draining away now; so i'll be hoping for good news when I see the specialist Friday evening.. You can imagine how difficult this has been for us, and how stressful for my wife who is deaf - I sort of am her "hearing dog" and she's been panicking that I was going deaf too (I haven't, I felt sure it was attributable to the virus - but I struggled to get her to see that rationale). Edited August 17, 2014 by taurean Link to comment
Guest Saz Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Sounds like your on the mend Roy, fingers crossed for Friday x Link to comment
FoosBoo88 Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 (edited) Great stuff to read Roy. I've had a few tough days, mostly because the future looks bleak for little baby Bagheera. Or at least, not bleak, because if he's not chipped and nobody doesn't come forward by my birthday (9th Sept), then he has a new home. I feel awful at the moment as I have him in a cat carrier and he's breaking his little heart out. He's only a youngster, I feel evil! I do need to take on REDS, it's not something I've discovered before but it's similar to HALT - Hunger, Anger, Loneliness Tiredness. Relaxation and exercise are two things I need to get more on top of and they might explain why I feel so rough lately. Good luck with the projects! I'm just giving it a few hours then I'm off to the vets with Bagheera. Fortunately, there is very little housework to do today and I have more time to strategically plan how I'm going to take on my OCD! Keep it up, lovely to read your success FoosBoo88 x Edited August 18, 2014 by FoosBoo88 Link to comment
taurean Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 (edited) Great stuff to read Roy. I've had a few tough days, mostly becoause the future looks bleak for little baby Bagheera. Or at least, not bleoak, because if he's not chipped and nobody doesn't come forward by my birthday (9th Sept), then he has a new home. I feel awful at the moment as I have him in a cat carrier and he's breaking his little heart out. He's only a youngster, I feel evil! I do need to take on REDS, it's not something I've discovered before but it's similar to HALT - Hunger, Anger, Loneliness Tiredness. Relaxation and exercise are two things I need to get more on top of and they might explain why I feel so rough lately. Good luck with the projects! I'm just giving it a few hours then I'm off to the vets with Bagheera. Fortunately, there is very little housework to do today and I have more time to strategically plan how I'm going to take on my OCD! Keep it up, lovely to read your success FoosBoo88 x The future is bright for Bagheera - and you are ine if thd most caribg individuals - don't fall for that 'zI am evil" OCD nonsense.When I took my cat Sophie to the cattery - when we were going away - she would catterwall for Britain - but I switched my mind elsewhere - ignored it - because I knew her welfare was my prime consideration, and a cat wants to be "warm, fed and loved" and she would be there while we were away. Roy Edited August 18, 2014 by taurean Link to comment
taurean Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 Part of managing our OCD has to be coping with the unexpected without getting stressed (which only kick-starts an OCD event). The tree surgeons rurned up unexpectedly and wanted to remove my willow tree stump"as they had the stump removal machine on the lorry". Now this is what my wife warned my about in handing over the project management of doing up our house (to get it ready to sell) to me - viz ted workmen always try to impose THEIR agenda on the customer! Well I wanted the job done, so I imposed what I was prepared to pay and for what on the workers. They accepted, and a good job has been done. I am now rewarding myself with a pint of real ale down my local hostelry! Link to comment
taurean Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 (edited) Well that setback with the unanounced arrival of the tree surgeons yesterday has turned into a triumph. I was still a little hyper as I eent to bed lasg night so I took some Kalms herbal remedy and listened to guided meditations - worked a treat, slept soundly. This morning my wife and I are delighted with the quality of the job done - the site is levelled and ready for decking (we have scheduled that job for next spring/summer). Today I am off down the leisure centre for more practice prepatory to swimming in the olympic pool at the olympic park - my wife is talking to her sister - regular Tuesday phone call - then going to the local shops. Hopefully weather will hold for us to meet up for a pot of tea in our garden this afternoon. Lessons learned - be prepared, expect the unexpected and be ready to make a decision then and there if beneficial to you. Defuse any stress or tensions which arise with a beneficial displacement activity and distraction. Use meditation to calm down relax and refocus. Edited August 19, 2014 by taurean Link to comment
taurean Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 (edited) We've been out together up to the wonderful shops in London's Oxford Street. Partly to escape the telephone and our families, who are needing and leaning on us heavily at the moment, partly for the sheer joy of being able to do things together now, and partly to buy some things we needed. We found and bought the things we wanted, had a wonderful lunch together in John Lewis, and a snuggle up on the bus back to Liverpool Street Station. Lessons learned/remembered - walk away from pressures for a while - let messages go to voicemail. Use distraction to move away from distressing thoughts. How is my3 4OCD? Ok. Some thoughts sought to intrude, but applied "The Four Steps "and distraction and refocus and away they went. Edited August 20, 2014 by taurean Link to comment
taurean Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 (edited) A bit of a problem has developed this evening. I am off to my sister's home in Croydon tomorrow. It won't be an especially happy trip, probably far from it - both my sister and brother-in-law have recently learned that they, effectively, have a form of terminal illness - and this will be my first visit to them since then, though I have been talking a lot to my sister by phone. Well this situation is triggering an anxiety response and, whilst I've tried some Kalms pills and a relaxing bath with soothing music, I was still very anxious over an hour ago. So I decided to use plan C ; this is the beta-blocker drug propranolol - which I normally use in an OCD episode to curb anxiety and help me deploy my CBT therapy tools. In that mode of use, it has been extremely successful. So I took a low - 10mg dose, and propose to do that again in the morning and at lunchtime tomorrow .I already feel more relaxed although that could be a psychosomatic effect of knowing I've taken the drug of course. Now I do have to be careful using this drug - it's primary role in medicine is reducing high blood pressure - which it does extremely effectively. My blood pressure is usually normal, and only rises in an anxious or OCD state, and then not too much - so the dose of the drug must be carefully chosen, or my blood pressure falls too low. So with the doctor's help i understand the dosages, Plus I have my own blood pressure machine at home in case of need I think the 10mg doses will see me through this difficult situation - that along with some standard cognitive therapy, where I am applying rational responses to the anxious thoughts. E.g. none of the three of us have any concerns about dying - we are all sincere christians.so that is no issue. There is no real concern regarding my niece (my nephew - their other adopted child - was sadly killed in action in Afghanistan some 4 years ago) . Relatively soon after the adoptions, my sister and brother-in-law drew up new wills making me the legal guardian to the children in the event of their joint demise before the children became of age - my niece is now of age. So the guardianship would not now invoke, but i would certainly be there for my niece - with whom I have a very good relationship - help and console her and assist her with affairs if her parents die. So, although there is bad news, i'ts not the thought of death, nor concerns about my niece, that is proving anxiety - it must just be the uncertainty in my mind as to the line my relatives will take. But as I can't predict or control that, I need to apply a large dose of acceptance, don't I? So I've shared with you here what has gone on physiologically inside me , and what I've done about it medically and therapy wise, my decision-making and why . I felt I had to take specific action in this way, because otherwise the issue could conceivably trigger an OCD relapse - which is very much what I wish to prevent this week. Best wishes Roy Edited August 20, 2014 by taurean Link to comment
PolarBear Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 (edited) You know that a highly stressful, emotionally charged situation like the one you are about to be involved in can trigger OCD. You've put tools in place to deal with increased anxiety. Remember to take care of yourself throughout. REDS. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Breathe. Take time to relax. You'll make it. Edited August 20, 2014 by PolarBear Link to comment
taurean Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 (edited) Thanks PolarBear,. I feel you are right, and so will be careful what I say and will give myself time by not agreeing to anything - I can always say I need to discuss it with my wife if I need to buy any time. I will roll out the REDS - relaxation, exercise, diet, sleep - and I feel better for the cognitive therapy, as I now know from that what is causing the anxiety. The propranooll - used in this dose just for a short period - is a powerful tool to use, and has been highly successful before. So hopefully, with this strategy I will sleep well tonight and I can step forward tomorrow knowing in my mind what to do and how to react, I'll post an update afterwards Many thanks Bear, Roy Edited August 20, 2014 by taurean Link to comment
Guest Saz Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Good luck for today Roy. It sounds like you have a good plan in place to help your anxiety and worries. Let us know how you get on, I'm sure you will be fine. x Link to comment
taurean Posted August 21, 2014 Author Share Posted August 21, 2014 (edited) Hi OCDay, Foosboo,PolarBear, Saz and others following my topic. Here is what happened since my last bulletin. REDS Relaxation I played relaxing music on Classic FM last night,and watched a little calming TV before going to bed. Exercise I have walked just over ten miles over the last two days (I have an electronic pedometer that clips on my belt) - that is brilliant exercise. Diet Whilst nothing I eat was essentially bad for me, my sister did serve up strawberries and cream for dessert - but it was a special occasion, as I have only been to see her once previously this year! Sleep When I went to bed last night I lulled myself off to sleep by listening to a guided meditation CD by Australian psychologist and hypnotherapist Simonette Vaga. In this one,called "Inner Wisdom Meditation", Simonette guides us to access a deep connection with our wise self - its brilliant!!!. I went to bed at 22.30 our time and woke at 03.15 so came onto the computer for three quarters of an hour, then went back to sleep until 08.00 hrs - so a great relaxing night's sleep. I used the propranolol as I said I would, and it took away that anxiety so I was able to cope. I did field some unpleasant intrusive thoughts whilst awaiting a train at London Victoria Station. So I went for a coffee, labelled them OCD, re-attributed them to it and refocused away to the forum on my mobile phone - the thoughts disappeared! I didn't need to apply step 4 "revalue" - the thoughts had gone! I got on the train to Brighton - I always feel at this stage of a trip to my sister's a temptation not to get off at East Croydon and stay on to Brighton and the seaside! But like the good brother that I am I got out at East Croydon. An old friend asked me to take a short tram ride for him - he can't get over to Croydon and see the trams - take a picture and describe the trip to him. So I undertook that. OCD-UK members will be able to see my picture of the tram, below: The tram system in Croydon was installed a few years back, and it works really well - other UK cities have since installed new tram networks. At my sister's my brother-in-law was having a hypo moment with his type 1 diabetes, so needed to take medication and have a snooze, so he joined us a little later. A very good friend of my sister's (and mine) found out I was coming so came to join us for lunch - she is almost effectively "family" so that was fine, and she helped my sister with the lunch, which we eat in the garden with a glass of red wine. Essentially my sister and her husband, whilst effectively knowing they have terminal illnesses, are putting a brave face on it - they have reduced their activities, are spending more time in their lovely home with their friends - and basically following doctor's orders. They do want to see a bit more of me - and if possible my wife - so essentially I'll aim to go there more often - and occasionally my wife will come, no doubt.(we have a rule that we are each primarily responsible for our own families, but will involve ourselves in the other's family appropriately). Once the medication had corrected the insulin deficiency, my brother-in-law was on good form - and he and I kept the ladies entertained with amusing banter and we did have a good time. So, as expected, my anxiety was aroused purely by the uncertainty of knowing how they would re-act to their medical diagnosis, and I am feeling pretty calm now after the event. I'm all talked out, so will be updating my wife as to what happened tomorrow. Best wishes, Roy Edited August 21, 2014 by taurean Link to comment
taurean Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 (edited) Hello everyone. I am rounding up what happened this week and what I've learned for my relapse prevention blueprint. The uncertain will trigger anxiety - therefore I need to try and work out likely eventualities and have a strategy in place to deal with them, which should calm my sentry. Use of medication for short term anxiety, if necessary to get through a challenging situation, and minimise potential for OCD to break in, is in order. Using The Four Steps is a powerful way to prevent intrusions taking hold. Keeping busy limits OCD's opportunities to grab my attention and do damage. Working together with my wife using a one week to view calendar tear-off pad helps us make sensible plans both for activities together, and to book personal free time too. My plans for next week are all in place. They include: Having the local roofers,that replaced my neighbour's roof so well, round to give me a quote for a new roof. Getting British Gas in to repair a fault in the central heating. Calling my friend and erstwhile work colleague who has retired and has MS, and seeing if he would like me to travel round to see him. Fitting in a day's fishing, weather and other considerations permitting. Keeping an eye on forum developments from laptop and mobile phone. Best wishes on managing your OCD everyone. Roy Edited August 22, 2014 by taurean Link to comment
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