OS ways to combat feeling 'run down'

moanymoany

I know from reading the threads that many posters here have lives that are throwing up more problems than they can face. Also, in everyone's life there are times when periods of severe stress make them feel what I can only describe as 'run down'.

In the old days someone would have been given a tonic, these days that is considered old fashioned and unneccesary. So, what can be done to help people out of this feeling of being run down?

For me, the first five months of this year have been difficult and now that the difficulties are gone I suddenly feel run down. I would love a holiday in the sun - but it can't be done. Dh is away over the week of the bank holiday, so nothing can be done there.

I am making sure I go for walks, eat my 5 a day and try to get enough sleep. What else can I and all the other poster who feel like this do to start to feel better?

Toonie

This has helped me recently, on the weekend I spend about an hour or so just doing something I want. This weekend it was making shortbread (something I'd not tried before) and really helped to put the last week out of my mind. Other times I have painted, or made cards or some jewellery, but its always something specifically that I want to do, not need to.

charlies_mum

I have bird feeders outside my kitchen window and when I am washing the dishes, I watch the birds feeding. Doesn't cost much, and always makes me smile.

If you have the weekend to yourself, why not pamper yourself. A box of chocolates, a bottle of wine and a nice girlie film.

culpepper

Have a pamper evening. A nice bath with your favourite soap or bubbly stuff.
All warm and clean afterwards and watch your favourite film or read your favourite book.
Sometimes if Im having a grumpy day, I will buy a magazine and sit at home with a cuppa, my new magazine and a bar of chocolate and that is a treat.
A good laugh is very therapeutic.If you have a funny book or watch or listen to a comedy, it can give you such a boost.
Craft can help too. For me it is painting and drawing. I can lose myself for hours that way.

When you have kids it can be fun to do their thing for a change.
Camping in the garden under an old curtain or having a sing gong. Playing house under the table or helping with a construction game. If we were having a rubbish day,we would get the harry potter book out or when they were really little, the noddy or thomas books. You can do fun voices when you read them and it relieves stress too.

charlies_mum

culpepper wrote: »

Have a pamper evening.

Snap :rotfl:

falady

moanymoany wrote: »

I know from reading the threads that many posters here have lives that are throwing up more problems than they can face. Also, in everyone's life there are times when periods of severe stress make them feel what I can only describe as 'run down'.

In the old days someone would have been given a tonic, these days that is considered old fashioned and unneccesary. So, what can be done to help people out of this feeling of being run down?

For me, the first five months of this year have been difficult and now that the difficulties are gone I suddenly feel run down. I would love a holiday in the sun - but it can't be done. Dh is away over the week of the bank holiday, so nothing can be done there.

I am making sure I go for walks, eat my 5 a day and try to get enough sleep. What else can I and all the other poster who feel like this do to start to feel better?

hi moanymonay,

I know exactly how you feel. I'm just getting over a bout of depression, so i'm still getting really tired. My workmate is off and its a time of high pressure for us (only us two in our team) so that doesn't help. On top of that, some low-level cold symptoms keep raising their ugly heads and i can't even take any decongestants becuase they react with my antidepressants! :eek:

Aggrrhhh! Will stop moaning now! Thank you for starting this new thread - I will look forward to the tips that people suggest. :T

Ali x

nicola1982_2

Often a cup of warm milk helps me. I got the idea after I had my baby. Seeing him nod off after his milk reminded me of being a little girl and having a milky drink and a rusk before bedtime.

Crazychik

I have some "me" time, either walking the dog, or just lying on the bed watching tv.
When times are a little stressful, I have my good old Lavender essential oil to sniff at!
Like wise, I cant afford a holiday this year, but plans for this Bank Holiday wk end, is a nice long break visiting relatives in London. Just a break from the norm will be good!

moanymoany

I've found this http://www.ehow.com/how_2197870_getting-sick-feeling-run-down.html and I think it gives some good advice.

Anyhow, I'm going to give it a go. I have a relaxation cd for the meditation and the rest sounds reasonably easy.

celyn90

I suffer from depression as well as sometimes feeling like the walls are closing in with stress - now is particularly bad time as we are struggling with that, the finances, OH's divorce, me trying to write my thesis up as well as trying to find a post-doc. Over the years I've come up with a number of coping strategies though that help at least to some degree sometimes I find taking time to attend to physical and environmental well-being helps dull the effect of stress at least a little bit.

I drink large quantities of herbal tea. I'm sure it doesn't do much good but the liquid is good for me I tend to choose highly spiced ones so they overwhelm my senses and distract me a little bit.
If I have time and the weather is good I go in to the park and lie on the grass and do nothing for 20 mins
If I'm at home then I make sure I get up on time, get dressed and open all the curtains and wndows. Lying in bed is really destructive for me - as I feel I've failed before the day has started. Laying out my clothes the night before helps me a lot as it makes it easy.
Part of coping with stress for me is trying to remove the little things that irritate me on a normal day but provoke anger when I'm feeling down - for me it's about knowing my triggers - so I make sure the house is at least reasonably tidy as the mess winds me up, I avoid my boss if I can at work as he just makes me stressed and I always try to make sure that we don't run out of milk and things like that. Little things I know, but for me the little things can be edge-tippers so I need to remove them
I remind myself that I can only do x things in x time and try to set realistic targets, rather than do my normal trick of making a big list and failing dismally.
When I make the list I prioritise things, so the more important things are done first.
If I can, I try to make sure the house aired - so the windows are opened, the bed linen changed and if I can, there are flowers and plants around.
I try to reduce my caffiene intake closer to bed-time. I make sure I go to bed at a reasonable time even if I'm going to lie awake. I have a yoga book that describes some of the breathing exercises and they tend to help calm me down.
I try to make sure the temperature of the house is correct for me - I really hate the heat and it makes me itchy (which gets worse if I'm stressed) so attending to that helps.
I make sure OH does at least some of the housework. Failing that I work to a standard of "good enough"
I make sure I eat, even if I'm not hungry and take the relevant array of vitamin tablets in the morning
I often have music on at home or soft light or something scented in the house.
I refuse to take work home with me if I can avoid it. If I have to, it gets put away when I have finished so I don't have to stare at it.
Taking time to bath and things like that and trying not to rush around doing stuff. Things can wait.
I repeatedly remind myself that I am lucky for the gifts I have been given even if I can't see them as clearly as I normally do and that there are things in life that are more important than other bits and pieces hth cel x

Pink.

Hi moany,

Sorry to hear you are feeling a bit low at the moment.

There are some tips on these older threads that may help:

Pick Me Up For MSE?

Fed up..Old Style pick me ups??

Pink