Action Plan

As I've said, I've recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. The doctor that diagnosed me said that he thinks SAD and Fibromyalgia are somehow connected.

Rosenthal, in Winter Blues, mentioned that he would be interested in a study that treats fibromyalgia with light therapy.

Anyone interested in learning more about the confusion we SADies go through should do a search on "fibrofog" and you'll probably find it similar and enlightening!

And, there's the matter of sleep... Rosenthal documented that people with SAD don't get the same quality sleep as others. Well, people with Fibromyalgia have sleep troubles, and I think I understand the problem to be the same for both disorders: lack of REM (aka "deep") sleep.

Anyhow, what I'm getting at is that I think a lot of those who even just have SAD would benefit from borrowing a book from the library, "Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual" by Devin Starlanyl and Mary Ellen Copeland. Turn to Chapter 16 and you can use the outline and some of the ideas to develop an action plan for SAD.

Not everything is going to apply, not everything will work for everybody, but it does give you some ideas that you can use for SAD, too. It helps you think about the things that make you feel better, the things that could make you feel worse, how to recognize that you're getting into trouble, what to do in a crisis...

Again, it's more of a very thorough framework that you could apply to many chronic illnesses for coming up with a plan of action rather than facing it anew every time it happens. Anything that might help me feel a little less overwhelmed is welcome in my life!

I'm also working on learning about depression as a reaction to external or internal circumstances or feelings/conflicts rather than as a "disease." It's fascinating to read about how depression is a natural (tho sometimes maladaptive) response. I'm reading about a new viewpoint that depression is not a biochemical "disease" that has to be cured, but a natural emotional response to things in our life that just cause us to be unhappy - some of these things which we can change, which we can adapt to, and yes, some situations that are beyond our control.

I'm not sure I'm completely ready to throw out the biochemical theory at all, but I think it's a good idea to try to identify the underlying issues that are contributing to us feeling bad, see what we can do to help ourselves feel better.

I think it's just worth a reminder that things aren't hopeless even when they seem like they are, that maybe there's a way to get a grasp on a bad situation and turn it around or at least keep it from getting worse. Nothing like being hit with a ton of bricks (a bad situation) when you're already down and feeling unprepared!

Makes me think of a recent discussion on another forum about whether people who "think positively" can have a positive effect on their "brain chemistry." Or, if you're not buying the brain chemistry thing... If you're looking for good stuff to happen, is it more likely you'll recognize it and act on it when it comes your way?

Me, I'm on prednisone right now for bronchitis. The sad thing is, I know I have to taper off of it, and then I'm probably going to be right back where I started.

I'm going to work on exercise and getting good sleep until I get to see the doctors. Truth is, I don't want to let any doctor give me new meds until I see the rheumatologist to deal with the fibromyalgia, so that he can evaluate me and start fresh. I would trust his evaluation over a primary care doctors... especially since I'll have a NEW primary care doctor.

It's going to be a bit stressful, having all new doctors, but that's what I've got to do for myself.

I'm coming off the prednisone right now, unfort. Can't stay on it because it's very hard on my body. I had nightmarish leg cramps Saturday night. It takes away my body's nutrients.

Already this morning, I start feeling sluggish, like I'm dragging through muck. My brain just "gives up" on me mid-sentence or mid-thought.

I'm actually pretty tired... gonna go lie down before I have to really get moving to get to work this morning.

I don't see my doc until the beginning of March. I feel like it's going to be a really long stretch until I can get help... and then when March comes around and I'm on new meds, I really won't know until NEXT year, how I'm going to make it through the winter.

It's OK, tho... because I'll make it. I just really wish I could "get my brain back" and hang onto it!

You made me chuckle about saying "Yipee" only because my co-workers have pointed out that I tend to talk to myself more often this time of year. Y'know how when you concentrate really hard on something, sometimes you end up talking under your breath?

And it doesn't help that when I do start to say something TO THEM, I tend to trail off as if I wasn't actually talking to them, but to myself?

And Me, I *AM* on a long holiday... or at least my brain thinks it is!