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Tuesday 12th February - Looking for answers, but finding questions.

Blog: Frustrated Businessman
Posted by: knightrider45 Tuesday 12th February 2008, 8:30am

I'm determined to make sure I stay above the dark depths of my mood as it's started to change again, so I've done a bit of research myself!(As well as upping the old anti depressants of course. (Ssssshhhhhh! - I'm supposed to be coming off them!)

I've managed to put a couple of hours together after my blog last night to go through my collection of pyschological CD's so I could give myself some "therapy" rather than having to go to the doctors one week day afternoon for a few weeks, or months.

And I found a book. This book gives explanations and reasons, as well as coping strategies using a quiz format, so I thought it could be useful for other people who may have some kind of stress disorder. (There's lots of us out there by the way).

Okay, then - Ready? See how many of these questions you answer Yes to. The one condition before answering YES is that the particular question/subject must have applied to you for the last two weeks, without a break. And don't cheat by looking at the meanings before you answer the questions!

Okay - try these first.

1. Do you find yourself constantly sad?

2. Are you un-motivated to do simple things like shower, clean up the house, or make dinner?

3. Do people tell you you're overly irritable?

4. Do you have trouble concentrating?

5. Are you feeling isolated from family and friends even when they are around you?

6. Have you lost interest in your favourite activities?

7. Do you feel hopeless, worthless, or guilty for no reason at all?

8. Are you always tired and have trouble sleeping?

9. Has your weight fluctuated significantly?

The book says: "If you can answer "Yes" to five or more of these questions, you could be suffering from clinical depression. It is important for you to seek out the help of a medical professional whether that be a doctor or a therapist. There are many medications out there that can help with depression."

And the second set:

1. Do you worry constantly and battle with negative selftalk?

2. Do you have difficulty concentrating?

3. Do you get mad and react easily?

4. Do you have recurring neck or headaches?

5. Do you grind your teeth?

6. Do you frequently feel overwhelmed, anxious or depressed?

7. Do you feed your stress with unhealthy habits-eating or drinking excessively, smoking, arguing, or avoiding yourself and life in other ways?

8. Do small pleasures fail to satisfy you?

9. Do you experience flashes of anger over a minor problem?

And the book says this time:

"If you can answer "Yes" to most of these questions, then you do have excessive stress in your life."

This is the third, and final set, of questions:

1. Do you experience shortness of breath, heart palpitations or shaking while at rest?

2. Do you have a fear of losing control or going crazy?

3. Do you avoid social situations because of fear?

4. Do you have fears of specific objects?

5. Do you fear that you will be in a place or situation from which you cannot escape?

6. Do you feel afraid of leaving your home?

7. Do you have recurrent thoughts or images that refuse to go away?

8. Do you feel compelled to perform certain activities repeatedly?

9. Do you persistently relive an upsetting event from the past?

The book says: "Answering "Yes" to more than four of these questions can indicate an anxiety disorder.

Suffering from depression, too much stress, or excessive anxiety can endanger your overall health and it's time to take steps to overcome this - RIGHT NOW!"

And yes, there's no prizes here for guessing most of the last 9 questions definitely apply to me! I think, if you were to go back through my blog since it started, you'll find I've spoken about most of these things at one time or another.

And it takes just one book, amongst thousands, to actually put me, or rather, my behaviour, together. Ah well, I know it's not just me now then don't I? Almost 18 months of blogs - summed up by 27 questions!! And, now, I know I'm "normal", well, for the condition anyway. And you know I'm not talking myself into trying to fit the description - it's definitely a case of the description fitting me.

So, to start correcting this, I'm definitely doing THAT budget I was talking about in yesterday's blog, and after that, I'll start making definite plans to meet the shortfall- both in finance and my life. Here we go.

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