A little while ago I wrote a post entitled What Is Normal? about my problems with anxiety since I tapered off the use of an anti-depressant At the time I promised an update, and here it is. I am also including some pictures of a hummingbird, just for fun, and I will be asking you for some movie recommendations.

Writing that blog post helped me to come to terms with my changing emotions, or at least to recognize what was happening. That, in turn, inspired me to make some decisions about how to get help or make some changes that would help.

After a couple of days of self-isolation, I arranged to meet a counsellor via video conference. Then I arranged to get an outdoor security camera installed. That may sound a bit odd, but it relates to a circumstance that I had not included in the previous blog post. There had been some people trespassing on both sides of my patio; on one side some neighbours moved out via the garden, and on the other side when someone tried to steal my lounger. The second incident was foiled by my motion-sensor light and by my opening the screen door to find out what the noise was. I still have the lounger but my sense of security took a beating.

As it turned out, the new camera was installed on the same day that I met with the counsellor. She was wonderful! I told her about the change in medication and my various over-reactions to things and people, and she gave me some excellent advice. In no particular order, here is the advice.

1. Talk to a pharmacist about tapering off or quitting the medication. (She was upset that I had not been given better advice on this by the doctor who recommended that I stop using it.)
2. Download a Brown Noise app to help overcome interrupted sleep.
3. Put a notepad by my bed and do a mid-night brain dump to short-circuit the random thoughts.
4. If I get up, restart my bed routine: toilet, wash, brush teeth, etc.
5. Reframe thoughts. “I will sleep well tonight.”
6. No screens before bed. Instead, relaxation exercises.
7. Avoid large busy supermarkets. Use a smaller local store instead.
8. Keep a solid or rigid routine. Focus on predictability.
9. Be mindful of emotions. Watch safe TV shows in comfort. Encourage myself to watch movies that make me cry or that make me laugh in the safe environment of home. I was unable to cry while on the medication, so I need to give myself an opportunity to experience that again.
10. Connect with people, let them know.
11. If I feel too much anxiety or my mood is too low, contact a doctor.
12. Consider using Mindshift App via AnxietyCanada.com

Here is what I have done so far:

1. I talked to a local pharmacist and he advised me to quit the medication altogether. I gave him my remaining pills.
2. The Brown Noise app really helped. I put it on when I woke in the night and used it instead of getting up and going online. I got the best night’s sleep I have had in months.
3. The notepad is in place but I have not yet used it.
4. I have not yet needed to re-use my bedtime routine in the middle of the night.
5. I did consciously reframe my thoughts a few times and it seemed to help.
6. I stopped using screens an hour before bed. I haven’t done any relaxation exercises. I’m not even sure what they would be.
7. My latest shopping list is for home delivery.
8. I think my daily routine is already quite predictable. I haven’t changed anything yet.
9. This is where you come in. Can you recommend a movie that will make me cry or laugh?
10. I am letting you know. No pressure!
11. I will call a tele-health doctor if I feel my mood is getting too low.
12. I downloaded the Anxiety Canada app, but that is as far as I went.

I have also made a point of trying to get out for a walk most days. Lately I have been getting out less because it has been very hot, but I’m more inclined to go for a walk when I have slept well.

I was in two minds about publishing that previous blog post because it felt as though I was divulging too much personal information, but now I’m glad that I did because I got some reassuring responses which helped a lot. Also, it helped me to think about my circumstances more clearly and that enabled me to get help.

So, now it’s your turn. Name a movie on Netflix, Crave, BritBox, or Prime that will make me cry in the comfort of my home.

https://snowbirdofparadise.com/2024/08/04/update-and-a-hummingbird/