Glancing through that Birth Trauma site last night was a bit of a revelation. After Fran, i knew i was in a bad way, but i had very little access to information and very unsupportive health professionals. I knew i was in trouble but i didn’t know where to start. By this stage, i had a second pregnancy to concentrate on and a VBAC to plan and that helped a lot. This time i just don’t have that and i maybe never will. So i looked through that list, realised i’m struggling with every one of its symptoms and decided that what i need to do is sort out some of the symptoms. I’m not depressed so i don’t want to get Prozac, besides, i’m still feeding Josie. But i probably can start to deal with some of the stuff, like the fact that i can’t be a car passenger anymore without freaking out constantly about whether a car is going to randomly hit us.
I seem to be back to trying to find some relaxation techniques. Anyone got any recommendations? Maybe if i start getting myself a bit healthier mentally, it’ll be easier to approach the actual issue eventually. 😯 It’s amazing how much i don’t see this coming every time, you’d think i’d know myself by now.
Anyway. Today’s maths was remarkably empowering (no sniggering at the back.) Maths has been such a constant fear to me, all my life and to find myself able to spot and reject nonsense and go and find something cleverer has made me feel quite good about myself. So has the fact that i’ve obviously taught Fran in a way that makes her expect maths to make sense, because as soon as i started spouting rubbish at her, she wasn’t buying it. I could tell from her face that “well, it just works so it’s how we do it” wasn’t going to wash 🙂 So big up to the both of us really. Let’s hope i have some blinding flash of revelation when we get to simultaneous equations too 😆
Amelie and i sat for ages with a 5-6 maths workbook today which she just adored. We also did some pen work and letter practise and she typed her name a few times, then played on the computer. She was a much happier bunny. She didn’t want to go to nursery, so i think we’ll go in tomorrow and hand in her notice. I’m kind of disappointed for her, i’d like her to have liked it, sorry not to get the time for the big too, sorrier still i didn’t listen to her and my gut instinct. Oh well, you live and learn. 🙁
Maddy sailed through more maths, Fran wrote me a very creditable bit of stuff on “What i did for Halloween” and then we went to Activity World with K and Tammy. Nice conversation, pleasant company, entertaining manhunt for missing child at the end 😉
I’ve done more parcels tonight, Karen and Heather 😳 – they are finally in the post. Sorry 😐
I have had two different approaches to relaxation, I’ve still got the cd for the second one (but possibly not ideal in this situation as it’s preparation for labour, and I’m fairly sure it goes on about it all a bit). I didn’t find it particularly good, but the first method is excellent, and applicable to just about anything.
Basically, you lie down somewhere very comfortable, and go around your body tensing and then relaxing each set of muscles in turn. Start from your toes and work up, when you get about midway, work up from your fingers, concentrate on your face and skull. By the time you’ve done your whole body, you should be in a pretty good state, and then you can work on any positive affirmations you have in mind.
Hope that makes some kind of sense.
I agree with Jax on the second technique, thats the one I use. Yoga is also a good tool if you can find the time to join a class :)x
Yep, I use the tensing and relaxing technique too. I have done it with the kids, and it’s relaxed them 🙂
I like tensing and relaxing, but panic can catch up on you in places/moments when you can’t lie down in a comfortable place.
So another thing I use is find me a relaxing text and memorise it and repeat it for myself.
I use “the lord is my shepherd”-psalm 23. But You can just find a text which gives comfort to you, which makes you feel safe and taken care of, you know?
It’s amazing how I can be bawling my eyes out and as soon as I find the strength to start whispering my text I can get relaxed and focused again.
I wouldn’t worry about Amelie, I’d be proud at myself. because I think she likes nursery, but she likes being with you and her sisters even more. And that is wonderfull really 🙂
Re: relaxation. I do dhikr *shrugs* it works
Counting.
I suffer such severe panic attacks that I black out. I always carry paper bags to breathe into and I have taught myself to count to calm. Sometimes this can go on and on but usually I can now feel calm at a fairly low number.
Where do you think my cleaing comes from?
listmaking for me!!
and a ‘text’ – i quote at myself – the only defence against fear is knowledge
a crappy one possibly, but helps me
The stuff I learned at NLP has been really positive, as are the Paul McKenna CD’s, Natal Hypnotherapy do one
about coming to terms with CS but I’d actually suggest you just try a general relaxation CD/tape or go and see someone who can teach you the techniques.