Case of the Blahs
Have you ever just felt completely full of blah? Like, even when you see something that would normally make you smile, only makes you more blah? That’s where I’m at today. Malaise. I have nothing to be truly down about (well I do, but I doubt it’s just that), but I just cannot be bothered today. Even looking at something that could lead to a new adventure and fulfill a dream (okay, with a lot of work, what else is new) made me feel more down. Ugh! Do not want!
So how do I snap out of this? I do get into a funk from time to time, but usually due to something specific or a build up of things. Today started out okay, I didn’t over sleep or anything. I dunno, is it possible that all of this socializing I’ve been doing has caught up to me? Is that like a thing? I feel mega tired but for no reason. It is hot out today, has been for a few days. But I was in a great mood…for the last couple of months! Even when Friday night ended up being sort of a bummer (though not entirely, I did enjoy myself despite the gropers) I still was in a good mood about it. Hmm…
Yesterday I went over to a friend’s place and hung out while she baked all manner of goodness and fed me tasty things and introduced me to new things…it was fun! I felt so loved and special. I will admit that the drive home nearly did me in. The heat plus two accidents on the highways left me in my car for two hours (took all of 40 mins to get to her place). Oh well. I was still in high spirits last night. My wonderful husband welcomed me home with a hug, a kiss and a cold bottle of hard apple cider! He loves me! Ha-ha!
Today? Eh. I just don’t feel like doing anything. I’m tired. I’m blah. I’m uninspired to say the least. I don’t even have music on at the moment, which may be for the first time since I sold the cafe. Shocking. I’ve had plenty of caffeine today. I maybe didn’t make the best choice for lunch (Taco Bell? Uh, meh.) but that could be because I just couldn’t make a decision and it’s close and cheap. Certainly not my fave or go-to. Oh well.
With the new face book layout (that is all anyone is talking about) and my dislike of google+ thus far, I am not even getting my usual online social/news fix. It feels as though someone hit the pause button on me or something. I’m not even wanting to listen to my local community supported radio station. Normally I’d be glued to the speakers, especially considering the current and on-going injustice of the Troy Davis case. It’s all somehow too much.
Perhaps my body is telling me to slow down? But why? I took it pretty damned easy this weekend in hopes of resting up for a very busy coming weekend. So what gives? Does this just happen? Do I just ride it out? I guess that is all I can do at this point. I’m just not feeling up to much else. I hope all is well with you and yours. Thank you for reading. If I take a couple of days off from blogging, please do not worry. Feel free to drop me a line: notblueatall@notblueatall.com
This sounds like depression to me. You don’t need a reson to feel depressed. I would get into these ruts as well. Thinking to myself, why do I feel like this? I have a job, a place to live, parents and friends that love me, a car, ect, so why am I so depressed? There is no way to explain it. Try to ride it out, it happens. Take care of your body and mind that are def telling you to slow down a bit. If you don’t feel better in 2 weeks, see your doctor. Don’t you hate it when the blahs hit you out of nowhere?
@Catgal: Totally out of nowhere! It doesn’t exactly feel like depression, but I know what you mean. Thanks so much! <3
Sorry you’re feeling so blah, Sarah! I really think that, if this only lasts for a day or two, you should just let yourself feel the way you feel, we can’t feel good all the time.
@Veronica: Thank you! Yes, I am just going to feel the feelings for now. ha-ha!
Yeah- keep in mind you are going thru a major transition now. Your body and mind may need some time to just catch up to current reality.
Of course, if it turns out you are depressed long term, then certainly look for some relief. But some days, we just aren’t feeling it.
And oh, don’t forget. It’s been freakity frackin HOT this week! I just totally ran out of gas yesterday, didn’t want to exercise or eat or nothin.
Cooler today, and surprise, I feel more like me.
give yourself a break…you probably need it!
@Chutti: Thanks, doll. It’s true. The heat always kicks my ass.
Embrace the blahs my dear, sometimes they come and go for no reason but when they do come that usually (for me) means its time to slow down, to listen, to practice self care and most importantly, to be kind to myself.
Reading your post about car accidents as well as current events sometimes we can get into a bad news overload and it spills into our lives… its usually a good time to check in with nature when that happens, too
@Jenna: Thank you! Yes, everything has been sort of overload I guess. Yoga pants and chillin’ today! Woo!
Sorry to hear you have blahitis, it is a common malady here is my personal remedy run a wonderful bubblebath, light candles pour a glass of your favourite drink (apple and elderflower presse is my thing) put on some mellow but pleasing music low disrobe get in and focue on letting the water soak the blah away. This is not a slow process I sometimes into an almost meditative trance but it does me wonderful. When you get out pamper yourself to bits focusing on all the bits of your body you love I body lotion, then do my hair then do an eye mask for 10 minuted before attending to my hair. See if that revitalises if not you have just wasted a couple of hours of blah time making yourself feel special because you are.
If you dont have a bath try meditation the crap that comes into your mind when you are not focusin gon anything might point out why you feel blah. Hope you recover soon. Lori x
@Lori: Thanks hun. Great advice!
Just chiming in to say that I, too, sometimes get a case of the blahs. As some others have noted, if it’s a day or two, then it’s nothing to worry about. Be kind to yourself, and don’t panic.
And, as has also been pointed out, you have just made a major transition in your life, and are contemplating another (that possible move). These things do play merry hell with our psyches, even when they’re also eagerly anticipated. It’s sometimes harder to let go of something we didn’t really want in the first place than we would ever imagine. If that’s part of what’s going on, allow yourself to experience it. It’s okay to mourn something you’re honestly glad to be done with.
I’m sending fluffy, happy, purply thoughts your way, m’dear, along with big, fatty hugs of bliss.
@Twistie: Thanks! You’re a doll!
Too much heat always wrings me out like a sponge. That is excuse enough to feel blah. Or maybe the adrenaline that’s been powering you through cafe ownership and the high of activism has taken a short break. If you feel blah periodically, make a note of blah days on the calendar and see if there’s a pattern.
You’ve had a lot of change in your life recently, and your head’s trying to wrap itself around that change. See how this mood plays itself out and you’ll know better what to do.
@Mulberry: Thank you for saying it so plainly. Yeah, I should just sit back and mindfully ride it out. =0)
It could possibly be dysthymia, which is a low-level depression – not as severe as major depression, but sort of a semi-depression that can last for a few weeks to a few months. More info here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001916/ (Most medical websites say dysthymia usually lasts up to 2 years, which it can, but from my psychological studies, I also know that it can also hang around for just a few weeks to a few months, too.)
I’d recommend chatting with a therapist about how you’re feeling to see if the therapist might agree that dysthymia is the issue, or not as the case may be. If your insurance won’t cover mental health therapy, a local community counseling center might work. Most of them usually offer sliding scale fees, meaning you pay as much as you can afford, and if you only want to go for a few sessions, you don’t need to keep it up longer than you want to.
@thirtiesgirl: Thanks hun, honestly, I’m okay now. Just a couple of days of lowness. I don’t have any health insurance at the moment, so that’s a no-go anyway. But appreciate your thoughts.