Teppy, I'd really talk to your doctor about the anxiety but also if this is a reaction the sudafed. Even if you haven't had this reaction in the past people's reactions to medications change.
I've learned some in the moment distraction techniques that sort of short circuit your brain out of the loop and one of them is squeezing an ice cube. (or something frozen if you don't have ice cubes). Talking to someone and doing chores is also on the list. Well it's on the list of things to distract yourself from self destructive behaviors, but I thin it's on the ways to distract from anxiety and other stuff list (there's lots of duplication).
Also in the offical DBT workbook as healthy distractions - masterbuation and sex with someone you care about.
This brain med has amusing side effects. I ALMOST just said "I love you" instead of "good-bye" to a phone support tech. Man, that would have been impossible to explain.
Heh.
When my doctor and I were getting my antidepressants worked out, I saw my landlord, completely forgot who he was, but recognized him as someone I knew and was fond of. So I went up and hugged him. While he is a very nice person, our relationship is not a hugging one.
Although, you know, tech support might appreciate having someone love them ... mostly, I think, people yell at them.
I'm amused at the "I know I know you so...hug!" I would totally do that. (I once ran into my landscaper at the bar, and was staring at him going "I know him. Where do I know him?" Because it was so not where I expected to see him.
Sometimes I fail to recognize someone if I see them outside of their usual context.
Once I ran into my sister's coworker in a grocery store. He said, "Hi, Tom." He later told my sister that I looked at him like he was from Mars.
It also sucks that I'm not good at hiding my feelings sometimes. I didn't mean to look at him as if he was from Mars.
Context is key to me recognizing people. I've offended people I've sat next to at work for years because they said hi to me at the supermarket, and my brain wasn't accessing that part of my database.
I almost never recognize people, even those I know very well, if they are wearing sunglasses.
Context is key to me recognizing people. I've offended people I've sat next to at work for years because they said hi to me at the supermarket, and my brain wasn't accessing that part of my database.
Me too. I'm still dreading the next time one of the oil guys comes to clean out my boiler (different guy from yesterday) because I randomly ran into him on vacation and never figured out who he was until an hour later. I randomly thought he was an employee of the timeshare that we were staying at and been going to since I was a little kid. I knew I knew him from somewhere.
Oy, Steph. I'm sorry for the anxiety, but I am glad that you're talking about it and doing something. It's important, and it is a very big step.
And in other news. Hello Laura, sj, calli, smonster, and all others!
I had a very nice Passover, thank you. First, by keeping the tradition of not spending the Seder with my blood relatives, but with my friends - my soul relatives. And then there was a big sci fi con where I met many friends. And then there was a long weekend, where I rested properly. I hope other Jewistas had a nice Passover too, it's a rough holiday.
Calli - congrats! That sounds like a great gig.
And now it's sleepy time for me. Good night, Bitches. Do everything I wouldn't do, for I'll be asleep and unable to do it.
