I've gotta say that things here at chez Cat have felt a tad bit overwhelming lately. I'm sure it's partly because my cat is sick, and things have gone crazy in the land of making a living, and I've been fighting a cold for several weeks now, and my parents have needed lots of help with their various 21st century electronic devices, and I've been battling with my telephone/internet company because the service keeps crashing.
It's not like I'm facing anything terribly awful... Sputnik is actually doing quite well all things considered, and even though visits to my websites are down over 50%, I'm still earning enough money to live on, and my cold has just about cleared up so I can finally breathe again, and I finally have internet and phone service again, and even though it can be a pain when my parents use me as the computer support hotline, they have been incredibly generous with me lately.
So really... everything is OK - I just can't seem to shake the feeling that I'm just barely keeping it all together.
Like I'm just about to explode.
Like there's some sort of overwhelming darkness that's just about ready to swallow me up.
Dealing with the day to day stuff like feeding myself and taking out the garbage, just feels like it's about to push me over the edge.
And things that normally feel comforting, like Princess' need to be in my lap 24/7 are starting to feel like they are sucking every last bit of life force out of me.
Seriously, there's a part of me that just wants to scream "EVERYBODY JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!'
I'm sure it doesn't help that I haven't had a good night's sleep in weeks. I really feel like I could do a face plant at a moment's notice.
I guess I just have to keep repeating to myself: This too shall pass
So tell me, what are your coping strategies when the world starts to feel like it's too much to handle? At the moment I could use all the advice I can get!
I know the feeling- sometimes I get overwelmed and want to shout 'everyone, just f*** off and leave me alone.' Generally, it's when I am feeling under the weather/coming down with something (like now) and seriously lack motivation. Trying to give myself a break and just chill out and get some more sleep.
ReplyDeleteActually, lots of sleep is pretty much my cure-all (along with sports massage and yoga!) Perhaps if you can sort out the not sleeping thing, life will feel a bit easier.
Sometimes I think it's got a lot to do with hormones as well, when I have 'coping with life fail'!
Hope the overwhealmed feeling goes away soon xx
Thanks Nicola,
DeleteI think you nailed it with the sleep thing. I finally figured out that my decongestant was keeping me awake, so I've switched to the steroid inhaler that I normally use for allergies and that's helping.
But I seriously need to set some limits with Princess because she is very demanding about being under the covers, and it means I don't sleep well because I'm worried about squishing her. God... how pitiful am I? I'm a slave to my cat's demands!
Anyhow, I hope you're feeling better soon, being sick is just no fun!
Hmm... My cats wake me up in the morning by scratching the bed (they get told off for that) and generally running around. I'd found shutting them out doesn't help, though, as they just scratch the carpet outside of the door and throw themselves at it to try and get in. (And anyway, I like the cat cuddles!) But I do feel a bit like a slave to cats sometimes too!
DeleteNot really had the cat under the covers problem- mostly because I am a very still sleeper, so no squishing worries. Maybe a good idea to make her sleep on top of the covers though :)
Pretty trusting for a kitty that used to be stray (if I remember rightly!) so she must be happy, if demanding!
Oh yes... Princess has done a complete 180 degree turn. This was the cat who lived under a tree two winters ago, and wouldn't let me get within 10 feet of her. Apparently she was simply auditioning me for the role of protector and heat source!
DeleteDon't worry about squishing Princess. A rolled-on sleeping cat moves faster than you could imagine. Ask me how I know ;-)
DeleteOh my... well, I suppose that's good to know!
DeleteSleep makes everything better. You've already made a smart move with the decongestants. As for Princess, I know exactly what you mean. After a couple of years (yes, our cats rule us too)of difficult sleep, we finally banished them to the basement at night. They adapted quickly, and we get much better sleep. Of course, the basement is where their food and litter boxes are as well as numerous cozy spots to sleep and toys. Really, it's like they're sleeping in a luxury cat hotel. However, one of them has figured out how to get out of the locked cat door, and he sometimes sleeps with us, but he's learned his boundaries. So, all is better now.
ReplyDeleteAnother thought about Princess. Sounds like to me that she could be cold. Does she have a nice warm spot to sleep near like a vent or a sunbeam? We had one cat that only sat on our lap when she was cold. That was most of the winter and she backed off during the summer.
Oh my... apparently I'm not the only one who is a slave to the fe-lions! I'm sure cold, or fear of cold is part of the deal with Princess.
DeleteWhen she was still a stray living out under the pine tree, I rigged an outdoor rated heating pad & lean-to contraption to keep her from freezing to death. Then when I finally convinced her to come inside, she had to be shaved because of the horrible mats. So the heating pad came in with her and she pretty much didn't leave it for several months - even in the summer when it was 100 degrees outside!
It got sorta crazy with me rigging heating pads all over the house to coax her out of the basement, but finally we went cold turkey after CatMan saw a report of a house going up in flames from a kitty heating pad.
Anyhow, I have a few microwaveable heating pads for her, and she likes them OK, but I think part of it is that she's afraid of "the boys" - the young rambunctious cats who like to chase her - and she doesn't want to be too far from her mama.
Really, truly - I've created a monster who is very, VERY deserving of the name "Princess!"
I'm glad to hear Sputnik is going well.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you need some fresh air and sunshine. That always helps me. I'm not sure where you live so that may not be an option. Hang in there!
Fresh air and sunshine... a wonderful tonic. Actually we had a beautiful weekend and I got to spend a bunch of time out enjoying it with CatMan, but alas, there is now 4 inches of snow in the ground and more falling.
DeleteBut you're totally right - getting out will help even if it is just to shovel snow!
Sleep, a really good escape book, and planning my next fun day out all help me when life feels overwhelming. Will biking weather come any time soon?
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for sleep!
DeleteActually, CatMan and I went for two long rides this past weekend when we had weather in the high 50's. But it's snowing now - 4 inches and counting, and weather isn't expected to get above 40 for at least a week or so.
But that's OK... maybe I'll get to shovel snow tomorrow!
I totally agree with everyone above - SLEEP! For me when I'm worn out from solving the world's problems and the weight of the world has brought me to my knees, it's usually because I haven't gotten enough sleep. When I'm rested, I like having ALL the answers, even if those answers aren't always correct.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same about Princess. Susan at The Owl House has mentioned on a couple of occasions self warming pads for cats. Seems she puts them under the cat beds, but my memory could be off a bit. Found this on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Slumber-Pet-Thermal-Cat-Blue/dp/B005N2MQWK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361403307&sr=8-1&keywords=cat+warming+pad I'm not sure if it's the same thing Susan has referred to.
I'll have to look into self-heating cat beds again. I actually made one last winter with a space blanket inside - but none of them would ever use it because they didn't like the crinkling sound. I wonder if there are quiet ones?
DeleteAnyhow, last night I actually got her to sleep next to my pillow for most of the night, which helped. It's partially warmth, and it's partially about feeling protected from "the boys."
I have to echo the other posters - sleep, exercise, good food, relaxing with a book all help me when I'm feeling crazy. Sending good thoughts your way :)
ReplyDeleteI lay at the left edge of my bed (I sleep on my stomach or side and like my face to have "open space" in front of it while I'm sleeping - although I'm ASLEEP so what does it matter? - but I can't make myself stop). So my cats invariably sleep butted up to my right side, meaning I can't shift at all without feeling so guilty about disturbing their sleep. (Because cats have so much trouble falling back to sleep, right?)
*sigh*
Ha! I actually have a king sized bed, but I can't tell you the number of nights I have spent clinging to the edge of it because I didn't want to disturb a sleeping cat.
DeleteWe're such suckers, aren't we?
I have a king sized bed and still woke up the other day with a cold foot because the cats had climbed on me in the night and shoved said foot out of the bed. Suckers, indeed!
DeleteSelf warming cat beds - go to Wal-Mart's auto department or Dollar Store or NAPA auto parts. Buy one of those foil backed car windshield sun screens. Cut to desired size with a pair of scissors. Wrap in a towel or slide into a pillow case, foil side up. When a cat naps on it the cats own body warmth is reflected back up.
ReplyDeleteCozy, comforting, and inexpensive.
I actually considered this, but I think the foil sun screens still make that crinkling noise don't they? I'll have to check it out next time I see one.
DeleteI know exactly why I get the overwhelmed feelings...it's the winter thing. It's cold and snowy with few sunny days, I can't get out to the garden...life sucks,I'll never be warm again. But here we are nearly March, days are longer I can smell spring in the air and whadayaknow I'm starting to perk up
ReplyDeleteI think the mantra This to Shall Pass is a good one
Marie
Ha! Perhaps this is why taking out the garbage feels like such a monumental task!
DeleteI know that feeling all too well. Apart from echoing what everyone else has said, I ask myself whether I can dump (or postpone) any of my commitments. Sometimes there's something that isn't quite as urgent as I thought it was when I committed myself to it. Sometimes there isn't, in which case it's just a matter of hanging in there and waiting until things feel better, as you know they will.
ReplyDeleteYou have excelled yourself with the lolcats this time :-)
That is sage advice indeed. I actually got a good night's sleep last night, and I'm feeling much, much better.
DeleteI would agree with others and say sleep makes a big difference to your mood. I suffer with depression and can relate to the need to look at pics of cats and hide. When I'm like this I keep things low key and do things that distract me. I like making stuff and drawing/painting. I also like hot baths that I can soak down in to. Easy food and chilling in front of a film with bf also help.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... kitty pictures, hot baths, easy food, movies and time with the bf... that sounds like a recipe for happiness to me!
DeleteThanks for your support, I really appreciate it! :)