This week has been a bit of a mental struggle for me. I’m nervous that I’m going to forget something important or that Jones will be miserable at camp. I’m stressed about leaving Shoo for the longest I’ve ever been away from him. I’m dreading the return of the heat that is supposed to come today (my back is still peeling from our last escape to the pool.) I’m already tired of having to find things to do for all of us each day and we are only three days into summer.
I’m pretty sure I suffer from S.A.D, except mine is in response to heat, rather than not enough light.
One of the things I’ve really been struggling with is trying to get in a workout. If both boys are at home, my only option is the treadmill. While I’m thankful I have that option, I’m kind of dreading using it. On Tuesday, I managed to get in a three mile run while Shoo was at a friend’s house. I ran .5 mile laps by my house, just in case Jones needed me. It took the edge off, but I was feeling some tenderness in my ankle again. Thankfully a trip to my chiro sent me home with more KTTape (I swear I’m keeping that company in business) and a happier ankle.
But, I could feel myself getting close to the edge of depression. I was feeling a lot of anxiety and it didn’t take a lot for my kids to push my buttons. I knew what I had to do. I texted Beer Geek, letting him know they would be having a boys’ dinner that night. I threw dinner on the table and headed out the door for a run. But not just any run.
I needed to run the stress out of my body. And that means pushing the pace. After a mile warm up, I ran a quarter mile as fast as I could. Then I recovered for a quarter mile. Then I ran a half mile at a pace about 20 seconds slower and recovered for about a quarter mile. Then I ran three quarters of a mile at a pace about 25 seconds slower than the half mile. Then I “cooled down” for a mile. Really not sure you can use that phrase after a run in Virginia in the summertime…
All in all, I did 4 miles in 39 minutes.
More importantly, I reset all the switches in my brain and came back able to handle things again. (Which is a really good thing because Shoo is now freaking out about flying without his mommy. Gah! I’d love any advice you have about that LOL.)
no advice but lottttsa mother hugs and commiseration.
that count?
🙂
xo
Ah, gotta love anxiety. I have no advice other than to say, I hear ya. Recently I had the same issue of having anxiety about fitting in my workouts too. So very frustrating, especially when you know that working out is your reset button. Here’s to things going smoother in the near future!
Same thing here…
Yesterday was supposed to be a rest day, but by 2 pm, I knew I needed OUT. I ran HARD. I felt BETTER. Case closed. 🙂
Being mindful of depression is half the battle….keep winning the war!
Glad you “got out”! Everyone NEEDS their run!
As for Shoo, maybe give him some token of you that he can have that symbolizes that you’re “watching over him and keeping him safe.” It might ease some anxiety.
A benadryl couldn’t hurt either. 😉
That sounds like a nice stress reliever (masked as a ladder interval workout). Sorry things are stressful!
As for the flying solo… maybe see you can get Shoo to figure out which part (exactly) he’s worried about? Is it worry about missing a connection? Worry about getting lost in the airport? Worry that some armrest hog will take the seat next to him? Once you figure out the source of the concern, you can talk him through it.
Best of luck!
I love how running does that. You go out for a run feeling totally feral and come home a totally different person.
No special advice. Just wanted to say that I’ve been there recently too and am hoping it gets better for you.
Hope things get better for you.
The heat is not my friend. And the treadmill and I have been buddies.
Good luck with everything and I am glad the run helped. A good run always leaves me feeling reset and recharged and ready to take on life. 🙂
Good luck! I know everything will be ok. Glad you were able to get a great run in to get rid of some of that stress.