OCD and I'm SO TIRED!

I am guilty of using the phrase “I’M SO TIRED!” There are many reasons why people say this. It could be the symptom of a physical ailment or a food allergy. Perhaps it is the weather, lack of proper sleep- maybe you are overwhelmed by emotional issues that drain energy such as anxiety or anger over a no-win situation that you can’t see the way out of.

At some point, fatigue affects everyone. For some people, it is an occasional annoyance, but for others, it is a chronic affliction. People with OCD seem to feel tired a lot. The stress of the disorder just adds to general feelings of exhaustion and exacerbates them. I have spent many days just dragging myself through the undeniable urge to retreat into bed. I wonder how much money fatigue causes the work force to lose on a daily basis? It must be exorbitant.

I came across this interesting article by Catherine Pratt that may be of help to those who deal with fatigue often…

"I'm So Tired. What Your Brain Might Be Trying to Tell You.

by Catherine Pratt
www.Life-With-Confidence.com

"I'm so tired today"
How many times during the day do you hear people say this? Often just hearing someone say those four words will suddenly make you feel tired too even if you weren’t just a few minutes before. The thought of being so tired has now entered your mind. One way to prevent this it to just become aware of what’s influencing you. In this case, you could counteract it with the thought of “I feel full of energy today”.

Thoughts like the one above can influence how you feel but your brain may also be trying to tell you something. If you’re not listening, the mind may try to make you slow down or even stop what you’re doing by making you feel more and more tired. If you feel exhausted all the time, it makes it really tough to feel confident about yourself and to do the activities that increase your self esteem. It’s important to figure out why you’re feeling the way you do.

Here are some reasons why you might be feeling so tired:

• Are you bored?
If you’re bored with your job or your personal life, you’re going to feel tired. It's amazing how much your attitude towards life will affect how you feel.

 

Here’s an example, you come home from work and just collapse on the couch because you're so tired. You have no desire to move and don’t want to do anything. The phone rings. It’s your best friend and he’s just won backstage tickets to a band that you love. How do you feel now? Five minutes ago you were dead tired. Now that you’re getting the chance to do something exciting and new, you’re full of energy again. You don’t even think about being tired anymore. The difference is that you have something exciting and fun to look forwards to now.

Here’s an example, you come home from work and just collapse on the couch because you're so tired. You have no desire to move and don’t want to do anything. The phone rings. It’s your best friend and he’s just won backstage tickets to a band that you love. How do you feel now? Five minutes ago you were dead tired. Now that you’re getting the chance to do something exciting and new, you’re full of energy again. You don’t even think about being tired anymore. The difference is that you have something exciting and fun to look forwards to now.

So, take a good look at what’s happening in your life. Do you feel like you’re trapped doing the same thing every day with no hope for escape? I used to feel like my whole life was “get up, go to work, come home, make dinner, do a few chores, go to bed, repeat again tomorrow”. When I came home I would just be so tired. Once I realized what was happening and changed it, it was absolutely amazing how much energy I suddenly had. Life is way too short to spend it bored out of your mind. So, what’s happening in your life? Is it time to look for a new job? Do you need to try something new?

• Are you frustrated?
Just like the previous point, if you’re frustrated with what’s happening in your life or with the world in general, you can end up feeling tired all the time. Especially, if you’re at the point where you feel like you don’t have any options. You feel like you're a victim and that there's nothing you can do. The truth is that you always have options and different choices you can make. You just need to figure out what they are. Ask yourself, what are you feeling and why?

• Are there medical issues? (thyroid, etc.)
Sometimes there really could be a medical reason as to why you’re not functioning at full potential. Could be a good opportunity just to get checked out by your physician.

• Do you have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)?
SAD is estimated to affect 6 out of every 100 people in North America during the winter months. If you’re feeling constantly tired and are craving carbohydrates and sweet foods, you might have SAD which is caused by a lack of sunlight. You can read about my personal experience with SAD here: Why am I so tired?

• Are you eating well?
Sugar and caffeine can give us a temporary feeling of energy but you’ll find that you’re even more tired a few hours later. Plus, the next day you're also going to be tired from what you ate the day before. Check out my review of the Schwarzbein Principle. She really explains well the principles of proper nutrition and how what you eat may be affecting how you think and feel.

You may also simply be dehydrated, be sure to read "Another Reason For Feeling Tired - Dehydration". Or you may be deficient in certain nutrients like Vitamin D.

• Are you doing too much, staying up too late?
We all need some downtime but today’s society runs at full speed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and it’s very easy to get caught up in it. Also, I know all the best tv shows seem to be on way past my bedtime. Burning yourself out from doing too much or not getting enough sleep is eventually going to catch up with you.

• Are you around negative people?
Negative people can be like black holes which just suck all your energy out of you because they're emotionally draining to be around. Be careful of allowing negative people to steal your energy. Here are 10 tips on "How To Deal With Negative People".

I'm So Tired Summary

Feeling tired is one of the most common complaints that physicians hear. It's also not an easy one to diagnose as it could be caused by so many different ailments. The suggestions above are just a few reasons of why you might be feeling so tired. The important thing is that if you are feeling tired all the time, take the time to listen and see if your mind and body are trying to tell you something. There could be a quick and easy fix to your situation and it could also end up changing your life."

OCD and Optimism

Do you know someone who is always happy?  No matter what, they see the sunny side of the street. You attempt to tell them something unpleasant in you life and they point out the blue sky- the silver lining. When you explain that a crisis is looming they say "What are you worried about-everything will be fine!" Haven't you been tempted to tell them to shut up already and face reality? Why can't they see that your situation sucks? It's annoying sometimes!

But, if you stop and think about it, wouldn't you rather be around a person like that instead of one who continuously preaches gloom and doom? These upbeat, hopeful people trust the big picture and overlook the obstacles and faults, trusting in the future.

What if you happen to be one of  the pessimists- the other side of the coin? The glass is definitely always half empty  and you always seem to find the fly in the ointment. You focus on the one small, minute thing that isn't perfect. People with OCD often fall onto this loop. It is a pitfall, as it can become a habitual way of life. It is a good thing to be conscious of this, as automatic negative thinking can become a mind-trap.

Looking for ways out of negative thinking, I came across this article, which is about a great book that I have read, The Power of Positive Thinking, by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale





Optimism: Steps to Live a Better Life

"The Power of Positive Thinking" is re-released after 50 years. More than 50 years ago, a little book called The Power of Positive Thinking took the world by storm. Written by a minister, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, the book was a remarkable mix of natural psychological insight and faith-based principles applied to everyday problems of living.

By Hara Estroff Marano, published on March 01, 2003 - last reviewed on June 23, 2009

'More than 50 years ago, a little book called The Power of Positive Thinking took the world by storm. Written by a minister, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, the book was a remarkable mix of natural psychological insight and faith-based principles applied to everyday problems of living.
The publishers are re-releasing the book, and it crossed my desk the other day. I was astonished when I looked it over. There is a tremendous amount of wisdom in it.
I thought I'd pass along some of the best advice in the book, because it's worth using. It has a very timeless quality to it, and it does have the power to be highly motivating.
The most important principle is to believe in yourself. The secret, said Dr. Peale 50 years ago, and he might just as well have said it yesterday, is to "fill your mind with thoughts of faith, confidence and security. This will force out or expel all thoughts of doubt, all lack of confidence."

"Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy," Dr. Peale wisely observed. Here is how he suggested you build up your confidence...

1. Formulate and stamp indelibly on you mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. And hold this picture tenaciously. You can't ever permit it to fade. Over time your mind will develop this picture, brighten the detail. Never doubt the reality of the mental image, because doing so is dangerous. The mind also tries to complete what it pictures. So always picture "success" no matter how badly things seem to be going at the moment.

2. Whenever a negative thought concerning your personal powers come into mind, deliberately voice a positive thought to cancel it out.

3. Do not build up obstacles in your imagination. Minimize every so-called obstacle. Difficulties must be studied and efficiently dealt with to be eliminated, but they must be seen only for what they are. They must not be inflated by fear thoughts.

4. This might be the most astute piece of advice. Do not be awestruck by other people and try to copy them. Nobody can be you as efficiently as YOU can. Remember also that most people, despite their confident appearance and demeanor, are often as scared as you are and as doubtful of themselves.

5. Dr. Peale advised readers to repeat ten times a day -- starting this minute -- the following word from the bible. And while they refer to god, you could substitute your own belief system: "if God be for us, who can be against us?"

6. Gain self-knowledge. Learn the origin of your inferiority and self-doubts, which often begin in childhood. If necessary, get a competent counselor to help you understand why you do what you do.

7.Another affirmation, also from the bible, also to be repeated ten times daily, was advised as a powerful antidote to inferiority thoughts: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Again, you can alter the wording to suit; it's the thought that counts.

8. Another gem of wisdom: Make a true estimate of your own ability -- then raise it 10 percent. Do not become egotistical, but develop a wholesome self-respect. Believe in your own powers."

I hope this helps people be aware of what and how they think, and I hope we all become annoying optimists!

OCD & Programming Your Subconscious