Sudden drop in mood? Wtf?

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C2V
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28 Nov 2017, 10:40 am

I'm wondering if this happens to others who may be more emotionally intelligent than I am, because wtf from my perspective.
For the past week or so I've been primarily alone, with tasks to do at the site I'm at that don't involve others much but keep me occupied enough (but still with plenty of time for leisure stuff like art, watching documentaries, etc). So it's been pretty decent.
Then yesterday, I gave in to repeating one of my problem compulsive behaviours, and felt pretty sh***y about doing this again because I know it's bad - but honestly it was just one instance. Intellectually not the end of the world.
Since then though, everything seems to have crashed. I'm suddenly in a very negative headspace - suddenly I hate everyone, my lack of career prospects and my (very) casual job, the idea of going back to that job, the disability services agency, the fact I'm broke, my living situation returning to what it was after I finish up here, my relatives and having anything to do with them, the fact that my last surgery was apparently just expensive and unsuccessful and my problems seem worse than ever, the list goes on and on.
Weird thing is, all this existed before I indulged in this problematic behaviour, and didn't cause this negative state. I knew I was running out of money, knew I'd be returning to the job and eventually to the relatives, I knew the surgery results have been poor, etc. I had the same information, but it didn't create this emotional funk before that behavior popped up again.
I have no idea what is going on, and because I don't understand emotions, I dislike the fact that this sort of thing can just happen, when conditions are the same except for one apparently insignificant behaviour I have known is problematic for years now. It's not as if this is a new problem.
But it seems like that behaviour surfacing again after I'd kept it under control for the week I've been in this location set off some kind of chain reaction and suddenly, problems I knew were there but wasn't really concerned with seem overwhelmingly bad.
I hardly got anything done today because of this. I was stuck in this funk and felt about as mobile and energetic as wet cement.
Is this "mood"? I'd like to prevent this kind of crap from hijacking my brain if possible, it's extremely inconvenient.
Insights?


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elbowgrease
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28 Nov 2017, 10:52 am

No insight, really. But I can relate.



kraftiekortie
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28 Nov 2017, 11:27 am

People just get in "moods."

I would try to find ways to get yourself out of the "mood."

When this happens to me, I employ "reality testing," become more "objective" about things, rather than rely solely upon my subjective impressions.



RetroGamer87
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04 Dec 2017, 9:19 pm

kraftiekortie wrote:
People just get in "moods."

So can I get into a good mood?


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kraftiekortie
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04 Dec 2017, 9:30 pm

Of course you can.....



RetroGamer87
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04 Dec 2017, 9:46 pm

Sorry I meant to say, so How can I get into a good mood?


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bunnyb
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04 Dec 2017, 9:50 pm

Was the problematic behavior alcohol by any chance? Alcohol can make people depressed.


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C2V
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04 Dec 2017, 10:03 pm

bunnyb wrote:
Was the problematic behavior alcohol by any chance? Alcohol can make people depressed.

Hah definitely not, I haven't had a drink in two and a half years now. It'd be significantly more than just a bemusing drop in equilibrium if I'd proverbially crawled back into a bottle - and that might actually be the end of my world, since I almost died last time.
No it was one of my compulsive behaviours. A behaviourism I know is problematic but I do it compulsively and wish I didn't. It wasn't all that much of a big deal or so I thought, which was why I didn't understand the response.


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bunnyb
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04 Dec 2017, 10:54 pm

C2V wrote:
bunnyb wrote:
Was the problematic behavior alcohol by any chance? Alcohol can make people depressed.

Hah definitely not, I haven't had a drink in two and a half years now. It'd be significantly more than just a bemusing drop in equilibrium if I'd proverbially crawled back into a bottle - and that might actually be the end of my world, since I almost died last time.
No it was one of my compulsive behaviours. A behaviourism I know is problematic but I do it compulsively and wish I didn't. It wasn't all that much of a big deal or so I thought, which was why I didn't understand the response.


Well done on the two and half years. That's something to feel good about :D .
Are you cross at yourself for indulging in the compulsion? I get down when I'm angry at myself. I don't always recognise that I'm feeling angry rather than sad. They just sort of mix in together and I feel cr#p in general.
Hope you can work it out.


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BeaArthur
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06 Dec 2017, 9:40 am

Autistics may be short on self-soothing behaviors that are not also compulsive and self-destructive. It's perhaps a result of our tendency to focus on one thing.

Everybody has down moods sometimes, but what counts is how long you stay stuck in one. What helps? Social support, if you are lucky enough to have supportive people around or to create supportive relationships. Another positive sign is having a complete armamentarium of mood-elevating or self-soothing techniques, so if one isn't available, another might be.

Here are some suggestions.

1. Be able to notice when you are in a down mood. (You obviously have noticed, so skip to #2).

2. Call on your support system, let them know you are blue. They may be able to cheer you up.

3. Develop a number of techniques (in advance of blue moods) you can use. Examples may be exercise (or just walking), listening to music, watching comedy tv or movies, doing random acts of kindness, taking a bubble bath, being out in nature, creating beauty or contemplating beauty, etc.

Personally, sometimes when I am feeling down, the most effective thing is to get more rest, even daytime rest. But for some people this may make them even more depressed, so it's not for everyone. Some like to compulsively clean house - that does not do it for me!

I hope you feel better soon.


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RetroGamer87
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08 Dec 2017, 6:45 pm

BeaArthur wrote:
Autistics may be short on self-soothing behaviors that are not also compulsive and self-destructive. It's perhaps a result of our tendency to focus on one thing.

Everybody has down moods sometimes, but what counts is how long you stay stuck in one. What helps? Social support, if you are lucky enough to have supportive people around or to create supportive relationships

I don't know, if I talk about all that negative stuff with my friends it might drive them away.


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