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I am wondering if anyone else has this experience too:
I tend to be rather reclusive, social situations make me exhausted and cause pain. This is the main reason why I cannot work full time surrounded by people or spend too much time with others (luckily, I can work from home now doing freelance work).
I am currently on a wonderful anti-depressant which actually inspires me want to spend more time with people - especially folks I already know and love. I recently re-united with some very old friends, and had some really great times with them this summer. I met with three separate old friends over the last month, and each visit was happy, relaxed & comfortable. Each visit was full of laughter, good food, sunshine and plenty of reminiscing.
I also have a fabulous family who love to spend time together. I get to live in the same city as both my parents, my brother, sister-in-law and two nephews. There is virtually no conflict between my family members (yes, this is a miracle) and things are always pretty "chill" when we are all together. They like to arrange a family gathering about twice per month.
Here is the problem: I have started crashing badly after these visits. Sometimes my neck and throat start hurting after a couple of hours DURING the visit - my eyes get blurry and I start getting very very sleepy. My family knows that I get tired, so they are used to me bowing out of things early (always with lots of regret on my part). I then wake up the next morning, in terrible pain, totally exhausted and I cannot think straight. My mind is full of happy memories of the day before, but I basically feel like I have been "hit by a truck". It usually lasts an entire day, sometimes more.
This makes me sad. And it is totally frustrating. PEM is so mysterious to me.
I try to pace myself, and limit my visits to only a couple per week - but sometimes things just don't work out that way. It is also so frustrating that now, with this medication, I have more motivation that I have had in the last 10 years to actually SEE people.
I can understand having a crash after a stressful, tense, difficult, taxing experience - but a happy, joyful, relaxed experience too??
Does anyone else have this problem? If so, how do you deal with it and how do YOU prepare yourself emotionally and physically for the crash?
Bestest,
P-Kat
I tend to be rather reclusive, social situations make me exhausted and cause pain. This is the main reason why I cannot work full time surrounded by people or spend too much time with others (luckily, I can work from home now doing freelance work).
I am currently on a wonderful anti-depressant which actually inspires me want to spend more time with people - especially folks I already know and love. I recently re-united with some very old friends, and had some really great times with them this summer. I met with three separate old friends over the last month, and each visit was happy, relaxed & comfortable. Each visit was full of laughter, good food, sunshine and plenty of reminiscing.
I also have a fabulous family who love to spend time together. I get to live in the same city as both my parents, my brother, sister-in-law and two nephews. There is virtually no conflict between my family members (yes, this is a miracle) and things are always pretty "chill" when we are all together. They like to arrange a family gathering about twice per month.
Here is the problem: I have started crashing badly after these visits. Sometimes my neck and throat start hurting after a couple of hours DURING the visit - my eyes get blurry and I start getting very very sleepy. My family knows that I get tired, so they are used to me bowing out of things early (always with lots of regret on my part). I then wake up the next morning, in terrible pain, totally exhausted and I cannot think straight. My mind is full of happy memories of the day before, but I basically feel like I have been "hit by a truck". It usually lasts an entire day, sometimes more.
This makes me sad. And it is totally frustrating. PEM is so mysterious to me.
I try to pace myself, and limit my visits to only a couple per week - but sometimes things just don't work out that way. It is also so frustrating that now, with this medication, I have more motivation that I have had in the last 10 years to actually SEE people.
I can understand having a crash after a stressful, tense, difficult, taxing experience - but a happy, joyful, relaxed experience too??
Does anyone else have this problem? If so, how do you deal with it and how do YOU prepare yourself emotionally and physically for the crash?
Bestest,
P-Kat