Does anyone have particular theories or experience with regard to the over stimulating effects of a variety of cognitive activities?
I can't quite figure out what will or won't cause problems, and since there's usually a delay for PEM crashes, it's even harder to figure out as I don't have the discipline to do only one thing in a day. Usually I watch some YouTube, talk on the phone a little bit, etc.
I don't think random YouTube stuff tires me out. I can watch a lot of videos and it seems mostly relaxing. I don't notice any particular subjects that tire me out, unless I try to watch something to 'learn' in which case I get tired very quickly.
For TV and movies, I find that anything stressful tires me out a bit. I like relaxing content, or things I've seen before.
Music makes me feel a lot better while I'm listening to it, but a LOT worse overall. I'm not sure what makes this so different than watching videos. Maybe the level of endorphins or engagement? It's weird because a movie might be more engrossing, but it doesn't seem to have the subsequent crash.
I saw @Lolinda had a bit of a thread on music. I've noticed that some computer activities affect me similarly. Reading forums or Reddit or such seems pretty relaxing to me and I don't get too tired. But trying to edit a short video or something and I'll become crashed within 10-20 minutes.
In addition, I've noticed phone calls and video chats are also really bad - but much more so for video chats. That can crash me for days or weeks.
So in short, does anyone have thoughts on what strategies, or supplements and meds, or types of activities might be safe? It's quite frustrating that some of the most enjoyable things are the ones that leave me feeling the worst. It also goes against the traditional 'mind-body' connection stuff as less pleasant things don't bother me (listening to annoying hold music on a customer service call) but enjoyable things like listening to my favorite songs will leave me crashed for days.
Anyways, curious to hear anyone's thoughts or experiences.
I can't quite figure out what will or won't cause problems, and since there's usually a delay for PEM crashes, it's even harder to figure out as I don't have the discipline to do only one thing in a day. Usually I watch some YouTube, talk on the phone a little bit, etc.
I don't think random YouTube stuff tires me out. I can watch a lot of videos and it seems mostly relaxing. I don't notice any particular subjects that tire me out, unless I try to watch something to 'learn' in which case I get tired very quickly.
For TV and movies, I find that anything stressful tires me out a bit. I like relaxing content, or things I've seen before.
Music makes me feel a lot better while I'm listening to it, but a LOT worse overall. I'm not sure what makes this so different than watching videos. Maybe the level of endorphins or engagement? It's weird because a movie might be more engrossing, but it doesn't seem to have the subsequent crash.
I saw @Lolinda had a bit of a thread on music. I've noticed that some computer activities affect me similarly. Reading forums or Reddit or such seems pretty relaxing to me and I don't get too tired. But trying to edit a short video or something and I'll become crashed within 10-20 minutes.
In addition, I've noticed phone calls and video chats are also really bad - but much more so for video chats. That can crash me for days or weeks.
So in short, does anyone have thoughts on what strategies, or supplements and meds, or types of activities might be safe? It's quite frustrating that some of the most enjoyable things are the ones that leave me feeling the worst. It also goes against the traditional 'mind-body' connection stuff as less pleasant things don't bother me (listening to annoying hold music on a customer service call) but enjoyable things like listening to my favorite songs will leave me crashed for days.
Anyways, curious to hear anyone's thoughts or experiences.