Anyone else remember that song? I remember it from the Seventies, and here's a version by Dobie Gray http://youtu.be/uWKYfU2UfKw. The chorus is stuck in my head today:
"Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away"
So. You've got the blues, life seems out of control and you can't dye your hair purple because, you just can't. Here are some more suggestions that have helped me cope with the down times that everybody faces.
Get your blood checked. If you feel like you're dragging a sack of mud behind you, maybe you're anaemic. Once you've checked it out, you'll probably need iron supplements, but you'll physically feel better quickly which will help your state of mind. I try to be sure that I also have enough vitamins B, C, and D because they help your immune system, and vitamin B is great for stress. At the very least, try to take a really good multivitamin so you're covering all of your bases.
Are you eating healthy food and drinking enough fluids? Of course, chocolate covers all the food groups and can be enjoyed at any time and any place, but you could try to include more fresh fruits and veggies, lean protein and whole grains too. It's amazing how rotten I feel when I'm dehydrated, and how quickly it sneaks up on me. I cannot start the day without a large coffee from Tim's, or a cafe con leche in my owl mug. But after that, I try to stick to milk, water, or herbal teas. Of course, that's easier said than done, and I can generally find room for a cold beer or a glass of wine. As the wise men say, moderation in all things.
Try to get enough sleep. Do something relaxing before you go to bed, keep your bedroom slightly cool, and follow a little bedtime ritual (warm bath, herbal tea or warm milk) whatever it takes to send a signal to your brain that it's time to power down. I like to read for a while, but everybody's different and the experts don't recommend that. They also suggest that you try to go to bed and get up around the same time every day. This is a guideline, to help you maintain a healthy routine.
I have found that meditation and yoga both help me to slow my monkey brain down and get some peace. You can find all kinds of resources on line, many free. Many public libraries have a website called "Libraries on the Go" which has ebooks and audio books for loan. You can do a search under "self improvement" and find resources from Louise Hay, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dwyer and other respected practitioners. Some days I listen to a guided meditation as I go to sleep, and that helps a lot.
If you really feel like
you cannot cope with what is happening in your life, maybe it's time to
find a counsellor. You can check with the Centre for Addiction
and Mental Health because they provide free counselling, or may be able to make
a recommendation about where you could go for help. You could also ask your doctor for a referral. I have had to get
outside assistance to help unravel some of my issues, and found talking
to an impartial person to be very helpful. Sometimes you need someone
to just listen to you, and they may be able to provide a different point
of view. Of course, talking to close friends you can trust is always great, but professional help may be what you need.
As the late, great, John Lennon said "whatever gets you through the night, its alright". He had a lot of demons in his life, and went through many forms of therapy to fight his way to peace. Some people may question whether he succeeded, but he was always honest about what was going on. For a few years, he chose the self destructive drugs and alcohol route, but he realized that wasn't working and stopped. By the end of his life, by all accounts, he was a happy and healthy man who was joyfully returning to his creative roots.http://youtu.be/HNNxeovdN5U
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