Ready or Not

[JustGeorge]

Moods perplex me.

How is it a person can wake up in a circumstance one day and feel great, and wake up in the exact same situation the next day and feel lousy? What happens when one wakes up on the wrong side of the bed?

I'm sure there are brain chemicals and cycles that come into play, but it makes me curious why things are not always the same on the inside when they are the same on the outside...

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I'm a big fan of spoon theory, as a way to describe energy levels, how energy can be distributed on daily tasks, and how energy can be limited by outside factors, meaning you have less energy to ration on some days or tasks than others.
Spoon theory - Wikipedia.

 

[JustGeorge]

I'm a big fan of spoon theory, as a way to describe energy levels, how energy can be distributed on daily tasks, and how energy can be limited by outside factors, meaning you have less energy to ration on some days or tasks than others.
Spoon theory - Wikipedia.

Some days, I'm out of spoons and forks...

Literally. I can find about 5 dining utensils... where did they all go?

But on a more serious note, I've used spoon theory to describe my own energy situation. I don't have any illnesses that contribute, but I am heavily involved with the care for those with mental illness/disabilities.

I just wonder why a person wakes up with a drawer full of spoons one day, and on other days there's only two....

 

[exchemist]

Moods perplex me.

How is it a person can wake up in a circumstance one day and feel great, and wake up in the exact same situation the next day and feel lousy? What happens when one wakes up on the wrong side of the bed?

I'm sure there are brain chemicals and cycles that come into play, but it makes me curious why things are not always the same on the inside when they are the same on the outside...

A good example of this is how one often feels depressed by or anxious about the problems of life if one wakes at 4 in the morning, but on waking at 7 one feels far more positive - about exactly the same set of issues! The only difference is one's confidence in being able to handle them.

Moods are funny things. The effect of mood is one good reason for taking one's time over major decisions, in order to average out the effects of mood.

 

[exchemist]

Some days, I'm out of spoons and forks...

Literally. I can find about 5 dining utensils... where did they all go?

But on a more serious note, I've used spoon theory to describe my own energy situation. I don't have any illnesses that contribute, but I am heavily involved with the care for those with mental illness/disabilities.

I just wonder why a person wakes up with a drawer full of spoons one day, and on other days there's only two....

That reminds me of visiting a fellow student in my college at university, who gave me a cup of coffee and then offered sugar, but with an apology, saying, "I'm afraid we seem to have run out of the spoon".

 

[JustGeorge]

A good example of this is how one often feels depressed by or anxious about the problems of life if one wakes at 4 in the morning, but on waking at 7 one feels far more positive - about exactly the same set of issues! The only difference is one's confidence in being able to handle them.

Moods are funny things. The effect of mood is one good reason for taking one's time over major decisions, in order to average out the effects of mood.

Good point! I wake up almost every morning(which is the middle of the night for me, as I go to bed around 1am) at 5am and have mild anxiety. I'll probably get up and pee, and check to make sure the dogs have water, or let a cat in/out, but go back to sleep and feel at least somewhat better by the time I'm ready to get up for the day around 10am.

It hints at cycles within the brain, then...

My middle son can sometimes have some very pronounced cycles, but they tend to last months. They might be overly energetic, overly controversial, or quiet and contemplative. I think with him its also tied into growth. Sometimes an aggressive cycle comes before he grows an inch or two.

 

[JustGeorge]

That reminds me of visiting a fellow student in my college at university, who gave me a cup of coffee and then offered sugar, but with an apology, saying, "I'm afraid we seem to have run out of the spoon".

They do run away sometimes...

I found a children's book and a fork last time I opened up the piano. How did that get there? I also woke to a shattered plate next to my sleeping mat the other morning... how did that happen? I'm sure a child or animal was involved... I just wonder how.

 

[ChristineM]

I'm sure there are brain chemicals and cycles that come into play,

My parents were right into biorhythms, to me it was woo. But who knows, give it a try and see if it matches with the side of bed you get out of.

Biorhythm Calculator

 

[JustGeorge]

My parents were right into biorhythms, to me it was woo. But who knows, give it a try and see if it matches with the side of bed you get out of.

Biorhythm Calculator

It seems really interesting, but I'm not seeing any match ups for me this week.

Not sure what they're going off.

Perhaps these rhythms don't run the same for everyone?

 

[Viker]

I don't really know. Maybe chemical imbalance or eating the wrong food before sleep. Maybe not getting sufficient sleep. I know I have my mornings where everything is great and then some where the world will have hell to pay

 

[Revoltingest]

Moods perplex me.

How is it a person can wake up in a circumstance one day and feel great, and wake up in the exact same situation the next day and feel lousy? What happens when one wakes up on the wrong side of the bed?

I'm sure there are brain chemicals and cycles that come into play, but it makes me curious why things are not always the same on the inside when they are the same on the outside...

View attachment 69069
View attachment 69070

I'm the same every day.

Just thought you needed to know that.

 

[exchemist]

Good point! I wake up almost every morning(which is the middle of the night for me, as I go to bed around 1am) at 5am and have mild anxiety. I'll probably get up and pee, and check to make sure the dogs have water, or let a cat in/out, but go back to sleep and feel at least somewhat better by the time I'm ready to get up for the day around 10am.

It hints at cycles within the brain, then...

My middle son can sometimes have some very pronounced cycles, but they tend to last months. They might be overly energetic, overly controversial, or quiet and contemplative. I think with him its also tied into growth. Sometimes an aggressive cycle comes before he grows an inch or two.

Exactly: cycles within the brain. The middle of the night anxiety is a classic that many, many people experience. Both my wife and I used to suffer from it, at times of stress.

Incidentally, when I feel depressed, my instinct is to go to bed and try to sleep it off overnight. It nearly always helps. One just needs to recharge.

 

[JustGeorge]

I'm the same every day.

Just thought you needed to know that.

What's your secret?

Exactly: cycles within the brain. The middle of the night anxiety is a classic that many, many people experience. Both my wife and I used to suffer from it, at times of stress.

Incidentally, when I feel depressed, my instinct is to go to bed and try to sleep it off overnight. It nearly always helps. One just needs to recharge.

Depression is weird with me... I don't suffer often, but it kicks in occasionally. And then it lingers until someone or something snaps me out of it. It doesn't always make sense... perhaps seeing a raccoon get into someone's garbage, or someone saying something random that hits me in the heart and knocks me out of it... gives me a moment of joy, and then I'm better again.

 

[ChristineM]

It seems really interesting, but I'm not seeing any match ups for me this week.

Not sure what they're going off.

Perhaps these rhythms don't run the same for everyone?

Sorry can't help with the nitty gritty, was just an idea.

 

[We Never Know]

Moods perplex me.

How is it a person can wake up in a circumstance one day and feel great, and wake up in the exact same situation the next day and feel lousy? What happens when one wakes up on the wrong side of the bed?

I'm sure there are brain chemicals and cycles that come into play, but it makes me curious why things are not always the same on the inside when they are the same on the outside...

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View attachment 69070

Science Says Waking Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed Is A Real Thing


"According to this new research, the mindset, in and of itself, of feeling like you "woke up on the wrong side of the bed," is enough to literally derail how you feel for the rest of that day."

Science Says Waking Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed Is A Real Thing & Ugh, I Knew It

 

[Viker]

Science Says Waking Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed Is A Real Thing


"According to this new research, the mindset, in and of itself, of feeling like you "woke up on the wrong side of the bed," is enough to literally derail how you feel for the rest of that day."

Science Says Waking Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed Is A Real Thing & Ugh, I Knew It

You needed science for that?

 

[Wildswanderer]

I think it's the fact that your subconscious is more active when you wake up in the middle of the night. In other words, it's kind of in control more than your conscious mind, so all the insecurities going way back to childhood tend to surface.
It's technically possible to retrain your subconscious, but man, it's hard.
Of course, that is the goal we are driving for when we try to form new habits. Do the new thing enough times in a row and it becomes the normal thing. There's a lot of controversy about how long this takes. Somewhere between 21 and 66 days supposedly.
So if you were to think of something positive every time you woke up in a bad mood and write it down, I wonder if that would eventually change your pattern?
I do the same sort of thing by the way, not every night but quite often, waking in the wee hours and thinking negative thoughts. Praying something like: " I give everything and everyone to you." Or " replace the spirit of fear in me with the spirit of love and confidence."
It is very helpful.

 

[We Never Know]

You needed science for that?

Put it this way.... To many time I've said something and the "where's the supporting link" crowd chimes in. So I usually try to include a link for the negative nellies

 

[JustGeorge]

I think it's the fact that your subconscious is more active when you wake up in the middle of the night. In other words, it's kind of in control more than your conscious mind, so all the insecurities going way back to childhood tend to surface.
It's technically possible to retrain your subconscious, but man, it's hard.
Of course, that is the goal we are driving for when we try to form new habits. Do the new thing enough times in a row and it becomes the normal thing. There's a lot of controversy about how long this takes. Somewhere between 21 and 66 days supposedly.
So if you were to think of something positive every time you woke up in a bad mood and write it down, I wonder if that would eventually change your pattern?
I do the same sort of thing by the way, not every night but quite often, waking in the wee hours and thinking negative thoughts. Praying something like: " I give everything and everyone to you." Or " replace the spirit of fear in me with the spirit of love and confidence."
It is very helpful.

That's good advice. I try to do that sometimes, too, during those wake up anxious sessions. I'm not as good with it during the final wake up. I think when I wake up at 5am, my only responsibility is to use the toilet. When I wake up at 10am for the day... there's usually a lot more upcoming(plus, toilet trips...)

 

[The Sum of Awe]

If I wake up not ready for the day, I go back to sleep until I am ready.

Unless I have to go to work, then I just sleep in til the last minute and I'm like "okay, okay, I gotta go or else I'll get a point."