Feeling a Little Burned Out/Bummed Today

[chefann]

Kathy, that's a great problem to have! Think of all your commission! And you can make it easier on yourself by doing the same recipe at all of those shows, so you don't have to repack your kit.

 

[Kathytnt]

But my host for Saturday is also unreachable. I have called and e-mailed. What is with people. We have not even picked something for her show yet. I have already gotten a note from a guest (booked form another show) I will see you at Ashley's show. But I can't reach Ashley

 

[BethCooks4U]

Kathy, Sounds like you are depressed. You might want to see your doctor and see if he/she has any suggestions to help get you past this.

Like others said, take time for yourself when you can. Don't worry about all those shows. Think of one at a time. Put your pre-show tasks for each on the calendar and they won't seem quite so overwhelming. Same recipe for all it also a great idea. Make it simple and the momentum will build with each one. Don't forget to ask for future bookings at those shows (your being overwhelmed could stop you from asking!).

As far as fundraisers are concerned: If I am directly involved with a group I donate my commission but otherwise I do not. PC does not raise their price for fundraisers and that is a big plus. I point out that they are paying premium prices for products with other companies and we do not raise our prices. Sure, I don't get as many fundraisers as I would like because they see 15% and go away. Their loss - if they want to pay $20 for a $10 item so be it. But I am not willing to go through all that work and expense without getting SOME reward - as it is PC cuts our commission on them from other shows. (I DO offer incentives for getting the FR to certain levels though and I make it as easy for them as I can.)

 

[Kathytnt]

I may be a little depressed (PMS) but I normally don't get this really tired feeling that I am having right now. I am taking vitamin C every few hours in case I am starting to come down with somethin

As far as the number of shows - I can only think of them as points and some commision because two of the shows are fundraisers under my current program. I have already been contacted by one that she needs to reschedule. I am sorry - I don't mean to whine about having a high number of shows. It's just that hubby has to feel he is getting his share of my time too. I just feel like I am pulled in so many directions at times.

I am sorry - It feels overwhelming. I wish I had more time for PC but hubby is talking budget budget budget all the time lately so I have been having to up my hours at the PT job which is almost full-time now. I have been feeling overwhelmed already because I have catalog fundraisers going on at the same time and I just can't get organized. I am so worried I am going to forget someone. Then all the supplies for September is piling in and I need to get all those packets out also. Plus all the labelling and stamping OH MY!

Breathe in - Breathe out

I better go get to work!

Love you guys {{{HUGS}}}

I will go take some more of my PMS meds and refill that prescription. I swear I am going to start marking this stuff on the calendar do I know when to expect it

I don't know when to take a couple of days off for myself as everyone is suggesting?

 

[BethCooks4U]

I don't know when to take a couple of days off for myself as everyone is suggesting?

It doesn't sound like "days off" is a possibility. How about moments.

Find time to smell the flowers. Shut your eyes for 10 minutes. Things like that.

I had a conversation the other day with my son about why men spend so much time in the bathroom. He said that that is the only way they can get a few minutes to themselves for some quiet time and to relax. Maybe you should go lock yourself in the bathroom.

 

[chefann]

I may be a little depressed (PMS) but I normally don't get this really tired feeling that I am having right now. I am taking vitamin C every few hours in case I am starting to come down with something.

I think Beth was referring to something more than just PMS-related depression. It's nothing to be ashamed about - lots of people have a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes clinical depression. There is medication that can help the physical causes and symptoms. Heck- I probably should be on something, but that would require going to the doctor.

As for feeling like you're being pulled, make sure you control your calendar, even on reschedules. If you don't usually do shows on Monday, then by all means don't let someone reschedule for a Monday, no matter how much you want to keep it as a live show.

 

[Kathytnt]

LOL - I never knew - Secrets of Men LOL!

We had guys at my work that would take the paper in the bathroom - THIS IS AT WORK Do you bathroom paper reading at home. I joked with tham that if they had time to read the paper they need more fiber in their diet

 

[BethCooks4U]

LOL - I never knew - Secrets of Men LOL!

We had guys at my work that would take the paper in the bathroom - THIS IS AT WORK Do you bathroom paper reading at home. I joked with tham that if they had time to read the paper they need more fiber in their diet

I KNOW! :yuck: I never got it how I could be in and out and everyone of them takes forever (I lived with 6 "men)! I think it's something they share when they do the man talk.

 

[Kathytnt]

Ann - I understand what she means. I do get a little depressed each month. You guys may have noticed that already but not realized that there is a pattern. I was seeing docs for years. The problem is with this cyclical type of depression it sneaks up on me and I don't even realize it until I start feeling overwhelmed.

One day my husand and I were watching 'Everyone loves Raymond' and they had an episode about Debra and her 'xitchy' pills. Well we kind of joke about my meds that I got from my endocrinologist. They are a prescirption progesterone cream that seems to do the trick. But I just have to realize that I am going through it.

I had been treated in the past with anti-depressants - i used to have depression so bad I was practically a hermit and just wanted to sleep all day. This is not what is going on right now.

I was so afraid to meet the Chef Success folks at conference because I was afraid they would think there was going to be a dark cloud over my head. LOL!

I do get disappointed and frustrated at time when hosts cancel at the last minute or can't even bother to call back. If they cancel a show at the last minute have they bothered to call their guests and cancelled with them too? I guess I worry too much

 

[BethCooks4U]

My husband gets that dark cloud (and it can get VERY black) a lot but he is very aware of it and has been able to work through it without going to the doctor so far. He always cheers up about the time I am ready to give him the ultimatum - make the appointment or I will.

Kathy, try to see the bright side in things. Take the meds you need. Tell your doctor when things seem out of your control.

Do one thing at a time so you don't feel overwhelmed. LAUGH about things (even if you don't feel like it). Smile at others as you pass them. You will be surprised how good that makes YOU feel.

We had a family reunion when my son was about 13 and he was really moody. My husband said "you may not be having fun but ACT LIKE you are". Funny thing - he did act like it and ended up HAVING fun!

 

[Kathytnt]

I guess it's been especailly bad this week because of the incident I mentioned in the first post on this thread. The more I find out about the young men that were killed the more sad it is. It was just a senseless killing that we will probably neve know why it happened. There hasn't been much in the media but since I know one of the families I am a little closer to the situation.

I will let you know that I chatted with one of my recruits yesterday and she would never know that I was a little down - I was very up on the phone.

I will talk to my recruit prospect this afternoon and she will never know either

Being around people helps - being home so much by myself during the day is not good

One thing that Duska Mills mentioned last FD call was don't vent to your recruits or you spouse I guess this is my venting place and I get a lot of love and positive from all of you wonderful people!

 

[BethCooks4U]

Well VENT AWAY!! We're here for you!

And I do have those young men in my prayers too. I don't understand a lot of what happens in the world but then are we supposed to?

 

[BethCooks4U]

PS: Instead of staying at home - go shopping! I mean PC shopping. Wear something PC/carry something that says PC/go grocery shopping with a catalog or cookbook. Give reasons for people to talk with you about your business (or other way around). Do errands that you might now be doing at night, taking away from that DH time...

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Kathy - sometimes depression can be caused by something physically wrong also. I was at a point at the beginning of the summer where I was SOOOOO tired and everything seemed overwhelming. Some days, I didn't know how I was going to make it out of bed (and I have a 3 yr old!) and if I had a show, I had to rest the whole day before and the whole day after the show.

I finally found a naturopathic Dr. who did some testing that no other Dr. had ever done - and came back with the info that not only did I have "low, active thyroid" but that I also had Epstein Barr Virus, and Lyme Disease. I have been on several homeopathic Meds for about 2 months, and am feeling better than I have felt in YEARS! I had forgotten what it felt like to be able to get up in the morning and feel good! I would encourage you to be your own health advocate, and keep searching until you get answers! I am so glad I finally did!

 

[tlennhoff]

I don't know what you use for a calendar program but tracking your cycle can really help. I used outlook and even set it up for reminders a day or two before I expect the problems to hit which helps a lot.

 

[Kathytnt]

Honestly I have been feeling achy in my legs and joints and back since conference and now the tired part has really hit in the last few days. I thought t might be mild dehyrdartion but I don't know. My endo always checks my thyroid. I know my vitamin D and b-12 (mildly anemic) and testosterone (yes, women have testosterone levels) were low last visit. You know that tired in your head/eyes feeling when you have gone a long time without sleep. I have been sleeping fine but still feel really tired.

 

[krzymomof4]

I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV. Have you thought of PMDD? It is where you have depression/anxiety before your period.
I can tell you from experience that anxiety and depression do have physical symptoms as well. When you were talking about the sleeping thing that is the first thing I thought of.

 

[Kathytnt]

Hmmmm PMDD I have heard of that but not sure what it is

 

[Kathytnt]

Could this also be why I am stressing more about my weight than any othe time of the month??

 

[chefann]

Hmmmm PMDD I have heard of that but not sure what it is

Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
This is from the pmdd.org website (NOTE: it's actually a site run by a company that makes medication for PMDD - imagine that!)

PMDD is a distinct medical condition. Common symptoms include irritability, sadness, sudden mood changes, tension, bloating, and breast tenderness. The many symptoms of PMDD can markedly interfere with your daily activities and relationships and can make you feel out of control. Some women describe PMDD as frustrating, surprising, tiring, or even isolating. It can take away your enjoyment of family, friends, or work. Some think it’s part of being a woman or PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome). But for millions it is PMDD.

While PMDD is not fully understood, many doctors believe it may be caused by an imbalance of a chemical in the body called serotonin. The normal cyclical changes in female hormones may interact with serotonin and other chemicals, and the changes may result in the mood and physical symptoms of PMDD.

With PMDD, it may seem like you only suffer a few days a month, but those days add up. In fact, you can spend up to 25 percent of your childbearing years dealing with these symptoms. You may have even noticed that your symptoms are more bothersome now than when you were younger. It’s not your imagination – if left untreated PMDD symptoms can worsen with age.

I highlighted seratonin. That's one of the brain chemicals that, when imbalanced, causes depression. So if you'd been receiving treatment for depression, it could help with PMDD, but would be over-kill during the other parts of your cycle.

 

[chefann]

hmmm... just read more on their site. The medication they're pushing contains fluoxetine hydrochloride, the active ingredient in Prozac (and you do NOT wanna be on that - I have a very scary book about it I can lend you).

 

[Kathytnt]

The anti-depressants I was taking were not helping during this time - I stopped taking anti's about 2-3 years ago.

 

[krzymomof4]

I take Lexapro and Burpar. You still have "issues", but it definately does help me anyway. I was at one point where I hadn't been sleeping for 6 months and it definately made it worse. Mine is not PMDD, but I do know that I am worse when I am PMSing. I have been taking extra Melatonin to help me sleep. That has helped me and gotten me off the sleep meds.

 

[Kathytnt]

Well some of the reading there was some talk about herbal supplements, calcium, B6, reducing caffeine, sugar, gettin more exercise etc.
I do have a vitamin malabsorption issue due to having gastric bypass surgery over 9 years ago. I just don't like this feeling and I know my hubby tries to understand but doesn't really.