Just ordered an Apple Watch (Series 8): Mental health uses?

[MindYourMind]

Thanks for your advice.

I know my diagnoses very well, but I just can’t control them.

I restarted my antidepressant and antipsychotic when on the psych ward, but I’m already starting to feel bloated so I’m stopping them again, as of tonight.

I’m meant to be seeing a psychiatrist on Tuesday, so I can either be honest and try a different set of medication, or I can just swerve it.

The combination that I’m on has worked for me in the past, but it doesn’t seem to be working so well now.

All I know is that when I took myself off of the medication before, the EUPD & OCD took over.

I even started to have the thoughts of not wanting to be here anymore again earlier today, which I genuinely haven’t had since I came out of the coma.

I can see this only going one way .

I did not share to advice, I shared some of my thoughts to share an aspect of how I have come to understand life.

 

[Violet_Antelope]

Thanks for your advice.

I know my diagnoses very well, but I just can’t control them.

I restarted my antidepressant and antipsychotic when on the psych ward, but I’m already starting to feel bloated so I’m stopping them again, as of tonight.

I’m meant to be seeing a psychiatrist on Tuesday, so I can either be honest and try a different set of medication, or I can just swerve it.

The combination that I’m on has worked for me in the past, but it doesn’t seem to be working so well now.

All I know is that when I took myself off of the medication before, the EUPD & OCD took over.

I even started to have the thoughts of not wanting to be here anymore again earlier today, which I genuinely haven’t had since I came out of the coma.

I can see this only going one way .

Please please hang in there! You’ve given so many of us here something precious by this discussion. But it’s more than that. Over time I’ve seen your comments on various threads and sometimes you’ve mentioned your OCD. Several times I’ve clicked your profile and started to send you a message only to chicken out , but I’ve wanted to reach out, to know that neither of us nor anyone else with similar problems is alone with them. Your OCD will make you doubt everything that matters to you, just like mine does for me, but please don’t doubt how much you matter even to people you’ve never met in person

 

[MindYourMind]

Thanks for your advice.

I know my diagnoses very well, but I just can’t control them.

I restarted my antidepressant and antipsychotic when on the psych ward, but I’m already starting to feel bloated so I’m stopping them again, as of tonight.

I’m meant to be seeing a psychiatrist on Tuesday, so I can either be honest and try a different set of medication, or I can just swerve it.

The combination that I’m on has worked for me in the past, but it doesn’t seem to be working so well now.

All I know is that when I took myself off of the medication before, the EUPD & OCD took over.

I even started to have the thoughts of not wanting to be here anymore again earlier today, which I genuinely haven’t had since I came out of the coma.

I can see this only going one way .

To know thoughts as diagnoses on the one hand and to be aware of any thought following deep insight into the nature of thoughts on the other hand, are by no means the same.

Man has no other tool to recognize and experience life than his or her mind. We live in a world of thoughts. Hence we do not see what we see, we think what we see. And the mind has evolved to make man believe that thoughts are life. But do life, mind and man exist the way the mind says they do? No. That is not what I understand. But I do not want anyone to just believe what I say because any understanding may only be of significance for us if we find it out for ourselves.

Have you noticed that thoughts just happen? They do, don’t they? They just happen. Hence we do not think only when and what we want to think, we all think also what and when we do not want to think.

Is the sky affected by clouds that pass by in it? In no way it is. The more you grow to become aware of what your mind has come to know, the more you’ll be like the sky. From the inside out, you grow to become steady. More and more you will be able to just calmly watch any thought, including feelings and emotions, come and go. And the more you are choicelessly aware of thoughts (re-)appearing and disappearing in your mind, the more you grow towards realizing your true self, which exists beyond the mind.

Again, enjoy your AW, but understand that any tech will only inform you, and only deep understanding will transform you.

 

[Night Spring]

And the more you are choicelessly aware of thoughts (re-)appearing and disappearing in your mind, the more you grow towards realizing your true self, which exists beyond the mind.

And you eventually realize that your true self, like the sky, is empty.

In the meantime, after the storm, the air is crisp. Time for a walk. 🙏

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Hey Tommy ~

The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) may be challenging to understand, depending on the translation you use. The Greek Scriptures (New Testament) are easier to understand, so probably why some may begin here. You don’t have to study in any particular order.

I read and listen to the New World Translation from JW(dot org). They have excellent audio versions of each book that you can download as well. I make playlists for each Bible book in my library in Apple Music, so I can play while I am on my AW. To get there on the website, tap on the Menu icon, Library, Online Bible. Here you can choose which Bible translation you prefer. Both sound great, but I generally prefer the 1984 translation audio because of the sound of the voices (there are a few different ones, with one being British).

Cheers!

Many thanks.

I actually started secondary school in 1984, so it will be like going back to school .

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I definitely know what you mean by feeling "ready."

I think mentally, you are ready to start getting better, and you now see a place for the Apple watch in that process. You have concrete ideas for what roles it could play, whereas before, it was a more vague "maybe this could do something" kind of thing.

And yes, a lot of the motivation stuff can be done with just the phone. Things the phone can't do are things like track heart rate, calculate calories, and monitor sleep. And I find the tapping on my wrist while doing Mindfulness breathing exercise calming.

When will your watch arrive? I can't remember if you mentioned that. I'm looking forward to hearing how you get on with it.

Hello my friend.

There was an issue with the payment, so I cancelled the order.

Was going to give up, I just placed a new order and it’s actually due to be delivered a bit earlier (Tuesday or Wednesday) so we’re still on!

The initial order was with the solo loop. I think the 5 would have fitted me, but there was a chance it wouldn’t have. The new order is with a sport band, so I know it will fit.

Wishing you well my friend, and thank you for your kindness.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Please please hang in there! You’ve given so many of us here something precious by this discussion. But it’s more than that. Over time I’ve seen your comments on various threads and sometimes you’ve mentioned your OCD. Several times I’ve clicked your profile and started to send you a message only to chicken out , but I’ve wanted to reach out, to know that neither of us nor anyone else with similar problems is alone with them. Your OCD will make you doubt everything that matters to you, just like mine does for me, but please don’t doubt how much you matter even to people you’ve never met in person

I can’t thank you enough for your kindness.

I am always here for you, should you need me. Always remember that.

I think these quotes will intrigue you:

EUPD is emotion unchained.

OCD is the disease of doubt.

Depression lies about the future.

Such simple and accurate descriptions, for such complex conditions.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

To know thoughts as diagnoses on the one hand and to be aware of any thought following deep insight into the nature of thoughts on the other hand, are by no means the same.

Man has no other tool to recognize and experience life than his or her mind. We live in a world of thoughts. Hence we do not see what we see, we think what we see. And the mind has evolved to make man believe that thoughts are life. But do life, mind and man exist the way the mind says they do? No. That is not what I understand. But I do not want anyone to just believe what I say because any understanding may only be of significance for us if we find it out for ourselves.

Have you noticed that thoughts just happen? They do, don’t they? They just happen. Hence we do not think only when and what we want to think, we all think also what and when we do not want to think.

Is the sky affected by clouds that pass by in it? In no way it is. The more you grow to become aware of what your mind has come to know, the more you’ll be like the sky. From the inside out, you grow to become steady. More and more you will be able to just calmly watch any thought, including feelings and emotions, come and go. And the more you are choicelessly aware of thoughts (re-)appearing and disappearing in your mind, the more you grow towards realizing your true self, which exists beyond the mind.

Again, enjoy your AW, but understand that any tech will only inform you, and only deep understanding will transform you.

Such powerful words, thank you.

However, my mind works differently from the “average” person.

With EUPD & OCD, intrusive thoughts bombard me, on a perpetual basis, and I am powerless against them.

My only form of control is when I hurt myself.

Ok, let me be more accurate: When I can’t take anymore and I try to end it all.

But I don’t wish to disturb anyone, so I’ll not delve any further into that.

Thank you for your words of wisdom, which have been welcomed.

 

[Night Spring]

My only form of control is when I hurt myself.

Ok, let me be more accurate: When I can’t take anymore and I try to end it all.

To me, this seems similar to someone with physical illness considering euthanasia. It's not that they want to die, but the physical pain from their illness is unbearable, and they need it to stop. Your pain is mental/emotional, rather than physical, but the need to stop the pain is the same, is it not?

I think our understanding of mental illness is still at a very primitive level, kind of like back when you'd bleed patients to treat diseases. Nobody knows what they are doing, really. ☹️

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

To me, this seems similar to someone with physical illness considering euthanasia. It's not that they want to die, but the physical pain from their illness is unbearable, and they need it to stop. Your pain is mental/emotional, rather than physical, but the need to stop the pain is the same, is it not?

I think our understanding of mental illness is still at a very primitive level, kind of like back when you'd bleed patients to treat diseases. Nobody knows what they are doing, really. ☹️

You’re right.

There’s a video on YouTube of a woman with tinnitus, which was so bad that she couldn’t bear another day.

She is now passed, because she couldn’t bear it anymore. It’s not a nice decision to make, but when things are that bad, it literally (juxtaposed) becomes your only form of “survival.”

 

[Kierkegaarden]

Most people probably know this already, but I thought I would pass it along —

If you plan on wearing your AW to bed for sleep/heart tracking (which I highly recommend), you can turn off both Wifi and Bluetooth by switching on Airplane Mode. I think by default it turns off just Wifi, but you can change this is settings on the AW so that Airplane Mode turns off both. When you wake up, you can then turn off Airplane Mode (which will then automatically turn on Wifi and Bluetooth) so that the data can be sent to your iPhone.

Also, you can activate Sleep Mode directly from your AW.

 

[Night Spring]

You’re right.

There’s a video on YouTube of a woman with tinnitus, which was so bad that she couldn’t bear another day.

She is now passed, because she couldn’t bear it anymore. It’s not a nice decision to make, but when things are that bad, it literally (juxtaposed) becomes your only form of “survival.”

I've never heard of tinnitus getting that bad before. Like I said, there are still too many things we don't understand about how the brain/body works, and so many types of suffering we don't know how to help. I think you know this already, but your condition isn't your fault, just like any physical illness isn't the patient's fault. All you can do is manage it as best you can.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I've never heard of tinnitus getting that bad before. Like I said, there are still too many things we don't understand about how the brain/body works, and so many types of suffering we don't know how to help. I think you know this already, but your condition isn't your fault, just like any physical illness isn't the patient's fault. All you can do is manage it as best you can.

Tinnitus is what started my downward spiral.

It got so bad I couldn’t take it anymore.

One day one of my GPs asked me if I wanted something to help me sleep. I’ve self harmed before, so never thought she’d offer me sleeping tablets. She did, and I immediately thought “this is my escape from this torture.”

Started stockpiling & overdosing from then.

26 Section 2s later, countless overdoses requiring life support, yet they still provide me with them.

As my American cousins would say, “go figure.”

 

[Violet_Antelope]

That’s both sad and very scary. I know it must be hard for doctors trying to balance immediate and long-term needs, but I can’t think they’ve put your wellbeing at the heart of their ‘care’ for you

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

That’s both sad and very scary. I know it must be hard for doctors trying to balance immediate and long-term needs, but I can’t think they’ve put your wellbeing at the heart of their ‘care’ for you

You haven’t heard the half of it, my friend.

If it wasn’t so serious, the failings, it would almost be funny.

My Apple Watch is being delivered on Monday .

 

[Violet_Antelope]

You haven’t heard the half of it, my friend.

If it wasn’t so serious, the failings, it would almost be funny.

My Apple Watch is being delivered on Monday .

Sadly I can very well believe you - I’ve had some prize moments with so-called professionals who are unhelpful and insulting in the extreme, and I’m sure it’s far worse for you On the other hand, I’m so glad your watch will be here soon!

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Sadly I can very well believe you - I’ve had some prize moments with so-called professionals who are unhelpful and insulting in the extreme, and I’m sure it’s far worse for you On the other hand, I’m so glad your watch will be here soon!

As soon as I hear the word “professional“ they tend to lose me at that moment .

 

[Night Spring]

You haven’t heard the half of it, my friend.

If it wasn’t so serious, the failings, it would almost be funny.

My Apple Watch is being delivered on Monday .

I've been lucky in that my dealings with doctors so far have been short, and they've mostly been competent and professional. The doctors my mom took me to when I was little were useless, but they did care, I think. At least I don't remember anything unpleasant of the experience.

I'm actually about to go pick up an Ultra. I'm fairly sure I wont keep it and end up eventually getting an 8, but the band I want with the 8 isn't in stock, and I'm just curious about how much easier the brighter screen is to read. Will report back when I get back!

 

[Mishabella]

I wonder how many calories it takes to read a book?

You would be surprised! I also heard that studying for an hour can burn up to 100 calories! Crazy, right? 🥰

 

[Mishabella]

That reminds me, I use Nike Run Club's guided runs while I walk. They are meant for runners, and I only walk, but a lot of the talk is general self-affirmation tips that work for anyone. I especially like the ones like "Don't want to run today" guide, for days when I'm not feeling motivated to walk. Seeing there is a guide for the way I'm feeling gives me a push to go walk. Best of all, it's free, no subscription needed. You see occasional promotions for Nike stuff, but they aren't pushy about it.

Is this on any Apple Watch? 😊

 

[Night Spring]

Is this on any Apple Watch? 😊

It's an app for iPhone and watch, you can download it from the Apple store.

 

[Night Spring]

Okay got the ultra. It's enormous! and the ocean band I got with it was very stiff and hard to handle at the beginning. After taking it on and off half a dozen times, it's finally starting to get flexible, and I'm also getting the knack of how to handle it. But it's a very heavy band. It's comfortable enough, but if I keep this watch, I'll probably get a lighter band.

I tried reading the news on the News app, and it's quite readable. I actually wondered if there's a Books app for the watch, lol!

I'm wearing it while sleeping tonight to see how it feels.

Did I say it's enormous?

 

[Violet_Antelope]

Okay got the ultra. It's enormous! and the ocean band I got with it was very stiff and hard to handle at the beginning. After taking it on and off half a dozen times, it's finally starting to get flexible, and I'm also getting the knack of how to handle it. But it's a very heavy band. It's comfortable enough, but if I keep this watch, I'll probably get a lighter band.

I tried reading the news on the News app, and it's quite readable. I actually wondered if there's a Books app for the watch, lol!

I'm wearing it while sleeping tonight to see how it feels.

View attachment 2093897

View attachment 2093898

Did I say it's enormous?

That looks good, although I’m not sure about the strap! But the size looks rather nice I think. I’ll be interested to hear how you like it!

 

[Night Spring]

That looks good, although I’m not sure about the strap! But the size looks rather nice I think. I’ll be interested to hear how you like it!

We were going to Apple to pick up something else, so I just grabbed the band they had available. I would have preferred the midnight color, but white was what they had. I do like the watch, the screen is just gorgeous. The haptic vibrations are so prominent I wonder if a person sitting next to me can feel it. But the question is whether the weight will start feeling uncomfortable if I wear it over a long period of time. The jury is still out on that point.

 

[Roadster Lewis]

I have found that the Apple Watch nudges me in the right direction for my mental health - the breathe reminders are particularly good, although less so, now that they have morphed into mindfulness, and only seem to be at fixed times. However, the simple breathing exercises are good when you start to feel anxious. Reminders to take medication and get outside to close rings are also helpful. As is the wind down for sleep.