I was in a motorcycle accident 5 months ago.
Since then, I am in a funk.
I am ready to no longer be in this funk.
It’s not depression. I’ve been depressed before and I’m not feeling that, despite the cold weather, despite the lasting pain in my foot and knee, despite wondering if I am depressed…I’m not.
The feeling is that of apathy.
It’s as if I just can’t seem to muster up the energy I normally have to create.
Don’t feel like cooking. Don’t feel like taking photos. Don’t feel like being creative. Don’t feel like writing. Don’t feel like reading. Don’t feel like sleeping, but don’t feel like staying awake late at night. Don’t feel like doing much of anything really.
I feel like I’m Dain Bramaged. One good feeling is that I don’t feel okay with this, not in the slightest. I’m uncomfortable with this discontent. I don’t like apathy – I don’t like feeling lazy. My nature is to produce, create, figure things out.
It’s time for a de-funking. Ideas?
I suspect that you know this, and already do this, but will type the obvious anyway. Service to others. My mental state is frequently stuck in depression mode. I’ve tried most of what has been on the market for said depression, and nothing seems to work for me. But I figure if I can help someone else out, then my own funk will have at least served. If I feel the same staring at the walls, or doing service, well . . . So far I’m not selfish enough to choose the walls. Even during the times when it doesn’t really work for me, it has to count for something if it works for someone I’m helping, yes? P.S. Someday you may age to the point that the white on black format is difficult for you to read too. I get that it is “you”. And that lots of your younger readers probably give it no second thought. Just saying. Hang in there kiddo.
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Amy says:
January 27th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
@another sue, I feel like this is as much for me today as it was for Ryan. I’ve been more into a depression than a funk, but I was thinking about doing some volunteer work just today. This confirms it for me. Thanks
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SNAP OUT OF IT ALREADY!!! There…did that work
Don’t mean to make light of it…but sometimes you just need to lightin’ up a bit. Sounds to me like you haven’t dealt witht he anger over the accident and it has turned into apathy. Which means that ultimately you DO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT! I get it…you are a real nice guy…a really perfect guy for that matter and you aren’t use to being angry. Being ANGRY is okay and you can get real CREATIVE WITH YOUR ANGER…otherwise it turns into apathy. Why don’t you go throw some paint bombs at a canvas or go play paint ball at a range and really HIT SOMETHING and get that anger out. Maybe you should throw yourself on the floor and throw a really good fit! Think about it…our kids are happy most of the time because they deal with their emotions when they are having them. Especially when they are angry…the get right down to it and then guess what…it’s over and done with it and they move on very quickly. Hope this helps 
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It may take a while for your energy levels to go back to normal. I have similar funk months that seem to be related to the physical pain and symptoms I experience. One thing that helps get my mind working is browsing through DIY blogs and websites. I inevitably find inspiration for some project, even if it’s on a much smaller scale than the project I’m inspired by (does that make sense?). Even little projects, pulling out the hand tools for only a day, get my mind going and a few drops of creative juices flowing.
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I like what previous commenters have said. For me, when I get into a funk, I start smaller. I open a window and listen to the noises outside. Once that has served some purpose, but is no longer “enough,” I actually go outside. I might just sit in a chair or on the sidewalk in front of my door. Or I might walk to the mailbox. Anything to get that fresh air in my lungs and brain.
And I snuggle with my cats. I have a wonderful husband, and he’s a snuggler too. But somehow, my cats have this unconditional, incredible love for me. And when I’m really doubting myself, their fur and purrs are what finally get to my apathetic heart.
Much love to you, Ryan, that you are able to see through this and move past it soon. Big hugs!
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I second what another sue said – get out of your own head and do something for someone else. That being said, I have heard of several people being in a funk of the “don’t wannas.” It seems to have hit rather hard after the New Year for a bunch of people, myself included. Push through, ask God renew your spirit and heart towards the things you’re feeling apathetic about, and continue pressing in towards Him. He will come through for you.
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Hang out with us and eat some Ambar this weekend.
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Force yourself to go into the kitchen and make a meatloaf…while the meatloaf is baking grab a bottle of bubbles from the kid’s toy box and go outside & blow a few bubbles…you’ll be glad you did!
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I say sometimes you just need to dwell in it a while. I think we learn a lot from God when we just allow ourselves to be present in our own feelings. I have been in the same state of mind as you before, and I think it’s more a situational depression than it is a sadness depression (if that makes any sense). Dealing with chronic pain does things to your psyche that you don’t understand until you’ve been there. God will take what you are going through right now and enable you to use it down the road… that’s my humble and completely unfounded opinion. And please know that I will keep you in my prayers!
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I know this might sound weird, but sometimes when I feel this way, I think it is seasonal affective disorder. I just need to feel warmth and sun, which is hard to find in the midwest in the winter, so I go to a tanning salon. Yes, something about the heat energizes me and renews me.
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MANCATION
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fake until you make it. I know it’s hard and you dont feel like it either, but we are creatures of habit and if you are able to pretend nothing is going on for a while you’ll return to your old self in no time. In the meantime, find something that you at least like to read about (when I’m down I look for cool recipes, even if I never cook them) to entertain yourself and write letters to noone talking about how you feel and what you want/need/expect/hate.
I do hope you get better soon so that I know you are in the same mood that listening to your church podcasts puts me in.
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Are you oppressed rather than depressed? Praying for you and your family. Love, Me
Not my quote……..”I discovered an astonishing truth: God is attracted to weakness. He can’t resist those who honestly and humbly admit how desperately they need him.” -Jim Cymbala (Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire)
“God never misses a single tear of the oppressed. He sees our suffering and knows the depth of our need. He anguishes, yet, He waits…..until the tears that have fallen on dry ground or upon the shoulders of others equally frail are poured instead before His throne. He waits – not until the oppressed cry out – but until we cry out to Him. Only then will we know the One and Only who redeems us.” – Beth Moore
Love, me
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I came to read the comments because I am in a funk too. So glad someone has some ideas. Thanks everyone.
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Take a vacation and make another baby.
Or at least a vacation.
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When I get like this (which I do often, because I’m frequently restless) I find that I just need something out of the ordinary – something different from my everyday routine – whether that be a day off, a short trip by myself, or ordering a different cup of coffee.
Hope you snap out of your funk soon.
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It’s so unusual to find someone in the God business willing to admit to what you’re feeling. So often, it’s swiftly negated, seen as something you’re not allowed to feel…whether because you come off as ungrateful (I won’t list your gifts except to say that your family is exquisitely beautiful to look at, so I can only guess what it’s like to know them) or because when you have God in your life, all you have to do is turn to that special book for all the answers you seek. Not saying that book ain’t a problem-solver at times, but that it was written by men who certainly experienced the same apathies, just weren’t evolved enough to put them into words.
Open your mind to the idea that your apathy could be steeped in depression, because the two are often inter-related. Also, you’re already on the path to better and have been for some time: http://www.thisisreverb.com/2010/11/faking-it-till-you-make-it.html. As a professional mood swinger with a medicinally controlled chemical imbalance, I can tell you that your own advice is sometimes the best step to sloughing off the funk monkey on your back. Make yourself do things, and ask yourself why you don’t feel like doing them, and when the answer is “I just don’t want to,” delve deeper. Don’t let yourself off the hook, because figuring out the whys of the funk can go a long way toward moving past it.
Patience is key…it’s also practically a bad word when you’re sitting where you are…last thing you want is to have to exercise patience…believe me, I’ve been there. So don’t exercise it, just keep it in the back of your mind, the little light at the end of the tunnel that reminds you that you won’t always feel like this.
Hope this helps…had to go psychological on ya, b/c I’m pagan and can’t point you toward any pertinent biblical passages. Sending healing energy.
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Allow yourself to ‘WALLOW’in your ‘FUNK’ for 24 more hours, whine/moan/complain/eat junk food/don’t shower.
Then get back on track & be the ‘BLESSING’ that you truly are! Everyone needs to rewind on occasion. Oh yeah avoid sweets/sugar for a few weeks, I have found an overload of sweet treats contribute to this FUNK condition…
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I dealt with a much longer funk. Or, perhaps it’s better stated as a 2+ year dearth of creative activity with intermittent burst of funk.
It started with a terrible break-up. While I didn’t find myself wallowing for those 2+ years, and moved through processing fairly quickly, I think the decision to “hunker down” and plow through it as internally as possible left me so pulled back and reserved that it’s taken forcible action to get the creative juices flowing again.
It was this blog post that finally got me to figure out what I was going to do: http://www.austinkleon.com/2010/09/28/punt/
I scaled it back to a once-a-week thing, made myself accountable to follow through, and made it a writing project for 2011. I’m three weeks in now. The first two weeks I was certain it was going to be a very long year. By week three, I could tell it was starting to actually have an impact. I’m starting to get my creative groove back.
Which I suppose ties in with what Melanie J. said, which was really what you said. I know it can feel difficult when you’re already in the throes of a funk to force yourself to action, especially in creative endeavors where we’re so used to letting inspiration be the motivating factor. But, the truth is, not only did you already have the answer in you, but those creative forces are a part of who you are, too. While it’s exceedingly more enjoyable to just let them flow, rather than trying to force them out at will, you have what it takes to make stuff – great stuff, even. And you do make great stuff. (I’ve been one of those lurking readers, failing to comment for far too long.)
Maybe it won’t all be great to start with. Maybe it will feel as smooth as sandpaper for awhile. But pressing on and through does seem to have an effect.
Whatever course you take, I hope you soon find yourself where you want to be.
Also, thank you for all you do here. You’ve impacted my life numerous times and I’m appreciative of it.
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Ryan. It’s as if you climbed into my head. I went through that too. I just came across some great vlog and blog posts that gave me a swift kick in the backside.
I just started writing my first book a couple days ago. I’ve written about 1300 words so far.
I blame the funk on the drugs I had to take for pain control and they gave me drain bramage. I’m doing a detox/cleaning of my system now. I replenished my vitamin supplements and other herbals I take.
I’m following a certain group of Christians who are doing a “one word” with scripture plan for the year. My one word is: “focus”. If you peruse my blog you’ll see some of my posts. I also post at:
http://awifesreflections.wordpress.com
Happy Thursday!
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it sounds to me like you are either oppressed or depressed… and with depression, you don’t have to be clinically depressed to have a depressed mood.. with oppression it’s not internal like depression, however the weight is still there, and you can feel apathetic, or a lack of desire to do things or even try, etc..
honestly, it sucks you got in a wreck doing what you love, and still feel the repercussions of it on a daily basis.. i think anyone would be in a funk.. i would start by asking God to show you what this is coming from..
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Drink More Coffee!
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http://writetodone.com/2010/06/28/201-ways-to-arouse-your-creativity/
did a post on this, helped me a lot.
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I am not a doctor.
But sometimes after a drastic shock to your system, it takes a good chunk of time to feel like yourself again.
I had cancer at 23. Chemo, radiation, surgery…it took a good year for me to feel like a human again, let alone feeling like “myself.”
Sucks that you are feeling so “blah” – I hope you find something out there that helps. And if anything else, time has helped me a lot.
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What if you really pressed in to God?
Pretend like you have a RAVENOUS spiritual appetite and pour into the Word and praise.
May break the funk, certainly will increase the appetite (“fake it til you make it,” like you said), at the very least you’ll have a bittersweet memory of this in the future and some great growth.
Pray for intimacy.
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When I’m in a creative funk, I like to try something new. Take a class, join a club, find a small obsession, and let someone else do the inspiring until I feel the creative juice flowing again. I find that looking at something from another’s perspective helps me see the world in a whole new light. Best of luck!
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Try something like NaNoWriMo- give yourself a goal and a deadline, and make yourself do it. NaNo always gets my creative juices going.
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Is it just me (speculating from far away), or were you in a funk BEFORE the accident? Like, maybe did it start when you went on the Compassion trip, followed closely by the Honduras trip? Could it be that your soul still needs time to recover and digest, etc?
What do I do when I’m in a funk? I get around people. And I see who will join me in getting out of the funk. Mainly thru exercise and corporate worship. Those definitely help me out of the funk. And maybe having some friends pray with me (accountability). Maybe getting away from distractions and have family time? date your wife time?
I guess only God knows what your soul needs. I’ll be praying for Him to fill you up!
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PS I think of you whenever I make Roasted Chicken, because this is one of the few recipes I get right, and it comes out SOOO good! Thank you! (I just made it last week.)
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Sometimes you just need to get away. Try taking your laptop, video camera, camera, book, whatever and go spend the night somewhere that inspires you. For me its lake tahoe I get a cheap room for 50 bucks, order pizza, and re group. I usually force my self to get out of the room for a couple hours to shoot photos and see nature. Your wife will thank you for being in a better mood when you get back!
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You need to get away. Break the cycle.
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I highly recommend a couple of days at a beach. The ocean always restoreths my soul…winter or summer.
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Personally I find that forcing myself to look out (at the majesty of the nature that surrounds us) rather than in (which is where the funk resides) helps a lot.
Also, not sure that I agree with Melanie J’s comment about biblical men not being ‘evolved’ enough to put their apathies into words. Kings Saul, David and Solomon all certainly had major funks and wrote about them quite well.
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Sometimes it takes awhile. if you can find someone who understands it helps the process go faster. My daughter is chronically ill and after each surgery (there have been many-I stopped counting) I hit a funk-this last one has lasted awhile. You cant just snap out of it-its not a choice. being with family-doing healthy helps, but time………time is what you need.
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Three things.
1. Write something every day. Do not stop to look at the quality simply write for the sake and exercise of stretching your lethargic mind.
2. Take a photo every day. But make it small and personal. Take a look at the tiny things that touch your life every day and make a record.
3. Walk in the sunshine whenever possible. Fresh air and sun can clear the mind of the cobwebs that can collect.
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Now is the winter of our discontent – being discontented is at least being something! I have been backing away from a chasm,precipice, danged scary high place dropping off to a dark low place – prayer, good chocolate, watching funny movies and music – listening to a LOT of music seems to be helping me – also telling someone else – oh yeah – you just told about a zillion people – good for you sweet boy – it is HARD to be in pain a long time – especially when you are the guy who does – does -does – hard to be the guy who isn’t doing. No help here I’m sure – but caring about you – honest – and will pray for you (not that “I’ll put you on my daily prayer list” euphemism for yeah right – I’ll pray as soon as I click enter here )
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Those who commented before me have given some great advice…so I don’t really know what I’d add.
Are you still on pain medication? I know that my Dad, when he spent a month in the hospital with some various health problems, had some real problems with the pain medication and it’s effect on his mental state.
Might be worth a convo with your doctor.
Hope you feel better soon, and start getting back to your old self. Lots of hugs.
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I got an idea. How about I come over there and kick your but. Funks have a shelf life of 2-3 days max so your way overdo for a but kicking.
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Abide.
Read John 15. You were made to be a fruit bearer.
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I have low-grade, chronic depression. And when I’m not receiving treatment for it, I feel *exactly* as you’ve described yourself. What has helped me is to treat it like the medical issue that it is; in my case, I need medication and, at times, counseling. For me, treating it as a spiritual issue or trying to motivate myself and “pull myself up by my bootstraps” just doesn’t solve the problem. I know you said you don’t think you’re depressed, and I hope this is just a funk, but you may want to consider if you really are depressed, just in a different way than you’ve experienced before.
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The answer is music.
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It may be related to season – my family doc said she gets way more patients for depression during winter months. Take the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D. You’re probably not getting enough of it. I supplement with it and I find it makes a big difference in my disposition in the winter.
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Fitness! Invest in a few sessions with a personal trainer, you’ll feel much better for it. Get the blood moving, oxygen flowing. Eat better, sleep better, all of it.
Also, crank the radio in your car and sing. LOUDLY.
Feel better, Ryan.
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Thank you Ryan for your honesty, for being so real. Thank you com-mentors – there is some great responses here. Getting away, giving to others, physical activity, music – all sounds good to me! January always has been the hardest time of year for me….today I will do something different to get out of my funk! Thanks everybody!
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Hi Ryan.
I did take up adult recreational soccer and it does help. It makes me forget everything for an hour or two which is a blessing at times. Check out sportsvite.com and see if any of the recreational sports pique your interest.
Im sorry to hear you are in a funk. I am in one too for awhile now. I am in ohio, same as you… Maybe its ohio thing?!
I am just hoping… when Spring finally comes, it will wake up my senses and make the funk go away. We will see.
I wish I had better answer for you.
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Let’s get this straight. You can look at your wife and those two kids and be apathetic? You’d better check yourself into a good treatment center! Just sayin’!
The suggestion that you’re reacting poorly to one or more pain meds is worth exploring.
Also, you might be a person who really struggles with admitting you might have been wrong and bullheaded about this whole motorcycle thing.
I know, I sound unkind, but desperate situations demand tough love and I’m at a loss for better solutions.
We’ll be praying for you and watching for regular postings which would be a sure indication that you’re out of the hole.
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Apathy…. A good word to describe what so many of us feel these days.
As usual Pastor Ryan you have articulated so well your feelings. I wish I had your talent with that.
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Aw, Ryan. I, too, am in a funk. Despite all my efforts, I’m having trouble with this one. Luckily, I get the benefit of blaming it on pregnancy hormones. So I have no good advice, but I can assure you that you’re far from alone. I tried going out today, getting some sunshine and exercise, and it just left me more convinced that I want to go back to bed and stare at the ceiling. Which is what I will now do, because I think sometimes our emotional health needs a reset, and taking some time to acknowledge our stresses and our grief will help us come out the other side.
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Oh Ryan, I have been there before. Now that you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, you will find your way out. I don’t know what you need to do to get out of it, everyone is different. I think maybe some “MAN” stuff would do you good. Maybe a good cigar. Read the Psalms.
I pray that the joy of the Lord fill you and it will be your strength!
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I just started reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (http://www.amazon.com/One-Thousand-Gifts-Fully-Right/dp/0310321913/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296260718&sr=8-1).
I think that keeping a list like she talks about – writing out the things in which you are grateful for – striving to get to one thousand (and more) – is an awesome way to focus on God and let Him do the work of getting you out of the funk. As I have been reading the book, I am surprised at just how many times scripture says that gratitude is the answer.
I have NEVER been able to pull myself out of a funk. I ALWAYS need God to do it for me, but when I’m in a funk, I don’t usually have the right perspective for that to happen.
I know you said you aren’t in the mood to read, and her writing may not be your style, but I HIGHLY recommend it.
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Everyone has such wonderful advice! I get in a funk every now and again and I try to force myself to get back into the swing of things. I feel like that tends to help me. Also, not sure how your winter has been but here in Connecticut, we have ridiculous amounts of snow and haven’t been getting much sun. So, get out there and hopefully some light and fresh air will help out. (I’ve been making myself go out for walks as well.) And of course, turn to God as I am sure you know. Good luck Ryan! You seem like a wonderful guy and I hope you snap out of it!
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I was on modified bed rest for years. I was 15 and being told I couldn’t do the things that I loved to do, sports mostly. I was in a deep funk because the things I loved to do I couldn’t. I wasn’t allowed to walk far distances, sit squat or kneel, climb stairs, run, play, surf, snowboard. NOTHING. I didn’t want to do anything. So I made myself do something. It was worse when I stayed home. So I went out. I supported my friends in what they did, tried new things I could do, and got out, even though I really didn’t want to. So be like Nike and “Just do it.” You may not have the urge to do the things that you once loved, but if you go do it you might find that you love it again!
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Pray.
Ask for Prayers.
Listen.
Cut yourself some slack.
Do something for 15 minutes. Then do something else.
Forgive yourself.
Forgive others.
Love yourself.
Love others.
Love.
Keep telling me it wins.
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This is what I wanted to say.
Except to add that when my four year old wakes up in a funk ( every other morning or so) I help snap her out of it by listing off things I or we are thankful for.
There’s so much bad and wrong, and you’ve marinated in plenty of it.
Maybe start making a habit of asking people to share with you or brainstorm for you what they’re thankful for. If a pastor or Christian friend did that for or with me? I would likely be blessed in return and think it was pretty cool. It usually helps my wee Emma go bouncing happily down to breakfast in the morning.
Otherwise make P-dub fly you back to the ranch for a week and cook for you.
What?
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is it one of those funks where your family asks ” whats wrong? ” ALL the time ?
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Exercise. Hate it myself but if the body isn’t feeling the love it’s hard to get the mind to. Spent a lot of last year just going through the motions, no reason, just felt tired and worn out mentally. Over ate a bit at Christmas so bought my first every fitness dvd. Bloody annoying DVD but it got me moving, then I started walking, started watching what I ate (as in I still eat as much as I ever did just careful of junk). There seemed to be a knock on effect. Feeling much better lately, wish I had more hours in the day. Back doing a bit of writing, back doing a bit of studying, a little less bad-tempered. Definitely the exercise. Doesn’t have to be a work out just something that fires up those cells without firing up the foot.
Oh and positive thinking, you can think yourself to happiness. Just keep telling yourself you’re happy and full of energy.
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put a rubber band around your head and SNAP it!
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I’ve been wondering about you, since you don’t post nearly as often as in days of yore.
Funkiness can definitely be a drag…I recommend Ann Voskamp’s book One Thousand Gifts. Seriously buy it!
I’m going to say a prayer for you; hang in there.
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Winter (on top of everything and anything else) can be a drag. You need some sun! Grab the wife and kiddos and head south until you find warmth and light! Once you get there you can pray the prayers, read the books, think the thoughts and hopefully get a handle on some perspective.
You are in my prayer
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I’m 47 and kids are 16 and 12, and I have lots of free time I never had at your stage. You’re in a really busy, hard, demanding stage of life. Lots of awesome things, but busy, hard and demanding.
- pray to arrive at the right fix on your own, or get help if it doesn’t seem to come
- getaway solo or with friends and get some nature (wife gets her turn in six months)
- return refreshed and consider seeing a counselor
- go easy on yourself, if it’s manageable, and know this too shall pass
- communicate with wife that you will get through this together
God Bless you Ryan.
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I was diagnosed with chronic thyroiditis a few months before your accident so brother i am totally with you on the apathetic funk. It was like i just didn’t give a damn; i couldn’t tell how much of the attitude was the actual illness, how much was side effects from the medication and how much was just bad attitude.
BLECH
Honestly, i had to just ride it out.
Now that you’ve verbalized that you are dissatisfied with your own dissatisfaction you can start to come back to yourself.
I spent some time thinking and writing about who i am, who i want to be, what relationships are important to me and what brought me joy in the past.
Then i made a plan – write in my journal, post to my blog, see friends, volunteer more and pray for strength.
One day i realized that i wasn’t just doing things because of the plan, but because i kinda wanted to do them. That made me smile. And my spark returned: tiny at first, but growing each day.
You’ll get there. Lots of people are pulling for you, praying for you.
You had to let yourself wallow for a while (little known fact, wallowing leads to apathy; really) and then you had to be in a funk for a while, but it is time to reclaim your RYANNESS.
Take a breath, whisper a prayer and do it.
I believe in you.
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I had that problem before Christmas and it was almost impossible to “do” Christmas. I found out I was having a reaction to a sinus drug I was taking. Check your medications. Hope this helps and you feel more yourself quickly.
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Have you heard of Paper Tongues? They’re a band, there’s nothing vulger about their music. I think they are or were a Christian Rock Band, but I could be wrong. Some songs are: Trinity, Get Higher, Love Like You, Ride to California, etc. Very Inspirational and Motivating! Check them out. I love ‘em!
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Would talk to your doctor about it. People dealing with chronic pain often benefit from outside help of various kinds–your doctor may refer you to a pain clinic, or if you are not in actual physical pain, an excellent, skilled counsellor may be of great benefit.
You give a lot to others all the time, but now you need to take care of yourself.
God bless.
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I know you don’t want to hear this but what you have described is almost text book depression. Even if you have experienced depression before each episode can be different, as in more or less severe. If you have been staying indoors with no vit D this could be a cause of your depression. I would talk to a dr asap.
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I work very strange, mostly overnight hours at a stressful job, and the combination of fighting my body’s natural patterns plus the loneliness of the schedule often leaves me in a funk. My husband pointed out one day that it’s okay to admit I feel the effects of it all. Now when I feel a funk come on, I usually give myself a set time frame to simply be in that place — almost wallowing, I suppose. But I try to think of the bigger picture and choose a realistic time frame: sometimes a day, sometimes just an hour or two. Then I just clear my mind and BE…and I usually end up feeling better before the time frame is even up.
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My eyes are dry
My faith is old
My heart is hard
My prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be
Alive to You and dead to me
But what can be done
For an old heart like mine
Soften it up
With oil and wine
The oil is You, Your Spirit of love
Please wash me anew
With the wine of Your Blood
Keith Green
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Go fishing needs to be on a boat go early before sunrise get coffee and donuts bring a close friend only one. Don’t look for the old you when a new you is just around the corner, different but still focused on GOD.
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All of the suggestions have validity. Just don’t neglect the physical health side of healing and Ohio winter weather….I see someone did mention Vitamin D….step one, rule out the physical with a checkup. Don’t rule out the healing process of time. Take a mental health day or two…mini sabbatical…let go and let God, listen to your soul, surround yourself with positive inspirational readings even in the simpliest forms and when you know it isn’t physical, the helping other works, but from reading you blog you do tend to do that to a fault…..so go back to you must take care of yourself to be able to take care of others. Exhaustion can lead to funk.
Live Simply, Love Generously
Care Deeply, Speak Kindly,
Leave the rest to God.
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ahh… now I know. somehow I had missed this post. all of the above are very good things. sunshine, exercise, service, gratitude, time. As you know, I’m in a similar situation now — trying to find purpose in this down time of three months off my feet. SO… how about our fams get together soon?? your little ones would like our dogs… you can cook (ok, I guess there’s a selfish motive there), greg can build a fire, I can teach the girls to knit… We love you, Ryan… and precious words from my dear mom…. THIS TOO SHALL PASS.
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i’ve been in a sort of funk, too, ever since my last knee surgery a year ago.
i’ve realized the power i gave my knee injury to suck the energy from my soul. i’ve felt broken, lame, separated from people because i’ve been stuck in this awkward phase of needing help to do the simple things and frustration with everyone babying me.
then, all of sudden, i went into a physical therapy session and was told that it was “time” for me to be better. even though my knee still hurt and the thought of any physical activity made my head spin, i was “supposed” to be healed.
there is no timeframe for healing. your body may be on its way to recovery, but i’d be willing to bet that you’ve spent more time in the past five months worrying about the pain than your condition your heart is in… satan is tricky that way.
rely on the Lord for your strength in this season of recovery and healing.
he’ll pull you out of the funk, but it will be in his time. his perfect time
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You should spend time with some people at the VA hospital.
Talk to them, give them a ride, listen to them, walk
with them, read to them, laugh with them, cry with them, sing with them, write letters for them, do whatever it takes to focus on someone in need. It’s not
about you. It’s about what you can do for someone else.
That’s where you become lifted to a higher plane. Call
today. Go there, asap! You would never regret it. And
I’m sorry, I didn’t have time to read all the other comments. I’ll come back! CYW
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Was looking at PW’s recipes and saw a link to this site. Just wanted to drop you a note even though I’ve never even heard of you before today.
The past several years I have not felt like myself, especially a couple months ago. Just felt like laying on the couch…didn’t care about cooking, gardening, etc. Husband would come home from work, and I would be crying—for no reason. All along I thought it was part of having babies and young children. I continued to function as I knew God would have me to, hoping that someday soon the feelings would return. And they did–after I got my low thyroid in-check. Wished I’d gone to the doc sooner!
All that to say, it’s very possible it’s something medical as others have suggested.
Psalm 42 has always been such a reassurance to me when I’m feeling blah or down. It reminds me that there were godly men who felt down at times…and they put their hope in God.
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”
And Psalm 62:8
“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”
I’ll be praying for you!
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Have a backwards day with your kids. Start your meal with dessert. End the day by getting dressed for bed in your “day time” clothes. Have a completely frivolous day, Mad Hatter style.
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Or, follow Ree on her new book trip. Go to each city and pretend you’ve never met her before.
(sorry, just being facetious)
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God for a jog. I know it must be freezing up where you are (it’s in the 60s here…), but I always find that running and praying while I run really helps me.
Maybe you could try taking your kids to a new place too (even if it’s a park or something like that). I always love seeing kids experience something new. Their excitement is contagious.
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Un-funk yourself! I miss you…
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Listen.
Maybe God is trying to talk to you. Is it possible he has ‘zapped’ you
Funny thought, so that you could be still and hear his still small voice? Maybe He needs you right now to crawl up in His lap and hear what He has to say to you.
In Christ,
Amber
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Pastor Ryan Chicken! That is enough to get you out of your funk! Go make a couple now. That and the fact that sooo many people look up to you and look forward to your inspirations. your friend via Pioneer Woman, Sherri
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Staci! Wow! God for a jog. I needed that. The cold has killed my running. I go out and try and seem to get further behind in my training. Sherri
p.s. I pray while I run also!
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Came back to see what other good advice was here. You’ve got a lot of wise friends and people that care about you (even strangers from blogland and fellow God lovers).
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Although this is prob not the healthiest, I stay in bed reading and listening to music and generally moping until I can’t bear it any longer and have to do something.
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My advice is to take your vitamins – Vitamin C & D, as well as fish oil supplements. Within a few days you might start noticing a difference in your attitude.
As for creativity – I’ve heard that creativity is like a muscle. If you stop using it, it’s harder to get back into it. So do something creative for half an hour a day, every day. Cooking, taking pics, drawing pictures with your daughter, whatever. You might have to force yourself at first, but soon you’ll start looking forward to it!
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Wish I knew.
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road trip!
get out there, either alone or with the fam…
take the back roads. stop for beef jerky at a sketchy looking gas station. listen to a new album. stay up way too late or wake up way too early. i always de-funktify by getting out of my element and seeing something new!
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your accident was a traumatic event – and i’m not just talking physically. it is completely normal to withdraw as your mind tries to respond to and process the stress.
however, if you feel completely unable to shake these feelings in a couple weeks, time to see a dr.
my suggestions for funk breaking – get your heart rate up. do something anonymously for someone else. find a song in another language that sounds good and listen until you memorize the words. write down all those recipes you just ‘know’ into a notebook. paint a room. repeat this mantra, “by the grace of God, i am healthy”.
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Lots of good advice — take any? let us know because we care..
Write down what you are thankful about.
Remember that surgery takes time to recover from physically & mentally, especially if they put you out completely – not a spinal block.
forgive yourself for your funkiness.
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Walk around your life singing “Our God is an awesome God, He reigns in….” and fill in the blank with wherever you are, or wherever you think He really needs to be at that point in time. Get some sleep. Make sure you and your precious wife spend some quality time btw the sheets (sorry for the bluntness to anyone offended). Force yourself to take a new photograph today – even just one. Then post it. Know we care – even if we are a bit anonymous.
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My uncle was a mountain man. He was also a school administrator, but he lived at the foot of a mountain and was a huntin’, fishin’, hikin’ kinda guy. He was also the go-to guy for anyone in need. His energy and love for people were bountiful. In his 60s, his life took an unexpected turn. An injury from childhood (a kick in the head by a horse [I am not making this up]) manifested into a debilitating illness. He no longer felt like himself, and, really, this was a new self. The three back steps into his house became a great physical challenge. He was a man of God, though, and his relationship with Christ was strong. Always had been. He felt let down, though, but said he thought God could handle his anger b/c that is the kind of relationship they had. His mantra became, “What is God teaching me from this?” One of the things he did was to write letters–the old fashioned way, with pen and paper–to people who had been important to him over his lifetime. My father was one. My father has been handicapped from childhood. My Uncle wrote of the even greater admiration he had for him now, knowing what handicapped meant. He wrote his sisters, he wrote his sons, and I’m assuming many others. I only know the words to my father, but assume these letters were full of thanks, praise, encouragement, and faith. My uncle shifted the focus from himself to others, and in the process found some comfort. These letter, I am quite sure, are all tucked away, to be pulled out and read again and again.
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Sounds to me like you need a Chiropractic adjustment!
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Dude, thanks for sharing. I am exactly where you are. On October 2, 2010 I crashed and broke my leg to bits. I swore then that the machines would go. Now I want nothing more than to ride again.
I am blaming my funk on the three months of limited mobility and bed rest. Every time I forced up the gumption to “get out there” my injury or pain would interfere. I also kept pushing it too far. My tiny little jokes of atrophied muscles were weaker than I had thought. This made for frustration and backwards progress.
I am trying to solve this by improving creativity in making unique walking staves. (I’m not normal enough for a cane) I have made lighted ones and spinning tops for the little kids to play with. Feelings really come from doings. (look at Genesis 4:6-7) If you DO ____ will you not Feel ____
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