Thanks for the responses. My visitors only stay a maximum of a couple hours right now... any longer & I do start to go into "flight" mode. But, I am very proud of myself for coming back this far.
As for leaving the housework: I'm OCD with my housework almost at the top of my obsessions, having a messy house would shoot me right through the roof! lol As well, I'd be REAL depressed looking at everything that I haven't 'puttered' (cleaned, tidied, organized, lined-up)
Back to the point. I'm thinking that maybe if I had forced myself to hop on my stationary bike, dance, or had a bubble-bath, I may have avoided that hangover effect.... I'll have to work it better, next time.
I think everyone lets the house work go a little when they have guests. I would try not to worry about it too much. In the long run what are you going to look back and remember? The great time you had with your family or the messy house that was left over? Try to keep things in perspective. If you still find you are experiencing stress you will need to make a plan. Perhaps get up a half an hour early to get a little cleaning in. Clean while their occupied or while talking to them. Either way do what works for you.
When my sons and their wives come home to visit, I use more energy trying to spend time with them that I wear myself out and then after they leave I get kinda down and that usually leads to an anxiety attack. Also, when they are here I kinda let the housework go so I don't waste the little time they are here and then when they're gone I have so much to catch up on and that makes me nervous. I have to find a happy medium to spending time with them and taking care of me and the other things.
It sounds like you had a wonderful day with your visitors!
This 'boomerang effect' could be for a number of reasons. Perhaps it could be because the time with your visitors was high-energy and afterwards, you felt tired or worn-out from the day's events. It could also be because you were preparing for this day in advance and after it was done, you felt a sense of completion that may have been accompanied by these feelings of being 'blahness.'
It is important to reward yourself when you make positive gains such as today with your visitors. This needs to be recognized and you deserve it! Have you thought about rewarding yourself for this behaviour? Any ideas in mind?
Members, has anyone ever experienced the 'boomerang effect' that Mica describes? What was this feeling like for you?
This morning I woke up knowing that visitors were coming within the hour. I got up had a coffee & smoke (I know, I know). I signed in here to do my preliminary diary entry, checked out facebook briefly; and then they were here. We had a pleasant visit for a lttle over an hour.
That's it. No Panic Attack! Sure I got fluttery and couldn't stop babbling, but I think I managed to look quite normal (for me).
Now here's the wierd thing: I felt great about my achievement (& so did my husband, btw), but after about 3 hours I started feeling sluggish & blah.
Is this like a "WOOHOO!!" Hangover or some-such? I also deal with depression so I'm getting good at figuring why I feel the way I do, but this is stumping me.
Any insight into this boomarang effect thingy would be appreciated.
Sure I got fluttery and couldn't stop babbling, but I think I managed to look quite normal (for me).
