Is there anything you specifically do to help your mental health that could also help others?
Do you do anything other than exercise, try to maintain a healthy diet, meditate etc?
With the way the world is right now, I think getting everyone’s opinions, thoughts or advice on what they do or try can go a long way to help others.
40 comments
1. I like to pamper myself. Either do my nails or do my skin care routine or put a nice outfit. If i visually see myself taking care of myself its helps emotionally care for myself.
2. I like to go out and talk to strangers at the pub or something.
3. I like to do the washing up. Its a little task that makes me feel like im at least doing something rather than stagnating and it helps me realise that it’s actually a 5 minute task not like 20 minutes like my brain thinks it is and then motivates me to do more.
Have a healthy work/life balance, once I clock off I don’t think about work until 8am the next day.
I like to go for a run, normally run between 2.5k and 5k with the bangin’ tunes on.
Then I’ll walk the 2.5k or 5k back listening to a chilled podcast or chilled music.
I used to box but that’s been out the window since I was injured at work a few years ago.
My partner and I go for big long walks and we talk about all the things on our mind and make little plans about how we’re going to tackle any issues.
Running. The combo of exercise and fresh air is amazing. Walking the dog also offers this, with the added mental health bonus of being with the dog. Tbh getting a dog has in general been very good for my mental health.
Also, seeing friends and family. Having social plans makes me happy, so I’m trying to be more proactive about that. Even if it means organising things months in advance, even just having the plans in the diary makes me happy.
I try and get early nights. My mental health is noticeably worse when tired.
One of the biggest positive impacts on my mental health is unfortunately unachievable for many: buying a home. I really underestimated what a positive impact that would have, and how much living in drab and insecure rental accommodation was getting me down.
I also did some CBT a few months ago, for a specific anxiety issue, which really, really helped.
I fill my time up with things to do (work, kids, cleaning, DIY, guitar, writing, exercise, football, etc). That’s about it.
If I have a depressed moment (which I do every few weeks or so), I just try and keep myself in the moment rather than in my thoughts.
I also tell myself nothing’s real and everything I’m experiencing is a load of sensory information most nights as part of my going to sleep routine. Keeps me focussed and wipes away the bullshit.
I’m generally happy.
Regular sleep pattern, Vitamin D suppliments in the winter, get trained on CBT techniques.. worst case use the Headspace app when stressed, or maybe resort to talking to my partner about my worries.
1. Shower everyday. I know it seems silly but I find that brain fog or the need to just curl up in bed goes away when I shower.
2. Try to do something around the house. It can feel daunting to think of cleaning a whole room. I try to at least clean the hob or something just as simple as wiping counters or tables. It motivates me to do more and I feel that a clean space uplifts my mood.
3. When it was just me I would have days I don’t feel like getting out of bed, just lay there skipping meals. Now I have a cat and I get up to feed him and then I’m like I’m in the kitchen anyway and fix myself something to eat. Then I get the energy to do something else.
Not worrying too much about what other people think and not being offended if anyone says something I disagree with, even if it’s personal. I just get on with life and work on things I can change, most other things are irrelevant.
I essentially spent 10 months in a constant panic attack last/this year. I did everything except medication (personal choice, no judgement) and finally got out of it. The main things that helped were: meditation, yoga, exercise, cut out caffeine, eating better, less alcohol and good sleep.
For me, the biggest thing was accepting that my physical symptoms were “just” anxiety. I was dizzy 24/7, which made me spiral even more. I went to the Drs so many times, and they kept telling me I was fine. Then, one day, I just believed them, and it clicked. Slowly, it started to stop, and now I’m back to my old self.
GO TO THE FUCKING GYM! I was really depressed a couple months ago, lifting heavy shit up and putting it down, while maintaining a good diet, drinking lots of water and walking has sorted me right out.
Walking, camping, kayaking, paddleboarding. Generally – being out in nature.
I know it’s such a cliche, but getting outside and spending time in nature does wonders for me. I try and be completely present in the moment when doing so, and take the time to really see and appreciate what’s around me. When I remember, I like to write in a diary the things I’ve seen and/or heard – animals, plants, interesting clouds etc.
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Swimming, journalling, diamond painting, colouring. The realisation that almost all of my hobbies involve helping my mental health…
Keep cats and smoke weed
Creating a routine I’d try and tick off everyday usually helps me when I know I’m going low again, usually comprises of the stuff you mentioned sadly, a workout, reading, meditation and doing my language lesson for the day (don’t ask why I chose to learn a new language) after the workout and cold shower the endorphins carry me anyway through the rest
Have nothing more to do with Arseholes in your life … includes family
I’ve stopped using Social Media. Pretty much reddit is the only thing I have now and i dont use it often.
Disconnecting from all the online-bullshit has helped me.
I recently started Adult Ballet classes – absolutely love how challenging it is both physically and mentally and how I am quickly progressing and making some new friends.
Take sickies. Fuck that place when I’m needing quiet time.
I only read the news once a week
Walk around my house and pick up everything that needs to be binned and put all washing in the basket. Doesn’t take long, not too much effort but makes my house seem tidier in turn making me feel slightly more relaxed
Take meds.
Drink water.
Eat well – low carb, low sugar.
Exercise – run, swim, walk, lift weights, gym.
Long drive, loud music.
Bath and listen to Ed sheeran, Beyonce, Adele. Cry.
Change my hair – cut/shave/dye it.
Do my nails/eyelashes /brows.
Crochet, play video games, paint – anything to get my mind working in a midly repetitive way.
Housework really helps, tidy house tidy mind.
Shopping used to be my biggest coping mechanism, never got into debt but it was definitely a problem.
Check out Andy’s Man Club. They are everywhere. You can just show up on Monday between 7pm and 9pm.
Sit around and talk. It is facilitator led and really relaxed. You can talk if you want to, but you don’t have to.
Turn off the news. Knowing about it changes not a single thing. Yes, you can’t join in discussions about terrifying shit going on in the world with work colleagues but I’m happier for it.
Read books. Go outside and find some good trees. Spend some time with a happy dog.
I cross stitch and keep off regular social media. Helps keep me sane I feel.
Sports. Not just gym but sports where there’s a game and something to compete for
I keep houseplants. I find it so good for my mental health just to spend some time tending to them, repotting, cleaning the leaves, pruning them, misting them. I find it very peaceful and an effective way to manage my anxiety.
With over 35 of them, I end up doing plant stuff everyday, I genuinely love how happy it makes me.
**Therapy.** (Unfortuately, my issues couldn’t be solved with just exercise, lol).
But also:
1. Eliminating most processed foods from my diet.
2. No caffeine (it’s not great for anxiety).
3. Making the majority of my vegan food from scratch.
4. Going to bed early.
5. Walking outside everyday.
6. 10 minutes of journalling daily.
7. 10 minutes of meditation daily.
8. 10 minutes of yoga daily.
9. Limiting news consumption.
10. Limiting phone use.
11. Keeping my house clean/clutter free/tidy.
12. Reading.
13. Taking part in our local community.
14. Creating more than I consume.
In my case it’s turned out I actually really do seem to need medication. I found out recently I’ve been living with diagnosed ADHD and also have been given an autism diagnosis and this is on top of an existing dyspraxia diagnosis and yeah I think in hindsight a lot of my mental health struggles have been due to ‘whoops you have ADHD’ and now I’m on meds it’s like ‘Oh ok this is what you’re meant to feel like’ like things aren’t perfect but it’s so far better since I’m not constantly fighting my brain as much.
But some non medical things I do
-Nature walks, also not just walking but taking time out to like sit under a tree or lay in grass and generally ‘ground’ yourself can help a lot
-Burning incense, doesn’t have to be a spiritual thing but for me I often find the smells pleasant and there’s a lot of different scents out there
-I don’t think I’ve quite unlocked how to mediate vs ‘sitting there with my eyes shut’ but yeah sometimes peacing out for a bit with your eyes shut helps
-Having spaces/people you can vent at (provided they are ok with you venting) and also can understand when you just want to vent vs offering advice
-I need to get back into it but I did draw a lot, creative things in general
-Cleaning, it can be hard to do if you aren’t feeling mentally amazing but yeah it helps
-Video games, for me I often prefer more open world rpg type ones and I have at points just ‘gone for a walk’ in Skyrim or something and it can help, also can’t deny sometimes you do just want to get out some frustration beating up virtual monsters
Sometimes I just give in and lie on the floor with my dogs and listen to really sad songs. I’m not talking sad lite like Adele, I mean proper sad like Leonard Cohen. Eventually I shake it off and go outside and sit somewhere green and let my dogs’ joy at being out lift me back up. TL:DR get a dog.
Cigarettes, beer and kebabs
Exercise, and lots of it.
I stopped taking mental health meds I was on and completely stopped drinking. I also got a legal cannabis script to help with unwinding at night , those all helped massively.
Then it’s just working on catching yourself from going in a rut or ruminating to limit it’s impact along with exercise etc I find doing things for others makes a huge difference to me, consciously trying to see the good in others in real life etc
Cocaine and ketamine usually.
Healthy diet and daily exercise has helped me out no end.
Take Vitamin B Supplements
For me going back to work has made a huge difference. I was a stay at home parent for a few years and that was fine whilst the children were young but towards the end, once they were older and in school, I really started to get in a bit of a rut and was not in a good place. My depression and anxiety was through the roof. I was also extremely anxious about returning to work, which made taking that next step harder. I eventually got myself a part time job to fit around the kids and my partners hours and since then I have been so much better in myself. I’m fortunate in that I really like my job and the people I work with, the difference it’s made in me has been really positive.
I still have bad days and weeks but going to work is actually like some sort of antidote for me. I feel incredibly lucky that that is the case as I’ve had jobs in the past which had the opposite effect and made my mental health worse, I didn’t think it was possible to not mind/actually enjoy working. It’s not some fancy job either and doesn’t exactly pay well but it’s not necessarily about that for me. It’s given me the structure and routine my brain craves that I seem incapable of implementing on my own, I get to work with some great people who I genuinely get along with.
Apart from that a lot of it comes down to the little things. Getting some tasks around the house done, tidying a room, getting the washing done as boring as these things are and as hard as it can be for me to actually get started, makes me feel much better in the long run and less overwhelmed and I feel like I’ve accomplished something. Sounds silly but I’ve always struggled to keep on top of house stuff even when I wasn’t working, so I feel good when I do get things done.
Self care also helps, playing video games, having a nice bubble bath etc. Like I said I still struggle and even now I’m going through a period where my anxiety is higher than usual, but that’s always going to be the case with me I think, I just have to find ways to cope with it. Also sometimes, it’s okay to allow yourself to wallow a bit, but you can’t wallow forever as nothing will ever get better. That was a hard lesson for me to learn.
I find drinking alcohol does the trick.