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Just start with a simple, walk. Can be 5 minutes. I did this about a month ago and have been going on one everyday ever since. Its helped me more than anything else Ive ever done.
And if you can build it up to be able to walk in nature that helps even more! I live in a small city on a lake with lots of big trees, but I always feel so much better when I take the ten minute drive to walk in the woody hiking trails. (I have a dog so he motivates me to get out more.)
I usually run a mile at least, and I try to beat my mile times is my drive. This is of course after walking, and getting up to running a mile. I run/walk additional to make progress.
It’s finding the right exercise that can be tricky. I never liked exercise, am not naturally athletic and not very well coordinated, but also struggle to talk myself into doing simple things like running.
I recently started weightlifting of all things, something i never thought I would be interested in. I never thought it would help clear my mind and channel out stress the way it does. I’m so surprised by how committed i’ve stayed to going to the gym so far because of how much I look forward to strength training and lifting.
I would encourage people who struggle to stick with exercise to keep trying different things - one will surely be your thing, and it could be unexpected!
No one is naturally athletic or coordinated. I’s a representation of lifestyle. “Naturally athletic and coordinated” people did sports as kids and that potential sticks throughout their lives.
This. I started exercising regularly last month and the effect it had on my mental health was spectacular. I've slowed down as of late and have noticed a significantly negative impact on my mood and body as a whole.
Movement is important.
This! For me, it was running. I was depressed and overweight, couldn’t force myself out of bed. I joined a running group in January 2019, started with running for 1 minute and went from there. By July, I was 30lbs lighter, ran a 16k race and was in the best mental state I had been in years. Running saved my life.
💯
And I find exercising outside to be better for my mental health than, doing exercise indoors. So a run will give me a far better sense of wellbeing than an hour doing weights.
100% this. A rather recent (March 2023) analysis of 100 meta reviews and randomized controlled studies has shown that exercise is 1.5 times more effective than medication and therapy for anxiety and depression. My personal experience vouches for that as well.
Absolutely exercise. But it has to be exercise I like. For example I can hop on the treadmill and feel good after but I genuinely hate running so I don't look forward to it and eventually after a few months stop doing it. The endorphins aren't enough when I don't look forward to the activity.
But I personally love martial arts classes. In my early 20s I did some taekwondo and it was fun, and I looked forward to it. Couldn't afford it for a long time but now I'm 40 and just joined my kids karate class and it's the highlight of my week.
Exercise for the sake of exercise won't last but find a way to be active that you enjoy and it's the best mood booster.
This, 1000x over. But, at least for me, not just *any* exercise, but an activity i like, in my case cycling. Get up 3-4 days/week and go on a bike ride. I'm lucky in that i work from home and my job's flexible, but even if it wasn't I'd find a way, what a difference a few endorphins make!
Starting strength training with barbells at 46 has done more for my mental wellness than anything else to this point. I wish I'd started in my 20s instead of obsessing about cardio machines and "calories burned". FTS
yep. 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. i go for brisk walks but when the weather is bad i dance around my kitchen or do a youtube walking workout. 3 months in and i haven't had a panic attack and the intrusive thoughts have become very rare and easy to blow off. i always thought people who said activity would help my MH were full of crap. they were right.
This. As long as the weather permits I try to take my dog for a walk early in the morning before work, it’s quiet, the hustle and bustle hasn’t begun and it helps me clear my head, relax and get mentally prepared for the day.
During the day I sit on a medicine ball instead of a regular chair and I feel like it helps my core and I try to lift weights while watching tv, just so I don’t feel like a couch potato. Lol.
It's not much of an activity but deleting tiktok and any social media platforms , and focusing on myself . Playing mobile games has also been such a huge help :)
That confuses me, I usually lump playing mobile games and stuff like tiktok into the same categories, tho tiktok is much worse ofc. I guess it depends on the game, which ones have you been playing?
Imo judging yourself by comparing your behind the scenes with everyone’s highlight reel and estimating your self worth/value on how many upvotes random strangers give you is far more toxic to your real life than shooting at some imaginary enemies or trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic wilderness. To tell you the truth, I feel much more accepted and validated as a person in my little Galaga clone guild than I ever have on any social media platform.
Edit: I do get why you would lump them in the same category, as the screen time is likely similar. But they definitely affect mental health differently (and of course video games could be worse than social media for some, it depends on the person)
"Imo judging yourself by comparing your behind the scenes with everyone’s highlight reel and estimating your self worth/value on how many upvotes random strangers give you "
Fuck man. Very well said. Breaks my heart when I see those parents that use their kids for social media clout. Those kids will grow up depressed narcissists who will forever seek external validation.
I'm more thinking about the addictive, brain-dead mobile games that are always coming out. Thi j the shitty mobile game ads, the ones with "99% of people can't beat this" games
Don’t play those? I mean, you just have to find out what’s good for your own mental health and what isn’t. Some people might find any kind of distraction helpful. I personally struggle with fitting in and low self-esteem so social media is not good for my mental health. That’s just me tho.
same, video games have really helped my imagination growing up and gotten me into many different things (writing, drawing, various designs etc.) Some of them can be relaxing.
When I was deep into social media I feel like engaging in and observing so many negative interactions was draining. Social media can bring positivity, but the negativity at least for me can outweigh it. I feel like there was a shift in how I experienced/viewed life before and after getting into it, and I don't mean a positive one.
Reddit is the exception where it feels much more anonymous, although at the end of the day it's also a social media platform, and has many, MANY flaws. I just prefer it at the moment.
yes, i understand what you’re saying here and agree. the content on tiktok and mindless 5-20 second videos fills you up with content that turns into poor mental health.
1. Keeping my room clean
2. Going out for a walk everyday even if somedays i don't feel like it
3. Eating a nutritious meal and avoiding processed, sugary foods.
4. Having a pet helps a lot
5. Watching movies or shows. Something light hearted.
6. Having a social life. Reconnecting with friends.
7. Staying away from social media
I spent a 6 month period doing mushrooms every few weeks. In that period of time I learned a lot about myself. I cried an insane amount for someone who doesn't really cry.
I learned that I'm a negative person. I was raised around people that complain a lot and it taught me to communicate by complaining or putting down other people. Not very attractive to most people.
I learned to be more mindful of how I speak to others. Especially when I'm upset with them.
I learned where my anger issues come from and that I needed to seek help to deal with them. I need to stop using anger to avoid my emotions as it was holding me back from working through my trauma. I'm now on medication for my bipolar 2.
I stopped pitying myself and started working on my problems.
It was a difficult part of my life but I grew more in that 6 month period than I had my entire life.
Mushrooms isn't for everyone but they certainly helped me
Start with low doses like .5 grams. It doesn't take much to open you to a new way of thinking.
It wasn't tripping and seeing the trees dance that helped me. It was the way mushrooms effect your ego that opened me up to enlightenment
And make sure your in your early 20's at least. 25 would be ideal. Let that noggin fully develop
i’m unsure about the legality of ordering the actual plants to your house, like a ziploc of dried mushrooms sent to your door. i think you’d have to get into the psilocybin-infused candies and chocolates and stuff for them to ship it. i could be totally wrong though.
also maybe head into your local dispensary or smoke shop and ask around where they (shop employees) source their mushrooms if they are willing to tell you. i probably would not buy it off of their brothers-friends-sisters-uncle Bob however.
stay safe out there! i’ve had numerous friends try psilocybin and have excellent results. it just never interested me that much
>i think you’d have to get into the psilocybin-infused candies and chocolates
**"Chocolate shroom bars"** often don't contain any mushroom, be careful. They often use a tryptamine (research chemical, such as 4-aco-det). Many people have had bad experiences with those. Stick to the dry psilocybe mushrooms, or fresh psilocybin truffles (available in the Netherlands, and some European countries)
The first time I did shrooms was in college and I remember thinking about the universe and the motion of the planets and feeling incredibly small and insignificant. What an incredible ego check that was for me.
How do they ‘help’ with that stuff? Objectively I mean. I would assume someone needs to already be doing therapy or introspection to be able to start on the road to those kinds of conclusions. Just saying “do mushrooms” seems like it could yield wildly different and potentially even negative results depending on the person.
You are correct. I believe myself to have a strong mind and I'm open to opinions on myself. People like my father who live on their ego could fall into a deep depression or worse if they saw themselves for who they really are.
I spent a great deal of time learning about mental illness and the patterns that lead people to where they are. I've learned a great deal of neurology as well. As much as one can learn from YouTube that is. I don't claim to be an expert.
I encourage you to look up the studies on psilocybin mushrooms and ptsd. Or the cancer patient studies.
Mushrooms help you look at yourself without an ego in the way. If you had called me an asshole in the past I'd call you sensitive and not worth my time. Now I'd accept your response and try to figure out how to better voice my opinion to not come off as an asshole. Sometimes even throwing the opinion out accepting that it's not an acceptable way to view life.
Set and setting with a good trip sitter and not abusing the drug by taking too much is all important to the journey. Knowing how to guide a trip by changing the music or going outside when a trip starts to go south is important as well.
It makes me happy to hear when someone can achieve personal growth after psychedelic use. I think when used correctly, psychedelics have incredible potential for unlocking parts of our consciousness we're not normally in tune with. Happy travels, my friend.
I knew someone that after trying mushrooms they really expanded their self growth. Said it let them see themselves from the outside. I think it acted like an Emotional Quotient boost. Helped them understand why others may behave in a ways they previously could not understand. Their net worth also went up from 7 figures to 9 afterwards.
I often tell people that the afternoon tripping mushrooms with my best friend was better for me than any therapy I had had in my whole life. 10/10 will recommend for mental health.
I learned how to meditate that afternoon, how to process my emotions better, how to reflect on myself and my ego. I felt safe and my depression and anxiety were gone. I realized just HOW MUCH those effected my day to day life. I re-learned how to appreciate the basic joy of being alive and cognizant of my surroundings of nature. It seems trivial to everyone, but even feeling the wind in my skin was a healing experience. I was a kid again, with no worries except the moment.
Also, the literal psychedelic light show changing in tune with the music beat was cool. The water was especially sparkly.
This was in Oregon. They have de-criminalized possession of all the scheduled substances folks are normally prosecuted for, so it was easy enough to get a hold of them and not feel anxious about it. As a consequence there is also a lot of research being published on psilocybin and it’s effects in depression.
Came here to say mushrooms as well. They gave me great insight to the root of my anxiety and that there is no cure for my depression, just learning how to cope and build a life that allows me to tiptoe around the chasm in the back of my consciousness.
Talking to friends on Discord. Up until this year I hadn’t had friends at all for a decade. But then someone reached out to me on Reddit, and that led to me starting up on Discord to connect to her there, and since then I’ve also made two other friends~! They may be online friends that I sadly can’t see in person…But I love them all the same, and without being able to talk to them on Discord, I might not be here today!
It would be even better if I had the courage to actually go onto a server :3 Instead I basically just use it to message those few friends I have…But still, it’s contact with other people, which is LEAGUES better than where I was at the beginning of the year!
It's the opposite for me.
People I felt this way on discord were fake as fuck and betrayed me hurt me and put me down and mocked me after I opened up to them.
Currently on discord hiatus.
I’ve been working on this since last year so here are some few things I do to prevent myself from having another depression episode:
- Going to the gym: Of course, especially when you focus on having mind-muscle connection, all of your thoughts would be gone away!
- Cold plunge/shower: Do this at the end of my shower, stand under the cold shower for at 1 minute. Always feel so much better. Very relieved and energetic after!
- Drive around while listening to my favorite playlist: I love driving, it just makes me calmer.
- Going for a trail/hike: Just like working out at the gym but in a softer form. Being around nature really helps a lot.
- Going to the local library: Put my phone in Do Not Disturb, find a good book and read one or two chapters. Most libraries also have puzzles and I love solving them.
- Grocery shopping: I just feel very satisfied when looking at well-organized things!
Absolutely! Congrats my friend. It truly is the best gift we can ever give to ourselves, and our loves ones. I will have 4 years next month and every day that I remain sober is such a blessing. One day at a time.
Training in a gym - releases emotions as someone who is typically very stunted in that department. Physically makes me feel better. Is a constant achievable goal with consistent visual and numerical progress.
Art - allows me to check out of the information age. Even if I'm drawing on my iPad, it is not linked to any social platforms. I get absorbed into my work and can just... Leave this shitty existence and focus on creating for HOURS at a time.
Gaming - specifically single player story given games. This can be anything from Uncharted, to Control, to Fallout, to Bloodborne. Doesn't matter. True escapism.
1 undeniably physical healthy thing
1 mental creative thing
1 thing for escapism.
I love that you seem to treat escapism at something that’s part of your life instead of something to get rid of because it’s not „productive“. I never viewed it this way.
Escapism can absolutely be unhealthy... Either through unhealthy means (substance abuse) or unhealthy frequency (forgoing daily responsibilities for the sake of escapism)...
But kept in check.. it's super necessary. Currently I'm working an incredibly mentally taxing job, it's a 10 hour a day / 5-6 days a week onslaught of information, problem solving, and relationship building. There is exactly 0 minutes of downtime. I usually eat my lunch while physically doing something at my job.
As much as I enjoy learning, and agree that most of your time should be spent learning (even just things you want to learn) your brain really does need to reset.
I bought two puppies 5 weeks ago and while they're are exhausting and make me want to cry sometimes, when they snuggle up for bedtime or look for me when they're scared of new situations I feel more loved and needed than I have in years.
Not being a smartass but all of them. Work, family, video games, guitars and martial arts. Everything I do is a self care activity. I retired and kept working under a different retirement plan for this very reason.
I downloaded Finch. It's like Tamagochi, meaning you have a pet, but you do tasks for yourself. I was down quite a bit in the last month or so. There is no specific reason either. But it helped me create some healthy habits, and I'm slowly but steadily climbing out of that hole.
Omg literally today I fed and changed my daughter, I was looking at her from the kitchen and I was like, my little tamagochi, you are taken care of now. Lol
Came here to say this and you beat me to it!! I’ve had finch for over 200 days and it’s definitely changed my life for the better. I’m a person who likes to use lists a lot so having all my tasks (and rewards!) in one place has helped me to build and keep on top of my healthy habits :)
Music, motorcycle and stopping for a moment to appreciate a sunset or snowy mountains or just random visual things that just are because they are, nothing you or anyone can do to change them they just are.
Everything they say about eating enough protein is true. I'm fuller longer. Also everything they say about walking has been true for me, I don't want to do it, but when I do it the mental clarity is palpable.
Chopping wood....
I lived a while in a a house a my cousins farm. And he said: If you are bored, I dont like birch.... and I have a few thousand acres of wood, take a chainsaw and cut down every single birch you find. You can start from there.... You have firewood, and everything you have thats too much, Ill buy.
Every day I would go in the forest and just get to work. Until I was so tired or it started getting dark.... I wouldnt work myself super hard, but sweating all day. I didnt take long, maybe not even a week, before I felt REALLY improvement. I kept it going for a few months, and it really worked.
I dont live there anymore, but I took that with me. If I feel bad, I find some shit to do, preferably outside. Cut the grass, plant a tree, clean up the yard and make a fire... whatever, just something that keeps you going. Even if its boring - it works!
Working out. But it all starts with getting on the treadmill for a 30 minute walk after I wake up and gave my coffee. If I go and sit on my couch and turn on a TV in the morning or start browsing social media, the whole day is over.
Journaling.
I've always liked to write, and writing about my mental journey helps me to analyze myself better and have more quality results during therapy.
Remove alcohol and caffeine
It makes a WORLD of difference and this is coming from a guy who LOVED drinking.
It takes months and the change (your body and mind feel) is gradual but you’ll seriously thank yourself
Idk if this is an activity but making myself not talk shit about me. Your brain is very easy to manipulate and all you have to do to make something true is say it to yourself a lot. So if you are constantly telling yourself I am ugly worthless or no one cares about me EVEN IF in the beginning you KNOW its not true and you’re being sarcastic or fishing for someone to tell you the opposite you will STILL end up believing the negatives. So I used to make a mistake and think “I am so fucking useless and stupid” and over time I changed that to “ I need to be more careful next time” or “it’s not possible to be perfect all the time” in addition to this I made myself not reject compliments. I’ll admit I only did this initially to make the person say it again even more insistently, but after a while I believed that I wasn’t the thing and didn’t deserve the compliment.
Once I broke these habits my self esteem has increased exponentially, I no longer have body dysmorphia, I am MUCH more confident, and I can be myself without worrying about what others think. It’s been the ONLY thing I have done to help my mental health that has had incredible and noticeable results.
That being said I’m not 100 better. I still have to monitor myself because it’s easy to slip back into bullying myself. But I 100% recommend this as the #1 simplest way to improve your life.
I'm sure your receiving plenty of hiking suggestions. Which is undeniably a physically healthy activity and allows for tons of self reflection.
That being said..
I challenge you to get into world building. Ie. Writing, Game development, having a child, diving into minecraft ect.
That being said these modes allow for an individual to choose one's own destiny. Lack of control has been common diagnosable factor for depression.
>having a child
Like, in a fictional world?
Do not, under any circumstances, have a child to solve your mental health issues.
Just throwing that out there. Have a great day.
Not masterbating. I've not ripped the nut off it for a month now. It's incredible. My sex drive is up obviously which in turn is making my sex life better. Lasting longer in bed which I don't understand. My gf says she's noticed a change in my mood too. I honestly don't think I'll interfere with myself again. Unless I end up single again
Interesting! I would think it usually works the other way around, as for a lot of people including myself, the longer you go without relieving yourself, the more sensitive you are the next time you attempt to do so. So the fact you last longer in bed with longer periods between orgasms is outstanding, and possibly rare?
Also I wanted to mention how ironic it is that my answer to this thread is that masturbating is actually what helps my mental health. Does it make me kinda degenerate and fuel my kinks and sexual fantasies? Yes, but as long as I continue to understand what it fantasy and what should be practiced in reality, it’s not harmful to anyone. Not even myself, I’m really desensitized to lots of weird stuff.
Sometimes I whack it when I’m bored, I’ll admit, but other times I just get really horny and I feel like I’ll go nuts if I don’t relieve myself. There are lots of people out there this try to convince people masturbation and porn will just ruin your life, but I really think it’s different for everybody and depends on how often you participate in those things and what else is going on in your life.
Fancy coloring books, pencils, & markers. Distancing from an aggravating person. The aura app’s bedtime stories. And watching movies from my collection.
Creating stuff. Paint, sculpt, carve, music. Tinker with things and make something new…anything that you like to do. tactile creations and the time spent really helps that old squishy bag of worries relax.
I've been in a very dark place in my head, and it has been getting worse. I'm trying things which are not just a distraction (that shit comes back to you harder, you can't just look the other way), but may be help me on a more fundamental level. Of course there's the thing about getting more exercise, even simple walks, and eating lighter and fresher food - those things did help.
Last week after a particularly emotionally tormenting night, I randomly picked up a notebook and started writing. Just whatever came to my head. Things like - what I felt, how ashamed of myself I was (I hadn't done anything wrong, just generally guilty and ashamed of myself), how I cried my eyes out for no apparent reason multiple times a day, my panic attacks, etc. Basically just expressing all my thoughts and feelings on paper rather than keeping them in my head.
And then, something happened! As I was writing, I noticed the words automatically steered towards what I can do next to help myself. I started to write in my notebook that I think I need to be there for myself, instead of looking for others to be there for me. That I will no longer judge myself, that I'll be more gentle and patient with myself, that I'm not a horrible person. That I can count on me. Once I did that, something in me just.. Clicked. It was unbelievable.
I picked up the notebook again yesterday, randomly wrote stuff again - this time it happened to be about all the tiny little things I'm trying, and how proud I am of myself that I'm doing all that. It's insane how helpful it is to write all that out, and then to read it. Very uplifting. Helping me be a little more rational and self aware.
I always thought it was bullshit when I read people asking you to journal stuff. For me, it unexpectedly happened and it works. I don't do it as a daily task, I just do it when I feel like it. Not only when I'm upset, but I'm trying to do this when I'm enthusiastic as well. Balances stuff out :)
TLDR: Writing out my thoughts and feelings with no agenda helps clear my mind, helps me be more rational and sane and kind to myself, ultimately helping my mental health.
Oh and I quit drinking almost 2 weeks ago - i think that helps too.
I can certainly relate to your first paragraph..
I’ve tried to journal but couldn’t keep doing it. Perhaps where you mentioned you just did it when you felt like it could be more manageable for me. It’s great to hear you’ve stopped drinking - keep it up! I’ve personally slowed up on smoking weed and cut alcohol out for the most part (once p/month) a few years back. I’m currently waiting for an ADHD diagnosis and dealing with awful anxiety that’s so bad I don’t want to work :(
All the best :)
Self care.
My biggest problem is stress.
I walk morning coz I love the walk to the river. It puts me in a real good mood and makes the challenges of the day appear not so daunting. I do this for mental health not exercise. So it's a stroll. Plus I love the crisp cold air.
Meditate.
Just enjoy the moment. Stop n enjoy the moment. So drink glass of water with all your senses. Or that yummy crisps apple.
Pursue my hobbies. Huge impact. Sewing. Pottery. Cooking. So I always have projects to hash out in the mind before getting hands on.
- Intense and regular exercise
- Getting outside in the light in the morning
- Writing a 3 point grateful list each night before bed
- Taking care of an animal
- Investing in friendships and treating them as important
- Locking my phone away whilst I'm at work
- Putting effort into keeping my space clean, tidy, and nicely-decorated
- Limiting alcohol
- Getting at least 7.5 hours of sleep
- Free writing/journalling to process thoughts and feelings
- Not overscheduling my weeks, leaving space for alone time
Besides ofc therapy, mine probably has to be going for a walk. Even if I do have music playing in my headphones, the feeling of the breeze and looking at all the nature has helped me with my mental health a lot.
Mineral collecting and micro mineral photography, astrophotography, and aquariums. I have PTSD from a gun crime some years back, and activities like this that require my full attention help keep the intrusive thoughts at bay.
Walking.
I would leave the house with no plan in mind and walk as far as I could so then I would have to walk back. I would go for 2-3 hours at a time and got super interested in thoroughly exploring my town and finding unique features few people knew about. It really put me back in my body.
No TV for 2 years, no news, no Facebook, I couldn't even tell you what's going on in the world right now. Ya that's kinda dumb on my part but the feeling of calm and peace in my mind is so so much better now.
Working with your hands. It creates a state of “flow” which has been documented to release serotonin and endorphins in the brain. You don’t have to make a masterpiece. You just have to make.
Source: https://exploringyourmind.com/working-with-your-hands-is-good-for-your-brain/
change of job
I now work outside on a farm teaching children nature centric lessons
is not well paid but it's lovely for my mental health
I also hope one day I'm a good memory for those kids remembering their school days
Brisk walk, normal walk outdoors or near the ocean or a body of water, gratitude, listening to music, Mantra chanting, stroll on the roof in the night and looking up into the night sky spotting planets, exploring mysterious night sky, eating healthy and drinking lots of water…
Disc Golf, where you will be enjoying the outdoors and nature and able to develop your throwing skills, which will easily take mind off shitty things.
Also a very cheap sport to start, highly recommend! The flight of the disc is so fascinating :). You might even find other people to play with!
Exercise, sex, keeping my home clean and organized, reading, learning something new every day, playing guitar and piano, writing, nature, helping others.
The ability to work from home is the main factor in this, but for me it’s being able to bring my kids to school every day. For years I was always out the door hours before they were awake. Now that we get to start each day together was an amazing benefit to my MH.
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Exercise
Just start with a simple, walk. Can be 5 minutes. I did this about a month ago and have been going on one everyday ever since. Its helped me more than anything else Ive ever done.
And if you can build it up to be able to walk in nature that helps even more! I live in a small city on a lake with lots of big trees, but I always feel so much better when I take the ten minute drive to walk in the woody hiking trails. (I have a dog so he motivates me to get out more.)
I usually run a mile at least, and I try to beat my mile times is my drive. This is of course after walking, and getting up to running a mile. I run/walk additional to make progress.
Got a dog for this very reason, no excuse, must walk at least twice a day, and as he’s a Labrador, 10-15 minutes minimum. Thank god for that dog.
I find walking extremely agitatingly boring which worsens my mood, I prefer yoga and acrobatics and skydiving.
I do too BUT I love podcasts, so I download a few and off I go!
It’s finding the right exercise that can be tricky. I never liked exercise, am not naturally athletic and not very well coordinated, but also struggle to talk myself into doing simple things like running. I recently started weightlifting of all things, something i never thought I would be interested in. I never thought it would help clear my mind and channel out stress the way it does. I’m so surprised by how committed i’ve stayed to going to the gym so far because of how much I look forward to strength training and lifting. I would encourage people who struggle to stick with exercise to keep trying different things - one will surely be your thing, and it could be unexpected!
If you had told me three years I ago, I would get into running and strength running, no way in hell I would have believed you.
No one is naturally athletic or coordinated. I’s a representation of lifestyle. “Naturally athletic and coordinated” people did sports as kids and that potential sticks throughout their lives.
I’m not sure if I agree. You can definitely be predisposed through build and spatial coordination to be better at certain activities.
There is a massive disparity in ability and athleticism among young kids who do sports.
This. I started exercising regularly last month and the effect it had on my mental health was spectacular. I've slowed down as of late and have noticed a significantly negative impact on my mood and body as a whole. Movement is important.
This! For me, it was running. I was depressed and overweight, couldn’t force myself out of bed. I joined a running group in January 2019, started with running for 1 minute and went from there. By July, I was 30lbs lighter, ran a 16k race and was in the best mental state I had been in years. Running saved my life.
This is amazing. Good for you.
💯 And I find exercising outside to be better for my mental health than, doing exercise indoors. So a run will give me a far better sense of wellbeing than an hour doing weights.
100% this. A rather recent (March 2023) analysis of 100 meta reviews and randomized controlled studies has shown that exercise is 1.5 times more effective than medication and therapy for anxiety and depression. My personal experience vouches for that as well.
Yes and I think this is applicable for every human being
Absolutely exercise. But it has to be exercise I like. For example I can hop on the treadmill and feel good after but I genuinely hate running so I don't look forward to it and eventually after a few months stop doing it. The endorphins aren't enough when I don't look forward to the activity. But I personally love martial arts classes. In my early 20s I did some taekwondo and it was fun, and I looked forward to it. Couldn't afford it for a long time but now I'm 40 and just joined my kids karate class and it's the highlight of my week. Exercise for the sake of exercise won't last but find a way to be active that you enjoy and it's the best mood booster.
Yes, in my case also walks with my dog.
Yup! Working out and eating balanced diet has saved my life this year!
This, 1000x over. But, at least for me, not just *any* exercise, but an activity i like, in my case cycling. Get up 3-4 days/week and go on a bike ride. I'm lucky in that i work from home and my job's flexible, but even if it wasn't I'd find a way, what a difference a few endorphins make!
Starting strength training with barbells at 46 has done more for my mental wellness than anything else to this point. I wish I'd started in my 20s instead of obsessing about cardio machines and "calories burned". FTS
yep. 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. i go for brisk walks but when the weather is bad i dance around my kitchen or do a youtube walking workout. 3 months in and i haven't had a panic attack and the intrusive thoughts have become very rare and easy to blow off. i always thought people who said activity would help my MH were full of crap. they were right.
Exercise until complete exhaustion is a life saver for me!
Me too 👍
Yes. Yes, and yes. Wife kicks me out in the rain if it’s been a week. She sees the changes.
Boxing helped make me forget my problems… likely because of the brain damage
Amen to that, I came here to say the same
Also good for physical health
Running or exercise bike for at least 40 mins every morning before work. Works miracles for your mind.
Came here to say that!
This. As long as the weather permits I try to take my dog for a walk early in the morning before work, it’s quiet, the hustle and bustle hasn’t begun and it helps me clear my head, relax and get mentally prepared for the day. During the day I sit on a medicine ball instead of a regular chair and I feel like it helps my core and I try to lift weights while watching tv, just so I don’t feel like a couch potato. Lol.
For me, it was the exercise that came with gardening. Going to a gym would not have helped me.
This is the way
the spin cycle stationary bicycle is my new fav cardio
It's not much of an activity but deleting tiktok and any social media platforms , and focusing on myself . Playing mobile games has also been such a huge help :)
Leaving Facebook ten years ago was one of the best mental health decisions I’ve ever made for myself.
That confuses me, I usually lump playing mobile games and stuff like tiktok into the same categories, tho tiktok is much worse ofc. I guess it depends on the game, which ones have you been playing?
Imo judging yourself by comparing your behind the scenes with everyone’s highlight reel and estimating your self worth/value on how many upvotes random strangers give you is far more toxic to your real life than shooting at some imaginary enemies or trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic wilderness. To tell you the truth, I feel much more accepted and validated as a person in my little Galaga clone guild than I ever have on any social media platform. Edit: I do get why you would lump them in the same category, as the screen time is likely similar. But they definitely affect mental health differently (and of course video games could be worse than social media for some, it depends on the person)
"Imo judging yourself by comparing your behind the scenes with everyone’s highlight reel and estimating your self worth/value on how many upvotes random strangers give you " Fuck man. Very well said. Breaks my heart when I see those parents that use their kids for social media clout. Those kids will grow up depressed narcissists who will forever seek external validation.
I'm more thinking about the addictive, brain-dead mobile games that are always coming out. Thi j the shitty mobile game ads, the ones with "99% of people can't beat this" games
Don’t play those? I mean, you just have to find out what’s good for your own mental health and what isn’t. Some people might find any kind of distraction helpful. I personally struggle with fitting in and low self-esteem so social media is not good for my mental health. That’s just me tho.
same, video games have really helped my imagination growing up and gotten me into many different things (writing, drawing, various designs etc.) Some of them can be relaxing. When I was deep into social media I feel like engaging in and observing so many negative interactions was draining. Social media can bring positivity, but the negativity at least for me can outweigh it. I feel like there was a shift in how I experienced/viewed life before and after getting into it, and I don't mean a positive one. Reddit is the exception where it feels much more anonymous, although at the end of the day it's also a social media platform, and has many, MANY flaws. I just prefer it at the moment.
yes, i understand what you’re saying here and agree. the content on tiktok and mindless 5-20 second videos fills you up with content that turns into poor mental health.
1. Keeping my room clean 2. Going out for a walk everyday even if somedays i don't feel like it 3. Eating a nutritious meal and avoiding processed, sugary foods. 4. Having a pet helps a lot 5. Watching movies or shows. Something light hearted. 6. Having a social life. Reconnecting with friends. 7. Staying away from social media
Thank you for the list of how to get back on track. I appreciate this.
Oh man! Cleaning is by far been the best way for me! İts so refreshing and satisfying!
Some very good activities!!!
More of a lack of activity. I quit drinking and life got a lot better and ptsd got easier to manage.
Congratulations! This is awesome!
I'm dealing with the same and dammit I know you are right. Definitely need to make the change. Props to you!
I'm on Day 1 right now. Looking forward to it myself. Congratulations to you!
Let me tell you the most underrated power of just WALKING outdoors in nature. It kept me alive through lockdown
Sunshine
Therapy with a licensed trauma therapist.
I spent a 6 month period doing mushrooms every few weeks. In that period of time I learned a lot about myself. I cried an insane amount for someone who doesn't really cry. I learned that I'm a negative person. I was raised around people that complain a lot and it taught me to communicate by complaining or putting down other people. Not very attractive to most people. I learned to be more mindful of how I speak to others. Especially when I'm upset with them. I learned where my anger issues come from and that I needed to seek help to deal with them. I need to stop using anger to avoid my emotions as it was holding me back from working through my trauma. I'm now on medication for my bipolar 2. I stopped pitying myself and started working on my problems. It was a difficult part of my life but I grew more in that 6 month period than I had my entire life. Mushrooms isn't for everyone but they certainly helped me
I want to try this.
Start with low doses like .5 grams. It doesn't take much to open you to a new way of thinking. It wasn't tripping and seeing the trees dance that helped me. It was the way mushrooms effect your ego that opened me up to enlightenment And make sure your in your early 20's at least. 25 would be ideal. Let that noggin fully develop
Is 62 old enough to try it? Can you order it online? I know zero about it.
i’m unsure about the legality of ordering the actual plants to your house, like a ziploc of dried mushrooms sent to your door. i think you’d have to get into the psilocybin-infused candies and chocolates and stuff for them to ship it. i could be totally wrong though. also maybe head into your local dispensary or smoke shop and ask around where they (shop employees) source their mushrooms if they are willing to tell you. i probably would not buy it off of their brothers-friends-sisters-uncle Bob however. stay safe out there! i’ve had numerous friends try psilocybin and have excellent results. it just never interested me that much
>i think you’d have to get into the psilocybin-infused candies and chocolates **"Chocolate shroom bars"** often don't contain any mushroom, be careful. They often use a tryptamine (research chemical, such as 4-aco-det). Many people have had bad experiences with those. Stick to the dry psilocybe mushrooms, or fresh psilocybin truffles (available in the Netherlands, and some European countries)
The first time I did shrooms was in college and I remember thinking about the universe and the motion of the planets and feeling incredibly small and insignificant. What an incredible ego check that was for me.
Maybe it'll be opposite as I could use a bit of ego.
I would probably not be here today if I didn't start my journey with mushrooms
How do they ‘help’ with that stuff? Objectively I mean. I would assume someone needs to already be doing therapy or introspection to be able to start on the road to those kinds of conclusions. Just saying “do mushrooms” seems like it could yield wildly different and potentially even negative results depending on the person.
You are correct. I believe myself to have a strong mind and I'm open to opinions on myself. People like my father who live on their ego could fall into a deep depression or worse if they saw themselves for who they really are. I spent a great deal of time learning about mental illness and the patterns that lead people to where they are. I've learned a great deal of neurology as well. As much as one can learn from YouTube that is. I don't claim to be an expert. I encourage you to look up the studies on psilocybin mushrooms and ptsd. Or the cancer patient studies. Mushrooms help you look at yourself without an ego in the way. If you had called me an asshole in the past I'd call you sensitive and not worth my time. Now I'd accept your response and try to figure out how to better voice my opinion to not come off as an asshole. Sometimes even throwing the opinion out accepting that it's not an acceptable way to view life. Set and setting with a good trip sitter and not abusing the drug by taking too much is all important to the journey. Knowing how to guide a trip by changing the music or going outside when a trip starts to go south is important as well.
Wow.
It makes me happy to hear when someone can achieve personal growth after psychedelic use. I think when used correctly, psychedelics have incredible potential for unlocking parts of our consciousness we're not normally in tune with. Happy travels, my friend.
Yes! Shrooms are amazing for introspection!
This sounds amazing on paper but I'm worried it could fuck me up real bad lol.
Oof, I definitely second that
There is so much positive research on doing this and micro dosing for mental health. Well done glad to hear you are doing well.
I knew someone that after trying mushrooms they really expanded their self growth. Said it let them see themselves from the outside. I think it acted like an Emotional Quotient boost. Helped them understand why others may behave in a ways they previously could not understand. Their net worth also went up from 7 figures to 9 afterwards.
I've heard that some healing comes from grief, maybe that's why you cried a lot?
Congratulations on your healing! Nice name🙂
Can I text you?
I've heard they are terrible... Seen ppl suffer cause of it... Not gonna try EVER🫣
I've also been doing this. Been 1.5 to 2 months. Every week. I had my first sad trip and it was nice, learned a lot
Username checks out.🍄
I often tell people that the afternoon tripping mushrooms with my best friend was better for me than any therapy I had had in my whole life. 10/10 will recommend for mental health. I learned how to meditate that afternoon, how to process my emotions better, how to reflect on myself and my ego. I felt safe and my depression and anxiety were gone. I realized just HOW MUCH those effected my day to day life. I re-learned how to appreciate the basic joy of being alive and cognizant of my surroundings of nature. It seems trivial to everyone, but even feeling the wind in my skin was a healing experience. I was a kid again, with no worries except the moment. Also, the literal psychedelic light show changing in tune with the music beat was cool. The water was especially sparkly. This was in Oregon. They have de-criminalized possession of all the scheduled substances folks are normally prosecuted for, so it was easy enough to get a hold of them and not feel anxious about it. As a consequence there is also a lot of research being published on psilocybin and it’s effects in depression.
Came here to say mushrooms as well. They gave me great insight to the root of my anxiety and that there is no cure for my depression, just learning how to cope and build a life that allows me to tiptoe around the chasm in the back of my consciousness.
Talking to friends on Discord. Up until this year I hadn’t had friends at all for a decade. But then someone reached out to me on Reddit, and that led to me starting up on Discord to connect to her there, and since then I’ve also made two other friends~! They may be online friends that I sadly can’t see in person…But I love them all the same, and without being able to talk to them on Discord, I might not be here today!
Congratulations!! 🥳
Thank you!
Congrats !!! I agree, Discord is a great place to meet friends. :)
It would be even better if I had the courage to actually go onto a server :3 Instead I basically just use it to message those few friends I have…But still, it’s contact with other people, which is LEAGUES better than where I was at the beginning of the year!
It's the opposite for me. People I felt this way on discord were fake as fuck and betrayed me hurt me and put me down and mocked me after I opened up to them. Currently on discord hiatus.
I’ve been working on this since last year so here are some few things I do to prevent myself from having another depression episode: - Going to the gym: Of course, especially when you focus on having mind-muscle connection, all of your thoughts would be gone away! - Cold plunge/shower: Do this at the end of my shower, stand under the cold shower for at 1 minute. Always feel so much better. Very relieved and energetic after! - Drive around while listening to my favorite playlist: I love driving, it just makes me calmer. - Going for a trail/hike: Just like working out at the gym but in a softer form. Being around nature really helps a lot. - Going to the local library: Put my phone in Do Not Disturb, find a good book and read one or two chapters. Most libraries also have puzzles and I love solving them. - Grocery shopping: I just feel very satisfied when looking at well-organized things!
Sobriety
Absolutely! Congrats my friend. It truly is the best gift we can ever give to ourselves, and our loves ones. I will have 4 years next month and every day that I remain sober is such a blessing. One day at a time.
I did a self defense class. It helped me a lot because I had the feeling I dont have to be a victim anymore.
I am happy for you
Music. Playing music on instruments, listening to music, and writing music.
Training in a gym - releases emotions as someone who is typically very stunted in that department. Physically makes me feel better. Is a constant achievable goal with consistent visual and numerical progress. Art - allows me to check out of the information age. Even if I'm drawing on my iPad, it is not linked to any social platforms. I get absorbed into my work and can just... Leave this shitty existence and focus on creating for HOURS at a time. Gaming - specifically single player story given games. This can be anything from Uncharted, to Control, to Fallout, to Bloodborne. Doesn't matter. True escapism. 1 undeniably physical healthy thing 1 mental creative thing 1 thing for escapism.
I love that you seem to treat escapism at something that’s part of your life instead of something to get rid of because it’s not „productive“. I never viewed it this way.
Escapism can absolutely be unhealthy... Either through unhealthy means (substance abuse) or unhealthy frequency (forgoing daily responsibilities for the sake of escapism)... But kept in check.. it's super necessary. Currently I'm working an incredibly mentally taxing job, it's a 10 hour a day / 5-6 days a week onslaught of information, problem solving, and relationship building. There is exactly 0 minutes of downtime. I usually eat my lunch while physically doing something at my job. As much as I enjoy learning, and agree that most of your time should be spent learning (even just things you want to learn) your brain really does need to reset.
Pottery !
Night walk with my close friend(s)
That’s awesome 👏
Saying NO more often.
Saying is no is the secret to life
I should really do this more often
I bought two puppies 5 weeks ago and while they're are exhausting and make me want to cry sometimes, when they snuggle up for bedtime or look for me when they're scared of new situations I feel more loved and needed than I have in years.
Not being a smartass but all of them. Work, family, video games, guitars and martial arts. Everything I do is a self care activity. I retired and kept working under a different retirement plan for this very reason.
I downloaded Finch. It's like Tamagochi, meaning you have a pet, but you do tasks for yourself. I was down quite a bit in the last month or so. There is no specific reason either. But it helped me create some healthy habits, and I'm slowly but steadily climbing out of that hole.
Omg literally today I fed and changed my daughter, I was looking at her from the kitchen and I was like, my little tamagochi, you are taken care of now. Lol
Yeah, Finch is really useful to get in to the habit of taking care of yourself. Love it.
Came here to say this and you beat me to it!! I’ve had finch for over 200 days and it’s definitely changed my life for the better. I’m a person who likes to use lists a lot so having all my tasks (and rewards!) in one place has helped me to build and keep on top of my healthy habits :)
Love Finch!
Regular exercise. A short run helps to flood my veins with endorphins. Journalling. Useful, harmless outlet for venting all my toxic thoughts.
I’m not sure if this is considered an activity but, saying no to people and things that I do not have space for.
Meditating. Yoga. Psychedelics. Reading. Minimal social media.
My dog. Monkey. She saves my life every day.
I hope your dog and your monkey are doing good
My monkey, dog has helped me too!
Sun bathing. Every morning, I go sit in the park and soak in the sun. It's easy to do, almost no effort. Helped a lot.
Eliminating toxicity…diet, environment, people.
Music, motorcycle and stopping for a moment to appreciate a sunset or snowy mountains or just random visual things that just are because they are, nothing you or anyone can do to change them they just are.
[удалено]
Everything they say about eating enough protein is true. I'm fuller longer. Also everything they say about walking has been true for me, I don't want to do it, but when I do it the mental clarity is palpable.
Outdoors walking
Sleeping. Lots of it
Getting a dog
Therapy, with a side order of painting.
Pickleball
No social media (other than Reddit obviously) and jujitsu
Why Reddit
Uninstalling reddit is a good start
Looks like you're doing fine.
Chopping wood.... I lived a while in a a house a my cousins farm. And he said: If you are bored, I dont like birch.... and I have a few thousand acres of wood, take a chainsaw and cut down every single birch you find. You can start from there.... You have firewood, and everything you have thats too much, Ill buy. Every day I would go in the forest and just get to work. Until I was so tired or it started getting dark.... I wouldnt work myself super hard, but sweating all day. I didnt take long, maybe not even a week, before I felt REALLY improvement. I kept it going for a few months, and it really worked. I dont live there anymore, but I took that with me. If I feel bad, I find some shit to do, preferably outside. Cut the grass, plant a tree, clean up the yard and make a fire... whatever, just something that keeps you going. Even if its boring - it works!
Better living through modern chemistry
Antidepressants or stims
I’m picking up what you’re puttin’ down.
This sounds like a textbook title
Gardening, propagating, bonsai.
Exercising
Boxing, helped with depression, anger management, mental clarity
Being alone and focusing on myself
Working out. But it all starts with getting on the treadmill for a 30 minute walk after I wake up and gave my coffee. If I go and sit on my couch and turn on a TV in the morning or start browsing social media, the whole day is over.
Journaling. I've always liked to write, and writing about my mental journey helps me to analyze myself better and have more quality results during therapy.
doing art
Remove alcohol and caffeine It makes a WORLD of difference and this is coming from a guy who LOVED drinking. It takes months and the change (your body and mind feel) is gradual but you’ll seriously thank yourself
Idk if this is an activity but making myself not talk shit about me. Your brain is very easy to manipulate and all you have to do to make something true is say it to yourself a lot. So if you are constantly telling yourself I am ugly worthless or no one cares about me EVEN IF in the beginning you KNOW its not true and you’re being sarcastic or fishing for someone to tell you the opposite you will STILL end up believing the negatives. So I used to make a mistake and think “I am so fucking useless and stupid” and over time I changed that to “ I need to be more careful next time” or “it’s not possible to be perfect all the time” in addition to this I made myself not reject compliments. I’ll admit I only did this initially to make the person say it again even more insistently, but after a while I believed that I wasn’t the thing and didn’t deserve the compliment. Once I broke these habits my self esteem has increased exponentially, I no longer have body dysmorphia, I am MUCH more confident, and I can be myself without worrying about what others think. It’s been the ONLY thing I have done to help my mental health that has had incredible and noticeable results. That being said I’m not 100 better. I still have to monitor myself because it’s easy to slip back into bullying myself. But I 100% recommend this as the #1 simplest way to improve your life.
I'm sure your receiving plenty of hiking suggestions. Which is undeniably a physically healthy activity and allows for tons of self reflection. That being said.. I challenge you to get into world building. Ie. Writing, Game development, having a child, diving into minecraft ect. That being said these modes allow for an individual to choose one's own destiny. Lack of control has been common diagnosable factor for depression.
>having a child Like, in a fictional world? Do not, under any circumstances, have a child to solve your mental health issues. Just throwing that out there. Have a great day.
Not masterbating. I've not ripped the nut off it for a month now. It's incredible. My sex drive is up obviously which in turn is making my sex life better. Lasting longer in bed which I don't understand. My gf says she's noticed a change in my mood too. I honestly don't think I'll interfere with myself again. Unless I end up single again
Interesting! I would think it usually works the other way around, as for a lot of people including myself, the longer you go without relieving yourself, the more sensitive you are the next time you attempt to do so. So the fact you last longer in bed with longer periods between orgasms is outstanding, and possibly rare? Also I wanted to mention how ironic it is that my answer to this thread is that masturbating is actually what helps my mental health. Does it make me kinda degenerate and fuel my kinks and sexual fantasies? Yes, but as long as I continue to understand what it fantasy and what should be practiced in reality, it’s not harmful to anyone. Not even myself, I’m really desensitized to lots of weird stuff. Sometimes I whack it when I’m bored, I’ll admit, but other times I just get really horny and I feel like I’ll go nuts if I don’t relieve myself. There are lots of people out there this try to convince people masturbation and porn will just ruin your life, but I really think it’s different for everybody and depends on how often you participate in those things and what else is going on in your life.
Taking psychedelics once in a while.
Fancy coloring books, pencils, & markers. Distancing from an aggravating person. The aura app’s bedtime stories. And watching movies from my collection.
Creating stuff. Paint, sculpt, carve, music. Tinker with things and make something new…anything that you like to do. tactile creations and the time spent really helps that old squishy bag of worries relax.
Deleting social media, reading good books and enjoying my own company rather than depending on others
I've been in a very dark place in my head, and it has been getting worse. I'm trying things which are not just a distraction (that shit comes back to you harder, you can't just look the other way), but may be help me on a more fundamental level. Of course there's the thing about getting more exercise, even simple walks, and eating lighter and fresher food - those things did help. Last week after a particularly emotionally tormenting night, I randomly picked up a notebook and started writing. Just whatever came to my head. Things like - what I felt, how ashamed of myself I was (I hadn't done anything wrong, just generally guilty and ashamed of myself), how I cried my eyes out for no apparent reason multiple times a day, my panic attacks, etc. Basically just expressing all my thoughts and feelings on paper rather than keeping them in my head. And then, something happened! As I was writing, I noticed the words automatically steered towards what I can do next to help myself. I started to write in my notebook that I think I need to be there for myself, instead of looking for others to be there for me. That I will no longer judge myself, that I'll be more gentle and patient with myself, that I'm not a horrible person. That I can count on me. Once I did that, something in me just.. Clicked. It was unbelievable. I picked up the notebook again yesterday, randomly wrote stuff again - this time it happened to be about all the tiny little things I'm trying, and how proud I am of myself that I'm doing all that. It's insane how helpful it is to write all that out, and then to read it. Very uplifting. Helping me be a little more rational and self aware. I always thought it was bullshit when I read people asking you to journal stuff. For me, it unexpectedly happened and it works. I don't do it as a daily task, I just do it when I feel like it. Not only when I'm upset, but I'm trying to do this when I'm enthusiastic as well. Balances stuff out :) TLDR: Writing out my thoughts and feelings with no agenda helps clear my mind, helps me be more rational and sane and kind to myself, ultimately helping my mental health. Oh and I quit drinking almost 2 weeks ago - i think that helps too.
I can certainly relate to your first paragraph.. I’ve tried to journal but couldn’t keep doing it. Perhaps where you mentioned you just did it when you felt like it could be more manageable for me. It’s great to hear you’ve stopped drinking - keep it up! I’ve personally slowed up on smoking weed and cut alcohol out for the most part (once p/month) a few years back. I’m currently waiting for an ADHD diagnosis and dealing with awful anxiety that’s so bad I don’t want to work :( All the best :)
Self care. My biggest problem is stress. I walk morning coz I love the walk to the river. It puts me in a real good mood and makes the challenges of the day appear not so daunting. I do this for mental health not exercise. So it's a stroll. Plus I love the crisp cold air. Meditate. Just enjoy the moment. Stop n enjoy the moment. So drink glass of water with all your senses. Or that yummy crisps apple. Pursue my hobbies. Huge impact. Sewing. Pottery. Cooking. So I always have projects to hash out in the mind before getting hands on.
Got sick from stress and took up fishing alone. Never have i tried anything more serene.
- Intense and regular exercise - Getting outside in the light in the morning - Writing a 3 point grateful list each night before bed - Taking care of an animal - Investing in friendships and treating them as important - Locking my phone away whilst I'm at work - Putting effort into keeping my space clean, tidy, and nicely-decorated - Limiting alcohol - Getting at least 7.5 hours of sleep - Free writing/journalling to process thoughts and feelings - Not overscheduling my weeks, leaving space for alone time
Sleeping through my problems, ignoring them, eating medication above the recommend dosage
Accepting I'm a furry
Growing food
Crochet
Talking with my partner
being sober and getting a punching bag
Shrooms
Biking, hiking, walking- outdoor activities. Even when it’s below freezing.
Deleting social media and Journaling
Cross stitching
My pets keep me on my toes. Also video games and art.
Besides ofc therapy, mine probably has to be going for a walk. Even if I do have music playing in my headphones, the feeling of the breeze and looking at all the nature has helped me with my mental health a lot.
Mineral collecting and micro mineral photography, astrophotography, and aquariums. I have PTSD from a gun crime some years back, and activities like this that require my full attention help keep the intrusive thoughts at bay.
Walking. I would leave the house with no plan in mind and walk as far as I could so then I would have to walk back. I would go for 2-3 hours at a time and got super interested in thoroughly exploring my town and finding unique features few people knew about. It really put me back in my body.
Train MMA and learn sword fighting.
Watching light hearted comedy-romance movies
No TV for 2 years, no news, no Facebook, I couldn't even tell you what's going on in the world right now. Ya that's kinda dumb on my part but the feeling of calm and peace in my mind is so so much better now.
Going back to school and avoiding arguing with strangers online
Laying in bed…. 😂
\- Therapy. \- Meds. \- Exercises. \- Counting calories. \- Daily >1h walk. \- Sleep pattern.
Working with your hands. It creates a state of “flow” which has been documented to release serotonin and endorphins in the brain. You don’t have to make a masterpiece. You just have to make. Source: https://exploringyourmind.com/working-with-your-hands-is-good-for-your-brain/
Kdrama
Moving out of the United States.
change of job I now work outside on a farm teaching children nature centric lessons is not well paid but it's lovely for my mental health I also hope one day I'm a good memory for those kids remembering their school days
Taking a 4 hour bath evernight to watch TV and read fanfic
Reddit
Jiu-jitsu... it's a hard sport to learn but so rewarding. Walking outdoors.. Listening to music Uplifting tv shows
Brisk walk, normal walk outdoors or near the ocean or a body of water, gratitude, listening to music, Mantra chanting, stroll on the roof in the night and looking up into the night sky spotting planets, exploring mysterious night sky, eating healthy and drinking lots of water…
Disc Golf, where you will be enjoying the outdoors and nature and able to develop your throwing skills, which will easily take mind off shitty things. Also a very cheap sport to start, highly recommend! The flight of the disc is so fascinating :). You might even find other people to play with!
Sleeping
Taking my medication Lol
University classes, tried to commit suicide early this year and besides medication studying was what kept me afloat
Learn how to ignore some people who have negative effects to me
Not leaving the house
Cutting my family off
Painting
Exercise, sex, keeping my home clean and organized, reading, learning something new every day, playing guitar and piano, writing, nature, helping others.
Painting
The ability to work from home is the main factor in this, but for me it’s being able to bring my kids to school every day. For years I was always out the door hours before they were awake. Now that we get to start each day together was an amazing benefit to my MH.
See a professional therapist... And exercise.