Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

What do you do to feel better?

User Profile: GlenM
GlenM September 23rd, 2020

Thank you all for the book and talk recommendations here. We have cataloged them all and I'm working on an outreach plan to reach out to each person that you've recommended.

I'm wriring today with a different, but related, question that I think will also help us better help others that are having a hard time. We've all heard the term "coping skills". These are things that we can do to help ourselves feel better. Sometimes we do these things on purpose because we are struggling; sometimes we do them by accident and don't necessarily realize that they help us change our mindset or help us get unstuck.

When I did therapy (many years ago!), I used to ask people to think about 3-4 things that they do that help them feel better. Then, I'd ask clients to do those very specific things whenever they were having a hard time. This little intervention helps quite a bit because it allows people to tap into skills that they already have and enjoy using.

I'm guessing our community has one of the richest catalogs of coping skills on the planet. I would imagine we have identified hundreds of ways to help ourselves feel better when struggling. If comfortable, please share them here. My goal is to capture all of these and write them up as growth path steps once the playlist is live. If you can, please write them up as you would say them to a good friend.

Here are some quick coping skills from my life:
-talk with my wife or friends
-take a walk
-run
-watch a mindless movie

What works for you?

Thank you!

Update: If any of these look particularly good to you please comment and upvote to let me know which ones work best. Thank you!

236
User Profile: Acmom1315
Acmom1315 October 1st, 2020

Take a nice hot bath, listen to music, meditate! heart

User Profile: positiveRiver9935
positiveRiver9935 October 1st, 2020

I snuggle with my Dotson

1 reply
User Profile: purpleTree4652
purpleTree4652 October 3rd, 2020

@positiveRiver9935, if you don't mind me asking, what is a Dotson?

load more
User Profile: Miuuuu
Miuuuu October 1st, 2020

I read comics

User Profile: goldenMoon9515
goldenMoon9515 October 1st, 2020

Whenever I feel down-

I usually turn the music on and use my hairbrush as a microphone to understand that things can never make me feel down until I let them make me.

I snuggle in my blanket with my favourite food, watch a cute movie and it automatically makes me smile.

I take a rough paper, scribble on it with all my might and when I feel calm, I crush that paper and throw it in the dustbin.

User Profile: happyTurtlee
happyTurtlee October 1st, 2020

I go running :) Nothing feels better than the feeling of cool air on your face and the sound of music in your ears :)

User Profile: mlnramen13
mlnramen13 October 1st, 2020

I exercise or take a bath. Something to relax and get my mind off what is overwhelming me.

User Profile: SugarSpiceEverythingNice
SugarSpiceEverythingNice October 1st, 2020

I love to draw and create art. I walk my dog or listen to music & dance around.

1 reply
User Profile: purpleTree4652
purpleTree4652 October 3rd, 2020

@SugarSpiceEverythingNice, those are wonderful things to make you feel better. Dancing and pets are such a great outlet! They both instantly take my mind off my troubles, too.

load more
User Profile: loyalChestnut464
loyalChestnut464 October 1st, 2020

I work on simple crafts that I can complete in a short time. I really love crafting, and it helps me feel empowered to see something through to completion, even something small!

1 reply
User Profile: limeWatermelon8742
limeWatermelon8742 October 1st, 2020

@loyalChestnut464i love to craft too but my projects are always big projects. Lol. But it is very rewarding to see it all come together. I would like to see sone of your finished crafts.

load more
User Profile: limeWatermelon8742
limeWatermelon8742 October 1st, 2020

I was feeling bad the other day and decided that I was going to put my fold out camping chair in the bath tub so I could sit in the shower and relax. It was car nice and quiet. It really did maje me feel better.

1 reply
User Profile: SoggyCereal247
SoggyCereal247 October 4th, 2020

@limeWatermelon8742

beautiful, that is an incredibly random activity and i love it

doing similar things to that makes me feel better as well

load more
User Profile: CompassionateDreamer8522
CompassionateDreamer8522 October 1st, 2020

@GlenM

My favorite coping skills:

1. Painting figurines, whether they be for games, etc. I don't enjoy canvas - I like having something already formed for me to just put my colors and feelings on.

2. Drawing

3. Cleaning out my car

4. Cuddling/hugging. Physical touch is one thing that makes me feel so much better.

1 reply
User Profile: RedEmerald
RedEmerald October 2nd, 2020

@CompassionateDreamer8522

You are lucky to have someone to hug. Some people do not have that. No family members or friends.

load more