What do you do to feel better?
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!
After my DBT course, I have a rich set of coping skills I am using, depending on the severity of the situation.
The most "powerful" are TIP skills, but it's really easy to overuse them.
Then, next are grounding/mindfulness exercises (observe and describe), often paired with slow breathing. Those are for acute distress, so I could deploy other coping strategies after.
If the distressing situation lasts for long time, I deploy my self-soothing box. In the box I have: aromatic candles (smell), favourite sweets (taste), postcards with kind words (vision), Stranger things scrunchie (touch), link to a calming/inspiring/good memories playlist (listen), and a letter to myself (reconnect to my core values).
Finally, talking to someone who could listen without judging and show empathy could help me to process the feelings and let go of them. So, 7cups and friends. <3
There are other coping strategies I use from time to time, but I don't find them as helpful or reliable as this set.
I reach out to people I haven't talked to in awhile.
I listen to music from artists I can relate to and I allow myself to cry when things become too much to handle.
I move my body as much as possible! A good workout clears my mind like nothing else. Definitely recommend going for a walk :)
@okayexcellent058 I agree! That really helps me too
I drink tea 
I go biking, watch videos, or sit outside in a quiet place to think about things.
@calmEagle9709
i do that too, and i collect flowers on my walks and press them inside heavy books
I read, and write. I also like to cuddle up in a warm, fuzzy blanket drinking coffee or hot cocoa.
Sometimes, just st listening to my music does the trick. Other times, I have to totally emerse myself into a good binge worthy tv series. A couple of hours in, and I am usually feeling better. Whether or not I'm going to give up my show is a whole nother thing!
I just listen to music, dance or put makeup on sometimes
@GlenM
One or more of these are my choice of self-care and feel-good activities
Spend time alone, Read, Have ginger tea, Meditate, Listen to calming music, Workout, Shower, Scribbling and Organizing 
