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!
I guess my coping methods are doing art and sometimes just laying on my be watching videos. These activities make me feel calmer during stressful times
Reading, writing, watching videos that melt my heart like animals or babies or something
@stitchforever
I love to read and write too! <3 Similarly, when I'm feeling down, my dog can always melt my heart ^_^
@InkyOak12
hey puppy love is the best therapy honestly
@stitchforever
agreed! 😊
I listen to music, play games, spend time with love ones, write down how I'm feeling and draw
I talk to God and use the principles of Eckhart Tolle, "The Power of Now"
@Hapra Me too. That's so great to read "The power of now". But at the first time I have read, it is very hard for me to understand that book. Now everything is okay. I also recommend "A new earth" of Eckhart Tolle to you . Love
@Hapra talk to God as well
@Hapra
Very Resourceful!
I don't have any form of outlet whatsoever.
@Jmayfair
do you have any hobbies or like going on walks? they help me, maybe they might be a good outlet for you as well
@SoggyCereal247
My walks need a firm destination. Hobbies tend to be organic. I lost touch with that side of myself and cannot find it again.
@Jmayfair
even just following the curb around the block back to your house would be a good start
i wish you the best of luck in finding the side you have lost
@SoggyCereal247
You seem very pleasant and kind. Are you a listener?
I just cleaned up the kitchen!!
I stress eat terribly, which is very bad... or I try to excersize. I usually resort to stress eating the place clean.
@toughVillage742 I totally do the same thing most of the time. Or bite my nails. Really bad habit but I try to concentrate on something else so that the focus goes onto something else besides those bad habits
Whenever im feeling down, i write. Whether it be poetry or just writing about it in my journal. Because to quote Anne Frank "paper has more patience than people."
@Sanjana57
Me too! I've been keeping a journal for several months, and it's a great way to get your thoughts and emotions down -- it really helps me untangle how I'm feeling, and it's a good place to vent feelings. I'm definitely glad I've started the habit. I also love creative writing -- even though I haven't had much time for it as of late, I do love writing creatively! :)
@InkyOak12 i know right! Its been two years now since I started writing. It has definitely helped me alot
@Sanjana57
Cool! I'm hoping to get back to writing stories. I kind of miss my characters xP
@GlenM music is great to relax and enjoy
taking showers calms me down, I forget my worries
talking to my friends cheers my mood up.
reading a book, I just get lost in another universe.
Makes me feel better
l go to the place where I never been.
Good music
Ice cream
Walk.
