No one knows what you're going through like you. With 2020 showing no sign of slowing down on literally anything, self-care is more important than ever. If you feel like you're experiencing mentally tough times then it's important to address it, talk to someone you trust, then begin to take actions to fix it. A bad day can lead to a bad week and we've already had enough bad weeks.
Reddit user, u/Koestter, wanted to hear about:
What do you do to cheer yourself when you're sad or upset?
Changing Your Environment
camping the simpsons GIF
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Being outside. Doesn't matter why, or how long. A few minutes outside is usually a good thing for me. Enjoying the nice weather, the view, how busy or quiet the area is. It's the little things.
Something Low Stakes To Remove The Higher
I like to just find a puzzle of some kind and try to solve it.
I guess for other, this means doing something low stakes without lots of time or efforts required that genuinely gives you a little momentary sense of sh-t I'm an actually half intelligent human who can actually accomplish something...
...People have different things that make them happy.
I will say try to avoid eating high sugar items or buying extremely expensive things wen feeling down because it leads to a sugar crash or a credit score crash.
Scream It Out
My coping mechanisms are sh-t, so I asked my 4 year old niece. She said you scream the sad out, then sat on the floor and shouted "AHHHH!" Then smiled and went about her day.
Scream the sad out.
against_underscoresOnly You Knows You
I wrote a letter to my future self when I was at a happy point in my life to read when I'm sad. You're obviously the only one who knows what you're going through, so it's nice to get advice from the happy version of yourself.
All Together Now: Let's Put A Smile On That Face
Some motherf-cker said you can literally smile and trick your brain into being happier. I hate how it actually works sometimes.
Sometimes depression can literally hinder your body's ability to produce chemicals that allow you to feel joy. Fake smiling can help your body to begin producing those again and pave the way for you to feel joy in the true sense in the future. It's a very helpful tool.
A Pleasant Day Digital Farming And Baking
fresh baked brownies GIF
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Stardew Valley with Great British Bake Off on in the background
I was just mentioning that GBBO makes me happy! Pretty scenery, baking, I love the hosts, and I love how the contestants always have each other's backs.
Do A Different Kind Of Reading
I read a book, that always takes my mind off things: way better for your mental health than social media
Seriously though. Just cut off the toxic social media for some weeks. Just browse through Reddit. You'll feel much better.
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Yelling micheal jackson sounds. You gotta try it. It really helps
HEEEE HEEEE
Redirect Your Attention Elsewhere
I exercise. That makes me so much more miserable that my previous state of misery appears cheerful
lmao thats genius. its like the old joke where you can make yourself stop thinking about how much one part of your body hurts by making another part hurt more
Do All My Friends Hate Me Or Do I Just Need To Go To Sleep?
If I can, I take a nap or just go to sleep for the night. My dr told me an analogy for mental health that I always find helpful.
Mental health is like a table. The more legs you have under the table (good sleep hygiene, nutritious diet, exercise, social contact, therapy etc...) the more stable the table is. It's rarely one thing but we can do a lot of little things throughout the day that can cumulatively make a difference.
I have a toddler so I'm always exhausted and sleep deprived so that's usually the table leg I'm missing, so any rest helps.
Don't Run From It
Season 3 Hug GIF by The Simpsons
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Cry.
Identify my emotions. Is it angerr? Disappointment? Despair?
Accept them. Allow myself to feel them.
Figure out why I felt them and soon they just go away.
I find that distractions or suppressing them only makes them fester and get worse or come out in the form of anger and end up hurting someone else.
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But sometimes, the wisdom imparted by friends isn't always helpful or relevant to the situation.
Curious to hear from strangers online who could do without specific knowledge, Redditor Saibotnl1 asked:
"What life advice can just f'k off?"
These Redditors have a problem with how certain people have on outlook on life.
Time To Rest
"Sleep when you’re dead."
"Cool, but you’re going to be dead a lot sooner."
– Tag2graff
Irrelevant Sadness
"People have it so much worse than you so don’t be sad!"
– notrachelmar
"To that I like to say, 'people have it so much better than you so don't be happy!'"
– ___jupiter____
Your Life Path
"Almost anything relating to what age you must be in order to buy a house, have children, marry, have a profession, or do anything else. Seriously, everyone's life is different from everyone else's. Make your life the way you want it to be. If you so desire. Up to you."
– Frn071
On The Contrary
“Cheaters never prosper”
"Yes, they f'king do."
– waqasnaseem07
People can get out of any situation they find displeasing.
But others feel people should just "stick it out."
Ignoring Bullies
"Just ignore bullys or get someone else to handle it for you. I have never seen this work, only makes it worse. The only effective way I've seen to deal with them is by not making yourself an easy target and make them scared to f'k with you again. If going psycho on their a** is the only thing they'll respond to that's their fault. Also want to add in schools they will punish you for self defense but that punishment is only sitting around a few hours in detention or sitting around at home with a suspension. The punishment is temporary boredom, it's absolutely nothing compared to being bullied and when it's over the important message will still stand that you will not tolerate being a victim."
– User Delted
Remain to be Miserable
"Stick it out"
"Whether that's sh**ty jobs, shi**y relationships, shi**y living situations..."
"By all means don't just give up on things when you face challenges, but if something feels wrong or is wrecking your peace then take some control and change it if you can!"
– petitezoey
"Easy for you to say," might be an auto-response to these suggestions for many people.
Invitation For Recklesslessness
"Live like everyday was your last"
Yall know what people do when they learn they have a single day left to live?"
– LimeGrass619
A Possible Consequence
"I did that as a teenager and ended up homeless and addicted to heroin. Didn’t pan out for me too well."
"19 years sober though today."
– Open-Section-7263
A Practical Approach
"If I knew with certainty that I had one day left, I'd double-check all my financials, my will, and my insurance policies, make sure my wife had all of my passwords and knew where all the money was, spend the rest of the day with her and the kids, then call the medical examiner and ask to lie down on the gurney so that when I die they won't strain their back moving my remains out of my house."
– Asteriad
Nose Stuck In A Book
"Work while they sleep. Study while they party"
"That's not a recipe for success, that's a recipe for a lot of white hairs, burnout syndrome and a stroke before your 40s..."
– Khomuna
Doesn't Apply To Everyone
"Do what you love and money will follow"
"I love walking my dogs and grilling food for my friends but That sh*t doesn't pay the bills as well as my engineering degree!"
– Elons_android
While people's intentions are good, they're better off keeping their two cents in their own pockets.
Not everyone likes to hear platitudes.
Sometimes, people just want to know they're not alone with their problems over listening to unlikely solutions that are nothing more than superficial pick-me-ups.
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