Stress/anxiety/depression help and relief techniques

[muon]

I think we all suffer from the above from one time or another for various reasons. Some more than others.

Obviously with Spring fast approaching (nice day out at the moment at least) this should reduce slightly, but still, I’d like to hear some techniques or methods and ideas that people on here use to overcome difficulties with their personal lives, work and mental health with success.

For me, going to the gym and lifting weights is one of the best things I can do to help any of the above. I may feel st and not want to work out but I find that more often than not when I feel like that, I can have the best work outs and afterwards feel a million dollars.

Watching or reading something educational helps me take my mind off other things and focus on what’s being presented to me and hopefully I will become less ignorant about a subject and improve my general knowledge and understanding on the whole.

Helping other people. I find that when I’m assisting others in any way I can that it takes the focus off me and how I feel. It generally makes you feel good about yourself.

Being around happy people and having the right sort of friends you can connect with.

Making plans for the future, like a holiday or small trip away. Something to look forward to.

Music is a pretty good mood changer depending on what you’re listening to.

Motivational and inspiration videos especially with people who’ve had some really tough roads and still made it to the top. Heroes.

Also, aside from what helps, what do you find really doesn’t help? Comfort eating is always one of those false ‘promises’ where you may feel less stressed when eating something you enjoy, the knock on effects will probably negate the short term enjoyment. Alcohol is also pretty bad I find… good in small doses, but a night out on the sauce for me at least can knock me for six for a good few days afterwards even when the hangover has cleared, it sends my mood plummeting and anxiety up. I’m not entirely sure on the mechanics with this one. Being on your own. Having your own time and space is good but too much I think can make you feel cut off and we need each other for inspiration, ideas, help, motivation, positivity and so on. We’re social creatures by nature.

There’s a few things I’m still undecided about like caffeine. It lifts my mood in the morning (as it probably does for a lot of people going on the amount of coffee chains we have these days) but I don’t know if the prolonged effects are beneficial if you consume too much.

I’d be interested to hear what others can add and also if you are suffering, let us know. We all share similar interests and I for one wouldn’t like to hear of a fellow PH’er suffering!

I hope this can help.

[quiraing]

I have just posted the following on a similar thread and found this thread too - it's not an ad for a book, just a pointer in a direction which has helped me.

[quote=quiraing]Book to maybe have a look at -

"Mindfulness, a practical guide to FINDING PEACE IN A FRANTIC WORLD". (That's how the title's listed, I didn't suddenly decide to text-shout

It's by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. ISBN 978-0-7499-5308-9.

It's about mindfulness-based cognitive-therapy (or MBCT). Probably loads of info on interweb but I was given the book as a gift and it certainly helped me. Helps with depression, stress, anxiety, day-to-day pressure, etc - the book title says it all really.


Hope this post will be of help to others.

Edited by quiraing on Tuesday 12th March 20:23

[funinhounslow]

I have just finished "stop thinking start living" by Richard Carlton and it has helped me a lot. I was not depressed, but a top grade worrier and flapper. Carlton teaches to recognise when negative thoughts form in our minds, and to ignore them rather than latch onto them and get het up.

Early days, but it seems to be doing the trick for me so far...

[andy-xr]

I read something similar, and bought the audiobook for the car if I'm on long journeys, it's called get out of your mind and into your life, by Stephen C Hayes. Same as above - more a worrier and a whatif'er. The book is based around acceptance and commitment theory or therapy (ACT) and has a few good ways of making things look different to how you first see them

[DocArbathnot]

I walk, simple as that.

Usually on my own, or with the dog it gives me a good clear thought process.

[littlegreenfairy]

I clean, organise and knit.

[grumbledoak]

Exercise is best.

Cleaning and organising are good too, though. They take your focus away from things and when you 'come back to yourself' you notice you've got a clean bathroom. Result!

Knitting less so, for me.

[TheJimi]

Lifting weights. I do this anyway, as it's a huge part of my lifestyle but if I'm feeling down, a session always helps and I generally walk away feeling better about things.

Being up the mountains, I'm fortunate in that I have easy access being in the west coast of Scotland.

[isv]

When younger, Dale Carnegie's "How to stop worrying and start living" - bought a copy for my teenage daughter last year and she found it helpful too.

In recent years, bought a bike. Cycling 100+ miles a day is the best antidote for so many ailments... Plenty of thinking time and come home genuinely knackered and ready for sleep. I have never been fitter, more energised and focused.