Mental Health The official healthy coping mechanism thread.

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Which healthy coping mechanisms do you use to improve your overall mental health and mental well being?

Do you go for a run? Do you swim? Go for a drive? Share here, and state what you're trying to accomplish by doing said activity.

Example: When I am stressed, I go for a run to help clear my mind.

The uses of this can be anything from relieving anxiety and depression to helping a manic or psychotic episode.

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General posting guidelines

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Rude, abusive, and argumentative posts will be deleted. Please do not condone drug or alcohol use as a coping mechanism.

 

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Here are a few that I think are helpful:

1: Exercise to deal with stress.

Exercise releases endorphins, which is the feel good chemical in our brain. It produces a natural sense of well being, This can also help burn off norepinehprine if one is experiencing anxiety.

2: Talking

This one sort of speaks for itself. I always find that by talking to someone I feel much better because I got said issue off my chest. Sometimes by talking with someone you are able to get their viewpoint on a matter, or even if that is not possible, you're still able to get it off your chest and out in the open.

3: Journaling

Journaling is good because it helps us to get things off of our chest. If we have anxiety, it can be hard to go up to someone and just start talking about problems, no matter how well we know them. So by journaling we can get the feelings out without the fear of speaking with someone who may possibly (but hopefully not) pass judgement on us.

 

[spork]

Great thread idea, rx!

The best thing for me to deal with my thoughts and emotions has been mindfulness. I try to take about 5 minutes per day at least to just relax and focus on my breathing without any sort of judgement and letting go of other thoughts if they come up. I also try to focus at the task I'm presently doing and feel all the sensations my body and mind might feel at that certain time. Staying in the moment makes me feel thankful for all that I do have that I might overlook if I'm focusing on past events or worried about the future.

Here is a guided mindfulness meditation that has been helping me a lot lately.

 

[herbavore]

I have found that swimming is the most amazing form of exercise for me. The ocean here is too cold for me to swim in so I paddle out on a stand-up board. I swim at a gym in a pool. Nature and swimming and poetry--those top my list.