What's in our feel better Tool Belt?

[Myriad]

These are some of the things I do.  Please add to it.

Light timer - always wake up in the light.  Really great particularly in the winter.
Get up
Shower
Get dressed
Protein drink (homemade) - seems to stabilize blood sugar longer.
Second breakfast
Small meals throughout the day.
No sugar
No caffeine
Writing
Support groups
Therapy
Depression Chats

[LuckyLou]

Things in my tool belt: Yoga, meditation, music, books, baths, online support groups, my pdoc and therapist

[paulm]

Hello Myriad. Interesting topic.  You and Lucky Lou have already hit a lot of mine, so I will try and add a few different ones.

 I try and get the same amount of sleep each week, no more, no less.

 I try and get some sweat exercise in at least 3X per week and no, sweat exercise isn't walking on the beach on a hot day LOL

 I try to take my meds at the same time each day.

 I try to be honest with my pdoc (that can be harder than it sounds 

 I try not to become obsessed over things that I cannot control.

 I try and be patient. (with varying degrees of success 

 I try to realize that an a**hole will always be an a**hole and not to get worked up by their comments. There is no way that I'm going to change their opinions, no matter how wonderful my arguments are. Better to just smile and walk away.

 I try to avoid as many triggers as I can

 When the little hamster in my brain gets spinning in it's cage a little to fast I try to concentrate to slow it down.

 I try to remember that sometimes that I just need to be alone.

 When I slip up and don't follow my own rules, I try to learn from that rather than berate myself for slipping up.

 I always try and remember that I'm a good person with a bad illness, not a bad person with good excuses.

 I try to remember that I'm not alone.  Take Care. paulm

 

[Dragonfly]

I talk to my children on the phone almost every day and see them in person regularly since I now live alone. Get great support from them and I support them.

See my grandchildren regularly. (Just wait Paul you will know what joy it is to become a grand parent).

Go camping with family to get away from everything.

Read.

Keep to a good sleep pattern - sometimes hard.

Eat sensibly. (am diabetic)

Take my meds.

Computering. Helps me keep my mind off things. Have to be careful to limit time.

See a number of very good doctors for my health problems.

Talk about my illness with people that are supportive.

[paulm]

Hello Dragonfly and welcome to the new forum. I am looking forward to becoming a grandfather, but in the short term people arranging baby showers etc is slowly driving me a little crazy LOL. Take Care. paul m

[Rich]

Hi!
Here are the things in my feel better took belt:

- Reading - I bought an e-reader after a couple of months of hell (RE:  Mom in hospital;  unexpected expenses).  I just downloaded by 6th e-book from the Toronto Public Library FOR *FREE*!  I find that reading on the bus and subway keeps my mind from thinking too many thoughts.

- Sugary treats

- Naps

Rich

[Dragonfly]

Hi Rich,

Often thought about getting an e-reader. Love to read a lot. Do you find it better than a hard cover or paper back book. What if you want to go to the beach and read? Could it get damaged by sand and water? Great that you can download  free from the libary. I suppose from the internet you have to pay. Is that right or can you find places where it is free?
Dragonfly

[Soozan]

Hi Everyone, my toolbelt is looking a bit sparce these days but I do like to work on the computer to keep my mind active and off of my disabilities. Luckily I have made a great contact with positive fun people who appreciate my talents and I enjoy working with them. The money is not great, but I get a lot of satisfaction in upgrading my skills and having the human interaction of meeting with them every day. I am a bit of a workaholic, so I have to rely on Rich to pry me away from the computer, but other than that, I tend to spend my time conquering a computer free fall game called Maleficent.

OH and of course there is the household chores of cooking dinner and laundry for a household, the fun never stops!

Compared to other's posts here, it makes me think that Maybe I need to get a life, Ya think?

When I was at my worst, I relied on making sure I took my medications and going after every source of free help I could get, caseworkers, socialworkers for counselling, progress place to keep me busy and active and out of the house.
I highly recommend keeping busy when you need coping skills, those were mine.

- Soozan

[Rich]

Hi Dragonfly,
I like e-readers better than paper-based books for the following reasons:

1)  I don't like germs, so I don't like library or used books
2)  I like my money, so I don't like to buy books that I'm only going to read once  :-)
3)  I'm not near a beach :-)
3)  I like to be able to download a book to my e-reader via the Toronto Public Library website for *FREE* and from the comfort of my own home, so then I don't have to fit in a visit to the library into my busy schedule.  All you need is:

- a library card (you will have to go in person to get one, I think?)
- an e-reader --- I've got a Kobo Arc 7 which cost about $180 incl. taxes...I like this one because I can connect it directly (and wirelessly) to my home network, as opposed to downloading and saving e-books to my PC first (from the library website), and then copying them to the e-reader via a cable...yes, I am lazy and spoiled!  (Soozan bought it for me!)
- you are right, you may not need your own internet, since yes, you may be able to use coffee shop wifi?

Hope this helps!  I'm still new to this e-reader / e-book thing!

Rich

[Dragonfly]

Thanks Rich for replying,

My youngest daughter goes to the library a lot. You can take out e-readers. She said she would get me one to try out. Thanks for the info.

Dragonfly

[Pleeb]

Good tips!

The main Toronto library has the largest collection of recordable/downloadable music in the world.  (how they measure these things?)
You need a library card to get on.


Peter

[Pleeb]

I need tips on catching triggers.  They can be very subtle.

I haven't finished rereading my WRAP manual yet.....maybe something in there?


Peter

[paulm]

Hello Peter. Your wrap manual should have plenty of tips. If you can find a place offering it for free, I know people that have taken wrap twice.  Take Care. paul m

[DeterminedJay]

Hey all, this is a great topic, was just reading through it comparing your tools with mine! Mine is still being built, but here are a couple:

- Meditation
- An array of spokem/thought POSITIVE affirmations
- Taking a long shower
- Spending time with loved ones
- A good long run
- Playing video games(more of a distraction technique)

One thing I have trouble with is being consistent day to day, routine day after day is something that has evaded my mental processes for many years. Could be the ADHD but I know if I put my mind to it I can re-wire it. I am human, and we have overcome much worse circumstances in our past.

[WRW1955]

Love my cats and dogs.  Playing, grooming and petting them really helps my moods.  Getting funny cartoons on FB of cats and dogs. I'm a shopaholic so I restrict my shopping now to used book stores, thrift shops, and dollar stores.