In the same way that periods of mental ill health can be triggered by little things (or nothing at all), it can also be the little things that help get us through and feel a little better. They might be little things we can do ourselves or little things other can do for us. Here are a few of my favourites:
- Go for a walk
- Have a long bath or shower
- Read a book
- Listen to music (Have a couple of go to playlists – I have a ‘Good Vibes’ one, a ‘Calming Soundtracks’ one, and a couple of go to albums that always make me feel good.)
- Watch a favourite film or TV series
- Give yourself a hand massage (or get someone to give you one)
- Curl up with a blanket and a warm drink (with this one, it might be and idea to avoid caffeine as it can often be a trigger. Try a fruit or herbal tea, hot chocolate, hot vimto/squash, or even a hot water with lemon)
- Try some breathing exercises or meditations
- Doodle (You don’t have to be an artist to do this, just make random shapes and lines. It can be surprisingly therapeutic!)
- Write something (Again, you didn’t need to be a great writer to do this – write random words down, flick through a random book and discover some new words to write down and define, make lists of rhyming words, just write AAAARGHHH or a list of as many expletives as you can think of!)
- Take a nap
- Make or bake or cook something – try a simple bread recipe or make a mug cake
If you have any suggestions for little things that make a difference, please share them in the comments.
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If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health then please don’t be afraid to reach out and talk to someone. You are not alone and help is available. By opening up and starting the conversation we can move forward together and look to a mentally healthy future. Below are links to a range of fantastic organisations that can provide information, advice and services.
The Samaritans – http://www.samaritans.org
Mind -Â http://www.mind.org.uk
Young Minds -Â http://www.youngminds.org.uk
Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) -Â https://www.papyrus-uk.org
Self Harm UK -Â https://www.selfharm.co.uk
Time to Change – http://www.time-to-change.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness -Â http://www.rethink.org
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention -Â https://www.afsp.org
Please do not struggle alone.
Thrive In Chaos 
I agree with the above suggestion, thought I’d call it counting my blessings. And another one I find helpful is to meet up with a friend.
Absolutely! Time with a good friend can be incredibly healing. Thanks so much for contributing.☺️
Try to write down 3 things that you really enjoy. Often just simple things that cost nothing. Seeing a beautiful sunset, your favourite smell, hearing a child giggle……..
Over time, build the list then pull it out (or up on your phone) to remind yourself of all the great things there are to still enjoy.
This is a great practice to get into and such a lovely way to actively look for and remember the good in life. Thanks for contributing. 🙂