Inspired by another thread, what do you do to help yourself when you are slipping mentally

[SheWoreYellow]

If you can get as far as identifying that you are not doing very well, what are the things that you do to try and get yourself out of that place?

I am not very good at that part.

It gets to mid afternoon and I know I will feel worse if I haven’t done something constrictive with my day, so I try and do that, whether it’s a bit of yoga or baking or something. I don’t always manage it though and it’s not really enough.

My first sign is I don’t wash. I skip showers, I’m wearing the same clothes 2 days running.
So then I make a point in setting some clothes ready for the morning.

The other thing I do is exercise. Be it a walk with the dog or classes, a run etc, I need to exercise, because if I don’t, I stop showering etc.
hTH

Well, this afternoon I did some gardening

I make plans but hard to summon energy to stick to them.

Make sure I'm showering etc and putting on proper clothes. My Dh "forces" me to go out for a walk. Make sure I'm drinking more water or squash etc and trying to make myself do things I enjoy e.g. audio books, colouring books or puzzles etc

Hmm I don't know. I'm not very good at this either at the moment.

Get out for some fresh air every day - even if it’s only a 15 minute walk around the village.

Wash my hair. This is one of the things to go when I’m slipping mentally. So I make myself wash it every other day (I always shower daily).

Drink enough.

Set myself small, achievable household tasks - e.g, mopping the kitchen floor, cleaning the shower, hoovering the living room etc.

I'm feeling lower than I have done in ages but the solution for me doesnt lie in some small daily tasks. I know I need major intervention. I am contemplating joining a choir but I cant quite do it.

For smaller lapses in mental health I find talking to a friend or family member helps. Or putting on some cheering music quite loud and tackling the ever present ironing pile. However small amount of ironing I can do I regard as an achievement.

Running. I never thought I’d be able to run for more than a minute without collapsing but followed Couch 2 5k and can now do 30 minutes. It makes the world of difference to my state of mind.