What improves your mental health?

[prettyshiny]

Have been suffering with anxiety and ocd since teen years and feel like I have tried everything generally recommended - medication and CBT did not seem to work for me in the long run.

Am really struggling now, and wondering if exercise and more sleep might help. Anyone else got any tips that worked for them?

Swimming outside heated Lido or lakes and rivers or sea.

Gym. I still use medication but having that 'me time' to focus on myself has done wonders. And I say this as someone who is far from a gym bunny but just finds lifting heavy weights brilliant.

Running and atm laying off alcohol! I never thought in a million years I would enjoy running but it makes me feel so energised and happy afterwards! Give it a try!

Exercise and being mindful of what I eat; particularly how sugar can exacerbate my anxiety. Also making sure that within each day there is something I enjoy

Getting out regularly for long walks in nature, taking myself out of the home environment, ideally discovering something new in the area.

Exercise, seeing people regularly, healthy food, meditation.

Only thing that helps for me is diet and exercise. Cut out sugar, caffeine and alcohol and focus on loads of veg, whole grains, lean meat, oily fish and buckets of water. Get outside and push yourself a little further with exercise each day. Ideally if you can sweat for half an hour each day that’s perfect. Having a strong and healthy body will really help you getting a strong and healthy mind.

Good therapist, not cbt

Exercise. Especially cardio.

Seeing friends in a low key setting.

Cutting right down on coffee as makes me anxious.

Without a doubt a long walk with the dog and my audiobooks.
Also exercise, yes, it always helps.
Also something intricate and repetitive always helps me: “adult” colouring,
or bead weaving both work.

40 mins on the cross trainer, a swim, a long walk, 8 hours sleep, music and cutting out alcohol. Life is clearer and brighter for all those things. Still difficult at times but these perk me up, a lot!

For me it was starting couch to 5k then parkruns then joining a running club

Gardening and my horse. Doing something creative.

Improving gut biome; eating 30 different plants, nuts, seeds, spices a week. No processed sugary foods.

Moving my body: walking, dancing, horse-riding, yoga.

I don’t know how to explain it but

when I’ve felt low for a while. A bit hopeless and just, plodding along without any purpose
then I wake up one day and I just feel ‘lighter’
a bit like the rain washed away some cobwebs overnight
and it might only last a day or 2 but it actually brightens my mood

I don’t know how to explain it because it isn’t as tho I’ve done anything? It’s just, a brighter day that day? And I really make the most of it

This, plus avoiding people who don't do me a lot of good - strict boundaries with other people.

I resolved to do what I wanted to a few years ago, not give into pressure.

Simple things like going out somewhere on a Saturday night when I couldn't really be bothered to get ready because I'd been out all day and planned a long walk the following morning. I stopped feeling obligated.

Exercise, getting outdoors (preferably somewhere nature-y), chatting with people. I WFH have have 2 small DC so don’t get out to socialise much but noticed how refreshed I feel after catching up with someone, even if it’s just my hairdresser.

Saying no, exercise, good food and zero yes zero alcohol if you are not feeling good.

Yea exercise, esp swimming and yoga definitely did. Routines of these.

I did use beta blockers as needed for most of my 20s and early 30s though. Really effective . Slow release all day ones when going through a bad patch.

Now mid 40s hrt is helping the most. Just started weight lifting and find that grounding

Gardening was also a big passion to ease anxiety and hill walking.

Exercise and avoiding caffeine. Meditation has been great for sleep. The thing that helped most was a private therapist though, I wish that was available to everyone

Having a day off from life. No kids, husband or anyone to answer to. Having lie in and then going for a long walk somewhere where there’s a cafe at the end of it.

Cold water dipping / swimming
long dog walks, new places etc
no alcohol
breathing exercises
yoga
dancing
rage release - screaming, yelling
punching things - boxercise etc
running
drawing / art
good film
playing with children
barefoot walking - I always feel better after
visiting a new place / mini travel / break away

dancing - I went back to tap classes a year ago, love it!
I listen to a lot of music ( different kinds ) and don't mind a bit of headbanging to Green Day or fake ballet to Vivaldi while sorting out the kitchen!🤣
the youngest 2 like "drunk uncle at wedding" dancing with me

crafting - I crochet, knit, sew, quilt etc. very relaxing and great stress & anxiety reliever. some stuff I take with me, I hate waiting so they calm me down

more sleep if possible: I cut out coffee & diet Pepsi in September, I sleep better. I don't drink much tea or hot choc either.
I switched to ginger tea w honey, diet Fanta diluted with water, hot water w lemon or cold water with fruit icecubes

more water/liquids: see above. I tend to feel better when I'm not dehydrated

comedy: I watch something that makes me laugh every day. my kids make me laugh too. I need those endorphins!

Healthy diet, lots of exercise, my child.

No alcohol. Just done a mostly dry January and staggered at how much more positive I feel.

Cold water dunking in the sea. Exhilarating.

Gardening.

For me it’s going to the gym, going for a walk (but it can be 5 minutes or a few hours), dancing, music, art, meditation, yoga, dressing up nicely. All of this is helped by medication and therapy. I don’t put pressure on myself to do these things but notice how much they help.

A lot of it though will depend on how your anxiety and ocd present. Suggestions of joining a gym when you are agoraphobic or of going for a walk but it takes you hours of checking that everything is off won’t be helpful.

What do you enjoy doing and what do you feel able to do.

tried the same, and only things that have worked are nature walks , stopping all alcohol, eating better and sleep. Still struggle at times due to symptoms of chronic illness but have started adding Active10 brisk walking and cool to cold showers. Rest and relax and time for you is important.