I need some beautiful, life-affirming poems/books/films/music to lift me out of an anxiety pit

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I feel crap 😔 Went to the GP for what I thought was perimenopause symptoms but ended up leading to the 2 week cancer pathway. Thankfully its not cancer, and its not perimenopause either according to blood tests, so I'm left with the crippling anxiety, brain fog, overwhelm, and irritability for now.

I need to read some comforting, joyous words that will take my mind off of all the petty crap that seems so big right now.

I’m so sorry to hear that. Have you read any Matt Haig books? They are funny, deep and life affirming. Initiallly he wrote from a place of depression, he understands the black dog very well. Courage, it will all be ok

Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. She does meditation videos which don't require you to move an inch! You can just sit and listen and close your eyes and let her gentle voice lift you out of these horrible thoughts.

Just type in Yoga with Adrienne Meditation

If you have Netflix, watch The Gilmore Girls.

Listen to the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

I hope things get better OP

Thank you all, making notes of all of these.

The novel Miss Pettigrew lives for a Day. Guaranteed to cheer and uplift

https://www.facebook.com/share/1LJdGw2eX7/?mibextid=wwXIfr

John O'Donohue who sadly is no longer with us but wrote the most beautiful and thought provoking poetry.

I know this isn’t what you asked but I felt like this when I was anaemic. Just mentioning on the off chance you haven’t ruled that out.

it’s not quite the same tone as other things suggested, but ted lasso made me feel better about the world and like I wanted to be a better person

I watch Lucas jones on TikTok. His poems are amazing and his delivery of them. I met god in a supermarket is fantastic.

I also find that vit D tablet helps me when I feel low.

Following

I just bought this beautiful book of poems. It's got some lovely and helpful ones

I find this very soothing.

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Watch the movie Pride on iplayer! Does it for me every time x

Yes, his books have really helped me in some tricky times

Look up Shane Koyzan "Instructions for a bay day" on YouTube. He is phenomenal. Hope you feel better soon.

Lark Ascending. Popular for a very good reason.

Should say..for a bad day.

Yes, agree completely. I read this after I saw the film of it starring Frances McDormand and Amy Addams. Both are lovely and cheering.

In the low is a book of images and poems exactly written for what you are describing and has helped me https://www.inthelow.com/

Such amazing recommendations I really appreciate them all.

I've had blood tests for pretty much everything, several pelvic exams and so far everything is normal. I suspect it may be burnout or cptsd which is why I'm trying to fill my head with positivity to try and counteract the dark thoughts!

I was going to suggest that! Is available on iplayer to listen to I think.
Music, these pick me upenjoy yourself by the specials. Pink pony club, chapel roan and midnights by Taylor.
Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen isn’t upbeat but good ruminating/ moving on.

We watched the Nanny McPhee films again this weekend and they are just so fun, cheery and uplifting, it's impossible not to have a smile on your face by the end.

I also recommend Bella Figura by Kamin Mohammadi. A light but positive read about a woman who has hit rock bottom and turns her life around by moving to Italy. Lots of positive stuff about being on the up and the food, people, scenery, warmth of the book were as good as a week in the sun for me.

Recipes for Love and Murder on TV is also very distracting and full of sunshine and comfort food.

Benedictus by Carl Jenkins.

There’s a lovely podcast on BBC Sounds called Soul Music which explores this and other pieces of music that people have found uplifting and healing.

I’m going through a similar dark night of the soul and have found it very helpful. Also, listening to Radio 3 helps. Not many words!

Being around animals, especially horses, if there any near you. They are very intuitive and calming. A snoozing dog in the room is very grounding, I find.

Read your Stoics. Marcus Aurelius is my favourite.

The Calm App has some good guided meditations.

Nothing beats Derry Girls to lift my spirits. For calming, James Herriot (books or TV) or LM Montgomery.

Also, doing a quietly absorbing hobby, such as drawing or painting. It takes your mind off your worries like nothing else.