What helps you instantly feel better?

[Coffeeehelps]

I'm depressed and stressed. I've contacted my GP. I'm on meds and I'll be re-refering for more therapy. I've just had something to eat. I've put on a load of laundry. I'm barely functioning right now though and on the verge of a full mental breakdown.

So, can I ask, what helps you instantly feel better when everything - even the little things - seems hopeless?

Music
Cheese (and other good food)
Exercise (may not apply during the exercise itself; always applies after it, annoyingly)
Pictures of cute animals
Ecstasy

Being medicated properly, switching my HRT made the biggest change for my sanity.

Then I work on self care;
So lots of rest and sleep, soothing hot drinks, something tasty to eat, listening to music or podcasts.
A long walk in the sun or the gym followed by pamper time in sauna and steam room. A hot shower, lots of lotions and fully styling my hair.

Im a therapist. Everyone suggested this when I had a psychotic break and I hated it. It never helps me. I never suggest it now. Sometimes the thought of walking out the door and putting one foot in front of the other is a torturous idea.

A walk then a hot bath with a good book/magazine.

Small tasks that you do to a timer. 5 mins sock pairing might lead to 10. 5 mins hoovering. 5 mins of a podcast with your eyes closed

Depends on how low I am - I can sometimes not want to get out of bed for days and just want to hide under the duvet. When I feel that low, my go-to is stand up comedy. I stay in bed and watch it. It can be on in the background and I wont laugh for ages, but then it starts to 'seep' into my conscious and it can bring me out of the funk.

When Im not as bad as that, then its buying something. I dont recommend it but it helps me. Something online like a new lipstick, underwear, something just for me that I dont need I just want. It helps.

Hot shower, fresh bed linen.

Hang in there op. Tomorrow is another day.

Going out for a few pints and listening to open mics in local area

I like the idea of an emotional clean in the shower!

I think it was Estee Lauder used to have a cleanser called Wash the Day Away.

My mum had it and I sometimes think of that if I get under a hot shower at the end of a not so great day.

Being with the dog. Got me through my breakdown, that and coffee. Be well
x

@Coffeeehelps
Looking at bodies of clear transparent water. I like the sound of water too. This could mean looking at photos or videos online too.
I also find looking at space and the solar system helps with my anxiety.
It strange because I like to know that I am but a speck of almost nothing, and so my already nonsensical worries become less significant.

Treat myself like I'm an animal in a zoo and imagining what the zookeeper would do to make sure they were looking after their animals.

Hydration- making sure I have both drunk water recently and have future hydration available (get fave drink in, fill water bottle and have it next to me while working.
Nutrition- eat something. Anything. I struggle to eat when stressed/overwhelmed/depressed so need to get over the non eating barrier first. Then plan food that is sustaining and that I want to eat. Chatgpt has been surprisingly good at this as a prompt when I'm struggling. It takes account of my million and one sensory issues and suggests easy, extremely low mental energy foods.
Basic hygiene- teeth, hair, deodorant, clothes. Start with one and work up.
Habitat- clean a spot (NOT the whole house) that's nice to be in.
Enrichment- something to perk up the environment. Music for example or some flowers to make it look prettier. A treat for my brain that isn't doomscrolling.
Fresh air/exercise- walk around the block and look at something in the distance to reset my perspective when I've just been staring at a screen.
Medical- check in with gp, take meds.
Socialisation- a call with my work bestie who is used to me melting down and can distract me from endless rumination with either reminiscing about the old days or providing gossip.

All things that make me feel better, but I need to actually be pushed to do.

I have David Attenborough narrating in my head to motivate me

When I'm really, really stuck I have been known to ask chatgpt to get me out of bed. Its crackers but just having something to give me the babiest of baby steps (it asked if I was sitting or lying in bed and then told.me just to sit up for 2 minutes first) helped break the spell that was stopping me doing the zookeeper routine and I did end up feeling better.

@Coffeeehelps a nice bath with a book or film on a tablet. Spray of nice scent, body cream etc

I have David Attenborough narrating in my head to motivate me

I LOVE this: "In moments of melancholy, the creature moves slowly, but still surely, through its task list. A quick walk will soon revive its spirits somewhat ...."

I can almost hear him!

A walk with my dog
Strong cup of tea.
Completely clear coffee table
Absolute peace and quiet.

That's exactly what it sounds like! I think it's the way he always makes you root for the animals in his nature documentaries so you end up rooting for yourself.

Lifting heavy weights - literally some days I have turned up with tears in my eyes and by the end of the session I'm laughing and smiling.

Weirdly enough I actually do this with my dc getting ready for school - especially when they are grumpy to have been woken, as you are right, it is calming and it is impossible to be annoyed with Attenborough. Something like "The young lesser-spotted mole is reluctant to emerge after waking, but the smell of toast will soon lure it from its burrow. It knows other moles will devour all traces of toast before it arrives if it does not hasten." DC 2 often starts acting the part.

But using it on yourself is genius. I have never thought of that and it's brilliant.

This, but a very long walk somewhere scenic if possible.

Tidy up/ clean important bits
Go for a run or walk / 20 mins is fine
Have a nice hot bubble bath
Put on soft clean clothes - t shirt and trackies
Snuggle up on the sofa and watch something gentle, feel good and uplifting
Make a list of all the things I have to feel grateful for
Know that ‘this too shall pass’

I wish you well x

Facing the sun and closing my eyes. Even if its just through an open window.

This sounds a great idea it must be a comfort when you hear the "thing" you know will make you laugh or at least enjoy it.

Smallest of small achievable things: a cold glass of water, have a stretch, massage your temples, spray nice perfume down your top so you can put your jumper over your nose and mouth to smell something nice when no one is looking, have a shake of everything on the spot when appropriate, put something on telly that will always make you laugh, put some nice handcream on and massage it in, get a cheap scalp massager and have a go of that.
Have some nice sweet and salty popcorn.
The list above is nice, but, yeah, I mainly pick at and eat the skin around my fingernails and vape while dreaming of winning £15 million on the lottery.
I hope you feel better soon.

Going outside

Exercise outside. A hot bath with a candle. A good book . Hot chocolate and a bunch of daffodils.