What do you do to help when your mood is low?

[Sleepdeprived42long]

Every few weeks I have days where I have low mood. Not triggered by anything. No underlying health reasons as confirmed by GP blood tests. I just wake up and feel exhausted, lacking in motivation to do anything, irritable etc. It usually passes after a few days. Exercise doesn’t seem to help unfortunately:-( There have been times where it’s went on for a few weeks and I’ve had seratriline(sp?) for a couple of weeks which has helped.

I wish there was something I could do to prevent it though as it’s so disruptive to my life! So what do you do to help if you have low mood? I think I need to try something different!

I'm the same sometimes a playlist of your most random favourite songs helps? I know that's not much help but it lifts me a little bit And I just get on with cleaning etc.

Music helps - I put on my headphones (i walk to work) and get going.

keeping busy - get myself a wee project to focus on.

Tidying up. Something you can see results in - even if it’s just the Tupperware cupboard of doom or the cutlery drawer.

Wim Hoff breathing on youtube is very good as are cold showers.

Getting outside for a walk. I have to really force myself to get out and it’s not always a long walk but it does help.

sometimes as well, I let myself give in to it. Just let myself have a day moping around, not forcing myself to feel better and sleeping as much as I need.

My mum used to say - have a nice bath and wash your hair.

I'm the same so watching with interest.

I find going for a walk listening to music helps- I get quite low sometimes and this helps- just make sure it's not something sad so you don't wallow in the lowness.

I'm exactly the same. At the end of every month so presume it's hormonal. I've had a Mirena coil for 18 years so have no periods.
I'm horrible to be around for about 4 days.
I just walk the dogs alot and help my Dd with the Horses.
I feel so low and hateful 😞

I was going to say music too.

I have a lot of sleep (early to bed and naps) and drink a lot of water, eat something comforting.

Then the next day I go for a run or walk for an hour or so with the dog.

I feel low every month for 24 hours due to PMT. The above always helps!

Stay away from booze and don't try and carry on as normal. Respect the fact you're feeling low and act accordingly (where possible).

Also tell the people you live with that you're feeling bad so they're aware. Tell them how they can help you, usually I say to my BF I am going to be out of sorts for a couple of days and he knows to leave me to it / bring many cups of tea!

I call these slumps.

Exercise (it doesn't necessarily feel better at the time but I feel better afterwards even if that's days afterwards

A walk, anywhere.

Tidying, sorting something out. The visible results seem to help.

Sleep

I think I've repeated some but that's what I find helpful.

Try putting your favourite uplifting music on and dancing around your living room. I find that helps

You say you've been on sertraline for a couple of weeks. I've been on it for 18 months, and it's changed my life entirely.

It took a couple of months to really kick in, but the days like you describe just no longer happen to me.

Give it time, support yourself with healthy diet, exercise, lots of water and as much positive social interaction as you can, and you will get there :).

I hear you

Sometimes I force myself to acknowledge something positive in my life/surroundings, in the moment, even if it’s just for eg: “I love that plant, it’s looking healthy, I’m glad I got that pot for it”. And then try to find another positive thought, however low key. I try to create a chain of positive thoughts which do not match my initial mood.

Tea/coffee in a good mug.

Paint your nails a bright beautiful colour, if you’re into that.

Listen to podcasts whilst cleaning/tidying up - something absorbing or with positive wellness content such as Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

Declutter one small area, only spend ten or fifteen minutes - not too stressful and a sense of increased order.

Go for a walk/walk the dog.

Text a friend.

I also like WH breathing.

Music music music.

Plus sometimes the tapping technique can be surprisingly helpful: Nick Ortner.

Watch absorbing telly in the eves and maybe do something receptive and creative like knitting.

Will follow this thread with interest! Sending solidarity 💪🏼

As a pp said something as simple as a bath and washing your hair.

Could it be linked to your periods???

PMT and the more severe PMDD can cause low mood out of no where for a couple of days each month.

I find acknowledging it's only temporary and because of my hormones helps me to manage it- plus comfort foods and keeping busy physically or mentally - walking, reading, cross stitch etc.
Also playing music to match my mood so a lot of sweary heavy metal songs!

Hey OP, I try to spend less time online and do things that remind me of my interests. I read, go for a walk, try to watch a film I've been meaning to get around to or listen to a podcast. I try to eat well, get a little more sleep than usual, shower, dress etc. If you have friends who live locally, maybe catch up for a coffee or go for a walk etc.? It can be hard to find the energy for these activities at the time but if I push through and do it, I feel so much better. Good luck OP.

Walk in the countryside
Listen to meditations on the Calm App
Spend time in the garden
Read a book

I bake - the measuring, stirring and mixing is soothing and then you get cake at the end of it.

If you are trying to eat healthily you can make savoury stuff like cheese and vegetable muffins for lunch boxes or quiche etc.

Do something you've never done before every day, however small. It reboots your brain nicely.

Book something to look forward to.

Read a novel you can lose yourself in.

Use this time to binge watch good TV series so that when you feel better you can get out and about and socialise/ Being down is the perfect time to catch up on films and TV.

I also use slumo time to book doctor's and dental apps, hair and brow treatments. By booking, you force yourself up and out. AWhen life is full and fun you don;t want to waste time on this stuff. So it's great to get it done while you have zero energy to do anythng else.

slump not slumo

Went to see Sandi Toksvig last week - brilliant, obviously.

But at the end of the show she said when she feels a bit down she likes to put on Beethoven's 9th symphony and pretend she's conducting the orchestra playing it. She got us all to stand up and do it - it was brilliant fun! And obviously would work with all sorts of classical music 😁

Drive in the car with the music on and sing along at the top of my voice.

Go down a You Tube rabbit hole-reaction videos to comedy programmes are fun. Especially Americans watching British comedy for the first time-and they get it.
Also young people discovering great music for the first time and their reactions.