What drastically changed your mental health

[Chocolatesaltedballs]

Suffering immensely as of late with my mental health. Stress, anxiety, sometimes suicidal thoughts. Currently going to therapy which I have done many times but feel like I’m maybe going around in circles unfortunately. Want to nail it once and for all if that’s even possible.

so may I ask, If you ever felt like i do presently, what did u do to change it for the better?

Had a dreadful six months last year when lots of things hit a downward spiral at once. This is on a background of major bereavement five years ago and having been in therapy nearly all that time. I had to take 2 weeks off work, which I barely remember anything of except misery and stress.

I went to my GP and got antidepressants. I couldn't pull myself up by my bootstraps at that time. And I kept walking, pretty much every day, even if it was only a short distance. It passed and things are a lot better. I hope you find a way forward.

EMDR and schema therapy have together had the greatest effect.

Outside therapy it's been a volunteer role where I'm helpful, have no responsibilities and surrounded by people (service users, volunteers and professionals) who look me in the eyes when they're talking to me (so I feel like I actually exist there and matter like a normal person does), and value my contributions. Or at least I feel those things there. They have no idea at all how I feel/felt outside being there. That also helped, because I could switch off from all my problems and take a break from just wanting to end it all.

Understanding how my brain likely works and that my past impacts my present - so I'm not crazy!

And when I could/can doing a sport that makes me feel good.

One thing I have done is write a go-to list of things that make me feel good/I enjoy. I'd try to do something that would just give me a minute of feeling good. If it didn't then I'd try again another day (not "tomorrow").

But schema therapy and EMDR have been therapeutically extremely helpful.

Walking. Fresh air. Sunshine. Audiobooks. Routine.

@PermanentTemporary which medication did you find helpful ?

Anti-depressants, one therapist who really got me and helped me change perspective, sorting out a decent sleep routine, balanced diet with required supplements (Folic Acid, B12, Vitamin D for me), fresh air and lots of sea walks.

Hardcore exercise, healthy eating and prioritising sleep.

Tried everything but anti-depressants have really helped where all else hasn’t.

Read The Power of Now and A new earth by Eckhart Tolle to help free myself of the grip of my bad thoughts and change my mindset. Truly life changing when your thoughts dont have to make you feel like shit anymore. Watched his YouTube videos too.

Listened to music on YouTube to 'calm the nervous system'

Do reflexology once a month, more if I feel bad.

Drink warm water.

Limit social media completely.

No caffeine, no alcohol.

Regular walks and time with my dog and loved ones.

Gratitude journal.

Accept and feel my emotions eg sadness but remember they are just passing through. Don't be scared of them.

Remove toxic people/ things from my life and set boundaries.

Swimming.

HRT.
Mindfulness.
Prozac
My adhd meds

Meditation. Was life changing for me.

I should add I used to be on antidepressants on and off about 15 years ago but not needed them for a long time now if I stick to good habits. I've also had a lot of therapy over the years when mental health been bad

Pills. No caffeine. Sunlight. Books.

I had a pretty bad episode earlier this year and the one thing that really seemed to help me (randomly) was the sound of birds tweeting. I'd be experiencing really dark moods and the sound of birds would bring me back round and make me focus on just getting through the little things.

Honestly.... when I was betrayed by an ex who replaced me in a heartbeat and did not care one shred for my feelings. It was the most brutal betrayal and changed my faith in humanity.

I haven't been the same since and whilst it actually came with many positives and gave me a massive shake up forcing me to forge out a new life.... I do sometimes miss the carefree naïve personality I had before.

I reached rock bottom and it's something that has had a profound effect on my mental health. I hate to admit that as it comes with the sense that 'he won'.

The thing that helped me the most was getting a cat - having another living being in the house and having something to care for and to give/receive affection to/from made a massive difference.

@kizziee Sertraline. I've taken it once before. This time it was incredible. The first day I took them it felt like the empty echoing spaces in my brain full of terror had been filled with soft pink cotton wool. I took them for 5 months.

Weight lifting. I started training 3 times a week and now it's 5 or 6, I don't think I could function without it anymore. I train at 5.30am and it makes me get out of bed and helps me deal with the days stresses. Since I started I've been able to reduce my antidepressants to a very low dose.

EMDR. A job I don't hate. Quite a lot of exercise. Investing some time in friendships as well as relationships.

For me, routine, keeping my house clean, therapy with the right therapist (had to try a few), meditation and self reflection.

Identifying what others would see me doing/ what I'd feel/ how I'd behave when I'm feeling good, and identifying what others would see me doing/ what I'd feel/ how I'd behave when I'm not doing good. That really helped me work out when I was starting to struggle much earlier and then push myself to do the things that make me feel good. I also cut a lot of people out of my life who were draining more than they were giving to my life and I'm super picky about who I spend time and energy on now.

Fluoxetine & walking in nature.

Gratitude journal. I know it’s hard to believe, I didn’t believe it would work when I did it, but after a couple of weeks it totally changed my mindset to see the positives. 3 things a day for 2 weeks, I didn’t even write them down.

I do it occasionally now, if I think of it, but I don’t need to do it anymore. I do it every so often with my kids too.

HRT

Exercise. I got into playing netball and loved it but was very unfit so i did couch 2 5k to up my cardio fitness. I swapped couch 2 5k for hiit sessions and the odd run once completed. Once I got into the habit of exercising regularly I knew I'd feel shit if I didn't do it and the thought of how shit I'd feel is what motivated me to exercise even when I didn't want too. You do actually enjoy it after a while though and mostly want to do it. It worked well for a few years until I replaced exercise with studying for a degree

Divorce. Best thing ever. Gone from basket case to functioning person again. No more meds, no anxiety, no depression. Just happy.