I figured I’d make a follow up post that provides some more ideas that may not be as helpful as the first post but I figured I’d share anyway. Warning again as this may be long.
Also note, these do NOT replace medication or therapy but are good to have to use/practice on your own. It also should be noted that some if not all of these will not work for everyone as everyone is different.
Dark chocolate. This one may not be for everyone because not everyone likes dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has a slew of benefits, it’s good for your heart, helps with blood pressure and can help reduce anxiety and improve symptoms of clinical depression. “People who ate dark chocolate in two 24-hour periods had 70% odds of not reporting depressive symptoms than those who did not eat dark chocolate.” I personally love dark chocolate, the higher the percentage, the better.
Weighted blanket. I got a weighted blanket as a Christmas gift and I absolutely love it and it keeps me all warm and cozy during the winter. It can be heavy so make sure you get the appropriate weight if you decide to get one, it can also be somewhat annoying when rolling around trying to get comfy. I’d like to also say that they can be pretty expensive. They’re a type of at-home therapy that provide similar benefits to deep pressure therapy. They’ve shown positive results for several conditions which include autism, ADHD and anxiety. They can help calm a restless body, reduce feelings of anxiety and improve sleep troubles. It DOES get really warm in the summer though so just a heads up!
Anything soft. I used to get anxious or panicky when going to the store. At one point I made a bee-line to the card section which also had stuffed animals. I would walk around the store feeling the softness of it and put it back when we got into the line (this was pre-covid). I always felt embarrassed by it but I always found it helped. I would sometimes bring one to college with me too and found that a few of my classmates would do it too. I used it as a sort of grounding technique or a sensory tool. I found that as long as something was soft, it was enough to help me relax.
Colouring/paint by numbers. Colouring has become a very popular method when it comes to relaxing within the past few years and it’s not hard to see why. It has the ability to relax the fear center of your brain, the amygdala. It induces the same state as meditation which helps reduce thoughts from a restless mind. It creates quietness and mindfulness. Paint by numbers isn’t too far off either as it’s kind of the same but a different form of art.
Seasonal depression lamp. Another thing I got as a gift a few years ago. I was skeptical about it (considering it also came from Amazon) but I’ve come to love it. I find it not only helps with the winter blues but also helps for the very bleak rainy days. Rock salt lamps are great too BUT keep them away from cats, it can make them sick or worse!
Journal prompts. I know, I know, another journal type suggestion but hear me out! This one is a way to reconnect with yourself, or get to know yourself better. There are so many different prompts/questions that you can find (I found tons on Pinterest) that can help with just about anything. Can prove to be useful.
Mantras. Saying something can sound unbelievable, like a lie or maybe cheesy but this is something that everyone should at least try. I find it works best when looking in the mirror and when you say it at least a couple of times. Helps reinforce the mantra. Again, you can find a bunch of ideas anywhere online or you can come up with your own.
Hand over heart. I heard this from a TED talk from someone who suffered from severe anxiety. She said that when you wake up in the morning, place your hand over your heart and say “Good morning (your name here), I love you”. She said that sometimes saying the I love you part can be hard and if that’s the case to simply start with “Good morning (your name here).” She said it helps cultivate self love which is something that’s important to keep up with while dealing with mental illness. I no longer remember what TED talk it was, my boyfriend found it and showed it to me years ago but I always held onto the message.
Cats. Not everyone is a cat lover or has an allergy and that’s okay! If either of these is you, skip this. Any pet is and are great supports when dealing with mental illness but cats have proven benefits that assist with a couple of things. It assists in reducing blood pressure, reduces stress, reduces anxiety, improves your mood and helps with autism. Any pet is great for creating a sense of companionship, I just specifically made this for cats because I’m a cat kind of gal 😛
Rewatching your favourite movie. This is another popular method that a lot of people like to use. Reasons for this is because we know how they’ll make us feel so we can use them to regulate our emotions. When we’re dealing with uncertainty, they can offer predictably and safety. They require less mental energy (which is great after a long and stressful day). And they bring back happy memories from the first time we watched them.
I figured I’d share this too in the event that someone doesn’t know. Alcohol, spicy food, caffeine, nicotine, weed (THC specifically) and junk food/takeout are all triggers that can spike your anxiety and depression. I’m sure it also impacts other mental illnesses as well but I wouldn’t know for a fact.
Find a new hobby. I find when I’m sitting around being sedentary for too long, I start to get lost in my head. Keeping yourself busy is important especially with what’s going on in the world right now. Try something that you wouldn’t think you enjoy? I’ve tried needle-point and I’ll be learning how to knit, two things I never thought I’d ever try. This is always a good outlet because there are so many options!
Create something. Another good thing to do is express yourself through art, any form. Photography, painting, drawing, writing, etc. All are great outlets and is a form of therapy all in itself. If you’re not a very creative person, that’s okay but it’s always worth a try!
Declutter. It’s a proven fact that if your space is cluttered, it takes a toll on your overall mental health. Tidying up can help you feel productive and it can help you figure out what is worth keeping or what to get rid of. In any case, it’s worth doing whenever you feel like your space is getting to cluttered.
And finally this one is a bit random but I found it super helpful. The last counsellor told me that there are “parts” of us so for example I’m a perfectionist so that would be one part of me. He would talk to that one part of me and ask it questions like why I feel need to be perfect and so on and I’d have to reply without thought and some of the things I’d say aloud surprised me. This one was fine with a counsellor BUT it can be done on your own time too and it can be really beneficial.
Anyway, I don’t think this note of ideas is as helpful as the last one but these were just a few more things I thought of as I was trying to fall asleep. Hope this helps in some capacity.
Take care of yourselves 🤗🖤
Some Friday words of wisdom....
Just thought you should know 
Some Adult Problems
some days.
