Looking for some coping strategies and self care tips please.

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Hi @Former-Member

Tough one, because its different for everyone. For me, I like reading. But my eyes have been playing up a lot lately, and I find it too hard to read for long. Plus my concentration tends to be really bad when my MH is bad. My psych suggested I get a talking book, and I have recently subscribed to an online audible book company. You can download talking books online and listen via a mobile device from anywhere you like. So thats a new thing for me.

Other than that I like to immerse and lose myself in some craft activities. Diamond painting in a relatively recent thing for me, but I really enjoy it. And you can create something unique and special at the same time. I have made gifts of a number of these so far, christmas and birthday and thank yous.

Exercise is good, and I am a member of my local gym. I try to make the treck into town twice a week. But with the recent coronavirus thing, gyms are a day to day prospect as to whether they are open or closed. Taking your dog for a walk is great, because its social as well as good physically. I used to take my little dog for regular walks, but she has recently become very deaf (she's aging) and that makes it more difficult to take her anywhere. A lot of safety risks for her unfortunately.

Although I am not personally into shopping myself, a lot of people do get a lot of pleasure from retail therapy. Ie shopping for clothes, shoes, makeup, jewellery, etc.

Listening to music is good, as is having a collection of good movies to watch when you need them. Or if you're lucky, a foxtel subscription which you can watch something on demand. I love sport ... playing, watching. But unfortunately the options are very limited with the cancellation of so much sport due to the coronavirus.

I'm sure others will have lots of other ideas too @Former-Member ... incidentally ... I note that you tagged me in your post, but I did not receive a notification. Probably others are the same.

Sherry

Some self care activities that come to mind are :

Reading

Drawing

Diary writing

walking outdoors

have a massage

tasty food

photography

gardening

leaving thinking about work at work

writing to a penpal

colouring in

aromatherapy

meditation

see a movie

cooking

learning new things

see an art exhibition

creative writing

have a long hot bath

see a theatre production

hope that list is helpful

Thanks @Former-Member and not sure why no one got a notification, sorry

Thank you @DesertRat

@Former-Member

I have these on my phone which I use

Thanks @Snowie

@Former-Member

It is so personal. The lists of enjoyable activities people posted has helped me a lot with coping.

I also have a pile of go to books that are my "in a tough spot" books. I can recommend some of mine but the one's that resonate with me, might not for you. Re-reading them is good because I totally forget it when I'm in the next episode or different parts stand out.

Wellness:

Opppsite action works for me up to a point. I'm sort of creating a list of things that keep me sane and in a routine when I'm well and then trying to intergrate even the smallest steps towards them when I'm unwell. Having the pre-established list helps me not have to come up woth one when my brain isn't functioning. But I totally can't judge myself for not doing them... it's difficult because some things are just not do-able/enjoyable when I'm unwell but they can certainly help me with recovery and, if I can do something close to them, prevent me from getting worse. Starting from - shower, regular bedtime, cooking, b4eathing, walking to... going to a gallery, listening to music that will pull me out instead of dragging me in, seeing friends I trust in a low expectations environment.

And distraction for me is huge for coping in a intense moment. Although that can become avoidance if it goes on for a while.

Thanks @Former-Member , only just saw this, sorry