When depression and/or anxiety are hitting especially hard, one of the best ways to relieve your brain of negativity like ruminations, negative self-talk, and thinking of harming yourself, is to find a good distraction. You may not feel like doing much of anything, so some suggestions of what to try are watching a "light" show on TV (streaming or videos you own), coloring, strumming a guitar, reading a magazine or short blog, and anything else that gets your brain focused on something else.
If you have energy for it, taking a brisk walk outside (even if it's for only 5 minutes), doing some yoga, cooking a simple lunch, and/or going out for a drive around the block can help, too. These are a few ideas - many simple and easy activities can help get your brain on a different track.
Do you have only the tiniest bit of energy? Listen to some music you like, phone a friend, or pet a cat, dog, or other companion from the animal kingdom. (Maybe not lions. They are unpredictable). You got he idea, though.
Energy is often at a premium and limited when depression and/or anxiety have you in their grip. If you do something that exceeds the energy you have, the distraction may not be as helpful. Stay within your comfort zone, and the distraction you choose can potentially create positive feelings.
Hobbies are nice to have as a distraction. When you're feeling up to it, find one that you enjoy, and that doesn't require a great deal of energy. Then, when you need it, you can pick it up and work on it for a while to distract your brain. A few examples are stitching, painting, working puzzles, and making model cars, planes, etc.
The key is to get out of the downward spiral of negative thinking. What your specific distractions are may vary. Try to have that set of "tools" at the ready. Don't allow your brain to "beat you up."
"I need distractions. Good distractions, not bad ones. A good distraction for me is a great play." ~ Danny Aiello
What Distractions Do You Find Helpful?
0%Walking
0%Driving
0%Reading
0%Watching TV/Streaming
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