6 Ways I Pick Myself When I’m Feeling Down

I had a couple of dark days last week; for no obvious reason my mood suddenly plummeted and I went from screeching along to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend songs in my car to sobbing on the floor hugging my knees with my back to the radiator.  I’m fine now, but every now and then I stumble like that.  Sometimes it’s just a little trip and I manage to keep going – with a quick glance over my shoulder in case anyone noticed – but other times I fall hard and can’t get back up.  Sometimes I stay down for days and need a little help getting back up again, and it’s usually little things that make a big difference 🙂

▲  Get out!  I know, ground breaking right?  While I hate the condescending “just go for a walk” as a miracle cure for all mental health problems, getting out and about does help me, but it’s more the process than anything else.  Just forcing myself to do my hair and my eyeliner, get dressed and go out somewhere tricks me into feeling like a ‘normal’ human being again.

▲ Indulge in something that makes you happy.  For me that’s either feasting on a massive cinnamon bun/doughnut/hot dog/plate of nachos, a long bath or buying something new for my wardrobe.  Buying fresh flowers always cheers me up; I don’t know, there’s something about the process of choosing them and then arranging them that I find really relaxing.  Each to their own, but sometimes a little of what you fancy does you good.

▲  Create Something.  Sometimes I bake, sometimes I write, sometimes I doodle.  It helps my mind focus on something else.

▲  Sing, sing, sing!  Nothing can instantly change my mood in the same way that music does.  There are some songs with the power to flip a switch in my head, and so I crank up the car radio and let it all out.

▲ Talk it through.  Both an infuriating and wonderful part of being married is having someone who can instantly read your mood.  When I’m down my instinct is to close up and keep it to myself because I feel like I don’t want to bother anyone with something I feel is “silly”, but a single look is usually enough for Sunny to realise that something’s up and attempt to coax whatever’s bothering me out of me.  I never want to talk, but it always helps.

▲ Breathe.  I’ve been trying a breathing exercise recently that’s really helped whenever I’ve been feeling a bit wobbily.  I can’t for the life of me remember where I read about it, but I tried it once and was amazed how much it helped.  What you do is breathe in slowly and count to five, then hold that breath for seven.  Then breathe out slowly while counting to five.  Repeat a few times and you’ll soon feel relaxed.  Simple, but it works.  I’ve been doing it whenever I’ve had trouble sleeping too.  Seriously, game changer.

What do you do to pick yourself up when you’re feeling down?