[Mari]

Hi,
I thought that I would check in and see how people manage their moods.
Here is something I ran across tonight. Some of these strategies help me.

I know that we can't follow all suggestions for healthy living but it helps me to be aware of techniques.

I keep looking for and collecting other strategies.



http://www.intent.com/blog/2009/02/2...shake-bad-mood

How to Shake Off a Bad Mood

Some of the article is bogus but I found value in this part:

1.

Start cultivating an awareness of other people’s body language, tone of voice and word choice. When you are near someone who is frowning, how do you feel? Practice developing radar for people’s energy. Self-awareness will break it.

2.

Don’t be afraid to shed other people’s toxicity by distancing yourself which includes the media like TV, especially if you are in eye contact which can become hypnotic. After all, you are careful about eating foods with pesticides and artificial ingredients, why should toxic people and toxic news be different? Change the channel.

3.

Exercise it away! While you move away from negativity, keep on walking to ease on down the road. Exercise will rebalance your neural circuitry and change your mood. Meditation, watching a comedy or calling up a positive friend will also positively change brain activity.

-->>I'm pretty good at number 1.

The 8 years of something close to CBT helped. The tdoc helped me learn to stay away from other people who are less than helpful. I am pretty good at this most of the time.
I'll even go to great lengths to stay away from people -- to the point of near rudeness. The heck with them. I value control over my own moods. Hubby and I have had to each either sever ties with relatives or severely reduce contact with them. So there can be a huge cost involved, but the advantage can outweigh the down side.


-->>I'm working on number 2.
I find reading news on the internet is less bad than watching it on tv or reading it in the paper. I can read the first few hundred words of an article (enough to be informed) and then move on to a fun site.
Much of the news is repeatition anyway and not necessary to keep up with every day.


-->>Number 3 is my focus right now.
I think I can benefit from more (any) meditation and some exercise.


Can you tell that I am a little concerned about going back to work on Monday after having a week off? I am trying to prepare myself and focus on the people I like interacting with.

M.