How do you make yourself feel better?
 

I'm interested in strategies people use to care for themselves when they're feeling a bit down, bored, symptomatic, etc. Even as I gradually improve, I often still have an hour or two or more each day when I feel a bit off or just frustrated.

The annoying thing about this injury is that in the past, exercise was one of the best ways to feel better. Now I'm limited to one or two short, slow walks outside (this is better than nothing, but I cannot wait until I can do more physically).

For the time being, some effective interventions for me are (some better than others, depending on how symptomatic I am):

- Taking a hot bath (this can be very effective)

- Meditating for 20 mins

- A cup of hot tea and/or a snack (yogurt, fruit, nuts, chocolate in moderate doses, etc)

- Lying down and resting for a half hour or hour

- Doing one or two simple things from my to-do list

- Reading for short stretches (funny, light, intelligent, well-written is good)

- Watching part of a movie (half a movie is usually my limit)

- Spending time with my girlfriend (probably the best of all)

If you have them, pets are wonderful. My dogs always want to go for walks, but are just as happy to sit in my lap and be adored. I've tried some meditation-and in the past, and right now, just can't quite concentrate on it. Hot green tea with berries (lipton brand) is delicious with a little Splenda. I'm able to concentrate more so reading is nice and short entertaining television is good. People watching makes me happy to. People in general are so funny, the things they say, do, and wear.

Hope you find something that puts all right with your world!

- Color (google "free mandalas to color" or "adult coloring pages")

- Listen to nature sounds (rain falling, waves, etc.)

- Talk to a friend on the phone

- Do your nails

- Do your hair

- Listen to a meditation or guided relaxation podcast

- Pet your cat (or dog)

- Do gentle yoga

- Smell interesting things (spices, perfumes, candles)

- Make and drink HERBAL tea (no caffeine!!)

Thanks for the good list of things that help you. I really appreciate it.

Donna:grouphug::hug::winky:

Well, I usually go to the quietest place in the house and just relax. Try to stay away from any stressful situations. Take a 30-60 min nap. The other day I laid in the grass under a tree and cleared my thoughts. Talk to someone about how your feeling [family member or close friend that knows what your going through]. I'm not sure if you've been prescribed any medications, but I found that taking the hydrocodone[pain] and cyclobenzaprine[muscle relaxer] together as prescribed and just taking it easy really helps. As I find other new ways of dealing, I'll let you know.

greenfrog...love this post! thanks

I watched a bit of housewives today -- always good for a laugh. I can't tolerate much tv (STILL) or anything for that matter. (I'm in a bad mood right now because my head is killing me)

I even attempted the relaxing thing on the couch (relax is not a word in my vocabulary) I just simply don't know how!

I love chatting with friends...and that seems to be one of my biggest headache offenders - whether in person or on phone. This I just don't understand!! (At present moment...blaming the head pain on tmj..but I think its probably the brain!)

bath...usually relaxing...especially with some lavendar sea salts

take a walk with my dog (and my sister's puppy I'm babysitting for)

meditation -- I'm not good at it

I'm looking forward to reading what other people write for this post...as I need all the pointers I can get.

- Lipton's Herbal Morrocan tea- its unbelievable!
- Being decisive by determining what is key to my life/ me. Being relaxed about what is not.
- Listening to favourite music on YouTube/ potentially downloading it on i-Tunes
- Going for a drive with good music on
- Giving myself time to do a task so do not rush through it and miss the satisfaction of it
- Doing less; not trying to fit in too much and be disappointed and feel have no time
- Tidying up
- Reading- this will probably sound pretentious- short articles from the Economist
- Planning- when have time to do x, y, z
- Not planning
- Eating breakfast every day with cereal that really enjoy and freshly squeezed orange juice- relatively expensive, but worth it
-Thinking that hitting your head is not all negative and how it has made me more compassionate/ emphatic/ perhaps nicer person
-Thinking that having hit my head is a challenge and is ok that I have to endure it as I am strong, even when evidence can suggest otherwise

Pray & read the Bible.

Go to these forums & Daily Strength for insight.

Be thankful that it isn't worse, and how far I've come in the past 14 months.

Watch (on YouTube) & play (once in a while) video games I enjoy.

Have a beer once in a while.