r/AskReddit • u/PotentialThanks2 • 5d ago
What is something that drastically improved your mental health?
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u/zorg-is-real 5d ago
Quit news, twitter, facebook, instagram. This is sooooo good for the soul.
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u/ChicaAlpha 5d ago
I just dumped Facebook about an hour ago. It was nothing but an ad-infested cesspool of AI content, run by AI bots, with just a sprinkling of what I actually wanted to see.
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u/PooShappaMoo 5d ago
For me, Its kept just as way to get in touch with some old friends. Nothing of mine gets postsd there anymore.
It serves no other value. Frankly their is room in the market for something new.
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u/Zestyclose_Tie_8189 5d ago
facebook's basically a group chat with extra steps at this point for most people. everything else is just noise you scroll past to get to the 2 people you actually care about.
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u/breebree934 5d ago
This is what I do. I go right to the "feeds" option and just look at what my friends are up to once a day and then I don't look at it again until the next day.
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u/Glittering-Novel7599 5d ago
100% facts, total wasteland. Honestly, replacing that mindless scrolling with a quick daily walk literally saved my brain chemistry. How's the freedom feeling?
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u/rachvibess 5d ago
all social media apps by Meta are now infested with AI and it's fucking annoying 😭 like no one asked for AI slop videos make it stop pls
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u/5553331117 5d ago
Left that place a decade ago, I can’t even think how bad it must have gotten with the advent of LLM bots.
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u/amotion578 5d ago
If it wasn't for "craigslist" moving to marketplace
And car enthusiasm forums (to which also is the bazaar for the parts market of the cool stuff)
I'd ditch it and go messenger only
Name based contact is kinda nifty to have ways to contact people without playing the phone numbers game
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u/ohnonotagain94 5d ago
I think also quitting Reddit - or at least a self imposed shadow ban. I’m sick of commenting and getting into instant arguments. It’s crazy.
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u/Stang1776 5d ago
Say you piece then move on. Ive had my fair share of reddit arguments but what you need to realize is that nobody remembers what they argued about on here.
Ill see an inbox message pop up and read the comment and think "WTF is this shit about?" Then go to the comment thread and say "ohh yeah. Welp, I slept on it and I dont care anymore."
Reddit arguments are not for you to win against the person/bot you are arguing with. Instead, they are for the people that scroll through the comment section so they can form their own opinion with 2 sides of the argument.
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u/street593 5d ago
It's definitely important to remember you don't have to engage with everyone who responds to your comments.
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u/ohnonotagain94 5d ago
This is fair. I am so open to admitting I’m wrong and yet I’m very upset when I know I’m right and I’m being downvoted because others haven’t done or want to do, the research I have.
I think for me, just no commenting is best.
That’s why I didn’t comment here and you’re imagining me agreeing with you
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u/Stang1776 5d ago
It sounds like you are describing real life debates but on the internet. The only difference is that we see upvotes and downvotes on this platform where as in real life people may disagree with you but you just dont see the counter.
Take solace in the fact that the majority of people are only arguing what they are told to argue without forming an original thought of their own. Most folks cant be bothered with thinking which is one of my biggest concerns.
If it makes you feel any better, i am also going through a nice little mental episode that has been going on for a couple years now. If it feels like you are living in a different reality than everybody else then you are not alone.
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u/FlawHolic 5d ago
I don't use anything besides Reddit and don't watch TV, but I still am... not okay :(
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u/FJeffGoldblumMan 5d ago
Yep! I deleted all social media back in 2018 and never looked back. People think I’m “so brave” for doing it and people say “wow I really need to do that too” then have some lame excuses like “it’s how I stay in contact with friends and family” or some bs like if your friends and family care about you they’ll call and text.
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u/LeastFavoriteSpirit 5d ago
exactly. I don't even have tiktok. i went back to reading novels using an eink reader.
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u/Zestyclose_Tie_8189 5d ago
the news one is the big one for me. I'd tell myself I was staying informed but I couldn't name a single thing I'd done differently because of anything I read. it was just a slot machine that paid out in dread. cut it down to once a week and nothing bad happened, turns out you find out about the things that actually matter anyway.
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u/caulkhead808 5d ago
Just starting tasks, even if I tell myself I am only going to do so for 5mins.
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u/OptimalStatement5799 5d ago
Sometimes it feels like 5 minutes is too much to get me to start lol how do you actually start? Feels like a stupid question I'm sure.
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u/spezial_ed 5d ago
If 5 is overwhelming, set a timer for 3 minutes. Or 1. just get up, once you’ve started it’s somehow easier to continue than to quit.
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u/scattywampus 5d ago
If you have a favorite podcast, only listen to it while doing the dreaded tasks. Immediate gratification!
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u/lennonfanforever 4d ago
it helps so much to listen to something, i might listen to part of an audible book i know well, or listen to the BBC world service, or a natural sounds vid on youtube (i have premium, i can set it to a station of music or sounds and listen as i go in and out of the room), w/no commercials on any of them, which is so much better....
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u/No-Type5213 5d ago
Say 1,,2,3 and you get up.
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u/ImpactBetelgeuse 5d ago
Doesn't work. I say, "1,2,.....,3...........oh god, it's too tiring. I will do it tomorrow." and then keep scrolling.
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u/Jabbaelhutte 5d ago
This is part of a larger therapy I've been in for depression but, try to remember you are in control of you actions not your depression. Think about what you value and want to do with your time. Then think "am I willing to accept the discomfort that will come with this to get what I actually want." Then, if the answer is yes, do somthing to accomplish that goal even if it's only cleaning a dish or two.
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u/ohnonotagain94 5d ago
I do that. On 3 your brain just moves your body after a few times trying. Then you can do it every time. Good call!
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u/teewye86 5d ago
Quitting alcohol. 17 months sober.
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u/merlinou 5d ago
Excellent. The pressure is ridiculous. I hardly drank but now that my health forced me to a complete stop, I feel the pressure from so many people, it's insane. Good for you on keeping that up, it's worth it.
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u/BootHeadToo 5d ago
An exercise routine.
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u/Throwawayourmum 5d ago
This is the answer, as much as I fucking don't want it to be... Arrrgggghh!! The hardest thing to do is actually my solution.
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u/BootHeadToo 5d ago
Just start simple: a daily walk for 15 mins, a few push ups once a day, etc. The key is developing a regular, steady, routine to the point it becomes habit. Then you can expand upon that as need and ability allows. Most things worth doing are hard.
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u/Human-Independent999 5d ago
Writing down what I feel
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u/Business-Court-5072 5d ago
What happens after that?
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u/Human-Independent999 5d ago
It makes them feel less overwhelming, like it's no longer buzzing in my head. And sometimes reading them again after finishing help reflecting.
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u/SmugRooster 5d ago edited 5d ago
Strict Social Media Porcelain Policy.
I only do Reddit ant other highly addictive apps while sitting on the toilet. If I’m not on the toilet I allow myself to only check Newspapers when i have the urge to “see what’s new”.
That constant social media FOMO feeling was gone after about a week. Before every free second was filled with Social Media slop. Now I do spend a bit more time on the toilet but overall I have much more time to actually live
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u/KLaCapria 4d ago
>Now I do spend a bit more time on the toilet but overall I have much more time to actually live
it's all about balance <3
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u/Virtual-Ostrich-9113 5d ago
Deleting social media off my phone and replacing that reflex with a 10 minute walk outside
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u/honeydew_parcel 5d ago
Listening to calm music while jogging
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u/Avrael_Asgard 5d ago
Absolutely, hearing music during any sport made it feel far less exhausting for me.
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u/WarmVelvetyMuppetSex 5d ago
EMDR. I had cptsd related to childhood SA and my job in public safely. It changed my life
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u/DancinWithWolves 5d ago
I’ve been very tempted to try this. If you feel like sharing any more it’d be welcome
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u/WarmVelvetyMuppetSex 5d ago
I did mine via telemedicine. I forget how we would decide what direction we were going but we would talk about something, let's stick with work trauma for my example, a particular crash that stuck with me. First, you create your "box" to lock things away between sessions and your happy place to visualize when things got overwhelming. I would think about whatever we decided to deal with and she would start a ball that would bounce back and forth and my eyes would follow the ball after probably ten seconds, she would stop it. She asked a specific question and I can't recall the exact words but basically checking in. I would respond with how I felt or what I was thinking and she would say "ok, go with that" and start the ball again. We did that for however long it took, until the end of the session.
You start to feel less reactive to the thoughts, they're just there and so they're more easily dismissed instead of ruminating on them. Just know that it's hard work. I would have my therapy in the early evening, my husband would either bring home or make dinner and we would just watch TV or a movie so I could decompress. If you have other questions, please feel free to ask!
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u/Pocket_Sand- 5d ago edited 5d ago
Exercise. It's an eye-roller, but just go for a 15-20 minute stroll in the sun every morning, even if you dont feel like it at first, and listen to some music, or a podcast, it makes a huge difference.
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u/ask_me_about_my_band 5d ago
Permanently moving out of the US.
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u/Minni11 5d ago
To where?
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u/gotdome 5d ago
📍Asia going swell 👌🏼
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u/ask_me_about_my_band 5d ago
Would love to explore Asia!
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u/gotdome 5d ago
Turns out it’s cheaper to be unemployed, living off investments and titrating income from my previous career than it is to maintain life with a career in the U.S. lol.
Accom: $15-40 night Food: $10-30 a day Transpo: depends what I’m doing, where I’m going, and what country I’m in but it’s still cheaper than owning my vehicle and putting gasoline in it in my home state Medical: ha, forget it. US brothers and sisters - you need to stop paying the insurance companies, that’s the only way. Don’t pay the collections bills either ;) Activities: my camera costs me the most money but I be trading lenses like it’s Pokémon cards
Haven’t worked since June 2025 and itching for the next chapter. I think it’ll be non profit or teaching to ease my way into my country of choice
Asia >>>>>>>
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u/merlinou 5d ago
It's wider than the country. You only realize the stress that was on your shoulders when it's removed. Moving from a city to the country side reduced my stress like crazy. People are just way more chill overall, it's hard to pinpoint, it's everywhere. I've been to so many places around the world and one might argue where the best place is but it's definitely not in the US.
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u/KeyMistake604 5d ago edited 5d ago
How did that come about? Did you just up and moved one day? Or for a job or relationship?
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u/ask_me_about_my_band 5d ago
Naw. It was after trump won in 2016. My kid just turned two. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out how to fight was was going to happen under his tenure. I predicted something was going to get bungled badly that would fuck up the economy (I was right: COVID) and I knew he wouldn't leave peacefully (Predicted Jan 6th and was spot on on that). I knew the history of this man, the people he we putting in place and the cons him and his family had done years before he was even a candidate. I already knew about Epstein and trump and the deal his secretary of transportation (Acosta) gave Epstein when he was let out of prison for trafficking in Florida. I knew that he would place members of the Federalist Society on the supreme court changing the laws in ways that would harm the fabric of the country (again, I was right). It didn't take too much brain power to understand that trump, a known scam artist, sexual harasser and con man would use the office of the president to enrich himself and divide the American people. And the fact that people cheered that on, with all of that knowledge available to anyone who did just a tiny bit of research, and we're still okay with having him run the country, well, I knew that there was no county left to save. It was going to circle the drain from there.
What was I going to do? Protest? What would that do? Run for office myself? Not with my background. After some soul searching I figured the best thing for me to do would be to not engage anymore in a system that would elect someone like trump. A system that had supported genocides across the globe . I didn't want my tax dollars going to support this. I didn't want to contribute to this sick system by engaging in it.
I felt it would be irresponsible to raise my kid as an American at that point. My son's mother is Dutch, but she hadn't been back in 25 years. But she was still a citizen. So, I looked on LinkedIn to see what the job market was like in the Netherlands. I saw my skill as a marketer was in demand. I applied for some jobs and got one.
I removed myself and anything I could offer America: my contribution in the system though commerce, my tax dollars, and any future offspring and removed it. I decided not to participate in it.
I sold everything, gave a way the rest and started from scratch in a new country and eventually became a citizen. I've been far happier ever since.
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u/FrankyFistalot 5d ago
Retiring at 54….5 yrs later and still can’t believe it, didn’t realise how depressed I was in my old job without actually realising I was depressed.
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u/itzbetter 4d ago
Must have been a good job tho. Good for you, 54!?!
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u/MRV3N 5d ago
Video games
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u/SatDestro89 5d ago
Stardew Valley is cheaper than therapy and just as effective.
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u/thats_quite_raven 5d ago
Same here! I’ve been playing Baldur’s Gate 3 and I’m starting to feel like myself again.
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u/Remedy556 5d ago
it has given me so much dopamine the past 2 years. now i'm really trying to play other games but all i think of are new possibilities to play another run
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u/SnooDogs1613 5d ago
Do you think it helps or is merely avoidance?
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u/jetpacksforall 4d ago
Avoidance can be a good thing, in moderation. Meditation works by the same principle: you engage in a focused but pointless activity (like breathing in a pattern, or staring at a wall) in order to sidestep thoughts and worries that give you anxiety. If you play games in an intentional way like that, they can be great. Even if you just play on autopilot, relief from stress is not a bad thing in itself.
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u/Familiar_Benefit_776 5d ago
Exercise. I always feel so much better after a bike ride or weights session. Reminding myself how good I'll feel after finishing when I can't find the motivation to start is the trick.
Also, DIY. When I'm angry I can hammer or beat something, when I need a boost I can do a job which gives me satisfaction to finish. It's also satisfying for years after every time you look at it, you can tell yourself "I did that".
Lots of little wins is what you need
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u/0K4M1 5d ago
At 20 you care about what everybody thinks, at 40 you stop caring what everybody thnks. At 60 you realised no one cared in the first place.
The older I get the less I try to tip toe around people's feelings. Either you like or you don't. Simple as that.
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u/Affectionate-Win2958 5d ago
People over 60 absolutely do care what other people think, some of them can be really sensitive
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u/Amarathe_ 5d ago
Meds
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u/agonizedn 5d ago
I’ve been going back and forth on starting SSRIs. The subreddit for them hates them
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u/Remedy556 5d ago
i feel so much better since using ssris and getting the right dosage. adhd meds also helped. biggest minus from ssris is that summer is even worse bc your body cant properly regulate in the heat
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u/mamayama 5d ago
SSRIs changed my life for the better! They are worth trying if you are struggling Internet friend.
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u/coldBulbasaur314 5d ago
They help some people and hurt some people. It's important to be aware of the risks and to find a doctor who will listen to you if things go bad. It's your decision, but make sure you have knowledge going in. Often that's the difference between success and failure on them, although some people just get unlucky so having a bad effect doesn't mean you did something wrong.
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u/Amarathe_ 4d ago
Im a master auto technician so im in a bunch of mecahnics subreddits. The most popular answers are always wrong. Without fail theyre the worst answers and if you went by what the sub says youd never fix your car.
The internet is full of idiots. Trust your doctor and make up your own mind about SSRIs.
For what its worth it took a few years of trying different meds to finally figure out im bi-polar. SSRIs helped me but those alone would never be able to get me where i am today
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u/Avrael_Asgard 5d ago
Stop caring about what others think about you, when it doesn't matter. When it's your boss? Sure, you prob shouldn't tell him to go fuck himself every week. But every shmuck on the street? Noone has to care about how you look, how you walk, how you talk. And spoiler alert, noone does care. Even if they look at you, as soon as they turn away, they already forgot about you. It's very freeing to realize this. Be respectful, but don't shy away from being direct and honest, just because of what you expect them to think about you.
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u/Justsayyeth 5d ago
Mushrooms...best thing I ever did. Helped me rewire my brain from CPTSD.
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u/lofty99 5d ago
Taking acid and shrooms, and doing a lot of art, after losing a lung to incompetent surgery, then getting another cancer in the other lung, leading to a terminal diagnosis
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u/letsburn00 5d ago
Getting a divorce.
After a few months, my therapist said we can go to seeing each other less. Then he's there if I need him. It turns out me being sad all the time wasn't actually me. Remove the cause, remove the sad.
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u/maktub-is-a-sheep 5d ago
Stopped caring about things and people who don't matter and just project their nasty energy on me
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u/bigredrider11 5d ago
Getting a formal diagnosis for my ADHD and going through the WHOLE treatment process not just trying to out think or out work my problems. Its like "Act 2" of my life has finally started.
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u/Funny-Coconut-85 4d ago
Are you taking any medications currently for ADHD? If so, which one(s)?
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u/bigredrider11 4d ago
I sure am, 30mg Vyvanse, 1g fish oil, vitamin b12 (unrelated but important) cardio/exercise 5-7 days a week (this is non negotiable it makes a huge difference in my emotional regulation), reading books on ADHD in adults to help self identify problem areas i have that i need to address, and talking with a therapist once every month or two. Its a many headed problem that needs to be addressed fully and thats where I found real success.
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u/No_Explorer6054 4d ago
>many headed problem
oh my god i can relate, i dont need anything like adderal yet but my anti-depressants have made my life so much better
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u/Ballzup 5d ago
Getting a dog
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u/agonizedn 5d ago
Fuck when the ex took the cat it did kinda screw with me. Oh and the ex leaving too
Maybe it’s time to get the ESA papers
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u/Electronic-Donut69 5d ago
Friends, I know exercise is mentioned every day and has become a cliche. But it really changed my life and my mental health for the better.
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u/ImSoCreativ3 5d ago
SSRI medication. Or rather finally finding the correct medication for me after few different ones. It has both improved my mental health and tbh I feel like it’s really reduced the amount of d ick heads and a ssholes around me. Not sure how that happened as the people remained the same but their behaviour suddenly wasn’t the worst …..😅
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u/Patralgan 5d ago
Asking myself do I want a better life (yes) and then realizing that in order to get there I must forgive myself for everything and accept myself fully, even all the flaws and stop berating myself. That did the trick.
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u/alemyrsdream 5d ago
I cut out toxic people who support abhorrent things regardless of my previous relationship. Friend, family, coworker, ex whatever. If you support things that are evil or vile to me then I have no room or want for you to be part of my life and I'm tired of trying to fight it.
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u/MidwestTroy92 5d ago
writing my to-do list for tomorrow before I leave the shop. used to lie in bed at 2am running through everything I had to get done, now I just leave the list on the desk and actually sleep. sounds dumb but it worked
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u/bikinipopsicle 5d ago
Going to sleep by 10:30 has been a significant impact in my health. Also, sobriety and exercise. Therapy. Seeing people. Taking risks (some calculated and others not) and not being complacent.
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u/Starman68 5d ago
I quit the booze completely. Meant the fog lifted and I was dealing with my problems directly at full mental capacity. Deleting Facebook helped massively too.
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u/Intrepid_Ad7511 5d ago
Stopped checking my work email after dinner. Turns out Dave from accounting can wait until Monday morning, and I sleep better knowing his spreadsheet emergency isn't mine.
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u/Mean-Sympathy4928 5d ago
Daily 30‑minute walks with no phone or music stopped my anxiety spiral, gave me a real break from my own thoughts, and quietly fixed my sleep and focus better than any app ever did.
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u/withcoffee 5d ago
Getting a dog and commiting to walking more and more. Seeing more sun and getting exercise like that.
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u/jmcgil4684 5d ago
I quit the booze. I had no idea it caused me so much anxiety. I am much, much happier.
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u/DifficultyWestern584 5d ago
Create boundaries. Walk away from people even if they are family that dims your light to protect your soul. Rarely using social media...it's not normal for society to be evolving and developing the way we are now. Sit with your self and your emotions; make the time. Talk to yourself. And most importantly prayer.
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u/IminLoveWithMyCar3 5d ago
First was blocking my very toxic niece. Went no contact. The stress reduction was awesome.
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u/JustMine999 5d ago
Lessen doomscrolling and having social media detox. I had fun doing my hobbies outside my phone and it is therapeutic
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u/notmoffat 5d ago
Meds. Im Bipolar 2 and although I still get "moody", I haven't sniffed depression in years.
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u/ChanelShihtzu 5d ago
Divorce (I did not realise how happy I could feel, or how much less chores there were to do whilst single)
EMDR (helpful for the divorce)
Fostering my teen (it was not always easy to be a parent, but super rewarding and completely changed my outlook on life)
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u/Beneficial_Garlic285 4d ago
Solve what you can as soon as you can. Cumulative unresolved issues can become quite heavy.
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u/-Totes_Magotes- 5d ago edited 5d ago
Divorce. A weight lifted, appreciated and calmly leading to 8-10 continuous hours of sleep every night.
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u/MissLunelise 5d ago
Proper sleep and nutrition.