What are some things you do when you feel horrible (that help)?

Hey everyone, just having another serious round of mental breakdowns and I thought I would ask you all this question since I generally feel pretty comfortable about posting here.


Movies are great and all but sometimes I just can't pay attention to them. I generally like to smoke cigarettes but I would eventually like to quite them, I'm even taking some medication right now that's supposed to help me with that.


I am taking this idea that i need to see a therapist seriously, but i feel like in person would be better since i live out in the country and my internet is hit or miss. Any advice for talking to therapists in a more productive way? I'm thinking tonight i'm going to clear all the books off my table and start reading that cognitive behavioral therapy book i ordered off the internet again.

When I'm feeling down, I like to sit in a relaxing chair, (one that reclines), in a dark room, close my eyes, and listen to calming music through headphones. It blocks out the rest of the world for a while, and helps me relax.

I don't know if this will help, but I hope you're feeling better soon.

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go to my gym and use the punching bag at home and my gym and cuddle my cat

CringeFest sorry to hear you're feeling down. My best advice is for you to take your own advice:
I do think seeing a therapist could help you a lot. I've never seen one myself so I can only guess at advice for talking to a therapist, but I'll try: find a therapist you like and trust. If the first therapist you talk to gives you a bad vibe, find another. My other advice is, be completely honest with yourself and your therapist, that way you can get the best help. Things will look better in the near future

First of all, don't ask a bunch of random people on a film forum. Ask a specialist. Not to mention different things may work (or not) for different people. Just listening to calm music or working out is not going to help if you're suffering from serious mental breakdowns

Second of all, how to handle feeling horrible is secondary for you right now. First and foremost, you've got to consult a specialist. Make an appointment to see a doctor, preferably a psychiatrist or whatever equivalent of psychiatrist you have in your country. They may prescribe you some medicine, which will work much better than 'go out and work out'.

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Look, I'm not judging you - after all, I'm posting here myself, but maybe, just maybe, if you spent less time here and more time watching films, maybe, and I stress, maybe your taste would be of some value. Just a thought, ya know.

I am a big believer in meds. You may just be one of those people who needs them just to get over the hump.
I suggest a psychiatrist. They should be able to hook you up with a therapist too. But I don't know what your insurance is like. Mine is good and still psychiatric care isn't the greatest. I am in the US maybe you are in a country that is more forward thinking.


I used to have akathisia in reaction to one of the meds I was on. It made me very anxious to an extreme. I would walk or drive my car around till it went away. Those acitivities might help you. I don't know how you are feeling except you are having dificulty concentrating.



I used to go on forums for those with mental disorders. I liked the schizophrenia forum it easy to say maybe you should ask your doctor to adjust your meds which was usually the problem there. The depression forum was very depressing so I avoided it, but if you are looking for soothing talk or help for depression they might have it.


I belong to a facebook group in honor of youtuber Steve Cash, he used to do funny cat videos before he died. So the forum is dedicated to cat lovers and people with mental health issues. Very kind people there.


Its good you are reaching out.

The low-hanging fruit is basic human needs: get some sleep, drink water, eat well, do a little exercise, get outside and soak up some of that Vitamin D.

Heck, sometimes I wonder why I feel so good and I realize I just heard a really upbeat song. We like to imagine our mental state is apart from little things like that, but we're not, and I think we need to run through that checklist to say with confidence that there's an underlying problem that requires something more significant/sophisticated. If all that's checked off and it's still an issue, then I think it makes sense to move on to other things.

Assuming there is not something more physical involved: When I've gone through seriously bad life events, I've had to keep up the sense of humor. So I purposely watched comedies, listened to "Weird Al" Yankovic music (don't knock it till you've tried it), and watched stand-up comedians who were upbeat and funny without being political. As long as I could remind myself that things could still be funny, I could get through almost anything.

And I did.

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Answering the question posed in the thread's title is theoretically fine but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out it's not really asking about every one of us but is tied to the OP's state of well-being. Getting a good night's sleep and watching comedies might be fine for any of you who are healthy and do not suffer from mental illnesses but (it's better and safer to assume the worst) is completely and annoyingly crappy advice for anybody who's suffering from anything more serious than a mood swing.

Drinking water and working out is not going to cure depression, and if anything such advice may piss off the depressed person and make them break down even more. As in, "these 'healthy people' can just go to the gym and they're fine again but I will never be fine again".

Drinking water and working out is not bad advice in general but it isn't good advice for somebody who's gone through severe mental breakdowns and is probably susceptible to mental breakdowns in general, which might be a sign of creeping or existing mental problems such as depression. Mental illnesses are nothing to be ashamed of but have to be treated by a specialist and unless we have medical practitioners here, none of us is a specialist in mental breakdowns (including me).

That's why the OP should see a psychiatrist ASAP and that's the only real, sound advice we can give him. Drinking water and working out will be semi-fitting advice once they've seen a specialist and are on medicine / during therapy.

The point of those recommendations is to rule things out. Nobody’s being pat or assuming this is easily fixed. Sometimes people don’t take care of themselves in basic ways and underrate how much that can affect their mood, particularly if they don’t generally think holistically about these things. It’s worth noting.

I did start my post with "assuming there is nothing physical involved," for that very reason. If it's something that needs a doctor's attention, none of us should be dispensing medical advice. And I'd hope no one would come here to ask for such advice.

Yeah, there's a degree to which responding with seemingly small or trite things is, in effect, respecting the OP as someone who is expecting that kind of advice simply because they asked in this form. It wouldn't make sense to ask this kind of question if there were obviously major underlying issues, since we'd all give the same answer there: talk to a professional. They've mentioned why that's difficult, so in its place (or, ideally, just in the mean time), I take them to be asking for other things they can do, for now, with lower barriers to entry.

taking paroxetin helps

I read once here at MoFo where someone who had a mental illness said that when they allowed themselves to run down and not sleep, their condition got worse. I myself sometimes get so dehydrated that I feel like I've been sedated. So a good night sleep, drinking enough fluids, eating proper and some fresh air and a walk can help at least some...And it's a positive step that can break the daily repetitiveness that can make one feel down.
@CringeFest people care about you! Just know that you're not alone. I'm sure you have friends and family members who love and care about you and as you can see us MoFos do wish you the best. Take care my friend

I find a long walk helps a lot, especially when the sun is shining. I've had mild depression for a while but it started to get worse back in 2019 after a close relative nearly died and I became a full time carer to them. Started to go for walks more especially when it came to lockdown, a walk was wonderful.

It's worth a try especially as you live in the country but for a lot of people exercises, hiking and so on can help quite well. Even so much that the NHS/GPs here in Britain are starting to recommend such things. Nature, walks, exercise and so on.

Books like this are interesting:




And drinking WATER, obvious but it's very very important for the brain.

Not to get involved with the debate... (Yes, major problems may require professional intervention, but since the OP is consulting a forum means they are open to suggestions perhaps just as a distraction if nothing else.)

Anyway, I can't reiterate enough what others have already said - the first and most formidable "treatment" for these feelings is exercise, increasing the heart rate for an extended period of time (aerobics) or physical exertion.

(You won't want to do it. Your mind will find excuses not to do it. You may not enjoy it while you're doing it or may even find it painful, but I can almost guarantee you will feel at least a little bit better after you've done it.)

The walk is one of the best suggestions because it combines exercise with removing oneself from their surroundings while oxygenating the brain - seeing different things, or reacting to immediate situations distracts the mind from its current introspective woes - in short, it can serve as a pattern interrupter & perspective changer.

Similarly, a bike ride can serve the same purpose, or a hike in the woods, a jog, rock climbing, swimming, walking a dog, etc.

I realize all these things may not be options for all people, but the idea of combining exercise while getting away from one's usual environment is just a matter of finding a way to implement it.

Getting around other people (ones you preferably enjoy or can tolerate) can also be an aid. Just talking or listening. It doesn't have to be about problems, sometimes just a little social interaction can help. I'd advise staying away from those you already know are downers, but sometimes just striking up a conversation with a complete stranger can be a bigger game changer than anything else. With exceptional luck, talking to a truly uplifting person (or even one who's problems may give you a different view of your own) can change one's perspective entirely.

Animals / pets - if you have access to any, most are like natural dopamine boosters. Usually when I walk, I run into someone with a dog I can pet - I usually feel somewhat better after making the connection.

I find accomplishing things makes me feel better. On days I indulge myself to be lazy, over eat, sit in front of the TV or computer, or "relax" are often the days I end up feeling most depressed. Accomplishing some simple chores (especially things you've been avoiding or procrastinating on), or cleaning things, or getting shopping done, pulling weeds or gardening, getting a workout in, getting a haircut, or organizing things (something as small as a utensil drawer) can both distract from emotions while providing some small sense of fulfillment.

Just starting a project (you don't even have to work on it - with the feelings of how daunting it may be overwhelming you - or finish it - but just take one action that starts it). Just starting on something can bring on feelings of interest or newness that can help redirect feelings of being stuck in the rut of depression.

A more ambitious suggestion would be trying to channel negative emotions into accomplishments or a project (which can be a bit too complicated to try to delve into here).

Then, of course there's volunteering or just seeking out someone else who needs help; calling someone you know would welcome talking, paying attention to someone else's problems, offering physical help to an elderly neighbor, donating to a charity, committing random acts of kindness, cleaning up garbage from a park or roadside, anything philanthropic that may serve to benefit others is usually a guaranteed counter to feelings of despair or depression.

For instance: I'm using your thread as a way to make myself feel a little better by offering these suggestions to someone that's hurting!

I would say I have a fair amount of stress in my life. Nobody really to talk to with regard to this & I tend to hide my troubles from others. (British stiff upper lip & all that.)

What I do is I walk. Every day between 1-1/2 to 2 hours. I’ve said many times here in various threads that I might leave the house in an evil mood, but, somehow, I work things out mentally during my walk. I rarely return feeling stressed. Rather, my walk gives me a sense of accomplishment & comfort. Something I can control, if you like.

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This post is one of the best I have ever read. I totally relate to each point & I agree 100% with every point.

That's because even though...
I may not have a lot of "credentials" or "training," but I'll tell you one thing, I'm a PhD. in pain.

This is me to a tee. (Capricorns unite.) I am the Queen of organization & I’ve got huge satisfaction from this during the pandemic. Organizing my office & putting everything in order is most satisfying.