10 Things You Should Do When You Feel Your Mental Health Declining

“I write down everything that is bad and stressful in my life, and I put them into two categories: I can do something about it. Or I can’t do something about it. Then I take all the ones that are in the do something category, and come up with 3 actions for each that are quick wins that I can deal with right now, and I do them. Everything else I see as inevitable and I can’t do anything right now, so I let them go.” — PopTrogdor

“Clean up your surroundings. Especially wherever you spend most of your time. This gives you a tangible sense of control over your environment and a generally better place to exist.” — Lukimcsod

“Give yourself permission to be lazy/unmotivated/a couch potato. If thats the self-care you need, then take it.” — b1b1l3

“If you feel like you’re overwhelmed: Cry. It’s totally okay to cry, whether you’re alone or with someone/people you love. There’s someone out there who’s always willing to give a listening ear. It’s also a great relief from the heavy weight on your chest.” — EliseDaSnareChick

“Breathe. Breathing exercises are truly powerful things, and they have well documented effects on one’s mental health. When I find my own anxiety or mood starting to escalate, I do a really simple breathing exercise: When I breathe in I say to myself, ‘I am breathing in.‘ And in exhale I say, ‘I am breathing out.‘ I do this at least three times. This sort of structure is often referred to as Mantra Breathing. This does two important things: First, it helps you take control of your breath. But second, it helps you take control of your mind. By consciously speaking to yourself in your head, there’s less room for the more passive thoughts because active ones are speaking (that’s the best way I can put it). There are more complex and in-depth breathing exercises that I’ve used with clients, but I like that one the most for its simplicity.” — beeblebr0x

“By making yourself a routine, it can actually help decrease stress, help you get more organized and focused and balanced, help you make time for things you need to do so that you aren’t overwhelming yourself one day and under-scheduling the next day. So writing up a routine for yourself and making yourself stick to it can be beneficial. Get up at the same time each day, eat meals at the same time, schedule in some time for fun and relaxation, time to socialize/post/contact any supports you do have, time for exercise, time for any work, etc.” — oODillyOo

“Don’t cut people off. The amount of times I’ve done this when I start to feel bad and then I can’t be bothered texting people so I cut them off temporarily. It’s shite and makes you feel worse. Also it’s not fair on the other people. Pro tip: Instead of texting, try FaceTiming or calling them. It’s better and it makes you feel better.” — oimgayyyyy

“Get yourself off of social media for a while. It’s a brutally oppressive system for your mental health.” — amagadon

“Exercise. The blood flow and natural chemicals released help both cognitive and emotional health. Don’t stress about how much/hard you exercise. Just do something that elevates your heart rate a bit for an extended period of time. I shot for 15+ mins per day of 120+ bpm when I was down. The difference between the days I worked out and not was night and day.” — Beastly_Priest

“Seriously consider seeing a therapist. It absolutely changed my life. I also didn’t realize I had an undiagnosed condition, so I saw my family doctor and was able to get a prescription that also changed my life. There are stigmas to both, but fuck the stigmas. Be gentle with yourself, and learn to take care of yourself, despite what anyone thinks. Do what’s best for you, always, and you’ll be happy and the best version of yourself in the long run.” — ohbalbie