There’s no denying that there are awful things happening across the globe. The scale ranges from small, personal issues in one’s life, to humanitarian crises. The constant bombardment of information means we’re all hyper-aware of everything going on, and that can take a huge toll on one’s mental health.
Feeling that very burden, one Reddit user tool to the AskReddit thread to ask people how they cope with all the terrible things going on, and these were some of their answers.
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Pushing yourself.
“I workout A LOT. I’m able to use exercise to burn off my anger and turn it into something good. It doesn’t matter what you look like. What matters is how it makes you feel once you look back at what you were able to do.
“Think about it this way: even if it’s a small walk up and down your street, it’s better than nothing. The fresh air is also a plus if you do it outside.”
Let it all out.
“Writing. It’s the only thing I have found that had given me an outlet. Just writing all the thoughts—no matter how intense the rage. It gets it out.”
There’s a reason why journaling is an often recommended practice for anyone struggling with emotional burdens, it really does help!
You’re just one person.
“You can’t change or influence most things. Try to be a good person whilst acknowledging, learning about and appreciating the problems in the world.
“You’re not obliged to get personally invested and drawn into all the bad events (whether that be abroad, nationally and your personal life) going on. [It’s] perfectly fine to put yourself first but have empathy for others.”
Lending a hand.
“Volunteer work. […] I make my local community better, little by little. I make a couple folks life better every week. I get another person into housing, or into a job, or at least on the search. I help another understand, in part, what makes everything so bad.”
Indulging the senses.
“Mashed potatoes. All negative vibes wash away with a good plate of mashed potatoes. And fried chicken.”
It’s true that a nice, hot meal can do wonders for the heart. Whatever your comfort food is, let yourself indulge in it when the going gets tough.
To just keep moving.
“Breathe, and move forward. Not everything gets easier, but you can always overcome or solve it if you just keep cool and no matter what keep living your life. Depression is a hefty pit but you need to climb out of it. It’s not an option.
“If you only see it as an option you will never truly understand the concept. It’s cheesy but let the little things in life guide your path and you’ll be alright.”
Walking that path.
“[…] my faith helps me cope with all the terrible things going on and inspires me to be better and help others.”
Of course, this advice isn’t applicable to everybody, but for those who do have a faith, it can provide an immense sense of comfort in the most dire of times.
Simple pleasures.
“Turn it all off. Make a coffee. Sit on the floor with the dog. Have some music playing the background.”
Sometimes, the simplest of actions can really help ground ourselves. You can substitute coffee for your hot drink of a choice, and a dog for anything soft you find comfort in.
Tuning out.
“Understand that news outlets/mainstream media are competing for viewers to increase ad-revenue. Their modus operandi is to make things sound bad. So people will watch.”
Many people shared the advice of ‘stop watching the news’. It’s good to remain informed, but not to the detriment of your own mental health.
Furthermore…
In the same reply as the news tip was some insight about social media.
“Stop using/drastically reduce social media usage – especially things with photographs. I used to read things on Twitter that made me furious. However, when I sat back and thought about it, it’s a short snippet of what someone is thinking.
“I’ve said a million things in the heat of the moment that I didn’t mean. Also, I’ve been wrong about things a bunch of times.”
Here and now.
“[…] Live in real life. Walk in the park, go visit a local small restaurant, and hug your family. The world isn’t as bad as you think. Take time to appreciate it.”
Living in a digital age means we constantly have the world at our fingertips, so it’s worth reminding ourselves to return to our most immediate and present life.
Another world.
“Escapism through fantasy (wholesome fantasy in particular) and all kinds of strategy games to keep the brain occupied.”
There were a number of people who cited video games and other similar, fantasy-related hobbies as their main form of distracting themselves. There’s nothing wrong with some escapism when stress levels reach a high.
Small acts.
“Do some research and find something in your life or around your neighborhood where you can make a small, positive impact. My wife and I just bought $8 trash picker-uppers and walk around for an hour each week with those and a few trash bags just talking and picking up trash.
“It makes a small difference in the community but the sense of accomplishment and good feeling is really nice.”
Creative passions.
“By finding a hobby that releases [emotions], instead of distracting me from it. I write songs, and that releases all the strong emotions I’ve been feeling lately, and helps me feel better.”
Do no wrong.
“I just try to live with as much kindness and compassion as I can. The world is terrible but I try not to contribute to the terribleness.”
Sometimes, it becomes less about what you can do, and more about what you actively choose not to do, which feels much less overwhelming.
Reducing stressors.
“Honestly? The biggest thing for me is to not introduce any additional bad [expletive] during my free time. I’ve found I’m much less anxious of a person if I don’t listen to true crime shows or watch thrillers / shows like [Black Mirror] even though I thought they were amazing.”
It’s all about perspective.
“Don’t get wrapped up in thinking you can’t enjoy yourself because someone else is suffering. There will always be suffering but you only have one life.
“I bet you those people suffering would want you to enjoy and appreciate the privileges you have, rather than sulk over [their] plight. Do good in your community. Be a nice person. Raise your children to be good people. Focus on what you can do.”
Look at where we are.
“You look at all of the good things going on in the world. There are plenty. To start, simply look at the human development over the past centuries. Life expectancy, income, gender equality. We have progressed so much.”
Community first.
“Take care of your village.
“What I mean is focus your time and energy on yourself and those you surround yourself with. Enrich the lives of those people and help when you can. The whole world is too big to chew, but if everyone focused on bettering the lives of those around them, eventually the whole world could be a better place.”
It’s the little things.
And finally, a nice list someone made of small things that help them feel better.
“Look for cute little birds flying around. Watch toddlers laugh or stare in wonder at the world. Hug my friends and family genuinely. Mindful eating […]. Think about the true 13 billion years timespan of the universe or even the 3.5 billion years life has existed on Earth and remind myself that everything is so utterly transient.”
