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Living with anxiety and other mental illnesses

5 tips to get through a bad day

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avatar Margarita_k

Margarita_k

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20/02/2018 at 14:58

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avatar Margarita_k

Margarita_k

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Last activity on 07/10/2020 at 11:39

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1,195 comments posted | 28 in the Living with anxiety and other mental illnesses group

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We all have them, those horrible-no-good-very-bad days. It’s impossible to avoid them but here are some tips to help you get through them.

1. Eat something awesome first thing in the morning.

Food is a huge part of who we are and it’s a huge part of how we feel. Research also shows that how we feel in the morning affects our mood throughout the day. When we’re having a really rough day we try to eat what we enjoy, but make it something strong and energizing (vs. you know, downing scoops of ice cream, which we love, but which wouldn’t give us the sustained energy we need.)

2. Listen to your best “pump me up” music.

When you listen to music you like, your body releases dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and motivation. We all have those songs that get us going and when we’re having a rough day, we have a few favorites. You can check out some of them here, on our Pump It Up Spotify Playlist.

3. Make a plan to do something you absolutely love.

Research shows that having something to look forward to makes you happier. So on a rough day we try to make a plan to do something we like. We can’t always do it the same day, but having something great on our calendar gives us something to look forward to: a yoga class, lunch with a friend, anything at all, as long as it’s something we really enjoy doing.

4. Do something to make progress, however small.

One of the worst things about really tough days is that they feel like we’ll be stuck in them forever. But willing yourself to get a lot done and just work through the bad day isn’t enough — we try to tackle some really small tasks that make us feel like we’re making progress: we organize our desks, clean up our office fridge, write emails we’ve been putting off, anything that gets a specific small task completed. Research shows that feeling productive makes us happier and we can totally vouch for this.

5. Over-share gratitude.

According to numerous studies, gratitude leads to feeling happier and not the other way around, so this is our most trusted and most helpful “bad day gone happier” strategy.

Source: happier.com

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What helps you get though a bad day? You are welcome to share your own tips and to encourage others with your example.

 

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avatar grimmreaper

grimmreaper

21/03/2018 at 19:10

avatar grimmreaper

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Last activity on 01/05/2025 at 16:46

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2 comments posted | 1 in the Living with anxiety and other mental illnesses group


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after 3 life thretening accident's for the last 12 year's iv'e lived with P'T'S'D  deprsion  and anxiaty with a few panik attack's thrown in for good mesure ! i still have black dog's some day's i can manage it but some day's ,,,well im'e sure you all know ! , i started walking a dog for a friend , he's called kahn , he's a staffy cross and the most gentel best fiend in the world , long story but he was in a poor state when i got him , my friend was going to give him back to the dog's home , NO WAY ,  so ended up with him , even my friend's exprssed doubt's that i would not be able to cope , well i had too , he has been with me 2 year's now , he love's me to death and improved my state of mind and i now don't have the end it attitude , iv'e just been dianosed with epilpsy and im trying to get the med's , but no mater how low i get he know's , i have been reading some of your story's , and now plucked up the courage to speak out , i hope my story ( and this is a very short part of it ) will help anyone ! 

 


5 tips to get through a bad day https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/living-with-behavioural-disorders-mental-illne/5-tips-to-get-through-a-bad-day-2191 2018-03-21 19:10:22

avatar Daisydef

Daisydef

29/04/2018 at 03:50

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avatar Daisydef

Daisydef

Last activity on 17/08/2024 at 20:39

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66 comments posted | 11 in the Living with anxiety and other mental illnesses group

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I have two dogs who are my world. They are amazing and my drs consider them as emotional support dogs. I also love music but I can get carried away by reading too much into the music when my schizophrenia is bad. I colour as a distraction it’s very relaxing I’ve also recently set up a tank of fish they’re so relaxing 

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s m


5 tips to get through a bad day https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/living-with-behavioural-disorders-mental-illne/5-tips-to-get-through-a-bad-day-2191 2018-04-29 03:50:17

avatar lynnypaws

lynnypaws

01/05/2018 at 14:02

avatar lynnypaws

lynnypaws

Last activity on 18/06/2020 at 10:56

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1 comment posted | 1 in the Living with anxiety and other mental illnesses group


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my dogs are the reason i am alive. i have to get up every morning to walk them however bad im feeling. they always have to come first in my life. they are more supportive than my human friends and they love me however i look or feel. they are my sunshine in a dark world.xx

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lynny sith


5 tips to get through a bad day https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/living-with-behavioural-disorders-mental-illne/5-tips-to-get-through-a-bad-day-2191 2018-05-01 14:02:16

avatar lesmal

lesmal

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02/05/2018 at 16:10

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avatar lesmal

lesmal

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Last activity on 11/05/2025 at 13:44

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1,473 comments posted | 43 in the Living with anxiety and other mental illnesses group

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Thank you for the tips... My dog and husband are the two things I love that keep me going! After a seizure my little dog stays by my side and makes sure I'm okay! 

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Les


5 tips to get through a bad day https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/living-with-behavioural-disorders-mental-illne/5-tips-to-get-through-a-bad-day-2191 2018-05-02 16:10:41

avatar JosephineO

JosephineO

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06/09/2018 at 18:23

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avatar JosephineO

JosephineO

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Last activity on 15/07/2024 at 09:21

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989 comments posted | 76 in the Living with anxiety and other mental illnesses group

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These are all lovely ways to brighten your days!

Does anyone else have anything to add?

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Josephine, Community Manager


5 tips to get through a bad day https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/living-with-behavioural-disorders-mental-illne/5-tips-to-get-through-a-bad-day-2191 2018-09-06 18:23:56
avatar exit

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Edited on 11/10/2018 at 10:36

I exist.

I try making lists, though the degree to which I follow through with them is variable. Oddly the best way of doing this I've found is leaving an open notepad file on my computer with tasks in it. For whatever reason I have paid more attention to it since doing that rather than writing a physical list. Possibly it's just easier than finding a pencil.

I find my "pump up" music is typically in a minor key. I prefer to wander around the house listening to something sad since it fuels my imagination. For the most part unironically happy songs feel a bit weird and off to me. Though comedy gets past. With that in mind, Tom Lehrer is probably a decent compromise, though maybe I should find some comedy musicians from later time periods than the 1950s.

Planning to do something I enjoy is hard to really deal with. What I enjoy most is finishing something that tends to fall into the same category as things I find hard to find the energy for. I like finishing a drawing, but getting past the feeling of failure tends to hold me back. Same with writing or even talking to people for long periods. Very recently I sat down in front of the piano for the first time in several years and tried to learn a song. I find I'm drawn to it a lot more when I learn something I can sing along with. This is a slightly annoying revelation, since I'm being more active with practice now than I was back when I was taking grades in piano.

I have a cat. But she's older than most of my friends. I tend to leave her outside so I don't have to keep an eye on her deteriorating ability to remember where the litterbox is. Not that I dislike having an animal around, I just don't trust her anymore.

I'm not a great example. But I'm still hanging around at least.


5 tips to get through a bad day https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/living-with-behavioural-disorders-mental-illne/5-tips-to-get-through-a-bad-day-2191 2018-10-11 00:03:55

avatar JosephineO

JosephineO

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11/10/2018 at 10:15

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avatar JosephineO

JosephineO

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Last activity on 15/07/2024 at 09:21

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989 comments posted | 76 in the Living with anxiety and other mental illnesses group

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@MarionetteDoll Hello,

Thank you for this insightful post, it is always interetsing to get a snapshot into someone else's coping tips.

Making lists is always a great way to gather thoughts and create goals, so that is a good tip for others too :)

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Josephine, Community Manager


5 tips to get through a bad day https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/living-with-behavioural-disorders-mental-illne/5-tips-to-get-through-a-bad-day-2191 2018-10-11 10:15:48

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