Questions when you're Not OK

Are you properly hydrated?

Start with some water, but remember electrolytes are important too! Try something like this, you can mix up the exact options to fit your tastes: 

• 2 cups water

• 1/2 cup fresh juice (possibly orange)

• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

• 1 tablespoon sweetener of choice (sugar, honey, agave, stevia, amounts can vary, less is better)

• Mint or cucumber for fresh flavor

Are you dressed? 

Sometimes if we've been ill, or down, we don't bother getting dressed, or wear the same thing for too long, clean clothes can actually improve your mood because it changes the sensations in and on your body.

Have you cuddled or hugged anyone recently? 

Ask for a hug!

If you don't have anyone around you can ask, consider pillows, stuffed animals, something a little firm and soft, it may seem silly, but hugging things and people really can boost your mood.

Have you said something nice to someone in the past 24 hours?

Find something genuine and nice to say, your kindness is contagious.

Have you changed meds recently?

This can throw your brain off balance, even if the meds aren't specifically for your brain. Try to give yourself some time to sort things out and try to just notice how you feel, and how and when it changes. Work on being less reactive to how you feel and simply notice.

Have you bathed in the last 24 hours?

Take a shower or bath, if you're not feeling well you can try just washing your joint areas with a washcloth, even a little bit clean can make a big difference in your mood!

Do you feel useless? Ineffective?

Go do some small tasks now! Take out the garbage, do some laundry, send some emails you've been putting off, call a friend you haven't talked to in ages--find some things you can check off your list and look back on that you did something. It doesn't have to be big, but there are a lot of things we can do even if we aren't feeling our best.

Have you talked to a therapist recently? 

Make an appointment! 

If this isn't an option right now, commit to working on re-framing yourself. Write down your fears, feelings, and then break down:

• The Facts

• Your perception

• Your feelings

• Your story of the situation

• What you feel you need from it (or others)

Recognizing the actual facts and separating how you are or were feeling about things can be very tricky and difficult, try getting someone impartial to help you parse it out if your answers keep coming out negatively. 

Have you waited a week?

Sometimes you just have to give feelings some time to work out. Some feelings like anger will burn out pretty quickly, but others, like shame and anxiety can continue to spiral around. Feeding them will perpetuate the negativity you feel. Try to give yourself some time and space to resolve the feelings and then work on the real issues.

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