35 People Share What Big And Small Changes Drastically Improved Their Mental Health

I got a cat. He sits with me. I'll rant and say all kinds of stuff to him and he just sits there like go ahead and get that off your chest man. Life gets lonely especially if you don't have family, a partner, kids. It makes life a little easier.

Got a good psychiatrist who tested me for everything and found out I needed prescription strength vitamin d capsules that I take weekly and I need to give myself vitamin b shots biweekly. I cried so hard for days because I suddenly had energy and could think straight. I had been deficient for two decades because my gastro doc never tested me for deficiencies after multiple bowel resections due to crohns. But my psych caught it and changed my life.

Putting a stop to my social media use and substituting reading for my time spent there with books. I have completed six books since the beginning of January. It makes me feel really good about myself.

Knowing it's okay to leave some people behind.

Stopped watching mainstream news.

Pets.

Getting out of an abusive relationship.

It sucks at how well it works. I used to hate my mom telling me that exercise would reduce my depression but she was absolutely right. The issue is that when you’re really depressed it’s the last thing you feel like doing. But nothing else has as much of a positive effect on my mental state as regular exercise.

Taking magnesium glycinate at night before bed has a significant affect on my daily anxiety levels.

Not drinking, going to therapy, lots of self-honesty.

I would say going for regular walks has improved my mental health a ton.

Prozac.

It's okay to use meds.

Sleep is the foundation for a lot of things. Almost everything.

Therapy. I planned my suicide and decided it was time to go. The first visit was like an elephant off my shoulders. I was sad it had taken me wanting to kill my self to seek help. But I was going in the right direction. I feel like being Hispanic, I was programmed to keep it in. Not share my feelings. It’s not like that anymore. Although my father sees my going to a therapist as a weakness, it’s truly such a strength.

Getting diagnosed with cancer. Seriously. The stressors of life become almost laughable when faced with oblivion.

Edit:

Thanks for the kind words, y'all! I start chemo for the first time today at noon, thus beginning the war of attrition over my body.

Ditching my old friends who didn't take me seriously after a tragedy. I am no longer going to try be relatable and kind. If you treat me like s**t you're out of my life and are dead to me.

Removed myself from all social media (except Reddit which I consider social media lite) and quit caring about other peoples opinions of me.

Having a non toxic job. I got bullied for as long as I can remember at school home and work. My current job is the best paying and least stressful thing I've ever experienced. I've been able to destress for the first time, I don't worry about work on my days off, and I'm even becoming able to stand up for myself instead of locking up. No amount of self-care worked until I actually got to experience it.

Learning to say no, let go and stop sweating the small stuff. Also knowing that if somebody has a problem with me, it's THEIR problem.

Stopped giving a f**k. About what people think, say, or do. Just do you.