Published on 12, July, 2020
Given experience often helps, and there are often newly diagnosed members joining the forum, I thought if we shared the things that help us most in bullet points it would be an easy read reference for everyone?
For me, has been:
- Meeting only small groups if I plan to meet people
- Meditation & Breath work (helped anxiety & digestion)
- Symprove Probiotics (helped anxiety & digestion)
- Walking in nature (elevates mood)
- Watching childhood movies (calming)
For me, I have found the following to help me greatly:
1. Time. Allowing myself the time to process my diagnosis. This is a long process and is full of ups and downs. I need to allow myself all the time it takes. This extends into other aspects of my life too though, so is very transferable.
2. Writing my thoughts and feelings somewhere (like here) in order to explore them properly.
3. Alone time. This is a chance for me to stim, explore hobbies and explore my special interests. This time is important and purely for me.
4. Intense physical exercise. For me, that involves weightlifting, but others enjoy more cardio focused activities.
5. Music and reading. I enjoy both of these things, so they really help me to escape reality whenever I feel the need.
6. Keeping an eye on my energy levels in order to avoid burnout. Learning to say no to others, in order to preserve energy in times of need, is a really important skill.
There will be lots more, but these are where I’ve landed so far.
Love the idea of weights, just need to find some motivation! Time, a simple idea but a profoundly important consideration. Using this forum to explore your emotions is a great note, I find this to help massively
Just a quick comment on this.. lifting weights, has been my saviour. Benefits come from the long term, starting slowly, and just gradually progressing. You don't need to do much, or often to see benefits, and to begin with you will likely gain strength from very little (a few sets a week over the course of a few months).
There isn't much as addictive as realising you are twice as strong as you once were. Nobody can stop you, it's all up to you, and many of us I believe are built for it.
Check youtube for basic stuff tho, and ease into it very very slowly!