On a bad day - what do you turn to for comfort?

You never know, you might just not have found the kind of game that works for you. There are as many genres of video games as movies or books. But I guess if I didn't care for games I would try to do the same with whatever hobby I had that involves actively doing something; anything passive like reading or listening to music leaves too much of a gap for those thoughts to overwhelm me. 

It's great that you can keep that certainty that things will be okay. When things are bad I don't see them ever really getting better, and I'm terrified of how much worse it can get. 

About a year ago I tried video games but somehow I just couldn’t connect with them or enjoy them. My eldest really does and gets so much pleasure and interest from them - which is great. He finds they help a lot when he’s stressed - he gets in the zone and forgets other things that he might be struggling with. In terms of ‘a bearable way out’ - I’ve never come up with one of those. I don’t think there is one. The only viable thing is to try and make life more bearable, or (best case scenario) more enjoyable. My problem is that when I get into this ‘tunnel’ state of mind I can’t seem to see out of it. I know it WILL ease - it always does eventually - but it’s hard to FEEL that it’s going to. I want to stop feeling like this but I get into a kind of inertia where I can’t help myself. Eg I know music improves mood but I can’t bear to listen to it. I suppose it’s a bit of a vicious circle in some ways. I’m always eager though to learn about what helps other people - and people in this community really do understand. I feel people with autism often have to work really hard to keep going with life sometimes. It can be a battle. 

All my vices are damaging and/or illegal so I'll resist commenting!

Thank you - these are all good ideas and good to be reminded of. I’m glad you’ve found good strategies that work for you. 

Surely.....EVERYONE lives YouTube?

I just try to bury myself in a video game and hope it goes away eventually. Interspersed with trying to think of a bearable way out. 

I will go out with my camera and get lost amongst nature for an hour or more. If I still feel awful after that I'll have a bubble bath and sing along to some of my favourite songs while reminding myself that this is just a bad day, not a bad life and tomorrow will hopefully be better. I do also write down my thoughts and feelings in the form of poetry which sometimes helps. 

I love YouTube. 

Yes. My body wants to shut down and not move so probably doing the opposite (moving about and being active) would probably be helpful. The problem is that I struggle to find the motivation when I get like this. I sort of ‘freeze’. 

I love audiobooks too. I sometimes feel the urge to be alone when I’m struggling but deep down I don’t think it really helps me. I sort of retreat into a mental black space and find it hard to get out, and hard to connect with my husband - even though we normally are so so close. I withdraw from everything and find it hard to move or do anything. 

Forward motion.  Driving, walking, cycling, motorised transport of any description.  It seems to get my brain constructively moving too?!

Watching things that "take me back" on youtube.

I disappear into an audiobook and listen with noise cancelling earphones, I also need to be alone when I’m struggling.

Yeah I enjoy outdoor swimming as well although this tends to have a social element due to safety which sometimes I find overwhelming. 

That’s interesting. I’ve also heard people talking a lot recently about cold showers and cold water baths and the the way it impacts on depression etc. 
Food wise I tend to turn to pasta meals, or toast with a lot of butter. Comfort food certainly. 

These are all very helpful ideas. Thank you 

Water. 

swimming, long showers, walks in the rain. 

I also eat a lot of sesame bagels. 

Order.

I would generally have a bad day when I am feeling overwhelmed.

I don't these days feel 'bleak and hopeless about life' though, and I'm sorry that you do.

My thing would be to sort things out (objects I mean), make lists, get everything under control.

I find having order in things be they physical or not, is very calming for me.

If it's not to do with feeling overwhelmed though, I would go out of the house and drive somewhere using the quietest route possible - into the countryside.

Solitude is also very important for me to re-order my thoughts and regain my inner calm.

Another thing to do is something creative - photography, making something, whatever.

You can lose yourself in art/creativity.

I don’t doubt that - sadly I don’t have a pet for various reasons. I’m sure it must make such a difference. I’m glad you get comfort from being around animals :)

Animals.