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What Are Effective Strategies for Mental Well-Being?

dev.to staff on November 23, 2023

Share your strategies for improving mental well-being. How do you maintain a healthy mind? Follow the DEVteam for more discussions and online cama...
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jmfayard profile image
Jean-Michel πŸ•΅πŸ»β€β™‚οΈ Fayard

Something that I did very personally to overcome major repetitive bursts of depression was listening Rachmaninov describing how it sounds like when you go finally get over depression

Rachmaninov's psychiatric told him to write about his pain with music.
And he did so.
And this is incredible.
And this is strange, and beautiful, and powerful, and very emotional.

This is what Hope sounds like.

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Michael Tharrington

Wow, thanks for sharing this one Jean-Michel. Very moving piece of music!

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jmfayard profile image
Jean-Michel πŸ•΅πŸ»β€β™‚οΈ Fayard

Get the fuck out of Facebook and Social Media in general.
You will get there because you are lonely and depressed.
You will end up more lonely and more depressed.

Facebook has been the subject of criticism and legal action. Criticisms include the outsize influence Facebook has on the lives and health of its users and employees, as well as Facebook's influence on the way media, specifically news, is reported and distributed. Notable issues include Internet privacy, such as use of a widespread "like" button on third-party websites tracking users, possible indefinite records of user information, automatic facial recognition software, and its role in the workplace, including employer-employee account disclosure. The use of Facebook can have negative psychological and physiological effects that include feelings of sexual jealousy, stress, lack of attention, and social media addiction that in some cases is comparable to drug addiction.

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Lucille Xavier

This ^

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rycodes profile image
Ry

Therapy. When things get too tangeld up, a little help comes in handy. Other than that having two times per week training, daily walks in the fresh air, a good nap, an outing with friend(s) always do the trick. But when I am not really in the mood to go out, rewatching my favourite sitcoms with a nice cup of tea relaxes me in minutes.

And like Anita said, stay away from crazy people . πŸ‘Œ

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xucian profile image
xucian • Edited

Make your own suffering, i.e. feel the muscles burning when training in the gym.
That's the 1 thing you need, nothing else.
Source: N=1 study on me for 15 years

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jmfayard profile image
Jean-Michel πŸ•΅πŸ»β€β™‚οΈ Fayard

Conter argument : in some mental health issues, if you don't take medications, you can die.

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xucian profile image
xucian

Ofc

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Anita Olsen

I stay far away from crazy people! βœ”οΈ

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Keff • Edited

What does that mean? What kind of crazy are we talking here? Just curious πŸ€”

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jmfayard profile image
Jean-Michel πŸ•΅πŸ»β€β™‚οΈ Fayard • Edited

I guess he meant people that are toxic for you, usually because empathy is not their strenght.
The people who tell bootless men to Pull Yourself By Your Own Boostraps.
The people who tell depressed people to Just Do Sport, Never Heard Of That Tip Yet, Thanks a Lot.

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nombrekeff profile image
Keff

Ohh okay, makes sense. Crazy might not be the correct word though.

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jmfayard profile image
Jean-Michel πŸ•΅πŸ»β€β™‚οΈ Fayard

Yes, it's more often ill-informed myth-believing empathy-challenged normal human beings.

At the same time it's very damaging when you are on the receiving side.

Think about the people who didn't care when the Gays were dying en masse at the start of the AIDS epidemic.

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Stefan Moore • Edited

That depends. One of the things that I'm trying to do is STOP and take a little time out for me. Doesn't matter what it is it comes to a stop and I breathe. When I'm ready, I'll ease back into it.

And I'll listen to this Al Johnson - Peaceful

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Oscar

Here are the 3 main things that I do

  • Get off of social media, completely.
  • 8 hours of sleep each night (and a healthy sleep schedule)
  • A good bit of exercise
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Prasad Saya

Your list is a must, I think.

I'd like to add:

  • Take weekend (at least one day) off from the computer, emails and work related stuff.
  • Pursue a hobby or a weekend outing (I am trying photography nowadays and its a nice distraction. Golf is a great stress reliever too, if you are not competing).
  • If you spend most of the time with people, try to spend sometime alone by yourself (and not connected).
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raviklog

Sports, Travel, and Music help me unwind and keep well.

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Carlos Heryhelder

i would add stay close to your friends, even messaging them is good for mental health πŸ˜€

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JorensM

Don't get burned out. I know it's hard in a time when some work 8hrs per day or even more, but if circumstance allows for it - don't overwork yourself.

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nombrekeff profile image
Keff

Be open about it. And do stuff if you can, keep yourself active and distracted.

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piko profile image
Piko

As an insomniac, I feel I need well being strategies.

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jmfayard profile image
Jean-Michel πŸ•΅πŸ»β€β™‚οΈ Fayard • Edited

YouTube : The French Whisperer
Excuse my French, but I'm a huge insomniac for various reasons including trigger warning depressions.
Hearing him doesn't cure the insomnia but it destroys for me the stress of the insomnia.
And that's more realistic and huge deal in itself.
When insomnia is even harder, I get out of my bed and my house and walk outside hearing him