There’s a youtuber named Martina who has EDS who uses a phrase “build a ladder” to describe how she helps herself feel better.

Here’s a link to a video she made to help out if you need help building a ladder yourself. Would highly recommend. You got this :)

Edit:

Better yet, Here’s a video of 40 things that can make you happy in your everyday life <3

I take a little white pill every morning.

I’ve got a lot of good things, but I wasn’t feeling good. It got bad enough my counselor told me to see my doctor. My Doctor wrote a prescription.

I feel normal again. I didn’t know anything was wrong, but it was.

Taking naps with our dog and hearing and feeling her peaceful breathing as she sleeps on my pillow with her snoot snuzzled against my face or ear.

i survive
this is how
i pet the cat
she say, “meow”

I walk dogs at a dog shelter. Makes me feel good, helps the doggos. Why not.

If you’re stuck in your head get out of your head.

That is to say, if your thoughts are getting to you, you’re in you’re head. You need to do something that takes you out of your thoughts. What does that mean?

It means engage your senses, deliberately. Focus on your senses.

Huh?

Go for a walk in a park, go get some fancy cheese, listen to some good music, take a hot shower, and watch a new TV show, pick up a hobby.

Get your brain doing stuff it doesn’t do. You’ll build connections in your brain that will help take you out of your tunnel vision/ruminations.

I’ve found that it’s easier to avoid misery than it is to find joy. Some tips given here reflect that as well. Cut off toxic people from your life. Don’t dwell on tiny things for the full day.

I have an example. I went to get some coffee yesterday. There was a man in front of barista counter. The barista asked me for my order, and my instinct was to ask if the man next to me had been served. I didn’t think twice about it. She got visibly upset at me for having the audacity to ask him. She took my order but she continued to mumble audibly about how she gave eye contact, and she knew how to do her job, etc. As if my remark towards the man belittled her experience and skills.

She had no idea what my intent was, but she assumed the worst. For doing so, she ruined her own day with it. It’s all about perspective.

She also ruined my coffee but I didn’t let that ruin my day either haha.

Listen to and read science fiction books. Preferably in the bath tub. I don’t think there is anything more comfortable for me than that.

Every morning, without exception, I get up, I make myself a cup of coffee, and I go for a walk nice and early. If it’s sunny and beautiful, I go for a walk. If it’s cloudy and gray, I go for a walk. If it’s pouring out, I grab my jacket and an umbrella, and I go for a walk. I usually walk over to the park nearby. It has a jogging trail on it, and there is a spot with pullup bars. Every time I pass the bars, I do a few pullups.

I started doing all this for physical health, just to ensure I don’t get sedentary. But I kept doing it because it’s time in my own head with nothing from home or work to distract me. I sometimes have headphones in to listen to music, but usually not. Usually, it’s just me and the outdoors, and an opportunity to really, really think. It’s good for my mental health.

Other things that help:

• I check in with my loved ones, just so they know how I’m doing and I know how they’re doing. And if something is wrong, I tell them.
• Every time I go into the kitchen, for any reason, I try to leave it more clean than when I started. If I’m grabbing a snack, and there’s a dirty dish in the sink, I rinse it and put it in the dishwasher. It’s amazing how much just having a clean kitchen improves my sense of well-being.
• Sometimes I’m sad. Sometimes it’s enough that I cry. That’s okay.

A lot of this sounds like things to do just to not be depressed, but it’s really much more than that! Taking care of these aspects of my mental health ensures that when fun and joy and entertainment and laughter present themselves, I’m in a good frame of mind to accept them.

Take care of yourself. Happiness isn’t something you can force, but it is something you can make room for.