Comments on: 3 Stupid Ways to Try to Cheer Yourself Up – and 3 Ways Which Work http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:07:05 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Rasputin http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/comment-page-1/#comment-76361 Rasputin Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:59:33 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/#comment-76361 For serious depression, this advice is pretty worthless. It doesn't work, and telling it to a clinically depressed person is a little patronizing. For serious depression, this advice is pretty worthless. It doesn’t work, and telling it to a clinically depressed person is a little patronizing.

]]> By: Kim http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/comment-page-1/#comment-74028 Kim Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:59:29 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/#comment-74028 My favorite choice is exercise. The benefits are great and I get in shape at the same time. My favorite choice is exercise. The benefits are great and I get in shape at the same time.

]]> By: Dr. Jennifer Howard http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/comment-page-1/#comment-73738 Dr. Jennifer Howard Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:28:44 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/#comment-73738 Dear Ali, I couldn’t agree more that comfort addictions such as eating, alcohol/cigarettes and shopping are not good ways to cope with difficult feelings. Letting ourselves be with those feelings, process them integrate and let them go are habits worth cultivating. Certainly using exercise, reaching out towards others or supporting yourself to move forward are much more constructive ways to deal with cheering yourself up. Because I am a psychotherapist for over 20 years, I know from experience, being willing to look at why your down is the true answer to not needing to cheer yourself up. Dr. Jennifer Howard Dear Ali,

I couldn’t agree more that comfort addictions such as eating, alcohol/cigarettes and shopping are not good ways to cope with difficult feelings. Letting ourselves be with those feelings, process them integrate and let them go are habits worth cultivating. Certainly using exercise, reaching out towards others or supporting yourself to move forward are much more constructive ways to deal with cheering yourself up. Because I am a psychotherapist for over 20 years, I know from experience, being willing to look at why your down is the true answer to not needing to cheer yourself up.

Dr. Jennifer Howard

]]> By: Alexandra Samuel http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/comment-page-1/#comment-73694 Alexandra Samuel Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:06:40 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/#comment-73694 Two that don't have instant payoff, but definitely work: 1. B Complex: taking B6 and B12 everyday has a big impact on my overall mood. 2. No wheat, and no refined sugar (fruit sugars are ok). You'll have a couple of days of bitchy withdrawal hell, but after that, you may be astonished to discover how much of your mood ups & downs are just the blood sugar rollercoaster of the modern Western diet. (BTW, pt. 1 above is wrong: eating a candy bar won't help your mood, but if you haven't eaten in a few hours, a healthy snack with some protein and carbs may well pick you up!) Once you tune into how much of your mood is physiological rather than emotional you will have one more instant way to cheer up that now works for me almost every time: instead of trying to figure out what's bothering you, or looking for the "solution" to the thing that you think is getting you down, try to tune into the physical place in your body where you are feeling the yuck. Learning to connect with your "moods" as physical symptoms -- and then looking for physical ways to manage them (exercise, healthy snacks) will get you out of that unhappy brain loop. Two that don’t have instant payoff, but definitely work:
1. B Complex: taking B6 and B12 everyday has a big impact on my overall mood.
2. No wheat, and no refined sugar (fruit sugars are ok). You’ll have a couple of days of bitchy withdrawal hell, but after that, you may be astonished to discover how much of your mood ups & downs are just the blood sugar rollercoaster of the modern Western diet. (BTW, pt. 1 above is wrong: eating a candy bar won’t help your mood, but if you haven’t eaten in a few hours, a healthy snack with some protein and carbs may well pick you up!)

Once you tune into how much of your mood is physiological rather than emotional you will have one more instant way to cheer up that now works for me almost every time: instead of trying to figure out what’s bothering you, or looking for the “solution” to the thing that you think is getting you down, try to tune into the physical place in your body where you are feeling the yuck. Learning to connect with your “moods” as physical symptoms — and then looking for physical ways to manage them (exercise, healthy snacks) will get you out of that unhappy brain loop.

]]> By: Craig http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/comment-page-1/#comment-73654 Craig Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:22:11 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/#comment-73654 Exercise is definitely something I feel benefits me when I'm in an off mood. Nice post. Exercise is definitely something I feel benefits me when I’m in an off mood. Nice post.

]]> By: Jake Rhodes http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/comment-page-1/#comment-73642 Jake Rhodes Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:31:18 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/#comment-73642 I find that exercise works best for me when I'm feeling down. I have an exercise bike so whenever I need a boost I just hop on that, put on a DVD and cycle 5k. Gets the heart pumping and tops up my energy level. I find that exercise works best for me when I’m feeling down. I have an exercise bike so whenever I need a boost I just hop on that, put on a DVD and cycle 5k. Gets the heart pumping and tops up my energy level.

]]> By: Alma http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/comment-page-1/#comment-73629 Alma Sun, 05 Jul 2009 05:55:34 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/#comment-73629 This a perfrct blog for me at the moment. I'm guilty of item 1 and 3. I will try your suggestions and hopefully i'll be out of the blue state. This a perfrct blog for me at the moment. I’m guilty of item 1 and 3. I will try your suggestions and hopefully i’ll be out of the blue state.

]]> By: Ali Hale http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/comment-page-1/#comment-73530 Ali Hale Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:58:00 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/#comment-73530 Three great suggestions, Gina -- thanks! Pharmacist Millie, maybe I was too harsh on eating to cheer up! I definitely agree that a good meal with friends is a fab way to improve your mood. It's the mindless handfuls of chips type eating I'm down on (mostly cos I'm rather prone to it myself!) Three great suggestions, Gina — thanks!

Pharmacist Millie, maybe I was too harsh on eating to cheer up! I definitely agree that a good meal with friends is a fab way to improve your mood. It’s the mindless handfuls of chips type eating I’m down on (mostly cos I’m rather prone to it myself!)

]]> By: Pharmacist Millie http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/comment-page-1/#comment-73516 Pharmacist Millie Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:09:51 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/#comment-73516 I don't know... I enjoy eating especially with the right company. I agree with a lot of the points you put down. I wrote a post on it a while back, and I certainly agree with doing things for others. It can put a smile on anyone's face. I don’t know… I enjoy eating especially with the right company. I agree with a lot of the points you put down. I wrote a post on it a while back, and I certainly agree with doing things for others. It can put a smile on anyone’s face.

]]> By: Gina http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/comment-page-1/#comment-73508 Gina Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:38:41 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/3-stupid-ways-to-cheer-yourself-up/#comment-73508 You're so right. I've done them all -- The first three stupid things work temporarily but cause anything but cheer in the long run. The last 3 are definitely the ones that work best. I also do these sometimes when I feel down and they help: Get some sun. (This one could go hand in hand with your suggestion to get some exercise. But even just standing outside on a sunny day lifts my spirits when I've been stuck in the home or office too long). Put on cheerful music. (Any thing that makes you smile or feel like dancing). Make a list of 3-5 things I love about me (or that I did well that day) You’re so right. I’ve done them all — The first three stupid things work temporarily but cause anything but cheer in the long run. The last 3 are definitely the ones that work best. I also do these sometimes when I feel down and they help:

Get some sun. (This one could go hand in hand with your suggestion to get some exercise. But even just standing outside on a sunny day lifts my spirits when I’ve been stuck in the home or office too long).

Put on cheerful music. (Any thing that makes you smile or feel like dancing).

Make a list of 3-5 things I love about me (or that I did well that day)

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