What do you do to cheer yourselves up?

[ConverseCody]

Personally I like reading books to escape from reality, practicing the ukulele, going for a walk in the countryside, talking to my brother on the phone or going to visit older relatives.

All these things boost my mood if I'm feeling low.

What are some things that other people do??

[AnnieLu]

I like walking my dog in the countryside, it usually works but I always end up dreading the inevitable return to reality.

A nice nap sometimes helps too!

[ConverseCody]

Originally Posted by AnnieLu

I like walking my dog in the countryside, it usually works but I always end up dreading the inevitable return to reality.

A nice nap sometimes helps too!

I agree. The countryside is great for lifting your mood. And who doesn't love having a nap?

[Mikei]

A good bike ride, a swim, usually feel better after those..

[ConverseCody]

Originally Posted by Mikei

A good bike ride, a swim, usually feel better after those..

Yeah a lot of people find exercise boosts their mood

[Pink*Lady]

Walk in a park, watch DVDs that make me laugh.

[Professor Willow]

A good walk with the dog, eat unhealthy food, play around with electrical things, watch comedy on DVD, plumbing is rather soothing but don't do much of it these days.

[ConverseCody]

Originally Posted by D1662

A good walk with the dog, eat unhealthy food, play around with electrical things, watch comedy on DVD, plumbing is rather soothing but don't do much of it these days.

Ooooh yeah pets in general are lovely! I'd love a dog. What breed is yours?

[Hayman]

I enjoy sticking on my headphones and opening up numerous tabs on my laptop and watching music videos on YouTube. I've sat through entire recorded concerts on full-screen before now… I think this is about the best thing I've found to cheer me up.

On a similar note, when I'm not in work, I can sit through many hours of Twitch livestreams.

I used to enjoy reading books, but it’s not something I've done for the past few years. I'm determined to get back into reading one day… I think I stopped reading because I done little else outside of work other than read for several years prior and I think I just blew myself out!

I know a lot of people suggest exercise, but this has never really worked for me. All it's done is tire me out and put me through pain! I do go walking at the weekend as I'm trying to lose weight (and very much succeeding by walking), but I consider it to me more of a chore than something that cheers me up, if I have to be honest. It gets me out of the house for an hour or so and keeps me occupied in that sense, but I don't really get any pleasure from it.

[Professor Willow]

Originally Posted by ConverseCody

Ooooh yeah pets in general are lovely! I'd love a dog. What breed is yours?

We have a Welsh Collie (a rather stupid one )

[ConverseCody]

Originally Posted by D1662

We have a Welsh Collie (a rather stupid one )

Awww I don't think I've ever met a Welsh Collie before. Dogs are great fun though. I dog sat a spaniel over the holidays and loved it

[Silent Treatment]

^ Adore animals.. we' ve always had cats ever since I was a kid..too lazy to walk a dog!!!...loved them all..they've definitely been an absolute joy and comfort to me over the years..I have such a connection with our current cat- Buddy..he's such a nervous / tense cat..but it feels like I really understand him. He's also really affectionate..although at 13 he may not have many years left.

[ConverseCody]

Originally Posted by Silent Treatment

^ Adore animals.. we' ve always had cats ever since I was a kid..too lazy to walk a dog!!!...loved them all..they've definitely been an absolute joy and comfort to me over the years..I have such a connection with our current cat- Buddy..he's such a nervous / tense cat..but it feels like I really understand him. He's also really affectionate..although at 13 he may not have many years left.

Aww yes cats are lovely too! Just with the description of your cat I wonder if animals can suffer from SA or not? Or if it's just a human thing?

[Silent Treatment]

^ that's quite perceptive of you..i've always thought of him as being SA ..he's so timid and nervous ..obviously why we understand each other..i've never felt a stronger connection with anyone/anything than with that cat..when I'm older I have a feeling i'll be looking back on my life, knowing that was my closest relationship..lol!!

[hollowone]

I love going for a boke ride, watching documentaries about space, reading adn getting into the countryside. It works to a degree, but still, things do get too much. Not thought about pets as a means of escaping from loneliness. Right now, I fear anything I say could be used against me, I fear the responsibility and commitment involved.

Regarding the general note of distracting yourself, a lot of the things talked about I've tried. They work to a degree, but there are some times where the loneliness gets too much. There are times in the evenings where it rebounds with collossal force and it becomes unbearable. Yes, these things suggested can work, tried them. They may take your mind off to a degree, but the degree to which they work depends on how unhappy you are. All suggestions here can make a difference to your mood.

With a minor level of unhappiness, they may be the cure-all. With a more severe level they may be a band-aid, one step up from doing nothing, serving as a distraction. It's important to bear in mind that all these things have secondary benefits, such as knowledge, conversation topics, skills and more. Your efforts to cope with loneliness are not in vain. Focus on that.

[mossystone]

just dance

[Cheshire Cat]

Do some gardening, play the piano, phone a friend, bake some bread. Or some 2-player X-Box with my brother.

[Professor Willow]

Pull the wings off of flies, thus turning them into 'walks'

(I don't really, even I am not that nasty)

[Schmosby]

Originally Posted by winter*

Country walks
Cuddle my dog
Music

That sounds nice. I miss having litte friends around.

Do you have countryside nearby?

[Toxic]

Listen to metal unreasonably loud

then distract myself with a game or watch something daft on youtube

Failing that pringles...always pringles

[newbs16]

Sometimes I enjoy going out for a nice walk in the park, exercise, chat to a close friend of mine on the telephone, eat my favourite foods, buy something nice, spend some time with my niece

[ExSAguy]

Usually I am only down from too much social fatigue.
A break from all people often cheers me right up

[Jam]

i can't believe I'm going to admit this. Watch fresh prince of bel air dancing montages.

[Professor Willow]

How did I forget I play with my tractors

[Silent Treatment]

lie on my bed in the dark thinking

[Victoriablack]

Originally Posted by D1662

Pull the wings off of flies, thus turning them into 'walks'

(I don't really, even I am not that nasty)

. I'm glad you don't really.

I like reading too, mostly horror and crime. I also like browsing through books looking for my next read.
Going to the gym gets me out of the house. I can be with others without any pressure to chat as everyone is putting all their efforts into the class.
Wasting way too much time on the Internet. it's not wasted on the awesome sauk of course

[ConverseCody]

^I can relate to wasting time online. I sit and watch pointless YouTube videos for hours

[Tembo]

Go for a brisk walk.

Or watch some comedy - laughter is the best medicine as they say! Although that can often lead to watching loads of YouTube videos for hours (as ConverseCody says above!)

[Mat999]

Fill in gratitude book. Then watch comedy. By the first laugh out loud that is it- I have been reset to normal.

[BottleUpAndExplode]

Drink
Feck
Arse
Girls