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What are your coping mechanisms?

seaurchin

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 2, 2012
Messages
3,525
2020 is definitely a year for coping mechanisms! What are yours? How do you make it through the day when you can't change a bad situation (or just haven't gotten around to changing it yet)?
 

seaurchin

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 2, 2012
Messages
3,525
I have used various less than ideal coping mechanisms, everything from overshopping to overdrinking to just overranting to the poor, poor friends and family members who had to listen to it.

Now I think I mostly just get lost in TV or the internet.

A strange one I do sometimes with people I can't stand is, er, imagining them as cats. Cats can be selfish, snitty etc. and it's adorable, so it makes me feel better about crappy people haha.
 

Big Fat Facets

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jun 7, 2019
Messages
1,468
in the last six months, ive coped by:

nursing a daily pint of ice cream
naps
reading
gardening
cooking
drinking in the early months of lock down
fermenting foods
going to the beach but remaining in the vehicle
shopping for household goods and pantry staples
cleaning the house from top to bottom, several times
reorganizing pantry, cupboards, storage, closets, vehicle interiors ... etc ...
snuggling more with my cats
talking with mr. big fat facets, even more
emailing and texting friends, every so often
watching movies and episodic series on amazon prime
back on the forum, after a year away
shopping for diamond(s)
acquainting myself with corundum
stopped reading the newspaper

i intend to incorporate regular exercise ... but it just hasn't happened in the last six months
 
Last edited:

ean

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Feb 16, 2014
Messages
616
in the last six months, ive coped by:

a daily pint of ice cream
naps
reading
gardening
cooking
drinking in the early months of lock down
fermenting foods
going to the beach but remaining in the vehicle
shopping for household goods and pantry staples
cleaning the house from top to bottom, several times
reorganizing pantry, cupboards, storage, closets, vehicles' interior ... etc ...
snuggling more with my cats
talking with mr. big fat facets, even more
emailing and texting friends, every so often
watching movies and episodic series on amazon prime
back on the forum, after a year away
shopping for diamond(s)
acquainting myself with corundum

i intend to incorporate regular exercise ... but it just hasn't happened in the last six months

The daily pint of ice cream sounds like an amazing idea!! My main thing was gardening this year. Now with the thousands of dollars I’ve spent all I can think of now was I could have spent all the money on jewelry! They would’ve lasted longer. I have been very lucky that my work has even gotten busier with the lockdown, although I kind of envy having more free time to do things like baking from scratch!
 

Big Fat Facets

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jun 7, 2019
Messages
1,468
The daily pint of ice cream sounds like an amazing idea!! My main thing was gardening this year. Now with the thousands of dollars I’ve spent all I can think of now was I could have spent all the money on jewelry! They would’ve lasted longer. I have been very lucky that my work has even gotten busier with the lockdown, although I kind of envy having more free time to do things like baking from scratch!

that daily pint is awfully comforting... gardening really takes one's mind off of the terribleness happening, world wide.

although, im all for jewelry buying, i really do feel that having abundant and healthy plant life is most beneficial to oneself and one's surrounding. it makes such a big difference!! there will always be more jewelry to buy ... hope that makes sense ...
 
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ean

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Feb 16, 2014
Messages
616
that daily pint is awfully comforting... gardening really takes one's mind off of the terribleness happening, world wide.

although, im all for jewelry buying, i really do feel that having abundant and healthy plant life is most beneficial to oneself and one's surrounding. it makes such a big difference!! there will always be more jewelry to buy ... hope that makes sense ...

It is very rewarding and also quite funny, there are days (specially when it’s over 90s) when I’d be forced to water my plants and I’d be dragging that hose down mumbling under my breath, those are the days when I’d be seeing all the special creatures! I’ve seen monarchs,swallow tails, hummingbird moths, golden finches, cardinals, and hummingbirds! All on those days when I feel like not tending to my garden! Then I remember who I garden for, and it makes it all worth it.
 

MeowMeow

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 27, 2009
Messages
1,643
Looking at shineys obviously! :kiss2::kiss2::kiss2:
I've been doing some DIY decor projects though too. They're really fun for me. I'm planning on painting up some flowers tommorow during my kid's naptime.
 
Q

Queenie60

Guest
Exercise, cooking and letting things roll off of my back. If I can't control it, it isn't worth the stress and anxiety.
 

dk168

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Messages
12,473
Plan for the future like holidays and bling projects.
Hug the pets.
Walk the dog.
Learn to play an instrument.
Sing.
Cook.
Eat.
Drink.
Food shopping.
Bling shopping.
Accept what I can't change.
Ignore negativity in people.
Count my blessings.
Be grateful for my lot.
Socialise with my friends.

DK :))
 

Ally T

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
8,495
Gardening
Walking
Running & exercise
Watching movies with the kids
Yoga
Being thankful
Trying to calm my mind & stop the over thinking
Drinking early in lockdown, but the last few months I've gone back to it being a weekend treat
 

dk168

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Messages
12,473
There was a FB post earlier in one of the local news pages that I follow, asking for positive comments about Year 2020.

As I had expected, it was full of negativity as per usual.

I just posted "I am still alive."

DK :cool2:
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,895
1. Working out is coping mechanism number one for me. Getting those endorphins flowing. Helps me work out my anxiety as well as my cardiovascular system haha.

2. Cycling is the closest thing to flying for me. Feeling the cool ocean breeze on my face and speeding down the shore with my DH in tow on our tandem. It feels exquisite in every way. My favorite outdoor activity hands down. And like my first coping mechanism above it gets those endorphins pumping. Sweet.

3. Hanging out with my DH and my kitties. Just being together. That helps relax and take the edge off so to speak. Being with them and watching movies and eating popcorn on the couch.

4. Talking with my DH. About my feelings. Why I am stressed. Just having a good conversation with him always helps. He listens and he gets it and then somehow it's better after we have a good talk. I am very lucky to have such a great partner in life.

5. Ice cream. Life is sweeter with Ice Cream. No question about it.
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream and that is pretty much the same thing"

6. Reading good books used to get me to a better place figuratively and I hope to get back to that soon. That helped take my mind far far away to a more zen place and really made the time enjoyable. Looking forward to getting back there.

7. And finally I remind myself of this fact.
refusetostress.jpg
 

diamondringlover

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Dec 12, 2006
Messages
4,400
I have been cooking and baking more, eating and drinking way too much...put on weight got to get it back off, I am very unhappy with myself
 

mellowyellowgirl

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
May 17, 2014
Messages
6,154
I am a control freak so when Covid started things did not go well for me as you can imagine.

I avoid the big picture and focus on the smaller things. For example let's freak out about swimming pool compliance that's due in a month and not worry about the big picture Covid presents.

Keeping busy also helps. Having to run from one task to another makes me appreciate a good cup of tea and leaves little time to reflect on life in general because I don't care to reflect on life right now
 

Made in London

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Sep 11, 2020
Messages
727
I have used various less than ideal coping mechanisms, everything from overshopping to overdrinking to just overranting to the poor, poor friends and family members who had to listen to it.

Now I think I mostly just get lost in TV or the internet.

A strange one I do sometimes with people I can't stand is, er, imagining them as cats. Cats can be selfish, snitty etc. and it's adorable, so it makes me feel better about crappy people haha.

I use over shopping online & over drinking because it gives temporary relief from the current problem. I spend time outside with my horses as they soothe my soul.I don't talk about my feelings to family as it can end up in an argument which just makes matters worse.:cry:
 

Skyjems

Shiny_Rock
Trade
Joined
Jul 9, 2020
Messages
156
Working is one of my 'go tos', but, working during COVID is so much harder than normal that I burned myself out by May/June...

What helps me now?
Some work, but not more than 55-60 hours a week.
Quality time with my wife and kids.
Watching sports are a great help.
Dancing whenever possible (some friends started doing socially distanced dances in the park)
Camping when possible
Cycling
Having a couple of friends over for dinner (but unfortunately, never more than a couple )
Meditation
Audio Books (feeling down? Listen to Victor Frankl! ❤️)
 

Austina

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 24, 2017
Messages
7,539
Since giving up watching the news a couple of months ago, and just choosing which news I read online, I’ve found I’m feeling far less anxious and stressed.

We have been able to see friends, firstly just outdoors, but now they can come in to your home (and socially distance), it’s helped to make life feel a lot more normal.

Accepting this is our ‘normal’ for the foreseeable future, and just getting on with it.
 

anne_h

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 13, 2005
Messages
1,046
My top two ways to cope with stress right now are:

1. ASMR videos on youtube (current favorite artists are Nana Fox and Ambience of Yesteryear)... only discovered this concept during COVID.

2. Taking occasional days off from work, without telling anyone in my personal life! lol

Anne
 

MRBXXXFVVS1

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Messages
1,450
Acceptance, gratitude, napping, Netflix, texting friends and virtual hangouts! Not my ideal life as I usually am never home and always out doing things, traveling, but it is what it is. Adapting to the new "normal."
 

Matata

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Sep 10, 2003
Messages
8,970
Screen Shot 2020-09-27 at 12.03.10 PM.png
 
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