What’s something you do to prioritize your mental health?

As a paratroop with the 82nd (Alpha Company Falcons 2/325 - Let's Go) I got used to getting up every morning, before sunrise. I'm an old man now, and 37 surgeries, cancer, gangrene, a compromised immune system and fighting for every breath later, I find myself still at it.

I'm a member if the American Legion and enjoy the comradery, but there was something missing.

So lately, every morning I roll my butt out of bed, and unshod, walk through the grass in my back yard, climb the hill and watch the sun come up. I embrace the feeling of warmth as it hits me and the feel of the lush grass beneath my feet, and find an odd comfort that somewhere, there are still brothers & sisters rolling out of their racks and getting ready for another day.

That simple gesture every morning has provided what a successful business career, friends, family, and even a 45 year marriage didn't. It gave me a connection back to what once was, is now & with the blessings of a benevolent God, always will be - an incomparable link back to the brotherhood of arms.

Soon after I was honorably discharged I began culinary school and was on my way to a new career. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Guillian barré syndrome and had to learn how to walk all over again with the aid of leg braces. This caused my mental health to nosedive. Today, I find myself saying three things I am thankful for at the start of the day and three things I have accomplished at the end of the night. This keeps me motivated to more and more each day.

I volunteer in a free clinic one day a week.
Other days hit the fitness center and treadmill, or alternative outdoor activity.
Home repair and maintenance. Currrently fixing tract mower deck.

I read the posts on RallyPoint -- to reassure myself that the whole country is at least as crazy as I am.

I challenge myself daily - in the gym, of the mind, at work or on duty. I am always trying to find something to improve on. It is when it is quite around me that all the noise starts up. But the number one thing I do to keep my mental health sharp - I talk to people when I need to. There is no shame in my game! If I am having a rough day I reach out to my network of people and I encourage anyone that needs it, to reach out to me.

Started listening to motivational podcasts and just keep doing self mental evaluations

Riding my mountain bike and hiking. The serenity of the outdoors just makes my mind feel at ease. Keeping busy is huge as well, boredom eats at your mind if things are bothering or being triggered. Got to bring your mind to another place.

I suffer with PTSD and depression but some of the ways that I try to keep my mental health in check is by recognizing first that there is a problem that there's an issue that I'm not doing what I used to do as far as taking care of my health. Space two for me I have to to reach out to somebody to ask for help make an effort to me do I need to keep keep it with my appointment stay on my medication it's easy to fall off and stay stuck in that spiral it's possible and it's doable.

Stay away from TV news media. All they do is amplify anxiety and feed in the mind-numbing BS at a speed greater than light. And the respectable major news journalists are all gone anyway.

I pack a picnic lunch grab the dog and he and I drive out to the middle of no where where I know of a shaded really awesome fishing hole. We kick back on the bank and throw in a line. If I share the lunch basket with my dog he reminds me to bait the hook. Just like hitting a big reset button works every time. Stay Safe