What’s your “go to” method for a mental health reset?

My " go to " is to get out in nature and enjoy the quiet, but also the sights and sounds of being out the the cities. I can't reset with the constant barrage of noise in the cities, so I have to go up north to reset with my higher power, which is nature.

Time alone with my headphones on and cleaning gloves on. I get a mental reset and a clean house :)

I cook! I love making large batches of yummy food. It soothes my soul

I think this is a good idea, not just training but actual pt classes at the V.A.. I’m 52 now but I’m so out of shape, but I I have P.T.S.D and find myself angry, and I’m disappointed with how I’m not excel using and it’s leading to more health problems. I don’t think just talking about it does anything but actually being around other soldiers that can relate. I have a Y.M.C.A. Membership and haven’t been once because I don’t want to go alone because really I don’t know where to start at either or really what to say when I’m describing what I want. I want to start back at low level excercise that won’t ruin me for the rest of the day or hurt my back. But yoga and that kind of stretching exercising without weights and maybe a mile walk would be great to start being active again. I’m bi-polar as well and kind of shit myself off from people or doing anything and my medicine was messing with me. I have low potassium and I get winded easily and I need something or I’ll die. They say people that don’t move around are more likely to shorten ther lives. And I don’t wanna be all winded just taking out the trash or have my legs blow up with water gain from sitting playing video games or watching t.v. Or thinking of angry deep thoughts. So I like this idea, is ther gonna be a plan for the Dayton, Ohio V.A., the only thing I do when I’m noticing I’m feeling stressed, be cause I notice now I’ll be angry and cuss a lot and be miserable, I just try to tell myself to chill the fck out. Or go to sleep. Which isn’t the answer i use stress relieving breathing excoriating and try to change my train of thought which usually works. I’m not this powder keg ready to go off but I have issues .lol.

Going to church on Sundays helps to reset my brain. I add new songs we sing to my Playlist that way I can use it as a tool when I need a mental break during the week. Listening to music with meaning helps me to problem solve by the end of my Playlist I have clarity, solution, peace etc..

Retail Therapy followed by a great meal that I don't have to cook or clean up afterwards.

Solitary motorcycle riding.

Definitely going for a walk and spending time with my pets.

Taking a vacation, even if it’s a staycation. Sometimes just taking a break and giving myself permission to rest can help. Other times getting out to new places or visiting the ocean can help reset. I live in a beautiful place and being out in nature feels restorative.

My go to is long distance running. When life becomes a struggle and my inner monologue begins to slide towards the negative, I strap on my running shoes, grab a water bottle and electrolyte powder, and head off "that-a-way". Eventually my brain quiets down and I lose myself in the rhythm of my feet pounding the ground. When I make it back, I am calm and ready to tackle whatever issue I was having ... and usually a whole pizza!