[Updated] 10 Things When You're Feeling Suicidal

When the feelings inside get nasty, maybe suicidal:

Do 10 things you love to do

Of course, you're probably not going to enjoy them as you're feeling like shit and hate the world, but force yourself to do them anyway.

Take the dog for a walk, get that thing you love from the dairy, listen to that one dance-y song you like, chat to your bestie, watch your favourite movie, whatever it is, do 10 of them.

Apparently it's quite rare to get passed 5 and your dark moment will have retreated.

I now realise this is the same advice that KK gave me and I turned it into my daily photo. I'm here to tell you it works.

[Update: 2-Aug-2024 2:30pm]

Someone asked me the following excellent question, following is my reply.

Any advice on where one should find the energy or strength to do any of the things let alone 10, when at their lowest ebb?

As I say, an excellent question. My tuppence from my experiences:

My initial approach was to do things I loved but didn't take any actual physical energy (or actually having to get out of bed).

Things that were also bite sized and not overwhelming, a photo edit is about 15 mins, reading a book is hours and was unachievable (by me).

Over time I've noticed that I now do physical moving stuff (walks on the beach with the dog etc) as I don't see them as "a right royal pain in the arse". I initially tricked myself by combining it with my photography (gotta get new photos for those dark times coming).

So, start small, bite sized. Maybe it's just having a coffee and a choccie biscuit. Then a stare at the view. Then a text message to one person. A bubble bath. And 6 other teeny tiny things one loves doing.

I hope that helps.

I think the key is 10 different things and they must be things one loves doing, the joy is inherent in them.