All right, what I’m looking for are ways to keep my mind off of the less happy things in life. One of my best friendships just sank, and another is on the rocks in danger of foundering, so I need something to entertain me and keep my spirits up.
Right now, here’s what I do to distract myself:
I play my flute: while playing, I don’t think of anything else.
I do physical labour, but I can only shovel the walks once in a while.
I listen to music loudly.
Even if it’ll only last a couple of minutes, do you have any suggestions for how to scare off that unpleasant feeling in my gut? If so, please share.
Meditation. Learning to sit with strong emotions and and let them come and go and not be afraid of them. Or are you looking for treatment of the symptoms, and not a way to grow as a person?
I’ll admit though, Speaker, that I have trouble distancing myself from unpleasant thoughts too. At any rate, work, especially something time-sensitive or that has a looming deadline. Working with cell cultures in lab takes care of the former for me, and a class I’m taking the latter. Perhaps you’ve got something analogous to get absorbed in?
I’ve also found that shows or movies I like can help too. With DVD boxed sets and what not, these days you can use those as a pretty consistent distraction.
Ah, I should restart my meditation. Treatment of both symptoms and cause is important, right now. While I find the latter ultimately more satisfying, it’s exhausting to be awash in powerful feelings for too long at once.
I wish I could immerse myself in shows or movies I’ve wanted to see. Unfortunately, I always end up imagining the people I’m trying to forget in place of the characters, which just starts the whole cycle again.
I usually read a book…nothing like a little escapism!
I also write in my journal. I know it doesn’t seem like a good way to distract yourself, but getting everything out, the good and the bad, cursing and being as irrational as you want in a place where no one will ever see, helps to get it out of your head, so you can more easily focus on other things.
I second the crossword puzzle idea too. Get your brain involved in something that requires focus. Go to a bookstore and find a subject that’s a little daunting for you, yet holds your interest, and approach it like you were taking a class on it.
Browse the Dope…there’s so much in the archives!
Do you have a field of study? Try sinking yourself in it. Before I got married, I would spend a four day weekend with my passion, and by the time I had to get back to work, I’d forget that there was an outside world, never mind that I had problems in it.
These are my ‘cures’ for the pit of despair feeling…
Going out for a run or cycle ride. It makes me feel closer to the gritty physical part of reality and less concerned about the mental side. The natural high also helps.
Reading through the (auto)biography of somebody you find inspiring.
I join stuff. Usually exercise classes. It keeps you from thinking to yourself because you have to concentrate on what the teacher is saying. Plus exercise relieves stress, and helps you fall asleep. It also gets you out of the house and gets you talking to more people.
And, since I pay for joining these classes, and I’m cheap, I always motivated to show up to get my money’s worth.
So far in the past 3 years I’ve joined:
A community band
a bowling league
an aerobics class
karate
dog obedience school
a boxing class
I am not currently doing all of those things at once but every day I have something to look forward to, I get out of the house, and I have met some cool people.
Doing volunteer work that benefits the truly needy. Sorting canned goods at the food bank is good if you’re not up for human interaction. Serving meals in a soup kitchen is good if you are. These are good because usually you can get started right away, without a need for training or a long-term commitment.
Also, for me reading is much better than movies. Mystery novels work best.
For me working in jobs where I have constant, cheerful, fairly mindless phone conversations has worked quite well during some difficult times.
Since you have meditated, you probably know that you need meditation the most when you are awash in powerful feelings, to sort them out and deal with them so you can get some peace and go on with your life.
As for temporary distractions, comic collections (like a “Doonesbury” collection or something), Dave Barry books, even colouring have worked very well for me in the past. Escapism television can work, too - try re-watching some old favourite movies that hook you every time you watch them.
I hit the gym. Bone-grinding work tends to reset my stress levels fairly well. Sure, I come out of it completely torched, but at least I can think about other things when I’m finished.
All of these are wonderful suggestions. Thanks a ton! I’m summarising an essay for class, at the moment, and it’s working like a charm. It’s pretty dense, so that’s probably part of it. Oh, here’s one to add to my list: babysitting my candles. They’re a rowdy bunch, especially if they wander into a draught, so I’ve got to keep them in line and trim their wicks. I can do that for twenty minutes at a time and not get bored.
Freecell is my favorite distraction. It takes just enough brain power to keep my mind occupied but isn’t hard enough to frustrate me. If I need distraction, I can play Freecell, listen to music and surf the web for literally hours.
