# When you feel very very low, what do you do to pick yourself up? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 20, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706 "2008-08-20T19:14:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![I\_Have\_Hippos\_In\_My\_Garden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@I\_Have\_Hippos\_In\_My\_Garden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Have_Hippos_In_My_Garden)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/1 "2008-08-20T19:14:31Z")
Heylo šŸ™‚ Iā€™m not sure if this belongs in MPSIMS, but heyhoā€¦ Iā€™ve been feeling, to be blunt, rubbish today. Very tired and very down. So i was wondering-when you feel really miserable (and not just ā€˜o crap its rainingā€™, but reeeally bad) how do you make yourself feel more positive? For me normally its running and the gym, and swimming, but unfortunately Iā€™d already done that today before I began to feel rubbish. Please share, Iā€™d love to know šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/2 "2008-08-20T19:16:25Z")
Go for another run, only longer this time. šŸ™‚ seriously, nature always helpsā€¦even if it is night time. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Have\_Hippos\_In\_My\_Garden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@I\_Have\_Hippos\_In\_My\_Garden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Have_Hippos_In_My_Garden)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/3 "2008-08-20T19:19:19Z")
No energy to do that sadly! I run 10kms a day at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/4 "2008-08-20T19:23:08Z")
Sit here and talk to us for another few hours until you fall asleepā€¦I can think of worse things than that to get my spirits up. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![mmouse9799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mmouse9799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmouse9799)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/5 "2008-08-20T19:23:23Z")
I would read a book or watch a movie. Maybe work on knitting, cross stitch or another craft project. Something to keep my mind and hands busy and engage my imagination. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/6 "2008-08-20T19:32:18Z")
I get out music I like to sing along to. Iā€™m a shite singer, but it doesnā€™t matter. When Iā€™m low, Iā€™ll start off with a few songs that suit my mood. I find the more I sing along to songs I love, the better I feel. I then bump it up a bit to songs a little more upbeat, whatever I feel I can handle. Dig out the guiltiest pleasures, all your secret loves, rediscover old stuff you used to just love but drifted away from. Itā€™s hard to stay in a bad mood when youā€™re singing along. When I need to be alone to do it, I get in the car, plug in my mp3 player, and just drive. I hope whatever you do, you feel better soon. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![I\_Have\_Hippos\_In\_My\_Garden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@I\_Have\_Hippos\_In\_My\_Garden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Have_Hippos_In_My_Garden)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/7 "2008-08-20T19:37:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Sit here and talk to us for another few hours until you fall asleepā€¦I can think of worse things than that to get my spirits up. Yes thats my plan until bedtime now. Its now 8.30pm, iā€™m going to bed at 10.00pm so thats an hour and a half of talking weā€™ve got to do, okay?! Tell me about your dayā€¦ To try and cheer myself up, after the gym and swimming, I watched a new released movie, baked green gold dusted fairy cakes (they are NOT splodge cakes as my parents have called them, they are retro cool), have done all the washing, phoned my CPN, and watched some TV. Am still not perking up!!! ---
**Author:** ![Lisa\_Ann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lisa\_Ann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa_Ann)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/8 "2008-08-20T19:45:21Z")
What movie did you watch? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/9 "2008-08-20T19:52:25Z")
[QUOTE=Anastasaeon] I get out music I like to sing along to. [/QUOTE] Sing, sing a song Make it simple, to last your whole life longā€¦ Posting here helps too. Oh yesā€¦do you have access to any friendly cats or dogs? ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/10 "2008-08-20T19:54:21Z")
Booze, naked strippers, and debauchery! Serious answer: clean whatever room needs to be cleaned in your house. It gives you time to think and/or turn your brain off, and if you donā€™t feel better in the end at least you have a clean room. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/11 "2008-08-20T20:14:17Z")
Bust out my favorite axes. Ibanez or Kramer. Lite that shit up and let the world burn. Itā€™s like burning down civilization. **Burn baby, Burn,** OOps! I forgot the sauce! ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/12 "2008-08-20T20:54:15Z")
A lot of times I go for a walk and that helps but youā€™ve already done that plus a wee bit more. I work in a small building with just a few people and I live alone so I get lonely more so than feeling down. So for me just being around people helps. Sometimes Iā€™ll go to the mall and just meander around people watching and buy myself a treat like an ice cream or a cinnabon. Then I donā€™t feel as lonely because Iā€™m with all these other people who are also just meandering around the mall like me. Coming here helps too for the same reason. Iā€™m sitting home all alone in front of a computer but Iā€™m doing it with other people who are just sitting home in front of the computer like me. Lately Iā€™ve started to just drive over to a friends house with out calling first to see what they are up to and most of the time they are home watching tv or playing on the computer which is mostly what I do. And knowing that they are doing that and being content makes me feel better when I am alone just doing those things. About two months ago I just popped into a buddies house one Friday night and found out his roommates had started a Friday night poker night every Friday. Guess what Iā€™ve been doing every friday since then? Itā€™s something I look forward to every week. And how has my day been? Boring. Work has been slow lately so Iā€™m just sitting in front of the computer surfing the Dope and [Break.com](http://Break.com). [Break.com](http://Break.com) also helps to lift my spirits. Watching dumbasses get hurt by doing stupid stuff always makes me laugh and then I start to feel better. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/13 "2008-08-20T21:12:35Z")
Depends on the rubbish. If Iā€™m stressed with anxiety, I take a walkā€“not even a bike ride does the same thing as a walk for me. If Iā€™m sad or mad or ā€œotherā€, getting out into the garden will always help my state of mind. Rereading a well loved book or watching a favorite movie will also help. If Iā€™m out of my mindā€“there is nothing for it but baking chocolate something. So, mild physical exercise, escapism or theobromine/ serotonin. Pick your poison! Hope the rubbish is better soon. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/14 "2008-08-20T21:14:08Z")
[QUOTE=Dung Beetle] Sing, sing a song Make it simple, to last your whole life longā€¦ [/QUOTE] _scowling but amused_ ooooh, thatā€™s _evil_! šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/15 "2008-08-20T21:17:09Z")
A good dose of puppies, kittens and other adorable critters over at [Cute Overload](http://cuteoverload.com/) has never failed to lighten my mood. Searching youtube for films of pug puppies or otter babies is another blues-banisher. ---
**Author:** ![Lavender\_Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b782af/32.png) [@Lavender\_Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lavender_Falcon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/16 "2008-08-20T22:48:48Z")
Getting together with a friend is always a wonderful pick-me-up. Getting a massage is also good too. If thatā€™s too pricey, there are less expensive ways to do something soothing and sensualā€“like getting all cleaned up and hanging out in a fuzzy bathrobe with a cup of tea and some relaxing music with the lights down low. Sitting outside reading is nice too. Fresh air and sunshine does wonders! Doing something nice for someone else can also be a mood-lifter. Gets me out of my head and feeling good about my connections to the rest of humanity. Just smiling and saying hello to people (even if I donā€™t know them) when Iā€™m out for a walk can do that too. A lot of people will smile back, and the world seems happier and more friendly then. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/17 "2008-08-20T23:13:08Z")
[QUOTE=Dung Beetle] Sing, sing a song Make it simple, to last your whole life longā€¦ [/QUOTE] Heh. Me, I go downtown. Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city; linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty. How can you lose? > [@teela brown](#): > > A good dose of puppies, kittens and other adorable critters over at Cute Overload has never failed to lighten my mood. Bright copper kettles, warm woolen mittens, or brown paper packages tied up with string help too. An alternative to pepping up is to go cathartic. Listen to something bluesy. Lately I like classic rock for this, such as Janis Joplinā€™s album _I Got Dem Olā€™ Kozmic Blues Again, Mama!_. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/18 "2008-08-20T23:15:11Z")
Chocolate and video games. The game distract you and the chocolateā€“well, whatā€™s better than an excuse to eat chocolate? šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/19 "2008-08-20T23:40:17Z")
Strippers. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706/20 "2008-08-20T23:59:17Z")
Driving windows down, singing along to something awesome. I recommend Boston. šŸ†’ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-feel-very-very-low-what-do-you-do-to-pick-yourself-up/460706.md?page=2)