Effective Coping Techniques to Use When You Are Feeling Down

Think Positive Thoughts

When negative thoughts start creeping in, it is crucial for individuals to change or challenge them as much as they possibly can. One great way for individuals to change their negative thoughts into positive ones is for them to ask themselves about what their best friend might say about the negative thought. What might this friend say in response? It can also be quite uplifting to remember it is okay to be imperfect. It does not hurt to socialize with positive people either. Being around positive energy may be quite mood-boosting!

Try To Keep Eating Healthy

Paying conscious attention to nutrition is a vital part of self-care, especially when not feeling well. When individuals feel down, it can be tempting to binge on large quantities of 'comfort food' to temporarily feel better. Alternatively, some individuals might not be interested in eating much at all.

There are a few components of healthy eating to keep in mind. First, individuals should eat often enough. This means eating several times throughout the day, including both meals and snacks. If individuals eat at around the same times each day, their blood sugar stays steady, which keeps them from having energy and mood crashes. It's important to not skip meals, either, as this makes the body have to work harder to digest food. Refined carbohydrates like sugar can have a negative effect on mood because of how aggressively they affect blood sugar. On the other hand, diets rich in protein, vitamins, and fiber will help boost the digestive system and improve blood sugar levels.