Dear Universe, Looking for Comfort in all the Wrong Places

               That’s what I’ve been doing lately; looking to the wrong things to comfort me. I always think that a certain food or curling up in bed watching a favorite tv show and playing minesweeper will comfort me. It does work sometimes, but those are my go-to sources of comfort if I’ve had a bad day or I’m moody, or I have extra time on my hands, or I feel I deserve it. And those things are totally valid reasons to search for comfort but I need to branch out and get some comfort variety because mind-numbing television and sweet treats aren’t always what I need. Sometimes I need validation – like from a friend or just anyone, really. Sometimes I need self-esteem – such as the feeling I get from being productive, having a clean apartment, or exercise. Exercise also lets me blow off some excess energy, a problem that tv would make worse.

                I need comfort variety. So today I’m going to try and make a list of things I can do that will help fulfill my needs (not a dirty reference). As a person with depression, I’m prone to tunnel vision and selective memory. Sometimes I can’t even think of things that I might enjoy and if I do think of them, the activity just seems too far away for me to actually do. I know that might not make sense but it’s the only way I can think to describe it.

Things I can do to make myself feel better;

• Food
• Tv
• Minesweeper
• Playing with my cats
• Playing piano
• Writing
• Reading
• Take a walk
• Take a bath
• Paint my nails 
• Pampering with beauty products
• Practicing makeup
• Seeing a friend
• Playing games
• Talking to guys on dating sites
• Talking to my online support group 
• Texting/calling friends
• Soaking feet
• Photography
• Try something new
• Meditation
• Reading blogs
• Yoga
• Baking 
• Crafting
•  Massage
• Listen to music
• Hot shower 
• Go to a café or coffee shop to write or just be
• Watching wildlife outside my window
•  Coloring mandalas
• Watch a sad movie and cry
• Take a mental health day
• Drink tea
• Singing

I’m going to try to do these things instead of the normal and update this list when I think of more comforting things.

Jane






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