What do you like to do when you are anxious ,depressed ,etc?

creative writing.

or if not writing, even telling a story in your head

I love doing some drawing I have made about 50 pictures already to bad I cannot share them on this site.Most of them are puns.I love using puns.

Reading helps some, so does music and exercise, and distractions sometimes help.

I do a lot of knitting and crocheting. I just made three afghans in 2 and a half weeks that is because I am working on them all the time

I once tried journaling through a full blown panic attack. I suspect it helped but what I do remember most is that I ended up with a piece of writing I was really happy with. I still have it around maybe 15 years later. On rare occasions I have shown it to people who don’t have panic so they can get an idea of what it’s like for some of us. Only people I trust though, as my (crisis clinician)friend said: some people reading that would think you were having a psychotic break, but it’s just severe anxiety. Maybe I’ll try it again & see how it goes as a coping mechanism..

I haven’t tried coloring but I once offered to sort beads for an art class my friend was teaching. There were a lot of beads. I worked on it for an hour or so. Focusing on the colors and shapes & putting them in their own little boxes turned out to be very soothing.

I wish I could remember how to knit. I’m not sure I have the mental capacity for it any more. I’ve always wanted to make some of those leg warmers they used to have in the 1970s, those long ones that went on over your jeans. Someday I want to try that.

Agree with you on the spring. I miss being in the woods. I don’t technically have agoraphobia as i’m often fine about being out and around but when the anxiety gets bad my OCD gets worse & it is really hard to get myself out.
Hmm. Maybe I am a bit agoraphobic. I only feel totally safe in the woods.

When I'm very anxious and/or depressed I like to crawl in bed and distract myself by looking at something with beautiful pictures.

I watch films. Lots and lots of films to get lost in the stories of the characters and forget my troubles a while. Others mentioned reading. I have always loved to read ever since childhood. However, one of the most troubling things about my depression is that I cannot read when I am depressed. I will try and find that I have read the same paragraph ten times and still don't recall much of it. So films carry me through those times instead.

That's why I look at pictures, Silver Trees. If I'm too depressed I can't focus on the words.

I know exactly what you mean Mopey. Great tip!

Sometimes if I can I will take a nap.At night not always I cry myself to sleep.

Years ago, when I was first dealing w trauma stuff I took a small dollar store notebook & glued in pictures From magazines or photos that I found comforting or cheering. I kept it with me & took it out to look at the pictures if I was feeling too scared to do anything else.
Now, in the days of smartphones, I sometimes go on Pinterest and look st silly cat pictures or the like, mostly to cheer up.

Great idea. And nice profile name btw

This is kind of dumb but whenever I’m in a slightly stressful situation, like it starts to thunder or something the first thing that comes to mind is the spongebob quote “Marty! I’m scared!” I use a lot of other spongebob quotes for other different situations. I know this means nothing to anyone though.

Ok, I do use video games. They work to calm me down when I am really upset or can’t deal w anything else. I have to be careful to not overdo as the potential for addiction or serious time-wasting is always there for me. Sometimes I use them for a reward when I have a long distasteful chore. Lately, as my stress level is way up, am trying to concentrate more on things that directly sooth the senses, like tea or meditation tapes. Some Netflix is always fun though.

It sounds like a positive way to help lighten up your mood.