What's in your emotional wellness toolbox?

What do you do to get through hard times and hard emotions? How do you positively cope?

This is something I'm still getting the hang of, and I stumble along the way. Sometimes I freeze and it's hard to get myself to do something positive. My body would rather freeze and feel bad. But here's some things I do that make me feel better during times of stress:

1. Sometimes I get really hung up on my goals. Sometimes this is not good in times of great stress because what I really need is like, a hug, or a walk around the block. Not to work on my resume or force myself to go to the gym. I'm definitely still getting the hang of this one, but #1 is stopping, and asking myself what I need and want in this moment.

2. Distractions are good. Reading. Knitting. watching something funny.

3. Psych Central.

4. Moving my body whether it's going for a short walk or dancing inside or just stretching.

5. Talking to someone if someone's around. Doesn't have to be about what I'm experiencing, unless I'm like consumed by it.

6. Cleaning. I don't know why, but it works. Maybe the combination of organizing and moving around.

7. Listening to music really helps me.

1.)Reading
2.)Drawing
3)Meditating
4.)Music
5.)Netflix
6.)Sometimes weed

Oh I forgot about meditation. It is so helpful.

I try to find as many distractions as possible.. often times I watch some videos on YouTube

Accessing online support groups, spending time with my cat, chocolate, incense.

I like to tear up worthless peaces of paper (so old pictures, shopping lists, to do lists, etc)

listen to music

research something of interest

play trivia/ anagrams/ anything that gets the brain working

watch tv

snuggle with my stuffed toys/ hold in my hands special objects that mean something to me

journal

tell a joke aloud/ read jokes

count to 10

spend time planning something interesting (such as what I want to buy next week/ what i'm going to cook for dinner later, etc)

compliment myself on stuff i've acheeved that day/ week

1) ART - whether I am feeling creative or not I make myself do something everyday whether it is a small peice in or pasted in my art journal or a larger fuller sized work.
2) JOURNALLING - in the last several weeks I have been journalling and blogging again. I keep three. A blog on my mental health, a journal mirroring the CBT book I am reading, and notes on a Spirituality book I am reading.
3) READING - while it was hard I have begun to do this again only I manage short bursts at a time
4) MY ANXIETY TOOLBOX:
a) a worry stone
b) a feather
c) a bean bag weight for my shoulder
d) three coffee beans for an anxiety/restlessness game I play throughout the day.
5) CBT WORKSHEETS

Great idea Starrysky, I have many the same as you too - cleaning is calming and grounding for me, my therapist told me she hears that often. Some others:

Watching something funny and lightweight - Laurel & Hardy.
Going for a walk somewhere beautiful - by the sea or a river.
Swimming, it calms me.

My toolbox is Spirit Mountain, Horse, and 1075mg of Avatar.

Funny tv shows or movies
Comedy channel on XM radio while driving
Art looking at or doing myself
Staying busy
Having clean house helps to relax
I don't do it now due to busy schedule but jazzercuse or any aerobics help

My issue is I work two jobs and am exhausted all the time

*Gym
*Praying
*Listening to good music
*Watching comedy
*Cleaning
*Talking to a good friend
*Shopping
*Cooking
*Psych Central
*Talk therapy
*journal
*Sleep
*Watching YouTube
*Working part time

Meditation, mindfullness, distraction, self-soothing, acceptance. There's probably more but that's what I can think of at the moment.