06/29/2025
What mental health tip or “hack” do you find most helpful?
For me, cold showers when I’m in a slump and asking my feelings what they’re trying to get me to pay attention to are helpful.
Below are the explanations for the unusual tips:
🗣 Giving your inner critic a silly name (“Judgy Janet,” “Anxious Arnold”) creates distance to detach from its power and see it as a character, not a truth.
🎶 Humming stimulates the vagus nerve and relaxes the nervous system. It also gives your brain a repetitive, soothing sound to regulate through.
💪🏽 A tension-release hack. The physical strain mimics a mini “fight” response and discharges pent-up energy. Bonus: engages your core and grounds you in the present.
❄️ Cold activates the parasympathetic nervous system. Placing it on the chest slows your heart rate and reduces panic by calming vagal tone.
⭐️ A safe way to begin narrative processing. Humor + writing = emotional distance + access to hard truths.
🛋 Changing your environment—even slightly—creates novelty, which boosts dopamine and interrupts mental stagnation. It’s like hitting “refresh” on your brain.
🪥 Brush with your non-dominant hand builds neural flexibility. This simple disruption teaches your brain to handle newness without panic—a powerful skill for trauma survivors.
👐🏽 When you’re processing tough things, your body may default to freeze or shut down. Light movement—like tapping your fingers, fidgeting, swinging your legs, or walking—keeps your nervous system engaged and regulated. It tells your brain: “I’m safe enough to stay present.”
