Besides Therapy

DaveLaughsDaveLaughs
edited July 2025 in General

Hi y’all, :)

Question:

Besides therapeutic supports and besides safe, consenting, Platonic cuddles…what other activities or exercises, resource, healthy habit, type of connection, or thing, makes your nervous system hum, buzz, radiate, shine, or sing?

(No wrong answers)

Bonus: There’s a poll attached for those who love therapy

  1. What makes you feel resourced and connected more?43 votes
    1. Therapy
      23.26%
    2. Cuddles
      76.74%

Comments

  • pmvinespmvines
    edited July 2025

    Time spent alone, recharging and getting to know and loving myself more. Nothing beats a long day of.stress more than sitting with myself and my thoughts and just zoning out with something stupidly entertaining, or just enjoying the stillness of my home. It's like a mental spa day.

  • jmdankjmdank
    edited July 2025

    The best way for me to de-stress and prevent an anxiety attack is daily exercise, at least 30 minutes a day, usually I walk on a treadmill indoors, I have a setup with an under the desk treadmill and a computer so I can keep myself occupied, since I spend so much time online I can easily walk 2 hours a day, it's the best medicine, at least for me.

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    @jmdank I absolutely agree with you. Exercise does alter your brain’s chemicals and for me, I notice it clarifies things in my mind that I might be wrestling with at the time. Unfortunately this clarity sometimes comes when I am on a trail and I suddenly realize that I forgot to put pants on.

  • jmdankjmdank

    @TheFunCartel lmao

  • lovingspoonfulllovingspoonfull

    Problem solving. Creating simple and robust solutions to multi variable problems.

    It’s a high.

  • [Deleted User]Alexneedsahug (deleted user)
    edited July 2025

    exercise, sleep, spending time in nature, doing a charitable act, spending quality time with a loved one, music(with a good message), studying the bible, praying and doing the right thing when it's difficult to do.

  • great_pillow08great_pillow08

    @TheFunCartel 🤣🤣🤣 I typically have to look down and make sure I put on a shirt!!

  • snuggIebugg99snuggIebugg99

    Showering,
    Exercise,
    Time spent in nature,
    Yoga (breathing exercises),
    Hiding my phone from myself so I can take a break from doomscrolling,
    Quality time with friends,
    Divorcing from the daily grind for a bit and buying a one-way plane ticket to a faraway country,
    Creating instead of consuming

  • MTexMTex

    1) Walking is very therapeutic
    2) Being on the Elliptical while watching YouTube videos of beautiful scenery is peaceful
    3) Cleaning helps me process deep emotions
    4) Listening to music is soothing
    5) Journaling is cathartic for me
    6) Yelling at hockey games is a big stress reliever
    7) Dancing & singing at concerts is fun
    8) Watching YouTube videos of overgrown yards being mowed is satisfying
    9) Watching snow fall is calming
    10) Playing with my pup is the best

  • DaveLaughsDaveLaughs

    Thanks for the responses!

    and I'm surprised to see 25% say therapy resources you more, that's 7/28!

    I think the most effective forms of therapy are modalities dedicated to healing trauma such as EMDR or Somatic Experiencing, or probably involve safe consenting touch in some form like the latter or Craniosacral.

    Feel free to share modalities that work for you...while I explore what you've already shared with me.

    Therapy (pro cuddling too) can get expensive, and poverty can cause PTSD. A catch-22 if I've ever come across one...

  • mauvefoxmauvefox

    other than cuddles? 😁
    being alone. i get so little time like that. where i am under no one else's agenda or requests. where the space is silent and I can choose to fill it with my own noise or keep it quiet. where i can literally dance like no one is watching and let all my quirks and weirdness be free.

  • warm_embracewarm_embrace

    Solitude, hot baths, massage, journaling, going to the beach, sitting in the sun touching grass, and meditation. I’ve been in therapy many times throughout my life, and it challenges me and stirs me up - before it chills me out.

  • [Deleted User]gem7 (deleted user)

    Perhaps more men would go to therapy if it were competitive. "Twenty points in healthier communication? Yes! Eat my dust, Bobby! You emotionally unavailable loser!"

  • ohnonotagainohnonotagain

    Cannabis makes a lot of worries less worrisome

  • DaveLaughsDaveLaughs

    27% of 37 votes to therapy, interesting!

    @ohnonotagain à propos ....'tis a double-edged plant

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    Red light therapy and cold plunges in 39 degree water (3 minutes x 4 times per week)

  • Rocket_ManRocket_Man

    Does red light therapy work? Any basis in proven science? My Uncle goes to that

  • BearBear

    Being with good friends as well as a supportive community. Occasionally a massage or hot tub soak to revitalize the physical.

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972
    edited August 2025

    @Rocket_Man
    I have found RLT to be very helpful for mood boost as well as muscle recovery after injury or strenuous workouts. I have two 900 Watt panels connected together so they are 1’ wide by 6’ tall. I stand in front of them for 10 minutes facing the panel then another 10 minutes facing away from the panel (20 minutes total) about 3 times per week.

    I find it relaxing and rejuvenating.

    There are dozens of academic papers on RLT (I read a bunch of them before dropping around $3,000 on my home set up). Many of the benefits are well documented but there are a few claims made (I.e. re-growing hair) that have little to no supporting evidence).

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