Thread by @NiallHarbison

I’ve suffered from depression and anxiety for over 25 years.

I thought I’d share some things that help me. Not medical advice but rather trial and error through many dark days of personal experience.

Here are 10 things that help me battle anxiety and depression… (1/12)

1. Give up alcohol 🍺 🍷

It took a trip to ICU for me to finally do this after 25 years. Nothing has had a bigger positive impact on my mental health and anxiety than quitting booze.

Alcohol is literally a depressant. Cut it out and you’ll be less depressed. (2/12)

2. Move your body 🏃‍♂️ 🏊

When the dark fog descends or before it does just try to move. It’s often the last thing you can contemplate. But exercise for me has been the key.

Even if it’s just walking 100 yards for some fresh air movement is key (3/12)

3. Get medical help

I take some tablets and supplements. I have to accept it’s an illness and I sometimes need help. If you had a broken leg or cancer you’d take medicines.

You might not need medicines but talk to a doctor. If you do there’s no shame (4/12)

4. Tell people about it

Monumentally hard. I didn’t tell anyone for over a decade. A problem shared is a problem halved. My friends and family all know I have depression now.

It’s hard for everyone to understand but people are wonderful (5/12)

5. Body scan / Massage

Two things that work for me are online body scans (YouTube 30 mins). It’s like a meditation. Calms you right down.

I also find Thai massage helps massively. An hour or 90 mins to calm the mind. (6/12)

6. Cut down screen time

The irony I’m tweeting this thread is not lost on me. However a phone is like a little black depression box with bad news and low self worth coming out of it.

Cut down the 2 hours scrolling in bed or pointless screen time (7/12)

7. Don’t put yourself in bad positions.

I don’t go to bars. I cut down watching live sports as was a trigger to drink. I changed many of my friends to non drinking people. Get away from toxic work or relationships. Be brutal about making good decisions for your health (8/12)

8. Listen to your body

I now know when I’m tired. If I get irritable. If I have a bad nights sleep. If I’ve been around too many people being sociable. Depression and anxiety kick in.

It’s hard but learning the signs and taking time to work on yourself are key (9/12)

9. Accept you have to live with it

I often wish I could just fix it. That it would be gone forever. But for many it won’t. I now know I can have more good days than bad by making smart choices. I also have to accept I might do everything right and it still comes back (10/12)

10. Do more of what you love

It’s not always easy when you feel down or anxious. But try to find and do something you love. For me it’s helping dogs. In a selfish way it makes me feel good about myself. Find something that makes you feel good about yourself too (11/12)

Believe me I don’t have it fully sorted. If I followed my own advice and did 10/10 I’d be in better shape. The reality is life comes in the way so I try do at least 5-6.

There’s other tools like therapy and fixing underlying problems but I hope these help someone (12/12)

I share a lot more of the dogs and my mental health on my Insta.

A follow there would be massively appreciated 🥰🙏 instagram.com/niall.harbison